It's Officially Spring

Because the hummingbirds are here! We were sitting on the deck yesterday afternoon enjoying the nice day. Something buzzed by me and it was a hummer. It must have been one of last year's crowd because it went to all 4 of the places I had feeders last year and then I swear this bird gave me a dirty look! I immediately jumped up and ran inside, found the feeders, washed them and filled them. Then I got them up and within 5 minutes the bird returned. There were as many as 15 at any one time last year, it was tricky to go out in the back yard and dodge them! There are now 2 here, one is a male ruby throat but the other one has not been still long enough for me to decide on breed or gender. But the first one was not happy to have competition for the food! It was not a mating flight, either - they were chasing each other away from the food and nearly ran into me. This is the earliest I've ever seen them. One of them was all over my iris plants.

It's been a month today since my surgery and I feel really good. Better than I have for a very long time in fact.

Otter and I cornered the dogs and bathed them this afternoon. We managed to get Frasier mostly dry before he got away from us, then he spent about 10 minutes running up and down the yard rubbing his wet fur on the neighbor's fence. Maggie was hard to catch, she saw what happened to him and she was having no part of it! We eventually got her and bathed her but she got away from us before we could get her really dry. Of course the first thing she did was roll in the grass that was mowed this morning, so she was covered, then the second thing she did was find some dirt! After about 30 minutes of staying away from us, she came back to us and I took the towel to her to get as much of the grass off of her as possible but she was dry enough that I couldn't get much dirt off. But at least she doesn't smell like she did before the torture session!

Another one for Thursday!

Froggy got the right answer from the joke a few days ago: The horse's name was Friday!

Another comment I'd like to post:

Boy her dumplings were bad. But dad always said that they were good. Every time we went somewhere we had to stop and talk to the babies, Dad was just as bad as Mom was about this. Remember the meal we called slumgullon (?). It was good, but what was in it? Fo you remember the Halloween she made stew in the hollowed out pumpkin shell? It was not a hit. Maybe the secret to her cooking was she was not afraid to try new things. I miss her too.Froggy

Slumgullion was made with okra and that was why I did not like it. The pumpkin stew in a shell did not turn out too good, but she followed the recipe she was given so I don't think that was her fault!

More Clara-isms!

Froggy left these comments on the previous posting, but I thought that they should be repeated and posted for everyone to see!

Remember the time that she made hamburgers, took one out to Jessie, in her apt, came in and we all ate. Them Mom discovered a piece of meat that was left over. She had forgotten to put the meat in Jessie's hamburger. Jessie ate a bun with tomatos, pickles, lettuce, and always laughed about it.When we moved, Dad was sick so you, me, and Mom moved all the rocks. I don't think we left even one tiny pebble behind.I remember she used to save empty veg. cans,cut out the ends and then we could use these to make tunnels in the mud.She never had many plants when we were little, because the flower beds were always where we played and built tunnels, mud pies, etc. She did always grow violets, so we could take the flowers to our teachers.

I do remember the meatless hamburger that Aunt Jessie had. And I remember the violets. I think we did move the rocks, but I remember the movers being amused by it so we must have been loading them when they were there, or possibly unloading them at the new house as they were bringing the furniture.

I also remember the dumplings! Mom was a wonderful cook. She could cook anything she put her mind to. EXCEPT DUMPLINGS! They were like rocks, no other word for it. It became a family joke, but I think she was as amused by it as everyone else was. However, she had another talent that I wish I had: Mom could take any left overs she had and no matter how strange they might sound, she always made a meal that was satisfying and tasted great. I remember some strange things together, but they were always good at the time!

And she never met a baby she didn't have to hold and cuddle.

I really miss her.

Clara-isms and Things She Taught Me

We lost her 6 years ago tomorrow. I've really missed her a lot more lately, mostly since I was sick. I guess we are never really too old to need our mommies when we are sick. There are a lot of things I remember, some of them became family legends. Like Uncle Dave daring Mom to get on my pogo stick and she took the dare. Which was followed shortly thereafter with a run to the ER and I think she had to have surgery to repair the torn hamstring muscle. That one definitely became a legend! And the story was told frequently, I think that is one for the ages.

Then there was the time we moved. And Mom moved her rocks, which had been in a rock garden and various places around the yard. I remember the moving guys being amused by it. But we've all inherited that from her, I moved my rocks when I moved and Otter has quite a collection of her own - some of which she got from her Grammy, who was thrilled that Otter liked rocks as much as she did. And there are at least a few rocks that we share custody of - speaking of which Froggy, it's my turn now!

And the marbles! Who can forget how she always used to say she'd lost her marbles. And then a certain neice of mine (Kimberly, this means you) who was pretty young at the time when she first heard that comment from Grammy. And Kimberly told her that they weren't lost, they were out in the back yard in the rock garden!

Mom told me a story once, she was very young and heard her father refer to a woman in the neighborhood who was a streetwalker. When asked, he told his young daughter that meant she made her money on the street but he didn't elaborate. So then the young Clara decided that she wanted to be a streetwalker when she grew up - after all, all the lady had to do was walk up and down the street and she'd find money!

She taught me to cook and to this day I still make beans and Spanish rice like she did. Lots of good memories there. I'm carrying on the tradition with Otter. She taught me at a very young and that there was nothing I could not do, I was capable of anything, and that girls could do anything they wanted to. And I've always been very grateful to her for that lesson. She taught us to love animals, and she let me adopt nearly every stray I brought home. And there were plenty! We used to go to the zoo more times than I could count, and Mom enjoyed it as much as we did. She made the best hamburgers in the world. There were times when money must have been tight, but we never realized it - pickle sandwiches were a treat, and I never realized that it was probably because of a tight financial situation. To this day, when I am tired or not feeling good it's a pickle sandwich that makes me feel better. I remember mashed bean sandwiches, which might have been for the same reason or might have just been because they were good. And then there was the time she made tamales. They were wonderful, and fun & messy to make but I seem to recall she only made them a few times because they were a lot of work.

One of my best memories is of being Baptized with Mom. It made a special moment even more special.

She was one of the most loving people I've ever known or ever will know. She took in her sister who had been crippled with polio as a teenager and I don't remember her ever complaining.

When Bill & I got back together after our troubles, she was the first one to welcome him back and I know how much he appreciated it.

Coffee in the afternoon! And I think I was usually allowed to have a cup, even though I must have been in about 3rd grade when I first started drinking it.

For many years, Mom never went anywhere without her glass of iced tea. She used a plastic Pearl Beer stein most of the time. It's now sitting on my desk holding pens. One time Dad got on her for the fact that it was a beer glass, she was on her way to a tupperware party at the time and she told him that if she had a wreck they'd be able to tell it was not beer!

She made the best peach cobbler ever. And Dad usually would eat as much of them as he could as I recall! Wish I had one of them now.

Is it Monday again?

Realized about an hour ago that we missed Sweetie's birthday! It was last Friday. I called her already and apologized. The thing is that I know 3 people who have 4/20 as a birthday and I think I missed them all this year! URGH!

Website to check out: http://www.cuteoverload.com/ It's fun, very cute and family friendly.

This one's funny too: http://www.stuffonmycat.com/

Here's a fun way to waste time: http://chir.ag/stuff/sand/

Something a friend sent me: At three minutes and four seconds after 2 AM on the 6th of May this year, the time and date will be 02:03:04 05/06/07. I remember 12:34 p.m. on May 6, 1978 - on a digital clock it was 12345678.

Well, since no one else has submitted any jokes I've been forced to post one of my own!

If a cowboy rode into town on Friday and left three days later on Friday. How the heck did it happen?

(I never said it was a particularly good joke, just the first one I came up with.) Check back later for the answer, unless anyone actually wants to guess. It's not hard! However, since the Aggie Mom never gave me a joke she should be warned: Aggie jokes are no longer off-limits!!!

Wonderful, Fantastic Thursday!

Someone, I won't name her but it ryhmes with Doggie, told me that I needed to come up with a better title after Wednesday's boring one. Happy now?!

I saw this poem on a web board I belong to and I though it was really nice:

When the week is finally over,
It is wonderful to go
And putter in my garden
Where I watch the flowers grow.
It is pleasant in my garden
As I cultivate my seeds;
I plant and hoe and water
And I clear away the weeds.
Though it's frantic at the theater,
Here I leave that all behind,
And the calm within my garden
Gives this frog some peace of mind.
--Kermit the Frog

I think we could all learn a lesson or two from Kermit the Frog. Even if it's just a rock garden as in my case, since we decided not to put in a vegetable garden after all this year. We were going to, but my illness and recovery kind of put a crimp in any plans that involved physical work. But I'm probably going to get a couple of jalepeno plants and maybe a tomato plant or two and put those in pots. Last year we had bell peppers planted in the back flower bed. And we discovered that Maggie thought they were irrisistable, she ate most of them and the ones she didn't eat she carried inside and played with! Like I said before, she's insane.

Today is the 12th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing and the 14th anniversary of Waco. Two things that happened that are "where were you" moments, unforgettable. The shootings in Virginia were just horrible, really heartbreaking. Makes me even more convinced that I should just lock the front door and never let the Otter leave!

So, Froggy - when are you coming to see me? Bring my rocks with you.

Boring Wednesday Middle of the Week

Ok, so I couldn't think of a good title for today!

I'm doing pretty good, I managed to work all day Monday and then I didn't feel too good Tuesday so I came home at noon. Then today I managed to stay all day. I am over most of the effects of the pancreatitis, I just get tired easily still and I can't really lift anything. There are a few things I can't do, but I'm much better than I was.

Still waiting on jokes I can post here! What do I have to do, come up with a prize??!! I know you have funny jokes. And probably even some family friendly ones, too. :)

Mom's been on my mind lately. I know it's because we lost her in April, the anniversary is next week. So siblings of mine, and neices & nephews as well, how about some memories? I have a bunch, I know you do as well. One in particular is the trip to Hominy, OK and the pogo stick. And then Dad rushing her to the hospital because she'd torn a hamstring muscle since she was crazy enough to take Uncle Dave's dare and actually get on the thing! Oh and we can't forget the rocks that she moved from one house to another. Anybody else got any they care to share? One thing that I always remember is knowing that she was always going to be there for us and she was always involved with school, pta, choir, whatever we had going on and I am thankful for that.

Otter's birthday party was a sucess. She had a great time and so did her guests. The cake was good, they had ice cream cups & cokes and they made regular trips to the snack bar. Mostly for candy! But all that sugar was put to good use, they spent several hours zipping around the skating rink and they were all pretty tired when the party was over. She got a lot of presents and she enjoyed the entire party. Considering that her birthday was the day after I came home from the hospital and we had to put off her birthday dinner, I am really glad that we gave her a party this year. Her birthday dinner was fun, too. It was at Golden Corral, or as Dad used to call it the Hog Trough.

So that's it for today!

Sunday again!

Party Day for Otter! She's been on the phone for a while, I've lost count of how many times the phone rang but they've all been for her. Typical teenage girl! Bill is still amazed at how much teenage girls can talk and they never seem to stop to take a breath. What's really fun is when she has sleepovers, Bill kind of loses his mind.

I'm feeling much better today, yesterday was better than I have been in the recent past but still not as good a day as I've been having. But I am getting there, I just realized that I have been sick for weeks and frankly I'm tired of it! I didn't realize that I'd been unwell for some time, until I started to feel better the last few days. I would like to encourage anyone with symptoms similar to the ones I had to please not wait - call the doctor immediately! Pancreatits can be fatal if left untreated. And it takes forever to get over. My back is not bothering me nearly as much as it was, it was mostly muscles reacting and the surgeon's office said that I can take Advil which does seem to work. But it is very hard for me not to be able to do things.

We think that Maggie Beagle is literally insane. She is just crazy. No other word for it, the dog is nutso! And she hardly ever runs out of speed. She's so much fun and she drives Frasier nuts, too.

Froggy, I'm not sure how you are going to manage it but you'd better find room in your suitcase for the rocks when you come see me this summer. You know which rocks I mean.

Still waiting on jokes! I might have to come up with some of my own at this rate. And one of these days I'm going to learn how to post pictures here, too. When I get around to it, it's not hard to add things on here.

Middle of the week already!

I managed to make it to noon today before I gave up and left work. I have been in a lot of pain, but it's mostly the muscles in my mid-back. I took a pain pill last night and slept well, until 4:15 a.m. when one of my suncatchers fell out of the window and scared Frasier! I heard him running out the dog door, and then he snuck back in a few minutes later. Poor goosey dog! Anyway, I woke up better than last night but it's been hard today because my back is being so strange!

Bill got home from the auction with a loaded van. He did buy a bed frame & headboard for Otter after all. It's for a double bed, the headboard is wood and it's nice. It's not huge, but it's one that she saw at the auction and really liked. And since he only paid $5.00 for it, it's perfect! We'll get a new mattress and box springs in the near future - the headboard needs a good cleaning and polishing, which I'm not up to yet. She's going to have to rearrange her room a little bit, the bed is quite a bit bigger but we'll figure it out.

He bought a bunch of other stuff, but I have no idea what is in the majority of the boxes. I might get into them a little later, but I still can't lift or do anything strenuous so I might have to wait for him to get home from work. Hopefully, there is something in there I can eBay!

Froggy, I agree with you regarding Imus and his comments. I'm just tired of hearing about Anna Nicole Smith all the time, especially some of the reports that sound like they are worshipping her and with what I've been told by someone who knew her, they are so far off the mark it's ridiculous. But Imus really put his foot in it, I'm not sure which is worse - the racial comment about nappy hair or the fact that he essentially called them all whores! I guess that they are both about the same, just plain despicable.

I'm still waiting for jokes! I know you must all have them. So bring them on!

Exhausting Week! And it's only Tuesday...

I managed to go to work yesterday, Monday. I made it until 10:00 before giving up and going home. After I got home, I took a nice long 2+ hour nap and felt much better.

Today I made it to 11:30 before I ran out of steam. I was also in a little pain, so I decided I'd better head home. I didn't nap today, but I did rest until it was time to get Otter from school. There was an auction tonight that I met Bill at because it had furniture and we are looking for a bigger bed for Otter. The furniture was not what we are looking for, but I stayed at the auction because of a specific item I wanted - which we didn't get because it went for way more than I wanted to pay - and so I wound up staying way, way too long. I sat down as much as I could, but it was pretty cold and I probably should have left at least an hour before I did. I got home ok, but I will probably take a pain pill tonight. Before you all start yelling at me, I already know that I overdid it today! And I will probably pay for it tomorrow. But I really am doing a lot better, and I'm much better than I was at this time last week. But I promise to take it easy as much as I can for the next few days!

I have stayed away from the Anna Nicole Smith story, but I'd like to put my 2 cents worth in. The woman was "plain ole white trash" and nothing but. Nobody murdered her, it was an accidental overdose, and the paternity question has now been answered. So can "we" (the media) all go on to the next story now? My 90 year old boss was very good friends with the rich old man she married, he met her several times and he said that it was extremely obvious to everyone except her husband that she was a gold-digger and nothing else. She didn't even try to hide it, and she used her physical attributes to blind Mr. Marshall to what she was really after. So I am kind of tired of all the stories about her! Just my opinion, folks.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox. For now at least!

In case you can't tell, I'm tired and a little grouchy tonight. I guess I'd better work on that!

I'm thinking I need to have a contest. Not for a prize, just for fun. Anybody got any jokes that they'd like me to post? Email them to me, please - family friendly only. And nothing disrespectful to our President. French jokes are fine, however! Even Texan jokes will be considered. However, I will try to restrain myself from posting Aggie jokes even though I am a loyal Longhorn fan - I'm actually very proud of my nephew Paul who's off at A & M. As long as he didn't pick OU and the Sooners as a school, I am happy! Although my father would probably disagree with me about OU, we always just agreed to disagree one particular weekend in October.

Easter Sunday

Halelujah! He is risen! Christ is risen indeed!

That's the greeting at church as soon as everyone is seated, we always say it and since this is Easter I felt led to post it here. Sometimes I think that the emphasis on Easter has changed, it seems like people are more interested in a rabbit and chocolate candy instead of what Easter really means and is about.

We went to church this morning, it was nice to get up and actually get dressed for a change. For the most part, I've been living in my pj's the last 2 weeks. Church was not as crowded as I expected it to be for some reason. But I still enjoyed it. After we got home, I attempted to take a nap but I never could fall asleep but I did get a nice, hour-long rest.

We had a nice meal at the local in-law's house, and Otter got more candy over there so she was happy. Peeps, peeps and more peeps! When she was little, just a couple of those things would set her up for a sugar high that would last for hours! They should carry warning labels! But they are good.

Froggy, when we talked earlier you mentioned your trip this summer to see me. I just want you to know that I am going to hold you to that promise, you have to come see me! No excuses will be accepted if you try to wiggle out of it! :) And Toadles, you should find a reason to head my direction this year too! Nobody, nobody at all from my side of the family has seen my house and we've been here nearly 3 years. I think it's about time that one of you come to see me. Past time in fact.

Good Friday

I forgot about it being Good Friday until just a little while ago. Last Good Friday, we went to church but this year we are staying home. I'm feeling much better but I still get tired easily. I did manage to get some laundry done, so I wasn't totally lazy today.

However, I did get out all by myself today! I went to the post office to check the box and I stopped at Wallyworld to get the dvd that Otter wanted for her birthday. She knew about it, I just was unable to get it before her birthday since I was in the hospital that week. She saw it when he got home from school just now, she was happy about it. Of course, I've got her doing chores at the moment so she's probably not so happy anymore!

I miss Easter Eggs! Otter is too old for them now, I think we quit that when she turned 12. But I always enjoyed dyeing them, and we always turned them into deviled eggs and I think that's what I miss. I might boil about 6 eggs so I can make deviled eggs for Sunday. Now that I think about it, that sounds like a good idea.

I found a depression glass vase at a thrift store, the week before I got sick. I posted it on eBay on Wednesday. Last time I checked, it was up to $30.00. I only paid $1.50 for it! I'm kind of amazed, I knew it would sell but I didn't think it would be that much of a profit margin. WOW!!

I think it's Thursday

I have lost track of the days this week, but I think it's Thursday!

I saw the surgeon today. 30 minutes after my appointment time, someone else who was there asked me what time my appointment was. We discovered that we both had the same time, and so did another person who was waiting. I don't like doctors who stack patients like that! I asked the clerk how much longer, since my appointment was closer to 45 minutes late by that point and she said that the doctor wasn't even there. She called the hospital and apparently he had decided to assist in a procedure, knowing that he had people waiting in his office. I informed her that I DO NOT WAIT (Bill was ready to walk out and I have been known to myself) and that I didn't appreciate being stacked, and that I wasn't waiting much longer. All of a sudden the doctor shows up and he spent about 30 seconds looking at my incisions, then took the bandaids off, told me everything looks good and that I don't have to come back to see him unless I have problems. He did tell me that I can start eating regular food and that I might have to watch out for a few tummy problems in the near future.

We stopped at Wallyworld to get a couple of things so that Otter will get something for Easter (she reads this so I'm not telling), and I picked up a cooked chicken from their deli. It was delicious! Finally, real food! I noticed that I got full very fast.

I am going to stay home tomorrow, I am much better and enjoyed getting out of the house today but I am pretty tired now. I will go back to work on Monday and then see how it goes. With any luck I will be able to work the entire day, but my work days are short already since I'm part-time. I'm wondering if the top of my desk is even visible, since I will have been gone for 2 weeks.

I'd also like to know what happened to Spring! It was just about freezing last night and very cool today. Tonight and the next few nights are supposed to be cold, we could get a hard freeze tomorrow and Saturday nights. All the plants are now inside, the tulips should be ok but they are nearly done with blooms anyway, and I hope that my bluebonnets survive! They are full of blooms, and I have enjoyed them but I'd like to have them a little longer!

Tuesday's Doctor Visit

I saw the doctor today, she said that everything looks good. She also said that the weakness I have is normal, because along with the surgery I also have to get over a pretty bad case of pancreatitis. And she suggested that I not even attempt to go in to work this week, which was what I was already considering. I think I am going to take her advice and not even try to go in to work. I was absolutely exhausted just from the doctor trip today. We did stop at the grocery store but only for milk and that was a run-in, run-out trip. Ok, so I shuffled-in, shuffled-out but you get the picture! Anyway, I could not get back to my couch fast enough after we got home! I see the surgeon on Thursday and I am considering taking myself, since it's just a few miles from home. I am going to see how I do tomorrow and then decide.

I've lost 7 pounds since I was admitted to the hospital, which means that I have lost a total of 22 pounds since mid-January. I'm sure that some of the original weight loss was affected by the pancreatitis, but I'm not going to complain about that. I'm trying to find a silver lining here. 7 pounds in a week is extreme, and not anything I want to continue with but I'm not really surprised given the fact that I've been living on jello and broth for several days! However, I am beginning to be able to eat normal food now and I am going to be careful but not too extreme. I branched out today, I had vegetarian vegetable soup. Yes, the alphabet kind!

The electric company left a hanger on my door. They will be out Thursday to replace the transformer box that is in my back yard. I've already called and talked to the guy, since he left his cell phone on the hanger, and he assured me that the dogs will not be let out. They will have the power off from noon until 4:00, I will be here until at least 2:00 and then the doctor appointment is at 2:30. If they haven't gotten finished, I'm going to block the dogs in the garage where they can't get out at all since it will just be about 1 1/2 hours until the Otter gets home from school and can let them back into the house. I don't trust the electric company too much right now, considering the last incident with the beagle! And since Frasier the big dog can get out of just about anything, I don't trust them to get all the blocks back in the right place either!

Sister of mine, you are right - we had better get busy planning our summer visit. But you are the only one who has to plan, I just have to be at the airport to pick you up and then take you back there in a few days! SO GET BUSY GIRL!

A Lot Has Happened Lately!

On Sunday, March 25, I was hospitalized for what turned out to be pancreatitis and I had surgery on Thursday, March 29. My gall bladder was removed. I'm told it was very full of gall stones.

I've been having stomach related health problems for several weeks, but we kept thinking it was either a bug or something I'd eaten. I've had several instances where I would throw up and then not really be any better and frequently I was in a lot of pain. On Saturday the 24th, shortly after I went to bed, I was up in the bathroom throwing up and stayed there most of the night. Literally every hour, sometimes 2 or 3 times per hour. About 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning, I realized that it was not "normal" and I told Bill we needed to get me to the doctor. I really had no concept of time, I didn't realize it had been so many hours until he told me what time it really was. He took me to the emergency room, I was thinking that they would give me a shot to relax my stomach muscles or something like that. Instead, they hooked me up to an IV and gave me at least 2 bags of fluids quickly - I was pretty dehydrated - and then they started blood work. The blood work showed pancreatitis, which the doctor explained is an inflammation of the pancreas usually caused by it being blocked by something. He thought it was my gall bladder, so he sent me to get a sonogram and they also gave me a pain shot which helped a lot. The sonogram showed what they suspected.

From that point until Wednesday, I had nothing at all by mouth but I was so drugged up that I really didn't care! I had the IV's, so I really did not notice it anyway. At one point on Wednesday, my blood sugar got dangerously low so the IV bags were changed to the type with glucose in them and then my blood sugar got back to where it needed to be. I am not diabetic, but one of the side effects of a blocked pancreas is that blood sugar levels go crazy. After the surgery, I had to have 2 insulin shots because that also caused it to rise. Starting on Wednesday, they started feeding me again - jello & clear broth! Which actually was like a gourmet meal since I'd had nothing for several days.

The surgery was on Thursday, I'm told it's normally performed as outpatient which is surprising. Because of the massive pancreatitis I had, outpatient was never an option but I wasn't complaining! The surgery went well, I had ice packs to keep on the 4 incision sites until Friday morning. The surgery was laparoscopic, so the incicisions are not big sliced spots but rather are small areas where the camera and instruments were inserted, and then one larger one where the gall bladder was removed. They are not that bad actually, I'll probably have some scarring but it's a price I'll gladly pay!

I came home on Friday afternoon, and I will probably not go back to work for several days. The doctor said that normal recovery from this type of surgery is 3 days to a week, but that because I also have to recover from the pancreatitis that it will probably be closer to a week. I see my doctor on Tuesday and the surgeon on Thursday. I'm unable to drive so Bill will take me on Tuesday and then I'll decide about the rest of the week. But I'm not in a hurry to go back to work, I have a well-earned reputation for doing too much too soon!

In the meantime, Otter is probably feeling like slave labor! She's done a lot for me, and I do appreciate all the work. It might sound like a fun thing, to stay in bed all day and do nothing but I suggest you try it and then you will see that it is not nearly as fun as it sounds! I can't even unload the dishwasher, I can't lift anything over 15 pounds and I am not supposed to do much of anything. I get tired from just walking down the hall so I'm not in a hurry to do anything anyway. But it does get frustrating at times!

Otter turned 15 on Saturday, Bill brought her a small cake from Wallyworld so we were able to at least acknowledge her birthday. Her presents will have to wait, we told her what we intended to get her and her party is not until the 15th anyway. Her birthday dinner has been temporarily postponed.

Also, our friend Larry passed away last week. He was a good friend and we will miss him. His death was not unexpected, it was advanced cancer but it was a lot sooner than we thought. His funeral was Wednesday.

The dogs seem glad that I'm home. Maggie was bouncy and silly, Frasier came in and immediately put his head in my lap. He stayed that way for about 30 minutes, just making sighing sounds and not moving away from me. I think maybe he was happy!