I see to only get a journal entry made about once a month. Guess that means I have things in life to distract me from here!

The November/December weekend, I went to Milwaukee for a Christmas concert my daughter was in. It was great to see her as well as her boyfriend and my SIL and her husband. It did snow that weekend and I ended up being gone a lot longer than originally planned. I did not have to get back for anything so was able to wait until the storm passed and roads cleared.

We kept on getting snow about every other day for about 10 days. I am so ready for Spring!

This last weekend, found us back in Milwaukee for daughter's graduation. She finished her BA with a double major in 3 1/2 years and graduated *** Laude!. She is taking this next semester off and working. She will then move closer to BF (and us) and go back to school to get her teaching certificate. She decided about 6 months ago she wants to teach after all. The BF thing is serious.

After I got back the first time, I had a couple of Christmas parties and one of them I was on the program committee. The next day, I was down with the nasty respiratory bug. Did get an antibiotic which helped but not completely. Still dealing with the drainage and cough.

Well, now I need to get some serious cleaning done. I seem to work better under pressure. Thursday, I pick up my youngest at the airport which is 3 hours away. He has a two week leave from training. Older son will be home either Friday night or Saturday and took vacation time so he can be here the whole week. Daughter has to work and will get here on Thursday with the BF. They will be here about 24 hours and then off to see his family. It will be great to have all 3 here for even a short time.

Hope everyone has a Merry and Blessed Christmas. Take time to reflect on the reason we celebrate Christmas, Christ's birth.

Jane

Wow, it has been 3 months since I posted anything?! Part of that has been due to my very sporadic internet connection. They tell me new equipment is on the way, but I will believe it when I see it.

Younger son graduated basic training 3 weeks ago and has moved to his job training, which he is waiting for it to start. He will be home today for a couple of days and then back to base. He gets to come home for 2 weeks at Christmas.

Older son is waiting to pick up his brother today at the airport and then the two will drive here (about 3 hours). Suppose to be cold but good roads.

Daughter is on a mission trip this week so she will be missing from the family table. We know she is enjoying her week and it will be one that will show she has much to be thankful for in a new way.

Weather has turned cold here. Most of the state got snow yesterday. We are in the part in the north that did not receive snow. I am so not ready for winter weather.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Just stopping in to write a quick update before I head out for a wedding reception.

Daughter got home and is back at school now. She moved up a week early to get settled in her apartment and to get her classes changed. She is doing well.

Youngest son left for Basic Training yesterday. Got a quick phone call from him this afternoon. Silly boy had already misplaced his prepaid phone card. How one can do that with so little is beyond me. OH well, his first 24 hours have gone well.

Oldest son keeps calling today. He is hanging around the observation area for an Extreme Makeover Home Edition build in the Twin Cities. The family grew due to the deaths of the mothers sister. The sister's husband was killed in a car wreck a few years ago and then in the last year, the sister was killed by her boyfriend in a domestic abuse situation. The family took in her kids. Son is impressed at how fast it all goes. Demolition happened on Thursday and he can't believe how much is up already.

It FINALLY quit raining here. We had ran and thunderstorms for 8 straight days. Sun would peek out for a little bit and then it would rain again. We are very saturated right now. Glad to see the sun today. There have been areas hit harder than we were with flooding.

Well, that is my quick update.

Well, that last couple of weeks have been interesting. Two weeks ago today, my DD returned from studying in Germany for 6 months. It was great seeing her again. We then did some car shopping and she found a car to purchase.

Once, we actually got home, we needed to get ready for a house full of people on the weekend. My nieces is a missionary teaching English in Taiwan and our church has supported her so she was coming to give a presentation on her work. That was a fast weekend as they had to leave after dinner on Sunday as did wee.

We headed off to see Spamalot on Sunday evening up in the Twin Cities. Spend Monday doing some shopping before returning home.

Wednesday, my DD is online and her brother tells her he is glad 35W is not on his commute as the bridge over the river collapsed, go turn on Fox. We did and what we saw was incredible. Now, we were not on that freeway on Sunday or Monday, but on Sunday, we were on 94 which crosses 35W only a few miles south of the collapse.

Relatives up there were also no where near the bridge. Son fielded calls and emails. I also received a couple of emails asking how far son was from there.

Friday, son came home and the whole family was home. Sunday, I left with DD and younger son to go to Nebraska. Left DD at her cousin's and son and I headed out to see Grandma. We may add another day on and go further west to the town we lived in in the 90's as son has not been there in 7 years.

Two weeks and DD will be back at college and younger son will be heading off to basic training. You know, people get all concerned that he is going in the Army. Funnything is, the day he went to the center to enlist was the day of the Virginia Tech shootings. Last week was the bridge collapse. Just makes us stop to thingk the even though we think we are safe here, that things still do happen.

Well, should head back over to my mom's (she is in a nursing home).

I was struggling with staying awake is why. Now, at 2:30 in the morning, I am really wondering why though.

I have finally returned to working on my quilt tops. After the broken arm and all the stuff called "life" that got in the way, i am finally doing it again. I have to finish the shashing on one and get it to the quilter's. Have another one ready to cut and put the shashing on. I just might have some to donate to worthy causes finally.

Why do kids have to pull pranks? This evening, the phone rings. It was the Marine Recruiter wanting to talk with my son as he had sent in a request for more information. Now I am very confused by this. I am trying to get more information from him. Find out, the request was sent in by way of the website in June. Then he asks if son is interested in the military. Well, you could say so. I told him that son had signed with the Army back in April so I don't understand this request for info from the Marines. Must have been someone who sent the name, address and phone in as a joke. Told son about this and he was not happy. Wastes time for the recruiter making calls and such when one is definitely not interested. Also, anyone who knows my son, knows the only way to reach him in the summer is his cell phone. If my son had filled it out, he would have given that number.

11 days til daughter returns from Germany!!

41 days til son leaves for Basic Training!!

We had a nice weekend. My DH's cousin was getting married in a state park and had asked him to play his cello for the wedding. He played pre and post service as well as the processional. We went over on Friday for the rehearsal and it was great to see the relatives that evening. The cousin has two brothers, one lives in LA and the other in NYC and they were both here. Great talking with them.

The wedding was held in a state park in the northwest of Iowa about a mile from South Dakota. Each time we got in and out of the car, the A/C had to work to cool us off. It was forecasted to be 99 degrees at the time of the wedding. There was a light breeze but a hot breeze. Fortunately, the reception was in the lodge which was airconditioned! I helped serve the punch at the reception. They had a bluegrass band play which was nice. It was great going to a wedding reception where the music was not blaring and you could actually talk with those you wanted to.

Sunday, we went over to S.D. to the bride and groom's new home for the opening of gifts. I must say, we all had a good time. This is a second wedding for both and they are both very happy. I knew when they first started dating and the groom brought her here for a celebration we had, that we would be attending their wedding.

Pet Peeves: My MIL was not very thrilled with our youngest's enlistment in the Army. We have even downplayed the possibility of going to Iraq due to his job in the Army. Well, she asks us in the car on the way out to the park, about him having second thoughts. She worded it like she thought he had to be having second thoughts. The answer is a resounding "NO!" I think that disappointed her.

Aother pet peeve has to do with motels. Why is it that people think when they come in to a motel at 2 a.m. that they can carry on a party in the hallways? I was about to call the desk when it got quiet. DH found out in the morning that the owners had to chase them to their rooms. Guess this is a problem many weekends there (as well as other places). They placed the group in the early 20's and had been drinking, of course. I wonder if they get use to being noisy when they come in in their dorm rooms at college or their own apartments that they forget they are in a public place with strangers who probably want to sleep.

Another peeve is the way motels are built. We got in about 11 or so after going for drinks with the two cousins and their wives after the reception. Decided to use the whirlpool tub that we paid extra to have. Found out in the a.m. the the MIL (in the next room) heard a noise and wondered what it was, we think it was the sound of the jets. Grrrrr!!!!!! The last couple of hotels we had been in, you could not hear your neighbors at all! I love those kinds of places.

My last one is about live entertainment in bars. Ok, we don't go to them very often, but there is not much open in small town USA late on a Saturday night. The first one we went to had a band, which was good, but we could not talk. After one round, we went to the other one in town, which did not have live music and we could talk. We had another round as well as pizza and breadsticks.

I think that takes care of my peeves for the time being.

We did get a storm or two through here last night, which cooled things down to, oh, about 85 degrees. Hey, that is about 10 - 15 degrees cooler than the weekend.

Well, I have to get busy cleaning for company the last weekend of July. I know it is early to think about that now, but with all the ocmings and goings, I am behind and have lots to do as well as being away most of the week before.

Have a great week all. Keep cool!

Well, the convention was super wonderful! I expected it to be. It was the national convention of the women's group of my church. One of the main things is to determine the mission projects for the next two years. The new mission goal is 1.7 million dollars. In the next two years, this will be met with money coming from all over the U.S. We will be funding 18 mission projects around the world. Another highlight is representatives from the last 2 years projects speak about their missions. There is comic relief, entertainment and fellowship that goes on. I saw so many people I have not seen in a long time which was great. Also met the new director of the mission organization that sponsors the mission trips I have gone on.

We also did some retail therapy and lots of eating. The four of us usually don't purchase the meal plan and go out to eat instead. Gives us the opportunity to get away as well as check out local cuisine.

My medical tests. Well, the 6 hour blood pressure was well within normal range using the small amount of BP med I am on. She wants to do an MRI to define an abnormality of the arteries to the kidneys, which she is fairly sure is a benign condition. Then I will probably go on a low dose cholesteral lowering med. I am also to lose weight and exercise more. Now I already knew that and had been taking steps in that direction.

Our temps have gone from the 90's to the upper 70's which is so very nice.

Well, after owning my minivan for 8 years, which has 185,000 miles on it, I decided it was time to start looking for a new car as well as one with better gas mileage. Was going to go for a used one a couple of years old, but it looks like I will be getting a new one! Am going to get a Honda Fit. These are smaller cars, comporable in size to the Toyota Corolla (which we drove one on vacation). Talked with the dealer today and am now waiting for one to come in that meets my specifications. Should be sometime in July. These cars sell very fast. I also like the idea of one as no one in my area has one that I have seen.

I think this catches me up here. Now to get caught up on laundry and cleaning!!

Well, Thursday noon I will be off again. Off to the convention. I am so looking forward to this. I am not a delegate so get to sit back and relax. We tend to go shopping during one of the tedious business sessions. I really need to get the information out that I need to have with me.

Monday, I drive up to Rochester for the results of my tests. At least the appointment is late enough where I can just go up in the morning. What the doctor says that day will probably determine my next few weeks. Hopefully all I need is meds if that much.

After that, it looks like things will settle down. Keeping my fingers crossed there. Then I should be able to get some decluttering done as well as some sewing and quilting.

When I left you, I was getting ready for vacation. It is hard to imagine that has come and gone already.

We had a great time in Florida in spite of the fact that the two main reasons for going did not work out. Wanted to get together with two cousins. Well, S got called out of town for work so did not get to see her. L was busy with work too (self employed professional musician) as he has to work when he has jobs.

We went to the Kennedy Space Center, Epcot, Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay Devilrays game, a dinner theater (Dolly Parton's Dixieland Stampede) and also some lazying around. Got in on Tropical Storm Barry on Friday night. Lots and lots of rain. It was downgraded on Saturday morning though.

When we returned home, we had problems with our internet. We have the slowest DSL around and it grinds to a halt once in a while. Had to replace the modem and it still works sporadicaly. We are too far out for the higher speed on the old equipment they use. New equipments is suppose to be installed "sometime this summer."

Then one night when I went to close my laptop, something happened with the hinge. Had to send if off to Apple. Thank goodness it was covered by my Applecare.

Friday, I had a checkup with my oncologist. As far as the cancer goes, I am still in the clear!! Now, my BP likes to run high at doctor's offices and it was the highest ever. It has been creeping up over the years anyway. So, getting worked up for that. So, today, had to go back to Rochester for some tests for that. Get results next Monday.

Saturday, I went to Sioux City to hear the most awesome guitarist in concert. Did I mention said guitarist is my cousin. He has played with many well known groups from the 70's and 80's as well as solo. Solo is his preference though and he has 6 solo albums. We had not seen each other in way too many years so it was great to see him perform as well as hang with him for a little while after the concert.

Thursday, I am off to Sioux Falls for a convention. Throw a little shopping in there too. The four of us who go have a great time! Now to figure out what to pack for hot days and look good, not that I can do much about that (did I say the doctor says I should lose about 20 pounds? I say I need to lose about 40)

TTFN

My vacation is finallly getting here! Hurray! We leave tomorrow morning to take the exchange student to the airport. She needs to be there by 1:30 p.m. so we need to leave 10 or so. We leave from the same airport on Tuesday morning and were planning to go up on Monday, just have to leave about 3 or so hours earlier than planned. So I HAVE to pack today.

Tuesday, it is off to Florida! Should be fun. Get to see one of my two cousins there for sure. Have not seen either since I was a very wee one.

Son was able to pay his fine on Thursday. Not sure if it was doubled or not as it is lumped as one amount on the receipt. Will drop his car off at the body shop on the way by later today.

I need to write a letter for another of my students as it seems I probably won't see her again before she leaves. Time gets so short sometimes. The third one leaves after I return from my vacation.

All in all, it was a pretty good year with the exchange students. Have not placed any for fall yet.

Take time to remember those who have served our country, especially those who gave the ulitmate sacrifice so that we may live with the freedoms we have. Even though it seems like those freedoms are fewer all the time, we still have so much to be thankful for. I am hoping that after we leave the airport Monday we can go by the National Cemetary near there.

No one was hurt. Well, there was a passenger in one car that has back problems already and they think this will affect it. I would think the insurance company would look into that. Son hit the one car and it was pushed into a third car. He is doing okay with it. We are going to call on Monday to change the date or to see if they can give us an amount then to send in. I don't understand how the State Patrol had a set fine when I failed to stop and this town's police department does not have it. There must be some difference in the actual charge there. He is going to get the headlight fixed and the body shop is going to flatten the hood so he can have the car this summer. When he goes to Basic Training, I think we will junk it. It has around 220,000 miles on it. During all this, I saw that the driver door was caved in a bit. I guess sometime recently, someone must have backed into it and left. Door works wonderful.

This was in a construction zone where there are changes constantly. It is never the same way two times in a row driving through there and it changes hourly sometimes. Then it was night. The stoplight that was set up was not there yesterday morning which would have been about 13 hours after his accident.

Daughter is feeling better too. My cold is so-so. I hope to take it easy today and finish laundry.

Thanks all for your comments. The girl arrived in August 2006 and was scheduled to go home on June 5. She will be going home a week early now. The girl has had a wonderful time here and has like it. She has many good things to say about her host mom.

I am sure this woman is on some sort of "not allowed to host again" list. I now find out she is upset that I did not sit down and talk with her. Ok, she calls me and tells me the girl has to go. I will probably try to have a rational conversation with her sometime next week. Just on Monday, I had just gotten up as the previous 10 days were hectic and I had woken up with a headache earlier. I am not a morning person either so when I picke up belongings, I was not going to get into a fight. Factor in my sick duaghter and now my cold, it is not a good time to talk with anyone.

Last night, on the way back from training, my son rear ended a car. For some reason, he did not have his current insurance card in the car so now we have to take that to the police department where he was, about 45 miles away. We also need to see if we can change the court date to a Thursday since he goes through that town every Thursday. Apparently, rear ending someone does not have a set fine so one has to appear. Then it will be off to give our insurance company the info on the other car, we only have liability on his car as it is old and has over 200,000 miles on it.

So I think I want a "do over" for this week. Thanks.

This was suppose to be my quiet week!

First, my DD who is studying in Germany has been sick this week. She spent Tuesday evening vomiting, finally found something to settle her tummy down and she got some sleep. She was good on Wednesday, but today has been feeling pretty yucky again. Found something to help with her new symptom and she says she will go to the Doctor on Friday. She is not very patient with herself when she gets sick.

Now my exchange student. I found out that the host mom had gone to her school, pulled her out of class and loudly proclaimed in the hallway what she thought the girl had done and told her she was going home that night. At the house, after the host mom called me and we checked something out on the girl's facebook page, she then would not let her use internet or the telephone and shut off her cell phone. The poor girl did not know what was going on and was frightened and shell shocked.

Well, it is the organization's decidion to make on whether they get sent home, not the host parent or me. I have not found evidence of what the girl was suppose to have done. I do find that the girl and a couple of other unbiased people heard the story 4 months ago, so it did not happen in the last couple of weeks like the host mom alleges.

This host mom listens to all the gossip and says the stories are fact. Says the girl is lying when she asks her and she denies things. We have had to deal with things part of the school year, but now I am coming to believe that many things were based on gossip. I do know that there were two things the girl admitted to doing. Other than that, it is so hard to determine what is truth and what is fiction.

The bad thing is, this host mom is now dragging my son through the mud too. The girl and my son went to town to do errands and for the girl to visit a friend and my son to visit his friends. I got a call asking what was I doing letting her go to town and hang out with boys. She later told another coordinator it was my son, yet she kept using the pural as if there were more than one boy. She then insinuated that my son and this girl would end up in bed together. I think this host mom hates men.

Now, we have raised our sons to respect girls/women. That there is more to them than their bodies. They have not shown me anything to be concerned about to this point. Plus, my youngest is in the process of getting a Top Security Clearance with the Army. He is not going to do anything to jeopardize that as it means so much to him.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ah, that felt better.

May 15? How did the time go by so fast.

Well, we made out trip to Nebraska for the anniversary at the church we were at before coming here. It was great seeing people we had not seen in 8 years. We managed to avoid all the horrible storms but did go through some of the flooded area in Iowa on the way home.

Graduation went well on Sunday. We served ice cream with toppings, root beer on tap and roob beer floats. It was such a hot day and everyone seemd to enjoy the ice cream.

Son is busy working on the Future Soldier program so he can have a promotion upon entering basic training. He leaves on August 22. In the meantime, he will work at the camp he worked at the last two summers. He moves over there next week. He will work a week and then go on vacation with us.

Now, I oversee the stay of exchange students. I have one who has pushed the rules and her host mom called all upset yesterday, took her out of school and had her pack her bags. She is now staying with us until the end of next week. It will mean some driving to get her to school and back, but she will get to finish school before going home. The thing is, there is lots of talk but no verification that she did the things accused of doing. Don't you love gossip and teenage gossip? I don't!!!

She is a sweet girl, but has made some poor decisions this year. Tomorrow will prove to be an interesting day as I let the girl have today off while we sort things out. There have been many telephone calls, including from her parents in Norway.

Well, I need to get ready for a meeting tonight.

Wow, the last week has flown by.

First, I have deep sorrow for the events at Virginia Tech this week. May God grant the families and the University community comfort and peace. That poor boy who seem to have fallen through the cracks and got to such a stage of despair that he would do such a thing to so many other people. Now I wish they would quit showing all that stuff that he sent to NBC. Besides giving a face and a voice to the the shoot, it also kind of says, you do something like this and we will show your "manifesto" to the world over and over again. I really pray that showing all of this does not give another messed up kid a reason to do something similar.

Friday of last week, we took the youngest son out to dinner to discuss the directions he is thinking of going after graduation. He made the decision to enlist in the Army as an Intelligence Analyst. He is on the delayed entry program and will leave for Basic late August, In the meantime, he has some training he can do at the recruiting center which will be a plus when he goes to Basic. After basic, he will go to Arizona for 5 months of training in his field.

Got the FAFSA form filled out for the daughter. The last one!! She will graduate from University in December. Not bad, double major graduating in 3 1/2 years.

Been working on the large pile of laundry. It IS going to seem weird not having as much to do come August when we officially become empty nesters.

Now I need to concentrate on graduation open house plans. The next few weeks are going to be on the busy side.

After all the business is over, the end of May, we will be off to Florida for a week. DH won $1,000 in travel and we applied it to a week in Florida with the new graduate. It has been a long time since we have been there so it will be fun seeing some of the new things. On the agenda is seeing two cousins I have not seen in many many years, Busch Gardens, NASA, Epcot, maybe a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game. Anything else we do will be on a what do we want to do today type schedule.

Well, need to keep busy around here.

Wow, it has been over a month since I posted anything here! Lots has happened in that time, but won't go into all the stuff.

I noticed on MoonMab's blog the question of an acronym. IMHO is "in my humble opinion" AND "in my honest opinion." Here is a site that lists lots of the acronyms one sees in discussions on the web. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_slang

Now, we have had a back and forth between spring and winter. I am really looking forward to warmer weather. Today it is to get to 70 which for what it has been lately will be HOT.

I am now in the middle of a crazy time. This week I need to get graduation announcements out. I am going to cheat and do labels as most that I am sending them to are in my address book on the computer. That will leave getting addresses for the teachers and a few others.

I can't believe that the youngest is about to leave home. Wasn't it yesterday his 24 year old brother was born?

Well, I have lots of laundry to fold and more to get washed as well as other things to get done.

Well, the storm is basically passed. Still very light snow and blowing snow. Many roads are still closed and travel is not advised. Things aren't moving much yet.

We are beginning to get cabin fever. Son has been home from school since Wed. noon. As much as he wanted snow days, he did not want three in one week. Guess he has learned he better watch what he asks for.

Our power has stayed on since it came back on yesterday morning. We are so blessed in that there is a good generator to use. My husband is a pastor and we live next to the church. They had it set up over the weekend and would have hooked it up yesterday but the power stayed on.

Have not heard about oldest son's plans. It is not any better where he is at. The two reasons he wanted to come home are not happening so he would be better off staying there and coming next weekend. He would have just got off of work so I am sure I will hear from him soon.

I had to put off my dentist appointment. Well, beat me to it and called me first. It will be a couple of weeks before I can get in. Hopefully my jaw will be ok until then. It is better than it was last weekend. They did say if they get a cancellation, they would call and I know they will.

Plan on working on my sewing room tomorrow and get junk out of the way and to be able to resume sewing now that my wrist feels much better.

Well, we had the sleet/snow/wind yesterday. Power went out for 1 1/2 hours but that seems to have been so the company could get power back to ones who were still without from the weekend.

Then, about 5:30 it went out again as I just turned on the oven to make supper. Stayed off until 8:30 this morning. Temp dropped about 14 degrees in the house although we were able to keep warm during the night.

Now it is really snowing. Hard to see the road. Looks to be a large amount that we will get. Now if the power would just stay on.

I do hope and pray that those who had not had the power restored from last weekend have sought shelter somewhere.

A navy recruiter is suppose to come this afternoon. Son called and asked to reschedule but got the voicemail. Guess we should get the wash folded and put away just in case he is crazy enough to make the drive here.

Son is having a hard time deciding what to do upon graduation. There is a job that he is interested in in the Navy that would also get him education. Time will tell what he decides to do. He got his ACT scores back and they were good.

Shoud I suddenly go quiet, my power went off again. There is only so much battery power in these laptops and I try to save it for things like school closings, road reports, weather reports.

We are receiving another winter winter storm. The winds are strong, blowing the snow around as well as it is sleeting. School just got out and son tells me the roads are not good. From the looks of the forecast, he may have seen the school as much as he is going to this week, all day Tuesday and until 12:30 today (although Seniors did not go until 10 on Tuesday).

We are prepared as always for this. The store was very busy yesterday as people were restocking after the weekend storm and getting ready for this one. For us, March is going to arrive like a Lion.

Power flickered earlier so we will probably be experiencing that again. Hopefully it will stay on but with these winds and more ice and snow, we shall see.

About 5 p.m. or so this afternoon, our power was restored. So we will have heat all night!! May be able to sleep better. It was so quiet and so dark last night.

I plan to get to town Monday for lunch with a friend. There is a 2 hour late start for school so the kid does not need to get up too early. There is not suppose to be much more snow overnight which is good.

I need to get to bed early and in addition to having lunch, need to get in to the chirpractor for my nect. Also need to get a dentist appointment. I have misplaced my night guard for my TMJ. I need to get a new one made as I think that is a factor in my headache. I tend to not wear the guard all the time and somehow I really misplaced it.

Well, I guess that is part of what will happen this week.

I am in northcentral Iowa. We had thunder, hail and sleet on Friday afternoon. Saturday during the wee hours of the morning, the freezing rain started. Saturday evening sometime, the snow started. The wind has been blowing the whole time. At times it has been very strong.

Our power went off on Saturday about 12:30 p.m. and is still out. We have a generator to run to get the heat up and able to cook. Turn it off at night as it has to be filled with gasoline so want to conserve that too.

I have posted photos here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&id=501736812 You click on one to enlarge and you can also see what time of day they were taken.

We do have some internet when the power is off. We plug our laptops directly into the DSL cable. We do this some yet want to conserve the battery power in the laptops.

Road maintainers have been down our road a time or two, but not sure how much it will help until it quits snowing and blowing. I am guessing at least a late start for school tomorrow at the least, but probably no school.

Just about everything has been cancelled or closed down since yesterday mid day. Some stores in town stayed open but the 24 hour one even closed last night. We are about 12 miles from town.

I had this still small voice tell me on Friday that this one is the one that needed to be prepared for so we made sure we had food to eat should we not be able to cook (although we can manually light the burners), had jugs of water ready and checked the batteries for flashlights and radio.

That is my weekend so far.

The last few days have seen a rise in temperatures around here. It is actually in the upper 30's today, the first in a long time. The weekend was in the 20's, sunny and some wind. The snow is starting to melt.

I am taking today easy. Been having some sinus headaches. I am doing the half bathroom as it is fairly easy to do. Am also going to put a few things up on eBay.

Have a Bible Study tonight. Guess that means the son needs to tape 24 for me. Can't miss an episode as this show moves real fast.

Well, I am trying to work out more and to organize this house. I am slowly building up how much I walk each day, I am really out of shape. I do this by using a pedometer to gauge how far I walk each day going about daily routines. I am going to be adding to the amount now to go above that number each day. I also want to get back to doing Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) again. It is a fun way to get some exercise.

I am also trying to get this house organized again. I have really let it go for a long time and stuff just piles up. I am almost done with the kitchen. I have 6 drawers and one cupboard to finish. I have been throwing old stuff away and setting others aside to try to sell or give away. I have really eliminated alot of stuff. I figure that we have not used an item since moving here almost 8 years ago and if there is no strong sentimental value, it goes. We have gone from 5 living here to 3 and that will go down to 2 come August.

Next up will be the living room/dining room and then my son's bedroom turned sewing room/guest room.

I dread doing the basement, but that will be last. Decided to do the main part of the house first, then bedrooms and basement last.

I can really tell when I have used my right arm a lot as the wrist starts hurting. Use the brace once part of the day. The range of motion in that wrist is getting better. I am sure this wrist will be a candidate for arthritis.

Guess that about does it for an update on me.

Take Care everyone

Has it really been 6 months since I posted anything? Where else to write thoughts when feeling a bit down. Things have been piling one on top of another lately. I had a car accident that was my fault the end of November. I had the worse injury with my wrist broken on two bones, This is what airbags do they tell me. Not only feeling bad about causing this accident but the broken wrist is my right hand and I am right handed. Have at leasy two more weeks in a cast. So that means that so many things are difficult to do and I am constantly asking for help or letting things go. Did not do Christmas letters (will do an annual letter later is the plan), decorate, cook, quilt and typing is work.

Last week we leave town and I proceed to get a stomach virus which knocked me low and dehydrated me. Saw a doctor but I was at the bottom of her list. Went to this ER (no urgent care there), waited 80 minutes in an uncomfortable chair with the door closed for 2 minutes with the Dr. She grudgingling gave me phenergan and told me I was not dehydrated. That was on Thursday and I still can't eat much and am very weak. Being sick in a hotel room and not being able to see family you traveled to see is not my idea of fun. DH got it but a much milder case. All my aches from the accident hurt again and the wrist also hurt. Still does. Grrrrr!!!

In the middle of all this, I had my 3 year checkup with my oncologist and my CA 125 is still very low with everything checking out clear!!

My DD returned from her three months of study in Spain also.

Hopefully I will get some sleep now. That has to be a sign of feeling better doesn't it? Having slept so much that I can't sleep tonight.

Happy New Year.

I know, two posts close together!

About 10 days ago, I participated in our county's Relay for Life. This was the second year I did. I did the Survivor's Lap and walked just a couple of more laps. The honorary chairmen were long time cancer survivors and that was so neat to hear about.

At one point, we had to take shelter because of lightning. Many people left at that time. Then we had the luminary ceremony which was neat. Due to more storms to be coming through, they stopped the activities at midnight instead of going until 8 in the morning. I was heading home as I had to get up early for another event I was attending.

I did not walk too many laps as I had an ankle giving me problems. I twisted it sometime last month and it was really hurting right then. Had it xrayed last week and it is just badly sprained.

Our county has maybe 10,000 people but raised over $90,000. I think that was doing real well.

It has been more than three months since I made an entry here. Guess that means I have been busy living life.

In April, we celebrated Easter which is my favorite holiday. The next weekend was Prom of which I had to help with the After Prom Party. My last one!! It went well. Then it was off to Milwaukee to visit DD. A week later was older DS's college graduation. We then snuck out to visit my mother as a surprise. Got back from there and then off to Milwaukee to move DD home.

DS has been home and looking for a job. He is running into prospective employers wanting a couple of years experience.

Younger DS is off working at the camp he worked at last year. He attended Boys State. He is due home tomorrow to head off on a 3 week trip to Europe on a music trip.

DD is spending part of the summer in Germany and is enjoying most every minute of it. She will attend her brother's concert and they will both arrive home the same day.

I attended our church's Women's convention last week where another woman and I also gave a presentation on our mission trip last fall.

DH and I will travel to Pennsylvania and New York the end of July and first of August. Will see relatives we have not seen in years.

I have also been working on my web forum for Pastor's wives, katieslounge.net. It is slowly growing. Takes time to grow a forum that has such a specialty niche.

Had a checkup the end of May and my CA 125 was the lowest ever. Cholesteral was still dropping although still needs to go down more. Mammo and chest xray were clear. Still need osteoporosis med but went to the once a month one. Go back in 6 months.

That about brings me up to date here. I have been checking in and reading blogs. There are lots on new people here.

Around 4:30 after looking at the weather radars and road reports, my son decided to head back to school. He had wet roads most of the way. Just spoke with him as he had just gotten in.

He does this. It is not good weather, so he takes his time,takes a nap or something. Then a few hours later, checks the weather and manages to get there without running into much of any bad. His roads and the path of the storms seem to wind around each other.

Just glad he got there safe.

DD is on her spring break choir tour. They were almost two hours leaving Chicago due to a problem with the plane but arrived safely in LA and at their destination. She said is was cold there. It is my prayer that the glitch with the plane is the only trouble spot on the trip.

s
Jane

It has been a while and I have been asked what am I doing these days.

Well . . . not sure if you really want to know. After returning from my mom's, I slept for most of about 2 or 3 days. Had to catch up. Then,when I started feeling energy, I came down with another cold. I am feeling yucky for about a week and my younger son gets it. Came home from school early on Friday and did not go back til Wednesday. Took him in and his was viral (had strep test to be sure) and I also had the Dr. look at me, mine was sinus.

The day younger one got sick, the older one arrived home for spring break. It has not been normal in my house for a long time.

I have been working on several volunteer things and I should have the last done today or tomorrow. Yeah!!!

Son was to head back to school today, but . . we are having a nice snowstorm and the radar is not good anywhere between here and there. He will get up in the morning and hopefully head out. He has one class at 1 p.m. It is a 5 1/2 hour drive. I pray that this storm passes through quickly and does not dump it's load of snow on us.

DH's aunt with lung cancer is not doing well. We want to get up to see her this week.

Not much news on my mother, other than that she has been rather feisty since everything. Brother is heading there sometime this week. Will have a better update then.

That about brings me up to date. Heading off to take a nap and will hopefully get caught up. Last couple of nights have been late and the days busy, so sleep has been hard to come by.

s
Jane

Wow, it has been around two weeks since I put anything here.

I had to go to Nebraska as my mother was not doing well. Dr. did not expect her to make it, but she did and doing well!

My little brother and my sister were also there. Was away for about 9 days. It was good to get home.

My sis, who lives in Texas, had a hard time with the cold. We joked about that back and forth and cold is what we have here in north Iowa. When it got to single digits, zero and below, I had to admit it was cold.

My mom was not too happy we were leaving. She loves attention. Then there was the time my sis and I were talking and I get in trouble for talking too much. After that, I made sure to talk even less than I was. This is kind of a childhood hurt of mine also. I would get in trouble even though someone else was just as noisy, they would not get in trouble.

She was being very feisty with her nurses before I left and the nurses were not looking forward to our leaving. Guess that means she is better when we are around. Shame on her.

I pick up my quilt from the quilter tomorrow and am looking forward to binding it. A nice thing to do on these cold winter nights.

Jane

Well, the band trip went fairly well. The last hour was the hardest as one boy talked constantly in a loud voice and was getting more and more. I think he may be ADD and did not take his med, that is what I think I overheard.

Bought one ticket for DD and will buy the other one tomorrow. Her plans to Germany changed and she will fly into and out of the same city which makes the fares around 300 less. Now to find a good deal on train passes for the time she is there. We have time for that.

She is also going to study in Spain in September. She has received information on applying for her VISA. It will mean two trips to Chicago (one in July and one in August). You have to appear in person to apply and appear in person to pick it up. When she goes to study in Germany spring semester in a year, it won't be as hard as you do it while in country. Oh how much fun. We do have relatives in Chicago and one of those trips may be a mini vacation.

My DSL was down over the weekend which is always a pain. What did we ever do before computers and the internet.

On to asking businesses to contribute to the After Prom Party.

Well gotta go.
s
Jane

I did not get to bed very early Tuesday night. Was around 3 a.m. Was up around 10 and spent about a half hour trying to buy an item on eBay. Several of the same thing was ending. Did not get one but very close twice. Did my bike riding. Today was back massage day. Did some errands. Had to exchange my foot pedal for my sewing machine and it is always a mistake to go into that store. Came out with 4 smaller books with patterns. Had my massage which is always so nice.

Off to the travel agent. Need to make flight arrangements for two trips for the daughter. One is costing about what it did last summer for the same flight plan. I have one thing to check on and then book that one. Then I also need a flight for her from here to Germany, arriving one city and leaving from another. The price has come down but seat availability on the day(s) she needs is not. Will be evaluating all that too. I do research here on the internet and check with the travel agent and many times the agent gets us better rates.

Oh making those kinds of plans is not easy. 9-11 caused major disruption of the airlines, which caused financial problems and to try to create revenue, reduced flights which now fill near capacity. So why don't they add flights is what I don't know. Oh the fun of traveling. Making the plans is the worst.

Thursday, I go with the High School Jazz Band three hours away for a contest. It is going to be all day on a school bus with about 30 kids. Me and the bus driver, unless another parent volunteered. Should be ok, but I need to get to bed and to sleep.

Later
Jane

It has been a week or more since I last posted.

I have been working on more quilt tops. If you are interested, you can see what I have been doing at: quiltcrazy.blogspot.com

I really need to dust and vacuum around here. Suppose I should motivate myself to do that. And put some clutter away. Stuff just piles up no matter how much you stay on top of it.

I am working on exercising more. With just doing the quilting and all the up, down and around I do for that, I have managed to stay away from the kitchen more. Since the first of the year, I seem to have lost about 7 lbs. That is what my scale says anyway. Now with adding in some biking and walking, I hope it goes off faster. That will also get me into better shape and help those cholesteral levels to drop even more.

That is my story this week.

s for everyone.
Jane

I finished my quilt top yesterday. I took it to the quilter to machine quilt it. While it is not perfect (several mistakes througout) I did learn alot about how to do things. This is my first item this big that I have pieced. It is 85" by 102".

Now I am working on my 2005 block of the month. Yeah, I know it is 2006, I am behind here. This you make 12 squares and you make to items that have 6 of the monthly squares. It is going pretty fast, I got 3 done yesterday and this morning. Am starting on the 4th one, but thought I should take some time off and pick things up around the house that need to be put away or dealt with.

Not really getting to sleep until about 3 but since I usually don't have to be anywhere in the morning, I can sleep about 7 hours then. Would really like to back that up a couple of hours.

Jane

I was almost asleep and then it happened. Nasty ole GERD had to raise it's ugly head. Probably due to the snack I had too late. So now I am sitting up waiting for it to settle down. Must have taken my Nexium too late this evening also. This has not happened to me in a long time. I have been so good about timing stuff. Oh well, not much I can do now.

My quilt is coming along real well. The top is more than half way done. I have some areas that are not quite right, but I am learning as I go and that is important. I hope I can get it done in the next 2 - 3 days and then I will take it in to get quilted. There are people who machine quilt. Many of us who piece quilts enjoy piecing and send them out to be quilted. I am one of those. It is so much fun to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and to see the big picture.

Well, here is to hoping I can get to sleep without that rude awakening that happens sometimes with GERD.

Jane

About 3 a.m. I managed to get to sleep for about 7 hours. Oh how great that was. Maybe this latest round of insomnia is past. That would be so nice.

DS and I are watching 24. Missed last night's episode but got caught up quickly.

Jane

After dealing with this for a few years, but with increasing problems, I have decided not to bother with dealing with it.

I am blessed that I do not have an outside of the home type job which really helps. I have decided that if I don't sleep at night, I won't sleep at night. Get up and work on a quilt project or something. Sleep when I am sleepy which can be several hours during the day.

Not the ideal solution but one that I can live with right now.

Well, I think I am off for one of those naps now.

Quilt project is coming along fine.

Later
Jane

I have about 40 of the blocks made. Not all 80 like I had hoped. There is a reason for that.

My DH came home yesterday needing a cerficicate translated from Old German script o English. I was able to do most of it. Well the easy parts. One part was hard. I emailed it to DD who came up with most of it, but still missing two words that were important. I finally remembered we have a scanner but is not always hooked up working right. DS said it was working. I took the document, photocopied it, enlarged it, scanned it then emailed it to DD. Within minutes she sad she had it. The wonders of technology. I knew faxing it would distort stuff. So we used a photocopier, scanner, computer to send it to DD. With the computer, we communicated via email and instant messenger. I love technology when it works so well!

By the end of the day, I was aching. I realized that my position for sewing was wrong. Started researching cabinets. Then I thought maybe we could cut the legs of the desk down. Or, I could get a chair that raises up. THEN I realized the chair I was using was a folding chair. Those always sit lower! Today I am going to try a different chair and see how it feels.

Stomach is doing much better. Hope that keeps up.

Off to work on laundry, figure out what to make for dinner tonight and to sew.

Jane

I have added a photo of my quilt project.

In the middle is the block which has 9 squares (although not hard at all to make). Alternating with the blocks will be solid blocks of the light lavendar. The border will have blocks of the dark lavendar and the beige. I have 10 of the 9 patch blocks done alread. Should have all 80 of the finished today.

To make these blocks you sew long strips of fabric, cut to the width you need and then sew them back with the pattern you want.

When I get the top finished, I will post another photo.

Well off to folding clothes and sewing.

Jane

Well, I am feeling much better. Yeah!! Been staying out of the bathroom.

I started on a quilt project this afternoon. We shall see how it goes. I am such a novice at this. This is my first big project. I have done smaller ones. This pattern is much easier though.

Well, here is hoping I can sleep tonight. After sleeping all day yesterday and through the night, will probably need my friend Ambien to get there tonight.

Well, later.
jane

Seems I may not have been entirely over the stomach thing or got it again. Sunday, I was aching around the middle, from the back all around, kind of like a tight band around there. I could not get to sleep and felt nauseas. Then I started having diarrhea, not your typical but watery. After putting up with the pain, etc. I gave up and went to the hospital ER. They did lab, put me on an I.V. and gave me something for nausea. Finally was able to doze. They finally determined it was an intestinal bug, possible food poisoning, but I did not have much to eat that day nor was I able go go after getting to the ER. Slept all day Monday.

I really hope this is the end of it here. Need to change the sheets on the bed and I think I will probably spray some air cleaner stuff also. That will probably be all I get accomplished today.

Now after reading Bizet Woman's post on eggs, makes me hungry for eggs. Especially eggs benedict, my favorite. Probably should wait a bit for that.

Well, I am off to drink more fluids and find something gentle for the tummy to eat.

I hope everyone here has a great day. It is sunny here, but not to last, more snow on the way. Gee, that is a surprise.

Jane

Well, DH came home a couple of hours ago and I found him in bed. Seems he has an intestinal thing going on. Guess that can explain grouchiness. I had the bug for several days over New Year's. No fun at all.

Hopefully he will be feeling better sooner than I was.

Jane

Today has been quite a day. I got up late and groggy. Well, after being up for an hour or so around 3 a.m. There was stuff laying around and the table was covered with stuff. I get so tired, spending time clearing the table every time we need it. You know meals and such. I don't know how it gets so covered with so much junk in such a short time. The floor also. DH was around and immediately wanted to scrub the kitchen floor. No, I just want clutter and stuff put away. Did not say anything about the kitchen floor, which by the way only needs sweeping. Then he wants to hang around and do stuff for me. I want him out of here. I want to wake up. I want to get my thoughts together.

Of course, he takes this all personally. He is a Pastor and trained me many years ago to not plan anything on Saturdays and to not aske him to do anything on Saturdays. Now, lately, he wants to hang around all day on Saturdays. Then takes it personally when I want time. He has had to make lots of hospital visits, out of town, in the last couple of weeks.

How to reach a happy medium.

Oldest DS got up grumpy himself. Feeling stressed about a project which will affect a grade big time. I do not have the answer for that one other than to say I am sorry and I don't know what you should do. Well, he heads back to school tomorrow.

Ah, back to our normal routine for a while.

This last week, I have cut lots of fabric for quilt projects. I have a few more to do. I sure am feeling it in the back. Now I have projects ready to sew. (my sewing room is older son's room) Oh to sit and work on a project. I have purchased a number of projects (lots) and need to make time to sew. I hope to spend a couple of hours a day working on projects. That would be so nice. Most of my projects are small. I do have a couple of big ones.

I baked a couple of batches of cookies. Have not done that in a long time. Not sure why. It is so easy. Sending about half of them back to school with the son. DD made a batch and took back with her last week. I will have to remember to do more when they are coming home for Easter break.

Well, back to cracking the whip. Trying to get all the decorations put away, with both son's help. They get so distracted.

My days will get better. Hey, we even saw the sun today!

Jane

My DD got back to school safely. They managed to time things right. They were behind the bad weather and long enough that the roads were good. The bad weather was not as bad as predicted either.

I seem to be getting over the "bug" that I had the last few days. It really knocked me low. Did not feel real yucky but really tired and I slept alot.

Jane

Hope everyone had a great first day of the year.

We had a quiet weekend around here. I have been dealing with an intestinal bug so been trying to get over that. For some reason I am catching everything this year. Guess I should get back on some vitamins and see if that would help.

DD heads back to school tomorrow. We are having to watch the weather as there has been snow and ice out there. They may have to leave a couple of hours later than planned.

May 2006 be good to everyone. I pray that our sisters here who are suffering get answers and the help they need. May you who are doing well, continue to do well.

Off to bed I am.
Jane

Christmas was great around here. We began the day by attending Christmas worship service. DD and DH played flute and cello duets as preservice music. We celebrated Holy Communion, a great way to celebrate Christmas.

We came home and got our meal together. Since I had won those three turkeys before Thanksgiving, we had turkey and all the typical fixings. This afternoon, watched movies, napped and DH and DD went to a couple of nursing homes and played music. Had a light supper and some of us played card games. DD and I have played it using the rules and MIL has played using rules her group has agreed on. Really confused me but I made it through.

We open our gifts after worship on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve found us having the Swedish favorite, Lutefisk for dinner and then Christmas Eve Children's Service and opening of gifts. I think everyone is pretty happy. Funny thing is, I had mentioned to a church member a while back that one of these times a quilt of his is on auction or raffle, I am going to get it. He made one for me! How neat is that. I like to get quilts from people I know who make them.

Another funny thing. Gotta love the older generation. My MIL mentioned that the phone was blinking and we may have missed a call. Well, the caller ID was blinking and the last number was a call I had answered about 7 hours earlier. My DH is a Pastor and he does get calls. When someone really neads him, they call his cell phone. So, I asked my kids if they see the caller ID blinking while grandma is here to hit the button so it quits blinking. I don't know for sure if she is thinking we are missing calls or that her DD's house tends to get a little hyped up over calls and messages left. The kids thought it was funny. Caller ID, cell phones, talking on the computer, just does not totally get it.

Well I do need to get to sleep, we plan on heading north about 90 miles to see MIL's sister. She is dealing with a type of lung cancer that has spread. She is now on oxygen. Kids want to use their Best Buy Cards so will go with us. Should be an interesting day.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Celebrating or Lord and Saviours birth. He who came as a baby who went to the cross to redeem us. We should be the on condemned but He took our place. Christmas! WOW!!
s
Jane

It is Christmas Eve! I think I will get my Christmas letters and cards ready today. Along with doing laundry. Tonight we have the children's Christmas Eve service and we usually open gifts afterwards. Plan on having the Swedish delicacy of Lutefisk this evening. Turkey tomorrow. That means I have lots of cooking too.

MIL arrived Friday afternoon. I had gotten up with a headache on Friday and had lots to do. We finally got the living/dining room cleaned. Some work done on the home office. The one bedroom. I still had my headache. I suggested that DH take his mother to Narnia. She enjoyed it expect for the "too much violence." Oops. Note to self: don't suggest a movie with any violence. Can't do sex or bad language either. Not much left. I have gotten DH some of the old musicals for Christmas, maybe those will be ok. Monday we will drive up to see her sister.

Well, I got up to take my thyroid and to clear out my nose. Think I will go back to bed for an hour or so. MIL is an early riser. We are all late risers. Will be interesting as older DS decided to sleep on the couch and not in the bunk bed in his brother's room.

I should be in a better mood later. Generally, I am feeling great this week!

Everyone have a happy and blessed Christmas.
Jane

I think my crazy weekends are all over for a while.

After my DS returned from school on Thursday afternoon, he and I headed on down the road for my checkup on Friday. Well, it was snowing, again! We were more than half way there and I decided we would go no further and get a room where we were at. Semi trucks were passing and kickin up lots of snow which made it hard to see. DS was also dealing with a cold/sinus thing. He said he would drive but I just did not want to be out there anymore. We went to bed rather early to get up at 5.

We were on the road about 5:30 for the 50 or so miles we had to go yet. My lab was scheduled for 7. We arrived a few minutes late. The roads were better but still not fast speeds. There were far fewer semis out too.

After my lab, we went out for breakfast. We headed back to the clinic for my 10 a.m. oncologist appointment. Weight, up. BP, up (it always is at this place). Thyroid level, normal. Cholesteral level, up (compared this to 6 months ago and was down from then). No CA 125 results yet, got it later in the day and was 4.2, Yeah! Return appointment, 6 months. We went over to Starbucks where I had a yummy peppermint latte. Checked emails and killed time. Back to the clinic where I deposited blood for research. This to see if it is even possible to develop a vaccine for ovarian and/or breast cancer.

Checked into motel room. DS took a nap while I took the van to get checked out. Been dying when slowing down. Something was cleaned and should be good. We did Christmas shopping and supper.

Saturday, drove to Milwaukee. DD was glad to see us. Had dinner at SIL's. Sat up talking a while. Sunday a.m., picked DD up from her dorm, attended worship, had dinner and headed on out. We were taking another student also. Dropped him off 2 hours from home. Had a late supper and got home around 10 p.m. Van was doing the dying bit again. Getting it checked out again this week.

Monday, DS and I went to Family Dr. about our sinuses. Both of us have sinusitis and went on antibiotics. Asked him about cholesteral. He recommended I try diet and exercise and see if it comes down any more. Meds for this is a lifetime thing he says and would rather try going without. Sounds good to me.

Made suckers, had a Christmas party. Slept real well. Today, I have to make some food for the Junior Class supper at the basketball game tonight. Then I think I can get some cleaning done, Christmas tree up (DD likes to help with this), send out Christmas letter, finish shopping, wrap gifts.

This is the 4th day in a row where it has not snowed! That has to be a record for us so far this winter. It is suppose to warm into the 20's this week also.

Well off to purchase the food I need for tonight.

Jane

Writing this from my hotel room. My checkup today went well. Return in 6 months. How boring can that be.

Did some Christmas shopping. Head off to Wisconsin tomorrow to pick up daughter from Christmas break.

We had a nice snow again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Freezing rain, snow, freezing rain, rain, snow, that kind of routine. No school on Wednesday. We all slept in. The temps got warm enough so the roads were good in the afternoon evening. Got a dusting over night. Suppose to get off and on stuff today and tomorrow.

I am to leave to go my oncologist appointment this afternoon. My appointments start rather early so I drive up the night before.

Then I am off to Milwaukee to bring DD back home. She is an RA in her dorm and they can't leave until Sunday which means all her rides back will have been gone a few days earlier. She does have a ride back to school in January.

Plan on doing Christmas shopping while I have free time Friday afternoon.

I am intersted in my throid levels as I have been very fatigued. The thyroid dosage I am on does not seem to have been a help. Other than that, I expect the appointment to be rather boring.

Have a great weekend.

Jane

Well, I have about decided this is another sinus infection going. Got to keep working on it. Trying to keep up with the sinus rinsings.

I was invited to go on a quilt shop hop today. Due to weather, we decided not to go. It was very foggy, more snow and all the schools around had a two hour late start. Now because it was so foggy and that bit of snow, it really looked like a winter wonderland outside so I took a bunch of photos. Hey, I have to find something good in this winter of almost constant snow falling.

Went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe with DH last night. It was wonderful, plan on seeing it again. What violence is in there is not gratuitous which is not the case in most movies these days. I think anyone who sees this movie will enjoy it. I don't want to say too much here in case you are planning on seeing it. I had not read the books (unusual, I know) so had started reading this one yesterday and will finish it today. This one is an easy read.

Since neither the laundry or cleaning fairies have found my house yet, I need to continue on that, as is normal. It is such a constant, always something to do.

We are forecasted to get a big snowstorm tonight and tomorrow. If this happens, DS will be home from school. As long as other DS can get home on Thursday and I can make my travels this weekend. Maybe after this weekend, I will be able to stay home for a while.

Jane

This afternoon I finally found some of my energy. This evening I realized that the temps outside were way up. In the mid 30's most of the day. This is up from about 10-15 yesterday. I got to wondering how much the cold could zap energy from a person. Kind of like those that have problems with less light in the winter time. Something I am going to have to pay attention to for me.

I did not go outside today. Started out feeling rather yucky like I have most of the week and had stuff to get done inside (no laundry or cleaning fairy here). This place is in bad shape, I really need to do a thorough cleaning. But that is off track, it was really good to look out and see melting of the snow. A sure sign it has warmed up.

I sure hope it stays a bit warmer now.

Jane

As promised, I have added some photos. I even have one of our snowy front yard for Mei I have also been adding to my other blog lately.

When it quits snowing, I will be doing some errands and I have a Christmas party tonight.

Oh on to the house cleaning. I wish I had a magic wand for that!

Jane

I think I got caught up on good sleep and recovered from our whirlwind weekend. Should have photos soon. Now to brave the cold temps again!

I have errands to do this afternoon and a massage appointment. It is one of those little things I do for myself that is nice, relaxing and indulgent. Now I just have to figure out if this new salon has opened yet so I can make a hair appointment. If they aren't open yet, I will have to have another person do it and this would the the third one since July. The last girl I had is changing to a new salon. I could also use a pedicure, the bottoms of my feet are showing need. I do those about 2 or 3 times a year. Ok, I do several of those indulgent things.

DD is feeling a bit low right now. Last week was crazy for her, then PMSing, having the semester to finish and to study for finals. Today, she tripped over the power cord for her laptop and it does not connect anymore. Told her if she called the Apple store or Apple directly, she should have one in a few days. Will see what she found out. I was thinking if she called the local store, she would have one sooner if they had them in stock. She would have to find someone to drive her to the store and it is about 1/2 hour one way and with finals looming, that could be hard. Poor thing really needs a break. Well, next week at this time, she will be finished as her last final is on Tuesday.

Off to face the world, cold as it may be.

Keep warm (those of you who are in the chilly parts of the world, others, keep cool).

Jane

Added: Had to order the power cord. She should have it Friday and in the meantime needs to find someone with an iBook whose cord she can use to charge hers if needed. She says there is someone she can ask.

We arrived home this evening. I sure am tired. I am sure glad that i don't have to get in the car and go for any long rides tomorrow! Oh, and the temp is zero and below. If it is this cold now, what is the rest of December and January going to be like. I will find out all too soon.

Thursday, we left after younger DS's Winter Concert. Drove about 2 hours since by that time it was past 11 when we stopped. Friday, drove on to Milwaukee and got to spend a couple of hours with DD before her concert. it was great.

Saturday, we drove across Wisconsin and into Iowa. It was snowing about the time we crossed the river. Got heavier so we decided to not go on. We were about 70 miles from where we were to pick up younger DS. We called him and he went home on the bus. The Jazz Band came in third in the contest.

Sunday, we headed home and picked him up and drove onto Nebraska. MIL was not able to go to the grandchildren's concert with the people she normall goes with. We stopped there to eat, change clothes and she went with us to DS's concert (niece also). This one was great also. Got back to her apartment and off to bed. Sleep glorius sleep. Slept in this morning even.

Friday and Saturday I woke up feeling quite headachy but not real bad. Friday, I just did not want to get up. Could not get comfortable in the car and when I did, the sun was in my eyes. Sunday, the nose was just plain running. Took care of that during the stop home (picked up some allergy/sinus stuff I had not taken with me). I am heading off to bed here in a little bit and hope to sleep real late.

DS is not doing too well in Spanish and because of that is on the Down List. They are just starting having the kids on the list stay after school everyday until the grade comes up. I was under the impression that all the stuff was turned in. I am now confused as is he. I may allow him to drop Spanish at the semester as some kids just don't learn languages well. He also is dyslexic and the way many teach foreign languages does not work well with his learning style. He tried Spanish before and did not do well. He can learn anything, just not with the rote work way.

Well, soon to my cozy bed.

Jane

In case you have not figured it out, I am getting tired of winter already. More snow.

I am sitting here in a hotel room 80-90 miles from where we were to pick up my son and where it is not snowing! Snow line quits just before that. It has been snowing ever since we crossed from Wisconsin into Iowa and getting heavier as we went west. We are going to get up early and hopefully get to Nebraska. May have to tell younger son it will not work to go with us.


DD's concert was great and we enjoyed seeing her for the afternoon and evening. She was thrilled to have us there also.

At least I have my laptop. I was working on my Christmas letter in the car this morning and pretty much have it finished.

Well, going to catch up on posts here, take a nap and then we will walk over to this restaurant for supper and off to bed early. We ended up with the jacuzzi tup room though!

Jane

In a few hours, I am off on another weekend adventure. It will be interesting, fun and quick. I may be able to check email a couple of times but that is ok. Well, HS withdrawal is hard, but when one is doing something they really enjoy, the withdrawal is not so bad.

I pray that the weather is cooperative. Otherwise, the trip may get cut short.

Have a great and safe weekend everyone!
Jane

We have a funny cat and could not resist taking a photo of him sleeping with his eyes and mouth open. He did not flinch when the flash went off!

Go to my photos to see this silly kitty.

Jane

If it keeps this up, it is going to be a very long winter. It is snowing again! Suppose to get up to 5 inches. It is suppose to snow again on Saturday.

We are to head out to Milwaukee tomorrow evening. Staying over somewhere after driving a couple of hours and on to Milwaukee on Friday. Go to DD's concert Friday evening. Saturday we are planning on driving from there to Omaha Nebraska to go to DS's concert on Sunday afternoon. Looks like we will get to Milwaukee but Omaha is questionable at this time. We are to pick up younger DS after a Jazz Band Contest on the way through Iowa on Saturday. Going to be a very intersting weekend. Plan on returning on Monday. Won't have any internet anywhere either.

Got my sleep schedule all messed up again. Working on straightening that out some. Probably won't be successful until we return from our weekend.

I am planning on writing and formatting my Christmas letter while riding the long rides this weekend.

Well not any real news right now.
Later
Jane

After I got to the game last night, it started snowing. Not too bad though. By the time we packed up the food and I took my crockpost of meat to the van, not only was it snowing it was also blowing. Waited for the game to end as I was bringing DS home (did not want him driving last night so we worked it out so he would not have a car there also). It was slick and snowy and the wind was blowing. A few times so hard it was hard to tell where the road was. The extra set of eyes were very helpful. Made it home at a crawl of about 20 - 25 miles per hour. Most cars were driving that slow.

Got up at 6:30 and checked school closings. 2 hour late start. Went back to be until 8:30, and not change, got up at 9:15 and it was just announced that school was closed. It is still blowing although it seems to have stopped snowing.

After my weekend and duties yesterday, I am real tired. Taking today to rest and do very little.

No playing in the snow for me today.

Jane

Ok, the snow has so far stayed away which I do not mind one bit.

My DD was not able to come home because she is an RA and had to be on duty. On Friday, it snowed in Wisconsin. Many of the students remaining on campus are some of the international students. DD had fun playing in the snow with the Thailand and Taiwan students. Making snowmen, snowball fights and making snow angels.

Well, I think I have gotten caught up on sleep from the weekend. I do seem to be having some bowel issues lately. Going to have to ask the Dr. about that when I see him in a couple of weeks.

Tonight, I am in charge of the food the music boosters server at basketball games. Since it has been rainy, I really pray that the freezing temps stay away so the roads don't freeze. One thing I hate is driving on slick roads. When retirement comes, I would really like to go to a warmer part of the country. Now that is about 14 years away so I guess I have to deal with it in the meantime.

s
Jane

Thet weekend was great. My younger DS and I headed out on Friday to our church's district annual High School youth conference. We stay in a classy hotel that is all suites in a square and you can look down the middle and is 8 floors. Our group occupies 7 of the floors. The main speaker this year was a pastor from Los Angeles. Before pastoring in LA, he had been in New Orleans. His ministry has taken him into situations many of us hear only on the news. He had a great message for the teens. Our theme was Body by Christ. His message had to do with remaining faithful in the body of Christ and to respect your own body and the bodies of others. He also told of his recent trip to New Orleans to move his parents back to LA and his stopping by his former home and church, both of which had suffered extensive damage.

The band was really loud. One of those where the bass beat pounds your body. I and a few others sat outside the Ball Room when they played. There were 4 college kids who did a great job with the skits. 200 of the youth participated in servant projects in the city we were in and the remaining 400 (youth and adults) attended intrasessions which are always hard to choose just 4. A banquet, a dance and a closing worship service rounded out the weekend. I hardly saw my DS during the weekend. He always returned to our room at the appointed time for lights out and quiet. Actually, I really was quite aware of where he was and such, the atmosphere makes it easy to know what they are doing but yet to allow them to hang out with their friends without being on top of them all the time.

Took a long nap after returning home this afternoon. Am close to going to bed.

So far, the snow has stayed away. Was to get inches of rain today which did not happen. Monday it is to snow in the afternoon. Right now, the snow and rain seems to have stalled over Nebraska so we shall see what will happen.

Good night.
Jane

Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S. A day that was started with the first settlers in this land we now call the United States of America.

I am thankful for my Savior Jesus. I am also thankful for my most wonderful, loving, supportive DH. He is the best there is (I know, most of that think that which is wonderful). Also for my three kids. They are all turning out to be great kids.

Also, for my relative good health. After all, two years ago I was recovering from surgery and was waiting to start chemo. For the quick diagnosis, I am thankful for my family doctor.

My extended family and my friends. Friends I know in person and all my cyber friends here. I would not know any of you here if not for my Hyster. To think of not knowing you now that I do, that is an interesting thought.

I am also thankful for our creature comforts, especially electricity! Just as I was putting the turkey in the oven, the power went out. We are having strong winds today. After checking my book for the oven (gas) I have had to put the turkey back in the refrigerator (may have to take it to the garage where it is colder) and pray that the power comes on soon. We have a surge protector on our in house wireless connection and my computer is a laptop so I have internet for a while, not sure how long. I do feel bad for those power company employees who have to come out of their dinners and celebrations for the rest of us but am thankful they do it.

Now if the snow just stays away tomorrow so I can have an easy drive, that would be great.

Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving everyone

Jane

Found out about 12:30 that the power was out due to a car accident. Was to be out for another 1 1/2 hours or so. The tow truck came down our road with the vehicle (we are pretty sure) and the van looked like it had rolled. Praying that no one was seriously injured. We went to town for dinner. Have my turkey in the oven now as it was thawed. Will reheat it Friday noon for dinner before I leave.

Yesterday I slept a lot and got caught up there. Today I did errands and some grocery shopping. Need to pick up a few more things tomorrow.

Our local American Legion held their Feather Party tonight and I went. We have lots of fun. It is one of the fundraisers. People play Bingo for 25 cents a card. You play for turkeys. I was going along and not winning anything, as usual. Then I won one and a little bit later another one and then a third one! Have one thawing now for Thanksgiving. Guess we will have one for Christmas too.

Well, need to get to bed. May have to take half an Ambien tonight since I don't seem to be getting there on my own. I have been able to really cut back on taking those which is really great. Have many nights I don't take one at all.

Be well everyone and get all the rest you need

Jane

for a few days.

Things went so well that I came home a day earlier than planned. We got things sorted, thrown away or packed up and stored in quick time. My mother is doing ok with where she is at. At times, does not like it and at times a wee bit confused and at times a bit down, but is adjusting.

My BIL was actually on good behavior this time. Whew!

I got there on Thursday, saw my mother and went for some supper. Sis had gone for the night (staying at her MIL's) and I could not get to the center that my mom had lived at (they were kicking off Christmas already and streets were blocked off and cars parked blocks away) so I went to my room and called a friend who still lives in that town. She called another friend and we went for dessert and a couple of drinks. We had a great time talking and catching up.

DS arrived Saturday a.m. and helped with loading and unloading of boxes which helped speed things up. He and his cousin had a great time getting to know each other better. Anastasia was adopted from Russia not quite two years ago and is 13. Her English has greatly improved. She is a great kid to be around.

DS and I caravaned home on Sunday getting in around 8:30 p.m. I went to bed early and slept in today.

I will be away with my younger DS Friday through Sunday for a youth rally that our church has each year on this weekend. It is a fun weekend.

Well, I need to catch up around here and get stuff ready to mail, etc.

Have felt pretty good so my effort to take the thyroid consistently is paying off it seems.

Been catching up on journals.

Jane

It is cold out there. We were down to 15 degrees the last I checked about an hour ago. Okay, the average lows for November is 23 but we went from 60's during the day a few days ago to this. No gradual or semi gradual drop in temp and boy do we feel it.

It is to get into the 40's and upper 40's over the weekend which will be nice.

With the snow and ice, there was a 2 hour late start to school today. It was also time for the beginning of snow and ice season driving talk with the 16-year-old. He got lots of experience last winter, but you can't help but being a Mom on these icy road days.

As far as the med routine, it seems to be working so far.

It is off to Nebraska tomorrow to do the sorting and storing of my Mother's stuff. My sis and her DH will be there. Have not seen them in 3 years (they had moved to the gulf coast side of Texas just before that). Just can't quite get it together to go see them. Flying is costing more and more too.

My BIL can be a real pain in the . . . So in some ways I am not looking forward to seeing him. He has times where he thinks he is teasing although it can cut and then he will take your responses if you make any and turn them around to what he thinks. Grrrr!! Well at least he can't smoke while in the living center.

Must do more in getting ready to go. Will leave late morning.

Jane

Tornadoes tore through our state on Saturday. Today it is a nasty snow storm. Started around 8 a.m. and was not too bad until the temp dropped when the sun went down and the wind started to blow. I sure hope this is not going to be a sign of how the winter is going to be. I have places up until Christmas. The main one is a whirlwind trip to my two college ages kids christmas concerts. One is in Wisconsin and the other in Nebraska, the same weekend with one day in between. Well if we make them we do, if not then we don't.

I am feeling better. Must have been allergies bugging me. There is not the dust in the air today. Will probably cancel Dr. appointment tomorrow.

I have also played around with how I take those routine meds of mine. My thyroid is suppose to be taken the same time each day and an hour before eating. Well, you know, when you can't sleep, it is hard to do that each morning. Well, I tend to wake up about the same time and roll over and go back to sleep. I have decided to get up and take that little yellow pill. I was taking it about the same time each day early in the morning while in Mexico and did not have some of the energy issues I have had. So I thought I need to get on track and do that, same time each day.

Well, it will be hard to sleep tonight with this wind though.

Jane

Ok, now that the weekend is over, I really should get stuff done around here. Finishing laundry and get things ready in DS's room for him next week as he has a week break from school for Thanksgiving and I will be gone when he gets home. Actually, he will probably help at my Mom's one day and then come home as he says he has homework to do. I think he is helping as he wants to see his aunt and uncle who he has not seen in about 3 years. None of us have.

Younger DS spent the night at a friend's Friday so it was quiet around here and I finished the quilt I was working on.

The fundraiser I took it to was Saturday night and it sold for about $70 at the auction. It was a panel with the Pledge of Allegiance on it with 4 strips of border around it. Turned out real nice. I did not take a picture of it as I ran out of time. I do have another one to finisht that is almost identical that I need to bind that will be mine so will get a photo of it.

Sunday we drove to a town about 2 hours away for a concert. This is a duo who has their own style of music. They write and sing Christian music. They always put on a fun concert. We will have the opportunity to go to one of their Christmas concerts which we have never had the opportunity to do before. Had to buy their newest CD. Now I have to put it on the iPod before I head out this week.

I also think I need to get in to see the Chiropractor before I leave and to get these allergy symptoms checked out. Guess I need to make a couple of phone calls so I can do that.

DD is sick and feeling miserable. A friend of hers was visiting on campus but she managed to hang out a little bit. She felt so miserable on Sunday though that she had to miss a choir concert and she felt bad about it. Told her she may be needing to get in to make sure it is not strep or sinus as she has a history of those.

Well, off to attempt to get stuff done around here. I sure wish I could call myself a "Domestic Goddess" like Mei does.

s
Jane

Oh, it is suppose to snow tomorrow. Not snow!! Knew those strong winds this weekend was bringing something in. Well they did on Saturday as there were 8 tornadoes in the state that evening. Scarey evening it was for those in the path of the storms.

Well, got the official word today that we are moving my mother to a nursing home next week. My poor brother is breaking the news to her today. Everything is set, just some formalities. She will probably be moved Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

I will head out on Thursday and my sister will be there. We will start packing things to move to a storage unit. If there are things we agree on, we each may bring some stuff home. I will be gone Thursday through Monday. One good thing is I will see my sister, the first in a few years.

Well I need to finish putting binding on a quilt (wall hanging) for a fundraiser tomorrow.

Later
Jane

My brother called this evening and the assisted living center has offically said they can no longer have her living there as she requires more care than give. He had called the two nursing homes where we feel would be better for having to make the move now. They both have openings now. He was going to talk with her this evening (if he could get through the busy phone line - off the hook maybe) and break the news. He is going to be there this weekend and the move may take place next week. I guess we have up to two weeks to clear her room. My sis in Texas would be able to drive up the middle of next week. My bro could be there that Sat. and Sun. Not sure about other Bro. Guess I will be having to make the drive out that weekend also. Bro will update me as soon as he knows more.

The Thanksgiving weekend does not work for three of us. We knew this was coming, but . . My parents were packrats and even though we had to clear her apartment two years ago, there were still lots of stuff left from then. We will probably put most of it in storage until summer when we can all get away easier.

My mother had a brain tumor removed in 1969 and she has never been the same since. Besides mobility issues caused by that (most of which she overcame at the time), seizures also caused by this, other things have stacked up against her as she is not even 80 yet. My father died 6 years ago.

It is said to see someone go downhill so fast as she has in the last 2 or so years. She is also showing signs of some sort of dementia. It is taking two people to get her up and ready or to do anything so it would be hard for any of us to have her at our places as we would need lots of outside care and that can be expensive and sometimes hard to come by, especially one brother and I who live in small town, rural, out of the way palces.

She can be stubborn and so can I which has not made for the best of relationship here. We have had some of my more recent visits where she was fairly easy to get along with.

Looks like I have written a book here. I need to go take an Ambien (yeah, just when I thought I was getting off of them) and go to bed.

Jane

Well, my DH and I got away for our 30 hours. We headed to Sioux Falls. We were hoping to see his aunt and uncle who we don't seem to be able to connect with and this time was no different. They had headed out to Arizona. We did get to see his cousing and we all had a great meal at a really delicious Mexican restaurant. Since it was Sunday, the place was not real busy so we were able to stay a long time and chat. We found a place to stay. I am really going to have to check into how to add jacuzzi type jets to my bath tub.

On Monday we did some shopping. Mainly suits and such for DH. Got a start on Christmas shopping also. Really took the day easy.

On the way home my brother called. It seems we are going to have to find a nursing home for my mother. She is not going to be happy about this. Her mobility is an issue and she falls a lot. I also feel like her mind is beginning to go. She had some teeth pulled last week in preparation for dentures. It seems that when she has something done that is painful, she gets really nasty to those around her. Kind of a woe is me. I can handle the feeling of pain but I do have a hard time with the rudeness and nastiness. I do hpe we can hold this move off until Christmas break as we are going to have to go and clear out her room and figure out what to do with the stuff there. My brother is checking on the options and will be getting back to us soon.

Well that is all that is going on here. No wonder I slept late today. I am finally to the point where I don't take the Ambien very often. After 1 1/2 years of taking it regularly, that is nice not to take it very often.

s
Jane

Today is my son's birthday. I can't believe it was 23 years ago that this boy was born. Now for him to get graduated from university and his first real job. Some kids like that 5 year plan for college. If anyone knows of anywhere where he can have his resume looked at and critiqued, let me know. There is suppose to be a place on campus and he is getting a run around.

This boy has been my strong willed one. He is also very intelligent. Made for some interesting times during his growing up years. He has mellowed a bit in the last couple of years.

Younger son is battling a sore throat today so I pray that that does not get any worse.

Jane

Today is the 2 year anniversary of my surgery and definite diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Needless to say, I don't remember much of that day. I remember going to the holding are that was very busy. Talking to the A man. All the questions you get asked. People everywhere. This hospital had around 17 or so OR's. The Gyn/Onc Fellow rolling me to the surgery room. The Gyn/Onc saying hello and then nothing until recovery where I asked what time it was. I tend to ask that as then I know what went on. They tell you the surgery would last so long for this situation and so long for that. So by finding the time and figuring how long, I had my answer and confirmed it with the nurse. I always wake up cold so go more blankets, pain med and other stuff. Then off to my room, we splurged for a private room and I really recommend this.

Couple of people came in to see me, so they took my DH to dinner.

In the next couple of days I learned it was Stage 1 and Grade 1. When I received copies of all the reports a couple of weeks later, I learned it was Stage 1c, Grade 1. 1c because the cyst had leaked on removal. They were trying to prevent that, but it had adhered to my bowel and I guess it could not be helped. Now that is what caused me to have to have chemo.

Only 30% of ovarian cancer is Stage 1 or 2. Now I tend to have problems that are unique or rare. This time I did not mind being in this group. I am proof that one can have symptoms and the cancer be an early stage.

Well that is my trip down memory lane. I don't think of this as some bad dark spot in my life history though. People say they don't think they could ever take chemo. You hear this all the time. I say to them, when you have to you do it. You take it, you deal with it. You do what you have to do. You also take one day and sometimes even one hour at a time but you do get through it. It isn't always easy.

Now to go do those daily mundane things we all do. That never changes.

Jane

Yep, this is my DH's and my 26th wedding anniversary. We went out for lunch. After that we got our flu shots. Now how romantic is that? Well, we are going to head out somewhere on Sunday afternoon for about 24 hours and do something really special then.

Two years ago, I was on a clear liquid diet and doing bowel prep for my surgery the next day.

Lasy year we had an open house and had a blast. In January, went on a trip.

Not much new here.
Jane

October 30, 2003 is a day that my life changed. I had spend all afteroon at the doctor trying to find out why I had this pain in the lower mid abdominal area. I had a urine test (maybe bladder infections is what I thought), abdominal xrays and then my doctor ordered an abdominal/pelvic CT scan. This is when a rather large mass, probably on my ovary showed up. After discussing the findings with the surgeon and gyn in the clinic (both said no way) he referred me to Mayo in Rochester. Now my clinic is a Mayo owned and operated clinic so I know that to be sent on is rather significant. My doctor told me they thought is may be cancer. What? Cancer? No way! But the fact of the matter was I had pain and was terribly bloated. I had lost about 8 pounds in the preceeding month (I was trying to, but that may not have been the reason I lost).

Off to Rochester I went that same day. I was admitted to the hospital and put on pain meds. The gyn/onc I was to see was out of town until Sunday, this being Thursday night. His Fellows took care of me until then. I had numerous tests in preparation for surgery. I saw the gyn/onc on Monday morning. Surgery had been scheduled for Tuesday morning. All went well. Was told it was cancer and that they felt they got it all but since the cyst had leaked they felt I should have some chemo. The grade was 1 when originally they thought it was 2. This was a good thing.

After recovering at home and getting to the point where I could sit at the computer, I looked for information. In some of the printed info I had been given at the hospital was some websites and I started there. I eventually got to Hystersisters. I read lots of information. I was sent all the lab, scan reports, surgery reports, etc. I don't remember asking for these so they must have automatically sent them. I discovered that having a gyn/onc do the surgery was the best thing that could have happened. After my post op check, further care was done by a med/onc. After considering a trial and discussing pros and cons with the onc. I went with three treatments. These were rough, but as we say, very doable.

Since the time of completion of chemo, I have been in pretty good shape for the most part. All my check ups and labs have been normal.

A year ago, I did not dwell on this too much as we were in the middle of having company, celebrating our 25th anniversary with lots of people and I was headed to Mexico for a mission trip. This year, I have been home and much quieter so have had time to think on this.

What a crazy two years but I am here and relatively healthy. Still battle allergies and fatigue, but that is not too much different than before. I take stuff for the allergies which probably adds to the fatigue. I was told about 12 years ago that I may have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but don't know for sure. There are times where I do wonder about that though.

It is so neat that there have been so many advances in medicine and that one can be diagnosed with cancer and have a good outcome. Satistically, that should not have been the case for me though as 70% of ovarian cancers are stage 3 and 4. Many stage 3 and 4's do well too these days. But to be stage 1 ovarian cancer is still rather rare.

I am thankful that I had a doctor who knew me and knew I was not feeling very good at all and was determined to find the reason. I am also thankful that the surgeon and gyn at my clinic also recognized that what they were seeing needed to be surgically removed by a specialist and that they were not that specialist.

I am thankful that Hystersisters and other ovarian cancer groups are on the web. The love and support here are tremendous and helpful.

Well, that is my thoughts, my story.

May everyone have a great day.

Jane

I have been so tired lately. Maybe it is because of the allergies. It is getting real old real fast.

Today, I attended a stage performance of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. The group that performed this did a fantastic job. I had not seen it on stage before so it was fun. The matinee audience was full of kids, of course!

DH and I were going to get our flu shots this morning, but we both slept in and did not get it done. Will try and get that done on Monday afternoon.

Don't forget to set the clocks back one hour. Yeah, an extra hour of sleep!

s
Jane

Yesterday and today I blogged about my recent mission trip to Mexico. If you are interested go to:

http://jmberg.blogspot.com/

You need to scroll down to the one with Sept. 23 in the title to start at the beginning.

Not much new here. Still battling the allergies a bit but not as bad as earlier in the week.

Well I think it is off to bed for me.

Good night.

Well, we had a great weekend. We left on Friday, stopped at MIL's, headed on to DS's University (niece had just gotten a new job and had to work so did not get to see her). Took DS, another niece and her boyfriend to supper. The kids always appreciate a good meal off campus. We had Chinese and it was good.

The concert was enjoyable and the guest conductor was great. Fun to watch direct and quite a sense of humor. The CD is wonderful. Will be getting more for Christmas gifts.

Both DS's and I headed to my mother's on Saturday. She did not know we were coming so she was surprised. We hung out at her apartment and my brother and wife showed up. It was a fun evening. Sunday we brought food and a cake in. (she lives in an assisted living center).

Sunday I took older DS back to school and younger DS and I came home. My allergies really hit hard again. Was miserable most of the way home. Been miserable all week, but they are doing better now.

We ordered a new receiver for our satellite t.v. and it has not worked right. We have no t.v. right now and they can't get someone out until Tuesday. I am going to look into another possibility tomorrow. Kind of wanted to watch the World Series but it may be over tonight. Don't really get anything with the antenna.

DD is heading from Wisconsin to Nebraska for fall break. She will see a friend and her brother and cousins. When did they start having long fall breaks at colleges? She and a couple of friends got a very low airfare to fly out for the break.

Well, I need to mate some socks. Check on the game via the internet and try to accomplish something around here.

Jane

I have been so out of touch lately. I am getting behind on stuff at home too. Going to catch up on some today.

This weekend, we are heading west to see DS. His University Band has a concert Friday night. We will pick up one grandmother on the way there and a niece (and maybe nephew). Younger DS will stay with him and DH and I will go back to his mother's.

Saturday, DH will head home and younger DS and I will head to my mother's (DH does not have Sunday off). It is my mother's birthday Sunday and she does not know I am coming. My older brother and his wife will be there too. Will head home on Sunday.

I am having to move the Austrian girl whose stay here I am overseeing. She met a new host family last night and she will be moving there this weekend. Hopefully this will work out as she only has three months before she heads home.

Will I best be getting that paperwork (bills) done and laundry done.

Talk to you all later.
s
Jane

Well, here I am, finally getting another journal entry. I called the computer place today and it may be another week before I get my computer back. I hope not! Something held it up and it was supposed to have been resolved today. We shall see. In the meantime, I use my DS's computer which means when he is home in the evening, I am not able to get on. That and the gact that I have to sit in an uncomfortable chair to use it which makes my back hurt. As a result, I am on here kind of sporadically.

I need to get some stuff done using mine, but will have to wait. Guess I will get a small quilting project going that I plan on donating to a charity event. So best get busy on that.

Today, we are taking friends out to eat and then help them for a few hours packing as they are getting ready to move out of state. I know how frantic those last few days are. I feel bad that I have not been able to help so far.

I am feeling pretty good. Decided to take the antibiotic that I had but at a slower pace since it causes my stomach to hurt. It has helped clear out the head though.

DH is feeling some stress right now. He serves two rural churches and on e is rather small and getting smaller. I have tried to talk with him and then the next thing I know he is getting down again. I told him he should go talk with a few others and I know they can help him see that it is not him. There are just so many churches a rural area like this can support and I think there are too many in this small area. With the decreasing number of pastors and declining population in the rural area, it makes for some interesting times.

Well, should go so talk to you later
Jane

Well, my computer is still here. It was to go in on Thursday, but we were away when the package delivery company came. It was suppose to go on Friday, but somehow they got down the address and town wrong. We are 150 miles from that town. It is to go on Monday, we shall see if they get it right. They wanted me to leave the box outside and with our crazy weather there is no way I am leaving a computer outside so I told them it will be inside the back door. We shall see if it goes on Monday.

My DS was home for the weekend and brought home a friend of his. They just kind of hung out all weekend. I did get them to go to the store for me yesterday. They left after dinner today.

Younger DS enjoyed the dance he went to. Now this girl is not a girlfriend he says, but I don't know about that. She writes him several letters a week, he calls her several times a week, drove an hour or so to go to her homecoming dance. We shall see what happends here.

DD was busy sewing banners for the chapel as that is what she told me when I called her yesterday. You can never find her in her dorm room.

I took a long nap this afternoon and am still tired. I think I forgot my thyroid today and maybe that is why, but for some reason I doubt it. I decided to go ahead and take that antibiotic for the sinuses, they just don't totally clear up.

Tomorrow I meet with the exchange student I am overseeing. It seems that things have settled down quite a bit. I hope she sees it that way too. I feel so bad that things got bad for all of them for a while. She does leave in January.

That is my update for now. I hope to get stuff in my other blog about each day from my trip and I need to do that soon so I don't forget. I have some things written down so that will help.

I everyone is doing well this weekend and had great weekends.

Take Care
Jane

Thought I would write something before my computer has to off to the computer hospital. It is suppose to leave this afternoon, now I am not sure if I will be here when DHL comes so it may not get gone until tomorrow. I will have some access to computer while it is away.

My older DS is coming home this afternoon for a long weekend. Something called fall break from school. He is bringing a friend with him Those two should make things crazy around here.

Younger DS has a date tomorrow night. He will be at our football game through halftime (he is in band) and then drive about 1 1/2 hours to go to a homecoming dance with this girl he knows (and I think likes her). He will stay over at a friends part way home and come home on Saturday. I don't know if I am ready for my baby to be doing these things. He will be expected to call at certain times and if he doesn't, may be a long time before he gets the privilege again.

I think I am rested up from my trip. Now to get caught up on laundry and get a couple of beds ready for these guys. Homecoming pep rally tonight so much going on today.

I think I am going to have to take that second round of antibiotic, the sinuses are still kind of yucky and when you facter in all the dust that we breathed in last week, it does not help at all. I have been trying to put off taking the med.

That is all in my life.

May those of you recovering from surgery have an easy recovery. May those of you going into surgery, may your surgery and recovery go smooth. For those of you having struggles, family or health, may you find help and peace. There is so much going on with many of the sisters here. All of you know that you are in my prayers.

s
Jane

I have returned from my trip. It was great. Photos may be viewed at:

http://homepage.mac.com/jane.bergquist/PhotoAlbum19.html

http://homepage.mac.com/jane.bergquist/PhotoAlbum22.html

I left home on Friday, Sept. 23 and picked up a team mate on the way. We checked into the motel and went to the Old Market area to wander around and for supper. After we got back, we worked on Spanish and watched hurricane news.

On Saturday, we flew to El Paso Texas. The whole team met at the airport in Chicago. We have t-shirts we wear to find each other. Team members were from Iowa, Michigan and New York.

Sunday, we drove to Janos Mexico. Just before we got to our destination, we came upon an really bad accident. After much discussion and prayer, we decided to drive on to the ranch where our hosts could guide us. There were many people already helping and we thought that language would be a problem. We did meet emergency vehicles which was a relief. Later we found out that three people were injured and two were killed. Kind of a sobering beginning to our trip. Emma was very relieved to see both vans drive in as she feared it may have been us in the accident.

Monday through Thursday we held our eyeglass clinic. We saw around 500 people, gave out over 600 pairs of glasses and all people heard the Gospel message.

On Monday evening, Emma took us out to where the Indians were staying. They come up from near Mexico City to pick chili peppers. Everyone, even the toddlers pick peppers. Their living conditions were awful. Showers and toilets have been provieded but they won't use them. This was also a sobering experience. Many of the Indians also came to our clinic. I wondered how with the lack of education, how the glasses would help and then I remembered they also would hear the Gospel message and that is what is important on these trips

On Friday, we went to see the new preserve for prairie dogs. Unfortunately,we only saw a couple of the dogs. We then had dinner with a Mariachi Band playing. We drove back to El Paso and on Saturday flew home.

Our team worked pretty well together. It is always amazing how God takes 15 people, from three different states and we are able to work together for Him.

Now I need to write about each day in my blog and then get my computer sent in as it is not working right. I will have computer access though.

Later
Jane

I'm ready to go. I'm leaving on a jet plane.

How does that song go?

Well I am packed. Gotta pay a few bills. Get a good night sleep and head on out around 10 a.m. Will pick up another team member and head on to the town where we leave from very early Saturday morning.

Will get home in the wee hours of the morning on October 2. Will write about my trip when I get back and post some pics.

I hope everybody has a good week and feels well.

Adios Amigos
Jane

I learned late last night that my sis, her DH, my niece, her DH and DS are evacuating. They are going south and it looks like to her SIL's. She has made our younger brother her contact person.

I know that in many places they are encouraging people to take their pets, those who are depending on help getting out are to put the pets in carriers. Apparently that was one reason people would not leave New Orleans, they could not take their pets.

I have not watched any of the stuff on the hurricane today as it would make me too nervous. I will probably watch a bit later today or tonight, but can't deal with the constant watching of it.

Jane

Today has been an fairly decent day. On the hot day outside.

Started the day out slowly. Took DS to the dermatologist for a check up. Then we went out to eat for my birthday which is when I am away. Been taking it easy tonight.

Tomorrow I will take my glasses back to get checked and hopefully one lens remade. Then I have to make sure that everything I need is washed and then comes the packing. Have a list made and have put things in the spare bedroom.

When I received my travel plans I was not real excited about which airport we change plans at. Well, last year when I made this same trip we changed in Houston. Even thought I don't like the airport we change at, I am very thankful it is not Houston.

Been checking on the information on Hurricane Rita. Some of our sisters here are in the Houston area and other parts of Texas. Some are preparing to evacuate, others have family arriving to stay with them. I just learned that Corpus Christi is also under a mandatory evacuation. My sister, BIL, my niece and her family all live there. My sister works for the sheriff office. I sent her an email a bit a go hoping she will see it. I am hoping I can call her Saturday when I get to El Paso. I am also hoping she makes contact with one of my brothers to keep us all posted on their whereabouts and damage. They live on Padre Island in a new home. They all moved down there about 4 or 5 years ago. They have had hurricane scares before but mainly storm surges and did not have to evacuate.

The scarey part is this hurricane seems to get stronger and stronger.

I know people love the weather, the water and such but I don't fully understand why so many people live in areas that have this threat so much. We live where we get tornadoes and blizzards. Yes, tornadoes do lots of damage, but for some reason they seem different. Maybe it is because they are over with in a short time and their path of destruction is much smaller. I guess they live there for the many days and years there are not hurricanes and that is worth it to them.


Any of you who live in a region who receives these storms may be able to help me understand why you live there and stay there. From one who never has and doesn't want to it is hard to understand. I would appreciate it.

Maybe this storm will weaken and it won't be so bad. I am glad that people are taking the threat seriously.

Enough of my ramblings
Jane

Just got back from my meeting with the host family and student. I think we got a lot accomplished and a lot of things discussed and everyone seems to be feeling better about things. I pray that things go well while I am gone.

Now to get a good night of sleep. Gotta take my DS to his dermatologist in the afternoon. Quality time. He is a neat kid and great to spend time with.

Tummy feels better but I have to take the last dose of antibiotic tonight. Hope the tummy stays settled down.

Got my hair cut and colored today, that was sure relaxing. I go to a salon day spa. I hear that it may not be in business much longer though. I hate finding a new place.

Got some stuff for my trip put in one place. Now I just need to find time to take my new pair of glasses in as the prescription does not seem to be quite right.

Well I am off to see how soon sleep will come my way.

s
Jane

The antibiotic is working but last night it did give me the diarrhea and during the night I got an awful somach ache which is also a side affect. The stomach ache is probably excacerbated by the events of the last couple of days also. I have such crazy day today and have not been getting very good sleep due to not feeling that great and the stress level. I just hope that my meeting with this host family tonight straightens some things out with their exchange student who I am overseeing their stay. Their student just does not seem to be figuring out how to get along. I think she feels like no one understands and the family does not feel appreciated for everything they have done for her. This is coming to a head as I am getting ready to leave for a week. I really hope I can use the next two days to get some stuff done around here and to get ready to leave.

I am so looking forward to my trip. I am so ready to board my plane at 7 a.m. Saturday morning to be whisked away to a place that will remind me to be grateful for what I do have. I have a wonderful DH and family and a comfortable home (although rather messy right now). A place where my biggest worry will be if I will get a hot shower or not that day. A place where I can get a fresh look at things. The type of place where you wish every pampered teen could visit so they realize that they have everything they need even though to them it is not ideal.

Ok rant over and I am going to try to get some more sleep before noon now that the tummy is not so bad. Maybe after some more sleep things won't look so bad.

Well off to bed and I pray today goes well for everyone.

Well, this antibiotic is already showing signs of working. My head is not quite so dull and I got a good night sleep and I can breath a bit better. Ok, a double dose of Ambien probably helped, but earlier in the week it did not matter if I had taken any Ambien. Now to take the normal dose of Ambien tonight and see how it goes. (I can take the double dose once in a while as I normally take 5 mg and the doctor said it was ok).

Now to get rest and to feeling better these next few days. I should work on that laundry today as we are getting short on stuff.

Other than that, it is a quiet day here. Rest, work on the laundry and some cleaning and more rest.

Later
Jane

Well, I broke down and headed to the doctor today. I guess it is still a sinus infection which did not go away entirely earlier. I am now on a stronger antibiotic and he prescribed a refill. Mainly to make sure the infection gets kicked out but also since I am leaving the country so if I continue to feel bad I have the meds. Now I was just reading the information that came with it which said not to take over the counter antidiarrhea medicine. I usually get diarrhea when I take an antibiotic so now I hope I don't with this one. Am going to have to look up more information on this.

I am to take the area exchange students (3) and my son to an amusement park about 1 1/2 hours from here on Sunday, so this new med has until then to get me feeling better! My DS is going also so if I need someone to drive, he will be there.

Next week I have a million things to do. I almost have everything I need. Just need to buy water and snack type foods, for on the plane and when we are there. I also need to make sure that DH and DS have everything they need.

Well, here is hoping to a good night of sleep and to feeling better real soon.

Jane

Well, this is not a very good day.

I got up this morning and checked my emails as usual. I am on a couple of other ovarian cancer email lists. The husband of one young woman wrote to tell his that his dear wife and passed last night. This young lady set up a website to document her journey as well as posted frequently to the list. The cancer had spread to her brain. She was only 34 years old and had been dealing with this for 7 years. She was diagnosed around the time she got married. Her husband was loving and caring the whole time. Melissa will be missed by everyone she touched in life, on her website and through her emails. I am afraid her DH will have a difficult time. Dan my prayers are with you.

It is news like this that makes me want to grab those husbands who can't deal with their wife's cancer so leave. Or just can't deal with the wife's illness whatever the cause may be. I want to grab them and scream that they loved her once, had children with her and now that she is sick he is bailing. Grow Up!! Life is not always fun and it is the hard times that make the good times that much sweeter. I realize that many times problems were brewing anyway. But to bail at her most vulnerable time?

My cold is still with me, but improving slowly. My sleep schedule is way off. I need to be over with this soon as on the 23rd I head out for my Mexico trip. I am usually able to get rest on these trips but it sure would be nice to start out feeling good.

I have stuff to do to get ready so should be making my list so I don't forget anything. I did get refills for my rx's ordered today.

Well off to do laundry and to watch my favorite tv show.

Jane

Maybe this cold is really more than that. I have felt so yucky for about 5 days know. I had to miss a meeting, a wedding and church today. I am showing signs of feeling better but still wiped out. I never imagined such a cold would hit me this time of year, usually it is much later. I sure hope this is not a sign of how the winter will go. I haven't even been to the grocery store and things are getting low. Did have DH pick some stuff up while in town today.

I sure need to get out of town sometime this week to buy some things I need and to hopefully see DH's aunt. I don't want to take this cold to her though.

Now the exchange student I am overseeing her stay is giving her family fits. Most of this is normal for this point in the stay. Keeping everyone encouraged can be hard. By the end of the month, things should be better. I wrote up a piece about things kids deal with at this point of the stay and then emailed it to the family and to the student. I asked them for comments and suggestions to make it better.

Well, DH and DS came home so I should look into the stuff they brought back for supper and get it going.

Yes, I am resting and drinking lots of fluids.

Jane

Here is my theory. I think I was so busy during the summer with projects and going places that any "bugs" out there could not "catch me." Now that things have slowed down quite a bit, they "caught" me. Now this better be the last one for a long time.

After sleeping most of the morning, I do feel much better. Only the throat still hurts.

Am drinking water, resting and goint to hit the Vit C.

I also posted photos from the summer on my homepage. If you are interested they can be found at:

Photos

and the second one:

Photos

I hope these links work as I have never done this in the journals before.

Jane

I just get over a sinus infection and now I get a nasty cold and sore throat and headache. I was so looking forward to my massage this morning. Now I think I need to cancel it and sleep. My DS also seems to be getting it. I gotta get back up in a couple of hours to cancel the appointment. When I get congested like this, I snore more. I have really wanted to put off any more surgery. I could have one in the nose sinues area. I have had two nice surgeries in less than two year. I really want to put more space between them.

We have been having thundertorms and showers the last few days. It is nice having some rain and getting things green again. Very foggy in the morning.

Well, I should try and sleep a bit more.

Jane

Well, this weekend has been pretty quiet around here. I seem to have caught up on my sleep. The head is feeling much better also.

DS had a friend over. They had gone to a movie and then came here. This friend had moved into town last spring and they try to get together once in a while. Now that they have driver's licenses, it is much easier as they don't have to depend on parents' schedules. I do know they IM alot.

Got an email from the Austrian girl we moved, yesterday. She is so happy she made the change. We approached it from the standpoint it was best for her. She just was not going to be satisfied not being in town. We were glad to hear that she is glad for the change.

Talked with DD yesterday and she and her friends got their airline tickets purchased for a weekend coming up. I was wondering as I won't be surprised if this airline drops the cheap fares they are having. From Chicago to Omaha it is $39 one way .

DS called this morning. His University Band was playing for the worship service at the State Fair of the state he is in. One of the first people he saw was a friend of ours from the town we lived in before moving here. Of course, they had to call and chat.

Ok, I am going to make a bit of a concession here. As the events of the week regarding the hurricane and subsequent break up of the levees, I will admit that I am disappointed that the evacuation efforts were not stepped up faster. I am sure that all the disaster people (those who plan and prepare for them) are going to have a lot to review and changes to make. I pray that any city that is prone to flooding will take whatever steps necessary to shore up their dikes/levees or whatever they call them. They can't afford not to. I also pray that when forecasters call for evacuations, that people find a way to leave. If these levees had not have broken, things would have turned out so different, although still lots of damage.

That's all for now.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend
Jane

Our football game went well last night. Our school is small enough so we play 8-man games. These are played on a narrower and shorter field and also tend to be high scoring. We spotted the other team 14 points before we scored. We ended up winning it by about a huge margin. The weather was so nice for it. Now I need to see if my favorite (may want to rethink that after last season) college team is playing.

This weekend, I have the goal of working on my DS's room. There are so many things in there again that need sorting through. I know there are clothes in there that he does not wear so it is time to take care of them. Other than that, we have a party to go to on Monday afternoon so the weekend will be a bit on the quiet side.

As far as my mission trip, this is the third one I will go on. Even though we are busy during our clinic hours, these trips are relaxing. Seeing the smiles you get when someone can see and the hugs, make it all worthwhile. Our clinics are done in such a way that we are there to help them help themselves better their life, both physically and spiritually. We are not seen as wealthy Americans coming here and telling them how to . . . (fill in the blank). We are seen as people who really care about each person.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and you who are in the U.S., have a fun and safe holiday.

Jane

I have decided to make by entry on Katrina public. Just scroll down and you will find it if you want to.

I have been asked where it is I go in Mexico. It is Janos Mexico in the state of Chihuahua. It is about a 3 hour drive west of El Paso Texas, up in the Sierra Madre mountains. Near Casa Grandes. I usually go on the eyeglass clinics. We work with our missionaries and local pastors although this place does not have a local pastor or church, it is an area we are working to put one there. This is my second time to this place.

We test each person's eyes for reading and distance. We then give them a pair of glasses, one for reading and one for distance, they get two pair if they need any. Most all people get sunglasses. Now if I can remember the spanish for sunglasses and sun. It is said as there have been young people (around 20) with bad cataracts. It is hard to tell the age of the women, some look very young but are 30's or so and some look old only to find they are early 20's. This is what sun and dust does to one person, along with hard work and few things. I find that the people are usually pretty happy and very thankful for the help they receive. Each person who goes through the clinic hears the gospel message. The s and thanks we get are inspiring. These people are very thankful for the chance to see better so they can work better.

Our hostess here, has us make a list of those with cataracts and she then takes the people to the doctor and works out deals to get them the surgery. I wonder how many have had the surgery done since last year and if we will see them this time. She is able to obtain medicine and supplies for the hospitals and the doctors are willing to treat people she brings in.

I went to Guatemala in March 2003 doing the same thing. We left 2 days after the war began in Iraq. We felt safe the whole time and the planes were full! I have gone with two other women and one of their husbands both times before and last time an older gentleman joined us. This time the hubby of the one is not going but we are being joined by two other women.

Now my DH is looking into ways to go to the south and help out. He is a Pastor and would like to go and assist a Pastor of our church denomination.

I also realized that a friend of ours who is a chaplain in the army national guard is with a unti from Louisiana. I am sure he is having to help his soldiers deal with this.

Well it is off to bed for me.

Good night.

s
Jane

Well it is a great day today. Have a three day weekend and not much on the schedule. I have stuff to mail and a package to get ready to send to my DS.

I wrote an entry regarding my thoughts on Katrina and then decided to make it private. You see I tend to look at things from a different perspective than most and I try to see all sides. After I wrote it, I thought that there might be some people who may not appreciate what I wrote. I have posted my thoughts on another blog and if you want to hear my view, I will be glad to direct you to it. Just be forewarned.

Tonight we are going to the first football game of the season for our high school. Football? Already?!

My sinus head is finally taking leave. That is great. I have been getting more sleep. Now to try to wean down my Ambien dosage again. The stomach has settled down also.

In 3 weeks, I will be heading off to Mexico for a week. I am going on another mission trip and we happen to be going to the same place I went to last November.

Well I need to run to town, deliver some stuff that the Austrian girl left, buy groceries and busy gasoline. Hopefully I will be able to get rid of the bags of pop cans that I have been carrying around. We pay 5cents a bottle or can for anything carbonated and alcoholic and when we return it, we get the nickel back. There is only one place close that takes cans as the others have all closed. This place is only open a few hours a day and fills up fast. I may end up donating my cans to the community July 4 celebration.

Later
Jane

(Saturday, I decided to go ahead and make this public.)

I am so sorry about the suffering that is going on in the south. Unfortunately, these things do happen in America and it still takes time to get aid and relief to the people involved. Disastors take a lot from us when they happen and take a lot to recover from. This is one of the worst ones we have seen in this country.

I am one that likes to try to look at things from different angles.

I have lived in a city that experienced heavy flooding although not the scope of what is happening now. I saw how the media played up the bad that was happening. Very little in the national media about the good things that were happening. My family away from the area thought the whole city was under water and the efforts were too little too late. Well, a small portion of the city was under water. This is a city that is use to flooding every spring. That winter, 80 inches of snow had fallen and not much had melted, this was true up river also. Then we had a warm spell along with rain, so there was all this snow melting in a rapid time along with heavy rain. They were prepared for a worse than normal flood but it was still more than plannned for. There was also fear the dikes would give way as some of them had been compromised over the years. People living in the high risk areas evacuated as ordered. I never knew how I was going to get to work or home as the evacuated area was expanding rapidly over a few days. My DH spent nights sandbagging and days going to classes. People were helping people. The city was focused on their problem and paid little attention to what was happening elsewhere at the time.

How does this apply to the events today? Well I think there are a lot of people helping people and good things are happening. I think the people doing the raping and shooting would probably be doing them anyway, we are hearing about them as it is happening in such a public way. Criminals will be criminals. The milatry was poised to send aid, they just can't sail in the type of weather that would destroy them so they had to wait it out until it was safe to sail. Aid from the air, well only so many aircraft can occupy a small area at a time and with that many people on the ground, it does take time. The roads are gone or covered in water so it is difficult to get people in or out. What about evacuating when told to. Yes, I know there are sick or poor, but surely these people could have found help last weekend in getting out, maybe not.

The city is below sea level and the shore has been eroding for years as well as the levees not being maintained properly and not strong enough for this strong of storm. This is something that has been feared would happen for a long time but when it actually did, it was more than they were prepared for.

We have to remember that the people stranded that the media are talking with have no communication outside of where they are at. They are hungary, thirsty and hurting and their patience has run out. They don't know how bad things are and that aid is coming. They don't know that there are so many people stranded. We can not forget that this is widespread, New Orleans is not the only place.

I think things will improve greatly now that relief aid has had a chance to organize and it is getting easier to get in there. Unfortunately, relief takes time but at the same time, it is very hard to wait when you are the one hurting.

I hope I don't get in trouble here but these are some of my thoughts.

Yes, we do need to step in and help. Find ways to send money. My church's World Relief is asking for Wal-Mart gift cards to give to people that have arrived in Houston and other areas. Check with your church, work or any other organization on how you can send money, gift cards or other items to these people.

Maybe help with airfare for those who want to go to other places in the country with friends or relatives. If you can't help financially or physically, pray that others will.

Just some of my thoughts.

Jane

Ok, for some reason I am getting chatty here in my journal. Well, I took everyone's (and my own) advice and got some rest. Went to bed about 9:30 last night, slept 3 hours, up a couple, slept until about 7:10 (DS needed to be at school at 7:30 and I was not hearing him up) and then back to sleep till about 8:30. Took care of a few phone calls and put some wash in and I am thinking of a nap now. It is nice to be able to catch up on sleep and now the sinuses don't hurt as bad either.

I have a meeting tonight which will be fun. This group is usually pretty fun to be around. I pray that my DH gets back in time as he is to lead the Bible Study and he usually asks me when he can't. Guess, after my nap I better find something, in case.

Tuesday this week, I got my eyes examined and boy did I need a change in prescription, especially the reading part. I ordered new glasses and new lenses for my sunglasses. I would have gotten by with the sunglasses but if I want to read or use the computer while riding in the car, I could not with the old ones so am getting the bifocals put in them. I have heard that chemo can have an affect on the eyes and this is part of the reason I waited until now to get them checked, hoping that in this time that any changes going on would have settled down.

My DH's aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer last week and they can not operate and she opted to not take any treatment. On top of that, her son's family has had several years of trials. Her DIL had a stroke just after they got married and has had lots of complications and bills from that. Now her 7 year old daughter (her DH's step daughter) tried to kill herself yesterday. Naturally they are looking at psychological causes since she is so young. At the age of 7, she has been through so much that most adults have not had to endure. Her parents divorced, nasty custody issues, mom reamarrying, mom's illness, a step brother born and now her stepgrandma so ill just to name a few things the poor child has gone through. DH headed up to Rochester to see them today. Hopefully in a week or so, we can get up to see his aunt also. This all just reminded me that what we have had to deal with recently pales in comparison to others out there and to others in our extended family.

I actually caught some of the news and footage on New Orleans yesterday and that in itself leaves on speechless. It goes to show that a city can never fully prepare for what might happen. We lived in a city that had massive flooding in the early 80's and that was nothing compared to what the south is dealing with right now.

Well, I am off to sleepy land again.

Jane

Got the girl moved. I use to think we tolerated a higher level of noise, activity. What happened? Ok, I know it was the constant chatter. She was a sweet girl, just more than we could handle. She seems to have accepted the idea of changing. Some of us appreciate "down" time more than others.

Got some antibiotics for the sinus infection and got my nose spray prescription renewed. Now I am waiting for the results of the thyroid tests. This doctor was nice and I would see him again, but I do like my regular doctor. He is to be back to work in 4 weeks.

Well, I am off to bed and tomorrow I don't have much to do so between sleep and the sinus meds, I hope to be feeling better in a day or so.

Jane