What To Do

Today's high temperature was: 78 degrees

Sort of humid

Cloudy/sunny/cloudy

Thunderstorm came through around 8:00 p.m.

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Rain was predicted in the a.m. today--it did not come.  I checked the radar and it looked like it would get here around 2:30--it did not come.

What to do?  Should I paint or not?  I finally went out and painted the risers their second coat of white.  Then I went all around and touched up any places I thought needed more white.  I am sure I am NOT going to like white risers, as people are going to bump them with the toes of their shoes.  If all this white was plastic, it would be just a matter of cleaning it off, but.................................I still wish I had used a good, hard finish paint, instead of a stain.

I went back out at 2:00, because the sun was out, and sanded part of the floor.  Then I painted the edge of the floor grey--I think I am going to like the grey color.  I painted one board, just so I could see how it looked when it dried, and then my back was screaming from bending over to do the risers and the deck edge, so I sealed everything up and am going to wait.  

It is so humid today, but a cold front coming through later and then next week, it is only going to be in the '60's.  This time of year, in Michigan, you just never know what kind of weather you are going to get each day--in fact, it can change DURING the day.  Such fun.

I came inside and spent the afternoon washing and cleaning all my colored glass things that sit out.  Nice and shiny and the shelves they sit on, nice and dusted and washed down.

I kept looking out at the weather and the porch--such a yearning to get out there and get really started on the floor, but my back said, "NO" and if it is going to rain, I don't want the floor to get wet.  It takes at least 24 hours for the stain to get nice and set up.

Homecoming today at my hometown school.  I was singing the school song this morning and it hit me.  I may not remember what I ate for supper last night, but, I remember all the words to the school song and I've been gone from high school for 56 years.  Weird, isn't it?  What we do and do not remember.

I haven't been to a school function there, since Jennifer graduated, 24 years ago. She was Valedictorian.  She was also the homecoming queen her senior year.

 Karen was homecoming queen and Valedictorian 10 years before.

At the time, little Jennifer was the flower girl-at 7 years old.

I made Karen and Jen's dresses--pink velvet, with the lace topper.

I knew how to sew back then, LOL.

I was on the homecoming court, the second year they had it--way back in 1955--October 22, actually.  Back then, you didn't have to be a senior to be the queen.  The teacher's picked the queen, based on her academic skills and grades--so I had not a chance of being queen.  Some 15 years later, my little sister was on the homecoming court also.

I remember the night I was on the court, so well--I can close my eyes and see all that happened.  Afterwards, Gary and I had a date, having only been dating for a month--he a Junior, me a Sophomore.  I waited for him to come out of the locker rooms, after he cleaned up from the game and we got in the car to go to the dance.

He said, "You may not have been chosen queen, but you will always be my princess."  I didn't know what to say.  Quite a speech from a very quiet, big athlete to say--especially back in those ancient days.  I will never forget that or our first date, or our lives together.  Too bad he didn't continue to feel that same way over the years.

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Oh let's be honest here--if I were still married to him, I would be stark staring crazy and bored out of my skull!!!!

We'd probably still be living in the farm house.  No repairs made on it over the years, because he wouldn't let go of a cent of HIS money.  We would winter in Florida from October until April--being away from the kids at Christmas Time, so that he could play his golf--yawn!  He probably would still be drinking and there would be fights.  I would still not be allowed to have taken a job, gone back to college--nothing that would make me independent.  NEVER!!  That was all made very clear over the 27 years we were together.   I would have to drive everywhere, because he can't anymore.  I would still be doing all the work, inside and out, because---well--he just doesn't do that sort of thing.  I seriously doubt he knows how to cook or anything--according to his second wife--he does NOTHING.  And of course, anything I did, he'd be there looking over my shoulder and telling me I was doing it wrong!

Sure, I get nostalgic at times, and sure, I'd like the security of the GM retiree's pension--no worries about money, but I wouldn't be allowed to spend any of it and I dare say, even MY OWN Social Security would be put in HIS account.  NOPE--better this way.

Regrets that our marriage ended, that it was so bad we couldn't revive it, but no regrets that it did end.  I am very proud of myself actually, that I didn't stay in an emotional and sometimes physically abusive marriage just for the security--just for the money.  Like a few of my friends told me I should--those friends, still married to men that have become worse over the years.  I've gone to the 50th anniversary party, where the husband and wife were never together through the whole thing.  They can barely tolerate each other, but.....their kids gave them the nice party. 

Sad.

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Later--Jude

  

Progress

Today's high temperature: 78 degrees

NO RAIN!!

Sunny, nice breeze

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Wind from the South today, so I had to listen to the Interstate noise.

I am very sensitive to noise.  With Tinnitus in my ears 24/7, I don't need any added noise.

Painting--that's all I'm doing.

Tomorrow, I will start on the steps.  YAY  Gotta sand first and make sure there is no loose splinters and no mold.  I stood on my head to get the lower risers on the steps, painted white, but--got it!!

It's looking good.  I can't wait to show you pictures, when it's done.

Later---Jude

P.S.  Glad you found your slippers, Jean.  On top of a filing cabinet?  Seemed like a good place at the time, right?  Me thinks we are all declining and our memories are shot!!! My slippers still remain vanished.  LOL

Almost

Today's high temperature was:  76 degrees

Sunny, soft breeze, comfortable--beautiful!

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Ah-hh.  October in Michigan...how beautiful it is.

The tree across the street gets more color every day

I got out to the porch at ten this morning and painted until noon.  Then, back out at two and painted until four-thirty.  Everything that is suppose to be painted white, is painted white.  Two coats on it all--except the railings and posts by the steps--they have one coat on.  

It was a beautiful morning.  The wind was coming in from the west, so I didn't hear the continual roar of the Interstate.  The birds came to the feeder and chirped around a bit and the wind chimes, hanging over head, tuned to the notes in Pachelbel's Canon in D, made a nice backdrop of soft music.

I think it is going to be a drippy day tomorrow, so I will use that time to go back to Lowe's for another brush and to Wal-Mart for some Diet Pepsi and pick up a prescription.

Apparently the exercise is good for me as my shoulders and arms aren't near as tired as the first day I started and my calves aren't getting those nasty cramps in them I had a few weeks ago.  I am generally, all over tired, but I recover quite quickly with some rest, sitting in the recliner for half an hour.  However,my bottom really hurts--from sitting on the hard steps to paint, I suppose.

I have sanded all the wood first, so the railing by the steps, is nice and smooth.  I want to paint the risers on the steps white, but I haven't a clue as to how I am going to get down low enough to see and paint that bottom one.  That will come the next opportunity I get to paint.  Should be interesting.

No painting this Saturday as I just found out, Michigan State football starts at noon and University of Michigan football starts at three.  I shall have a favorite day--sitting and watching back-to-back college football games.  Last Saturday, they both had "byes", so they didn't play--I almost went into withdrawal, LOL.
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I am not paying any attention to what is going on out there in Washington D.C. because, I truly don't give a rat's patootie.  Both sides actually seem to delight in fighting.  He won't give an inch, so they won't give.  They present a plan and he sticks out his tongue at them.  He presents a plan and they thumb their noses at him.  It's not his fault, it's their fault.  It is not their fault, it is his fault.  It is all rather second gradeish in my opinion.  Too bad we aren't back in the day where Harry Reid and John Boehner could just get together and have a duel.  Meantime, they are getting their pay, while people who have planned trips to D.C. or the National Parks are having their vacations ruined.  IDIOTS!!  All of them!

I got an envelope from the RNC, wanting my opinion on some planks in their platform and of course, a donation to The Cause.  I gave them my opinion and then I wrote them a small note and said, "I am a life long Republican.  A moderate.  I would send in a contribution, if I thought you were still the Grand Old Party of my youth, but since,  you seem to want to kill that notion with promoting the Tea Party, not only will I not contribute, but if one of them is nominated, you can take my name off the rolls of the Party."

I dislike every Tea Party candidate I have seen!  They are way too radical for me--so far off to the Right, I can't see them.  That is why I have never been a Democrat--they are so far off to the Left, I can't see them.  They always seemed the radicals to me--now the Tea Party is becoming the same way.  There are no moderate, sane candidates that I know of.  Nancy Pelosi is just about the weirdest person I have ever listened to and Ted Cruz is the same.  

There has only been one time in my life I didn't vote for a Presidential candidate--back in 1964.  Goldwater scared me--he wanted to go into Viet Nam with more troops and I couldn't vote for that.  Johnson, on the other hand, said he wouldn't send any more "boys" over there, but he was such a weird duck, I couldn't vote for him.  Of course we all know, he lied like a skunk and increased our troops in Nam, only to have a huge failure.  

We shall see what 2016 brings--if I am still alive.  It may be another election that I don't put my "X" in the box for either person.  Instead of getting a bumper sticker that says, "Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him."  I will get one that says, "Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either one."  HAH!

Ever forward!

Mooing Calves--Screaming Back--Quaking Arms and Hands

Today's high temperature was:  72 degrees

Foggy morning, sun finally came out at 2:00.

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Thank you for your kind comments about my blessing yesterday.  I woke up this morning, still smiling and so happy.

Today--I painted.  Then, I painted some more.  Then, I painted some more.

My calves were mooing, my back was screaming, and I finally quit when my arms and hands started shaking.

The sides are done and tomorrow will paint the posts on the stairs and the railing tops.

I probably have 6 more days work--honestly--for an 8 x 8 feet deck?  

This Old Grey Mare ain't what she used to be!

The outside work would have been nicer, IF I hadn't had to listen to the continual roar of the traffic on the Interstate.  The wind was coming from the south and blowing all that noise straight at me.  It started to actually wear on me emotionally and I stopped before I really wanted too.  

This woman was not made to live in noisy areas--areas with people living right on top of me.  I need to be where I hear only the breeze in the tree tops and the bird song.  I need to be where I can look up and see the horizon--not fifty million little houses all around me.  Thank goodness, I am in the back of this park and my view, from two windows, is of woods and wetlands--nature.  Sometimes, I would just like to plant a big hedge all around my lot so that I wouldn't have to see anyone else--I could hide in here and be perfectly happy.  

I tend to be a hermit--seeing people only when I want to.  But, it's the noise that gets to me the most.  I am a country girl and I SO want to be back home.

But--it is not to be, until I am buried in our nice quiet cemetery.  So.............ever forward.

A Blessing

Today's high temperature was:  74 degrees

Cloudy and dripping, then sunny and nice

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Oh you guys!!!  What a blessing I had this morning!!

Pammie brought Evan over, after she dropped the three other kids at school.

He got out of the car and said, "Hi Mimi," and ran up to me--I was waiting on the porch, of course.

He gave me a hug around the knees and we came inside.

I so feared he would have forgotten me.  I haven't seen him in five months, but he seemed very comfortable.  He came over to my chair, where I was sitting, and leaned into me and I hugged him and kissed the top of his head and whispered, "Mimi loves you."  and tried not to get tears in my eyes.  He roamed around the house looking for the cats--he remembered!

I gave him his Elmo pillow and he squealed, "ELMO!" and then laid his head down on it.  I was so involved with what was going on, I forgot to take a picture of him holding his pillow!!!

Pammie and I got to talk a bit, while he was investigating and looking under things, trying to find the cats.  She told me that Andrew, who is almost 12, is bossy.  Telling everyone what to do and how to do it.  Elise and Jen spent last week in London and Paris (!!) and Elise is a bit snotty at times, she is 9.  Alex is as calm as ever at 7, but has been in trouble a couple of times at school, with another boy there.

Most of the time, I just sat and watched him.  He had changed so much since the last time I saw him. I know how fast kids that age grow and change.  He is very tall for his age, has long legs and talks so clearly.

He kept going down the hall to my bedroom and saying, "Cats. Cats."  I had told him they were probably taking a nap under my bed.  After he and Pammie left, this is what I found.

He had taken all the cat toys from their toy basket and put them near the bed where the cats could play with them when they woke up.

He did the same thing when he was here in March.

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Isn't he adorable?

His hair is longish and curly in back.

Elise and Alex are blue-eyed blonde's, and look more like their Daddy.  

It struck me how much he looks like his mother

and his oldest brother Andrew.

...and they all have my nose!!!

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Sally--http://www.whispering-hope.blogspot.com/do you think we ought to get the marriage contract signed now?  

Sally's great grand daughter, is a couple of weeks younger then Evan.  We have decided they need to get together, when they get a bit older.  I borrowed this picture of her great grand daughter off her blog.  Don't you think they would be perfect together?

                          Rylan Benny                                                                  Evan Eric

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I didn't do much today--I sat and revelled in the good feeling of seeing that sweet little boy, then watched my soap and went to the Chiropractor.  Stopped at the Rich People's store for some salads and Boar's Head lunch meat and came on home.  

Tomorrow--there will be staining more of the front porch.  I sure hope I get it done before snow comes, LOL.

Happy Birthday, Evan.

Today's high temperature was: 75 degrees

Sunny and pleasant, once again.

Thank you, God.

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HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, EVAN

8 hours old

Baptisim-3 months old

A year ago 

The last time I saw him

<sigh>

I Love This Weather!!

Today's high temperature was: 74 degrees

Today's humidity was: low

Bright, sunny and gorgeous!

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Not too bad a view out my front/computer room windows.

Views from my chair--my east window--to the left.

The view straight ahead--south-west

To my right and ahead--my kitchen--west 

Kitchen, over the sink view

Out my bathroom window view 

View from my bed 

Perhaps not the views I would prefer, but the views I have.  

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I worked some more on the porch.  It appears I can only work 2 hours before my neck and shoulders start aching and my arms and hands start trembling from being tired.  It's slow going, but I am kind of liking it.  I think, I would still preferred it to be paint instead of stain--I wanted a nice, hard finish...so...when it wears off, next time I will get a good exterior paint and do it my way.

I have known, in the past month, three elderly gentlemen who have died as results of falls.  Not from the actual fall, but weeks or months later.  My father, also died as a result of a fall.  A fall, he didn't think too much of, but ten days later was hospitalized and three days later---gone.  I wonder what it is that causes death?  Somehow, the organs start shutting down.  Perhaps there is internal bruising?

I am really ticked off at this whole aging process.  I know, I shouldn't complain.  As my best friend used to say, "As long as I'm on the topside of the grass, I'm happy."  I am very lucky--quite a few of my friends and classmates have passed on.  I just get frustrated.  When I think of the amount of work I used to do when I first moved in here, ten summers ago.  I put in new gardens, bought and hauled 40# bags of top soil and Canadian peat to loosen up the clay.  Planted 5 flats of Impatiens every summer under the Lilac bushes.    Washed the windows, inside and out--all at the same time.  Rearranged furniture, moved things around; mowed my own lawn and shoveled the snow off my driveway.

Now--I can't even stand and paint for two hours?   I just can't get used to a simple chore taking days to do, instead of hours.  I still feel 50 years old in my mind and on the Real Age Scale, I am only 70.5 years old, but in reality?    AND, I always have this feeling that these things must be done because I am running out of time.  I have the feeling most of the time, that I am not that far away from death.

Oh well--onward and upward--ever forward!!!