A Lovely Day

I was sitting in my recliner this evening--looking out the westerly window at the antics of my critters at their feeders and thought something felt....different.  I glanced at the clock and it was after 5:00 and still daylight!!!!!  I had noticed the sun is coming up at a different time now and the angle isn't hitting my computer monitor as much, but I hadn't noticed the lengthening days.  How lovely it is.

Today was a sunny, warm 48 degrees.  After lunch, I pulled on my fleece jacket and went for a walk up the street.  Usually, I can count on my back to start hurting at a particular spot--the same spot every time I walk, but today, it felt good.  As I came back home, I stopped in to visit with Merle and Pearl.  My, oh my.  She is going downhill so quickly.  She hasn't been out of the house since Thanksgiving.  It is just too hard for her to walk.  I don't think she has ever used the ramp the volunteers built for her.  She can't remember anything and realizes it and just laughs about it, which I guess is the best way.  Merle has grown a beard and looks very thin and scruffy.  They had just purchased a new, huge--too big for their living room--sofa bed, in a rather garish bright red.  They got it from one of those ultra-cheap furniture stores.  The sofa bed is for when they get too ill to care for themselves and one of their daughters (they expect) will come in to care for them and sleep on the bed.  It is so large, that if they pulled it out to make a bed, they would have to move their TV stand and Merle's recliner out of the room, which of course neither one of them realizes.

After I left there, I decided to walk across the street and visit Dar.  I haven't seen her since her shoulder surgery on the 9th.  She's a real mess.  She just purchased 3 new recliners and gave her sofa and love seat (2 years old) to the Salvation Army.  Now she is having the recliners returned.  They are supposed to rock, but I noticed the one I was in, and all of them, when you rock forward a tiny bit, they stop dead on the floor and about throw you out of the chair.  

She hasn't even started physical therapy, but she's angry because she is still in pain.  She expected to be healed up and using her arm by this weekend.  She was even more frustrated when she found out our other neighbor Jackie, who had the same surgery a year ago, still can't lift anything over 5 pounds with pain in her shoulder.

I told Dar that the orthopeadic surgeon's like to talk in terms of 6 weeks--3 months, where in reality, it takes at least 9 months and sometimes up to a year to feel like the joint really works like it's supposed to.  In fact, 6 years later, if I lay on my side a certain way, the area where I had my incision on my hip still hurts from the pressure of my body.

Dar plans on returning to work as a cashier at the super store, by May.  She just keeps setting herself up for disappointment and.........how can she take of her Dad if she is gone all day?

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

I have finished my genealogy and going to get it bound on Monday, ready to send.  I have never had a genealogy that was a "pure breed" like this one.  Every ancestor came from the same area in the same country.  When they immigrated to America, they settled in an area where people of their nationality lived and their children married neighbors, on and on, down through the years.  It is only with the present generation that they have married outside their nationality.

Plus, I think I told you that ancestor's had written bios of themselves, which really has added to the facts and figures I came up with.  I can visualize in my minds eye, 50+ years from now, a great, grandchild reading the book and learning about his DNA.  With the bios added, it is going to be a wonderful family treasure for years to come.

That makes me the happiest.  I want these "history" books I do to be around and read for many generations.  

     

Genealogy

I find these family trees so interesting.

In the olden days, father's named their first born son, either after them or after their grand father's--which makes for confusion when tracing ancestors.

In my own family, I have a Conradt, Peter, Conrad, Peter, Charles, Roy, Charles.  You have to look at the birth dates so carefully to get the correct generation.

Also, back then, if a child died, the next child to be born of the same gender, was given the dead child's name.  Kind of creepy to name a live child after one whom had died.  They however, did it to honor the baby or child that had died.  Of course, most of those families had upwards of 9 children and many children died, either at birth or within the first few years.

We use death people's names on our newborns too.  My son's middle name is the same as his grandpa.  My daughter Jennifer Dorathy, middle name is the same as my mother's first name.  Even little Della has 3 middle names.

Della was my mother's middle name, Helene was my grandmother's name, my daughter Karen's middle name and Della's mother's first name--Whew!  Her other two middle names are Ruth and Hannah.  At her Jewish name-giving ceremony, she was pronounced as "Della Helene Ruth Hannah Klar".  The Ruth and Hannah coming from her other two great grand mother's.

My sister and I are originals.  Named after no one in the family and no one in my family has had the guts to take on the name, Judith, for any of their girls. LOL
=================
This genealogy I am finishing up has been truly fascinating.  Usually I end up with names and dates and locations and perhaps an obituary or small story written about the person.

In this genealogy, I have biographies written by the people themselves!!!  Saved by their descendant.  I can put these pages in with the facts and figures and get a truly keepsake kind of book for upcoming generations to read.  It is like a history book, only one that is a history of their own family.  Wonderful!
=================
What else is going on in my world?  Not much.  It snows a little bit every day.  it is still cold, but warmer temperatures predicted for the weekend.  I have a dental appointment this Friday, and you know how I look forward to that.  NOT!!

My son will turn 60 years old tomorrow, which is scary because I was 60 years old just the other day.  Jennifer is coming into town for business the end of the month and Karen is having a family get together, which is going to be wonderful!!

The days meander along and I flow along with them, climbing around in the "trees", ever trying to find the highest branches possible.

What day is it?

I'm still discombobulated from the holiday weeks we had, when I had no idea what day it was, unless I looked at my calendar.

I have been so busy this last week and had no errands to run that it didn't really matter what day it was, but still, I was shocked to realize that today was Saturday and only realized it when at 11:00, I realized that Michigan State and University of Michigan were playing the rival game today at noon.

We (Michigan State) lost, which wasn't really unexpected by me.  Two weeks ago, we were the #1 college basketball team in America, beating teams by 28 points.  BUT--that was preseason and you can't really tell how good or bad a team is until they start conference play.  

Oh well--you don't need to hear about all that.

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

The genealogy that I am working on now, has been interesting.  Probably made more so because my client has biographies written by her grand parents.  I can print those pages and put them in with the "facts and figures" pages and plump up the book.  Just imagine what a treasure to have for the generations still to come.  

I decided to renew my subscription to Ancestry.com International, so that I can access birth and marriage records from European countries.  My client's ancestor's are fairly new emigre's and if I could only access USA records, I'd only get a couple of generations.  

I'm near the "top of the tree" now, so I may be able to finish writing the book this week.

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

We are back in the deep freeze.  All the snow had melted by Thursday evening, with a temp of 57 that day.  Then Friday the snow started--we got 3-4 inches, which was nice because it covered up all the mud and dead grass and is once again, a pretty, white wonderland outside.  Along with that, came the single digit temps again.  

I wanted to run up to Subway and get me a Spicy Italian Foot Long sub for supper this afternoon, but every door on my car was frozen shut and I wasn't in the mood to wrestle with that problem.  I DO have to go up to Meijer tomorrow to get cat food, milk and bathroom tissue, so I'll pour some water on the driver's side door, to get it unfrozen, and then when I get home, try and remember to spray the rubber around the door with PAM cooking spray.  That helps the doors from freezing shut--or so I heard.

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

My grandson is getting married June 2nd, so the other day, I did spend some time on a few websites looking for an appropriate "Grandma" dress to wear.  That was quite an experience to tell you about later.

Crazy weather

Our predicted temperature for tomorrow is 50 degrees.  4 days ago, it was -20.  So that means, our temperature difference will be 70 degrees in five days.  Yes, I know.  That's just plain weird.

The park's maintenance guys kept scraping our street today, as the sun shone and the snow melted.  Unfortunately, with all this action, they filled in the end of my driveway with lots of chunks of un-melted snow.  I wasn't planning on going anywhere today, but I decided I needed some fresh air, and get away from this computer.

I went out and started the car and then drove forward and back until I had the end of the drive pretty much flattened.  Then I sprinkled some ice melt on it.  The ice melt will work even in very cold temps.  I just didn't want those chunks of snow to harden and ice up.  We are expecting another big snow this weekend.

It felt almost like early spring, out there, in the sun, so I took the opportunity to fill up the bird feeders and the squirrel food box.  Within minutes of coming back in, I saw 4 Cardinals, 6 Blue Jays, Chick-A-Dees, Titmouse, Nut Hatch and two squirrels having an afternoon snack.

I also got my bedroom and bathroom and kitchen cleaned up and will mop the kitchen floor tomorrow.  I have felt a bit overwhelmed lately and getting these chores done, really calms me down and makes me feel good.

It is always better for me to have chores done before I get involved in the computer/genealogy.  I can concentrate much better.  I think I finally have a time-schedule in place to give me ample time to climb branches AND keep my house in some semblance of order.  
===========
Dar had shoulder surgery this morning and was home by 2:00.  I can't even imagine coming home that quickly.  If I get cut into, I am going to at least spend the day and night in a hospital.  

She's home with a pain pump!!  Are you kidding me?  That kind of equipment and procedure belongs in a hospital setting, in my opinion--especially at our ages!
===================
I haven't heard from anyone in the family all week, so I can assume that means everyone is all right?  No news is good news?  Right?
Dang kids!

Well, if I don't see or talk to them, then I won't make a mistake and say or do something that is misinterpreted, so I guess, it's a good thing.  HAH!

Ridiculous!

Today it was 20 degrees--we are expecting a warming trend.
Yesterday it was 10 degrees.  It felt colder today.
Yesterday we had sun and no wind.  Today we had no sun and a breeze, and probably the reason for it to feel worse!

I had to go to Walmart and get some supplies today.  I rarely shop on Sunday--only in an emergency situation---I considered this an emergency.  1 can of cat food left.  No milk for me.  No lunch meat for noontime sandwiches.  1/2 bottle of Diet Pepsi.

No whole milk in Walmart!  How can that be!  The manager said they had a lot of customer's yesterday and must have purchased all the whole milk.

"That seems odd.  There is always racks and racks of it in the cooler behind the front shelves."

"Well, the one percent and the two percent have vitamin D in them, so they are good for you."

"I'm not worrying about the vitamin D," I said.  "I'm concerned with the taste.  Those other ones taste like the milk has been watered down."

He was not sympathetic.

Then I went looking--no typing paper, no greeting card envelopes, no filter for the air cleaner--all I normally buy there and....worse of all?  No Marie Callander frozen cherry pie!!

I was going to go across the street to the Meijer store to get what Walmart was out of, but by the time I got the groceries in the trunk, I was miserably cold.

I should have gone to Meijer to begin with!!

The Climb Cart Karen gave me for Christmas really helps when I get home.  Just 3 trips to get everything in from trunk to kitchen.  Hauling them, 2 bags at a time, would take me 6-7 trips.
==================
I mailed out the genealogy I had finished on Friday and started a new one on Saturday.

Already I have managed to get 9 generations back.  This one is unusual.  This family is pure Dutch.

Usually there is a predominant nationality in a family,  but I have never done one where the nationality on both sides is the same.  There isn't an Englishman, or Irishman, or German in the lot.  At least so far.

This is why I find genealogy so fascinating.  
================
I am trying to get some sort of schedule written down.  I am becoming overwhelmed with the way my house is such a mess.  I can't just get motivated in my mind and figure out what to do and when to do it, I need a list!!

A definite schedule with times and duties.  It probably wouldn't hurt if I got up an hour earlier.  Then spend an hour on FaceBook, then 2 hours on the genealogy, then lunch and Soap and at 2:00, housework.  At this time of year, the sun comes directly in these windows and I can't really see my monitor from 11:00 to 3:00-4:00, so that would give me a 2 hour window to do housework.  Then I can work on the genealogy in the evening--if there isn't a basketball game on, of course.  LOL

We are expecting 2-4" of snow tonight and then warmer temps.  47 degrees on Thursday?  Time to get my shorts and T-shirts out.  HAH!!

We have set records--it has never been this cold for this long a period.  15 days under 20 degrees.  I love winter, but I am soooooooo ready for some above freezing temps.

YOWZA!!

I had to run to the bank and the print shop yesterday and it was 14 degrees--outside temperature.  I don't know what the wind chill factor was, but it was cold.

Today, I have to go back to the print shop AND up to Brighton to get some ink jet refills.  The high today is 7.

I don't wear a hat.  I noticed yesterday, there are a lot of older women, with short hair, that also do not wear hats.  We get out of our cars and hurry into the store.  Guess we figure no hat or gloves are needed.

If I have to take the garbage out or fill the bird/squirrel feeders, I DO pull on a knit hat (actually crocheted one that my Pammie made.)

I also run around the house barefooted.  

Apparently this lifetime Michigander is used to this cold?

Although, for it being this cold, this long, is unusual even for us.  And today, the Northeast is being battered by a Nor'Easter complete with ice and snow and worse than anything we here have ever seen.  Even coolish in Florida, I hear.

As yes, the climate it is changing.  I don't know if we are headed for a new Ice Age or a Heat Wave, but having studied geology in college, I know the earth goes go through climate changes every now and then--like every thousand years or so.

What can WE do about it?  Not much.  It is going through its normal cycles.  The hole in the ozone layer is already there and the industry that built this country, probably is to blame.
================
As you can tell, by my absence of posting, I am finishing up a genealogy--thus the running to and fro to the print shop.  I want to get it in the mail by Friday.

I also finished up the Newsletter for our 60th class reunion, that was in June, but has taken me this long to get people to cooperate and send me their profiles!  I told them all that it's a wonder they didn't fail English composition because they aren't very good at getting their "assignment" done in a timely manner.  HAH!  I got all but 3 profiles, so those people WILL NOT be in the Newsletter.

They think our Senior English Composition teacher was tough?  They don't know who they are messing with in me!!!
===============
I have another genealogy waiting in the wings and 2 more after that one.  YOWZA!!!

I hadn't had any since last April and in September I starting praying to God to, "please send me a genealogy", and in October I got one.  Then these have come on fast and furious.

My sister told me, "Don't you know you are supposed to be specific with God?  You should have prayed, 'please send me one genealogy, a month,  for the next six months.'"
===============
This last one was difficult.  I had to figure out how to get into records from Denmark.  Then I had to figure out the translation of people's names and dates.

How could a woman's maiden name be different than her father's surname?  Elaine Rasmusdatter.  Her father's name, Rasmus Hansen.  Rasmusdatter actually means, Rasmus' daughter.  So in reality, her name is Elaine Hansen, but she is listed as Rasmusdatter.  

As an example, on my wedding certificate, I would be listed, not as Judith Walts, but as Judith Charlesdatter, my father being Charles Walts.  I was going to be married, so my maiden name wouldn't mean much from then on anyway.  I wouldn't be, Judith Charlesdatter Miller, but just Judith Miller.

If the name I was searching was male, his name, instead of Hans Hansen, might be listed as Han Rasmussen.  The "Sen" meaning son=Hans Rasmus' son.

Oh, it was fun to work through, with a lot of checking back and forth, if I had the right child with the right parents.  I don't charge my clients for that "back and forth" checking.  That is something that I have to do to make sure I have the correct lineage.  I might work 5 actual hours, but only charge for 4 hours.

My sister says I am an "obsessive perfectionist" and that would be a correct adjective, when it comes to the genealogies.  BUT--you should see my house!

It is a filthy mess in here and one I must correct!  I have to start in the back bedroom and work through this place to the this room in front.  

So, I will see you when I can.  LOL

A Good Man

He was simply a fine, good man.  He had such enthusiasm for life.  Never an argument or unkind word.  My life changed, when I met him.  I was much happier, content and peaceful. We adored each other.

This photo was taken just a few days before he passed.  He wasn't feeling well, but you would never know it by the way he acted.

He got through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my sister and her husband, and the day after Christmas with his daughter and grandson.

On the 27th, late at night, he said, "I better go to the hospital."

New Year's morning, 2012, he said, "I love you, Sweetheart."  I kissed him and he squeezed my hand and a few minutes later, he gently passed.

He was simply a fine, good man, who came into my life and changed it forever.