Hi.  My name is Judy.  Didja forget me?

Thanks Debra Edwards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Merry Christmas.

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I am pleased to report that my internal traffic problem has been solved!! It took 7 days, but we are fine.

I am still dealing with severe back pain and don't know what to do about that.  There probably is nothing that can be done about it.  Spinal stenosis, degeneration of the discs, herniated discs and spurs.

It is getting very difficult for me to walk or stand very long, but.....

I suppose sitting here at the computer for 4 hours, working on this genealogy does not help, although I do get up every hour to walk to the bathroom and I walk out to get my mail.

It is just a constant pain, except when I lay down.  It doesn't impede my sleep at all and for that I am grateful.

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I did make it to Maddies performance in the Nutcracker--13 years in a row now I have attended.  I kidded her that this might be her last year.  She's getting married end of May, I expect she'll be pregnant before December.  LOL

It seems like only last year, she was

dancing this role.

 I don't know how she finds the time.  She is in nursing school, plus works at the hospital, she teaches ballet, drops in daily to help an elderly woman and is planning her wedding.  She said that dancing is her way to wind down.  That it releases all her stress and makes her so happy.

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I finished the test pattern I was working on for the Baby Girl blanket.  The minute I posted a photo of it on Face Book, my cousin called and wanted to buy it from me for her expected baby girl great grand daughter.  I tried to explain to her that it wasn't perfect.  That in some places the spacing was off, but she insisted.

So I invited her to come for a visit Monday.  We had a good chat.  We talked politics AND religion and although we are polar opposites on the political side and she is a much more liberal christian than I am, we had a great time and we never ever called each other a name or got mad.  It was so nice to have company.

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My sister and I have solved the family not having the traditional Christmas EVE.  We are having our own!!!!!  I have ordered a book from Amazon to be delivered to her address.  She says she has presents for me.  Since there is a "no presents" policy this year--we can't very well give each other our gifts in front of the others, so....I will drive up to The Farm on Christmas Eve noon and we shall do our own thing.

That way, I can see all her beautiful Christmas decorations.  She goes all out with gorgeous trees in each room!!  and an all crystal and pink one in the living room.

I have put up none--well I did put up a cross stitch of a Christmas Angel and I threw a Christmas themed pillow on my couch and that's it.  

I can remember a few years ago, when an older friend announced that she was not going to put up a Christmas tree.  "How can you not do it?"  I asked.  "I will never, not put up a Christmas tree!  Never."

Yeah....well.  I have since apologized to her, because I am that way now.  

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Dar is back to work!!!!  Just like she maintained she would--nearly 3 years ago after her car accident.  When doctors, physical therapists and friends kept telling her to get used to it, that she would never work at cashier again, she always maintained she would.  I don't know why.  She doesn't need the money and she got a very good settlement from her accident.

For the past three years, ever since her Dad came to live with her, if she was at a doctors appointment and running a bit late, she'd call me and I'd have to run over and tell Dad, not to worry.  That she was just running late.

Now she leaves the 97 year old guy home alone for 8+ hours and doesn't seem to worry about him.  Dar is a very social person and she has just about gone nuts these past years, because she couldn't get out and be with people.

She is one of those kinds of people that has to go somewhere every day.  She gets into a panic if we get 2" of snow.  Even if it is only to drive to town to get coffee, she has to go every day.

Well, now she has a place to go.

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Pearl is not doing well.  Merle is the sick one with Parkinsons, but he still walks everyday and on Thursdays, after the garbage men leave, Merle comes along the street and brings everyone's garbage pail up to their door.

The ambulance has been to their house 3 times this month and it isn't even the middle of the month yet.  Pearl falls.  She doesn't faint and fall, she can just be standing in front of the sink and her legs give out and down she goes.  Merle can't get her up--she is heavy, so he has to call the ambulance.  The ambulance people now know and when Merle tells them, "she's all right, she's just fallen", they just come in the rescue truck or car and two guys get out and into the house and pick her up and put her in her chair.

I saw Merle and her daughter helping Pearl out of the house and down the steps and into the car so they could drive up town and go through the drive through for supper.  At least she had a treat that day.

They had a company put in a ramp two years ago for her, but she has never used it.  She says it is too far to walk on it and get to the car.  Trying to get up and down the porch steps gets her nearer where their car is parked.

I need to get down there for a visit--if I can manage to walk that far without crying from the back pain.Oh...that sounded selfish.  I'll get there one way or another.  Maybe stop on my way home from somewhere and walk from car to her living room and then drive myself home.  

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We were kind of concerned.  My son went in for his three month check-up and his "numbers" were up.  So he had to go back for an MRI.  The report showed that his tumors are still dormant, have not grown and he is still in remission.  The Doc doesn't know why his PSA numbers were up, but my son is fine.  

Of course, me not being on the "girls" text contact list, I am out of the loop.  So I e-mail my sister to find out what is going on.

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I guess that's it for my exciting life.  I will try and do better with my posting--I keep saying that and I keep failing.  Just know I'm okay, but real busy with this genealogy.  The biggest one I have ever done!  and   I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!