Saturday, October 28, 2006

Blustery Game Day

What's your pleasure? Rain, sleet, snow, high winds, sunshine - we had all of those this afternoon while we watched Michigan win:

Football: #2 Michigan 17, Northwestern 3
Football Earns Homecoming Victory Over Northwestern

The No. 2-ranked Michigan foootball team forced five Northwestern turnovers and held the Wildcats to -13 yards rushing for a 17-3 victory on a rainy, blustery Saturday afternoon, Oct. 28, at Michigan Stadium. David Harris led the Wolverines defense with six tackles, while LaMarr Woodley stopped Northwestern's initial drive by forcing and recovering a fumble, and Leon Hall added an interception and a fumble recovery. Mike Hart rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown, while Chad Henne threw for 116 yards and one TD.

MSU did not fare as well:

10/28/06
Spartans Fall Short In Bloomington
Kellen Lewis threw five touchdown passes, including a school-record four to James Hardy, and ran for another score in leading Indiana past Michigan State 46-21 on Saturday. Michigan State (4-5, 1-4 Big Ten), a week removed from pulling off the biggest comeback in Division I-A history, grabbed the lead with a touchdown on the opening drive of the game.

We couldn't believe that Indiana scored 46 points! MSU is really on a roller coaster this season!

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Happy Birthday Tom!

Hello San Diego, and Happy Birthday!! You helped me pass out candy to trick or treaters when you were 5 days old! All of the neighborhood kids met you right away.

I'm doing well. I'm trying to walk more and more without the cane. I do tire easily, but expect improvement day by day. The aqua therapy starts Nov. 8. The prescription is for 1 to 3 times a week for 4 weeks to strengthen the left leg.

After that's done, depending on how things go, Dick and I could both re-up at the fitness place, or do the Senior Citizen thing in the pool at the Civic Center. We're also shopping for a recumbent stationary bike which was recommended by one of the Drs.

I have a sad feeling that we won't be going to the Michigan games any more this season. Dick is staying home with me again this coming weekend. There are only 2 home games left - Northwestern this coming Saturday, and Ball State the weekend after that. To be honest, I don't think I'll be ready to sit on bleachers for the Ball State game either. . Of course I'm very touched that he stays with me and I really appreciate it, but I feel bad, too, because these games are important to him and I hate to see him miss the opportunity. Makes me sorry to be the cause of it all, but I'm not depressed or anything because I'm happy to be making good progress.

I have been able to go grocery shopping a couple of times, visiting Mother, shopping for the bike, and cleaning my bedroom closet - so I'm not entirely useless. I've even fixed a couple of suppers. Dick is still driving me everywhere.

Dick is busy getting the yard ready for winter, doing some geocaching, plus he's still doing most of the cooking. Generally speaking all is well here.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Recumbent Bikes, Bedrooms, & Burqas

We're shopping for a recumbent stationary bike for both of us. It was recommended by one of the Doctors because it's easier on the back. We think we want the Schwinn, but I think we'll have to have the bike shop order one because nobody seems to have one in stock. We don't want to buy on the internet because of service, instruction, etc. Today we went to 3 different bike/fitness shops, and we've been to a couple of others previously. We're closing in on decision time.

Today I cleaned my room, which in some cases means taking things from a pile in my room and putting them in a pile in a different place (heavy sigh). Anyway, now I have cleaned out one half of my closet of dark despair plus my room. Next I'll sort out the other half of the closet of d.d., and after that I'll probably have to clean my room again! (The never-ending battle with clutter continues.) Then I'll start on drawers, which is easier because you can do drawers one at a time.

Dick found a great article in the Washington Post by Anne Applebaum. She writes about how disconcerting it is for the Western world to accept veiled Muslim women in the workplace and in schools. She points out that it's not discrimination, it's just our custom to "look each other in the eye" and take notice of peoples' facial expressions. I think she did a superb job of articulating how people should behave in a country that has established rules of behavior and communication. I loved the article. See it at the link above (click on the title). Here is a short excerpt:

"And yet, at a much simpler level, surely it is also true that the full-faced veil -- the niqab, burqa or chador -- causes such deep reactions in the West not so much because of its political or religious symbolism but because it is extremely impolite. Just as it is considered rude to enter a Balinese temple wearing shorts, so, too, is it considered rude, in a Western country, to hide one's face. We wear masks when we want to frighten, when we are in mourning or when we want to conceal our identities. To a Western child -- or even an adult -- a woman clad from head to toe in black looks like a ghost. Thieves and actors hide their faces in the West; honest people look you straight in the eye."

Monday, October 23, 2006

Your Name

This is fun to play with, but it's not perfect. It tells me that there are 14 Nancy Steigers in the US but I have a feeling that there are more than that. Also, it says that there are 0 people named Kanitz, which is obviously bogus. But as I said, it's fun.


HowManyOfMe.com
LogoThere are:
14
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Offense vs. Defense

Today has been a most interesting sports day in Big Ten football. The 2 games that we watched today really demonstrated a defensive donnybrook by Michigan, and an offensive onslaught by Michigan State.

Michigan and Iowa had super defenses, and it was a very hard-played, hard-hitting game. Iowa was held to 2 fieldgoals for their total of 6 points. State and Northwestern scored a combination of 79 points - wow, that's a lot of offense.

Starting with our favorite, the U of M, they beat Iowa 20-6 - it wasn't easy, but they did it. My Dad, the football coach, always used to quote the old adage "The best offense is a good defense." Michigan is still undefeated and still #2 in the country. This from mgoblue:

************
Football Remains Undefeated With Win Over Hawkeyes
Mike Hart rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns to lead the No. 2-ranked Michigan football team to a hard-fought 20-6 win over Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Michigan Stadium. After Iowa tied the game 3-3 in the third quarter, Steve Breaston returned the ensuing kickoff 64 yards to set up the go-ahead drive, with Hart punching it in from nine yards for a 10-3 lead. Hart, who surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season, clinched the win with a 10-yard TD run with 3:59 left in the game, and Garrett Rivas booted two field goals.
************

Earlier, Michigan State set an NCAA record for the biggest comeback win of all time. Nothwestern had the game won 38 to 3 in the middle of the third quarter. Who could have predicted that State would go on to score 38 points from then on and win the game 41-38. What a performance. This from USA Today:
************

Trailing 38-3 with 9:54 left in the third quarter against Northwestern, Michigan State scored the next 38 points, the greatest comeback in NCAA Division I-A history.
Sometimes a comeback results in more than just a win. Sometimes it even saves a season. With the 41-38 victory, Michigan State (4-4, 1-3 Big Ten) ended its four-game losing streak.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Aqua Therapy? Por Moi?

Dick has gone geocaching in the Walton-Manton-Cadillac area. He called in to report that he was First to Find on two of Treeplanter's new hides. Dick was having a really good time until he got caught in a downpour and got soaking wet. He says that the car heater has him all dried off now. He's off to do some more looking.

Today I called and made appointments for aqua therapy through the Munson Community Health Center. They use the pool at Premier Fitness on Garfield.

I'm quaking in my boots because I'm so afraid of re-injury. The neurosurgeon gave me a prescription for aqua therapy 1-3 times a week for 4 weeks. I trust him to recommend the correct treatment, but..... this won't be starting until the first week of November and I'm already worried. I'm afraid I'll throw my back out climbing that ladder up out the pool.

Also, I had that bad experience at MCHC physical therapy when I was re-injured by the pelvic traction. That episode set me back for six weeks so far. So I think I have good reason to be cautious.

I've been doing some research on Google, and I found this excerpt encouraging:

****************

Experts agree that rehabilitation exercises in the water may improve and accelerate healing time and reduce the potential for re-injury.
Flexibility and stretching exercises are performed more easily in the water than on land, where gravity is a limitation
During all exercise, the resistance of the water matches the applied muscle force. This dramatically reduced the likelihood of re-injury caused by exceeding tissue tolerance levels.
Rhythmic movements in the water (both swimming and walking/running) provide a gentle and non-impact environment for improving cardiovascular fitness.
Aqua therapy is especially suited to the rehabilitation of neck and back injuries and recovery from orthopedic surgery.
Aquatic therapy provides an exceptional and unique environment for promoting normal movement patterns and building strength, usually with pain reduction and reduced the risk of further injury. Aquatic therapy in many cases is the only alternative for rehabilitation when land-based programs have not provided adequate results.
****************

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Januvia

Evidently lots of research is being done for people with diabetes type 2. Januvia sounds like an ideal medication. The following article describes it, and also mentions several other new medications on the horizon.

I'm putting the article in the blog just because I want to keep it and maybe discuss it with my Doctor, except my last HbA1C test was so normal that I probably don't need it anyway. I don't think it has much interest for anyone else but me.

Januvia targets the pancreas but I didn't see any reference in the article to pancreatic side effects.

***************

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved a novel once-a-day pill to treat Type 2 diabetes that lowers blood sugar levels without causing weight gain. The FDA said the drug, called Januvia, is ``important" because 70 percent of diabetes patients cannot adequately control their blood sugar using existing treatments.

Januvia is expected to become a billion-dollar blockbuster treatment for its maker, Merck & Co., and will be priced at $4.86 per tablet. Newly diagnosed patients can use the drug on its own, along with diet and exercise, to control blood sugar levels. And because it doesn't cause severe side effects when used in combination with popular diabetes drugs already on the market, Januvia also can be used by those whose disease is more advanced and requires more medicines.

The drug leverages the body's natural ability to control blood sugar by producing more insulin and lowering glucose. Controlling blood sugar can help stave off the need for patients to take insulin.

Diabetes affects about 21 million Americans and occurs when the body builds resistance to insulin needed to break down food, causing blood sugar levels to spike.

About 95 percent of adults with diabetes have the Type 2 form. They either do not produce enough insulin or their bodies fail to use what is produced. Those with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily because their bodies do not produce any insulin.

Unchecked diabetes can cause blindness , kidney failure , and heart ailments and can lead to amputations . The number of people with it is rising because of expanding waistlines and sedentary lifestyles, according to the National Institutes of Health.

In clinical trials, Januvia did not have the side effects typical of older treatments, such as weight gain, and dangerous drops in blood sugar. The most commonly reported side effects in trials have been minor: runny noses, coughs, colds, sore throats, diarrhea and nausea. But some in the medical community fear that could change when millions begin to use the new drug.

Analysts and physicians said Januvia offers a ``modest" reduction in a key measurement to gauge how well a patient's blood sugar level is being controlled. Elevated values increase the risk for eye , kidney , nerve, and heart damage.

A Boston man with Type 2 diabetes who has responded well to metformin, a generic treatment for diabetes, said he would use Januvia even if it only slightly improved his blood sugar value.

``I look at it as almost like a scale," said Marc Onigman , 56 . ``If the drug can help me keep that number dead-even, bring on the drug. As long as it doesn't have side effects that lay me out for a week."

Januvia boosts insulin levels when blood sugar levels are high, but cuts off the supply ``when the blood sugar goes down to normal," said Dr. Edward Horton , director of clinical research at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston . ``It's taking advantage of the body's own mechanism to respond to a meal."

Because Januvia helps the body better manage insulin levels, he said, it is much less likely to cause hypoglycemia -- dangerously low blood sugar levels -- than older treatments.

Horton, a Harvard Medical School professor of medicine , is a paid Merck consultant. The company has made him available for interviews about Januvia and has sponsored diabetes treatment sessions for doctors featuring him as a speaker.

Januvia targets an enzyme that is involved in activating many of the body's hormones, which worries some doctors because studies of how it affects patients have been limited. FDA approval was based on studies involving 2,719 patients. Roughly 440 of them had taken Januvia longer than one year and only 160 had taken the drug for two years.

``The concern always has been that the regulation of some of those hormones may be very important in subsets of patients that we don't yet understand," said Dr. John Buse , director of the Diabetes Care Center at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and president-elect of the American Diabetes Association . Because Januvia is the first drug approved in its class, it is not surprising that some people will approach it with caution, Buse said.

``There are many patients and, maybe, even more doctors who are relatively reluctant to use a new drug in the first six months or year after it's released," he said.

Merck said it will conduct additional tests of Januvia in combination with insulin and another class of diabetes drugs.

``Type 2 diabetics use a variety of medications to control their condition," said Dr. Mary Parks , the director of the FDA's division of metabolism and endocrine products . ``We want as much information" on the effectiveness and safety of Januvia taken in combination with other products, Parks said.

Some 400 different treatments for diabetes are in development. Recent innovations include inhaled insulin, which eliminates the need for injections.

Deutsche Bank research analyst Barbara Ryan , in a note to investors, called diabetes treatments ``hot, hot, hot" with a market size capable of supporting ``multiple new blockbuster opportunities."

Novartis AG is hot on the heels of Januvia with its own new-generation diabetes pill, Galvus , expected to receive FDA approval next month .

By shipping Januvia quickly, Merck aims to take advantage of ``a short window before Galvus gets the green light," Morgan Stanley analyst Jami Rubin wrote in a research note. Rubin forecasts $350 million in Januvia sales worldwide in 2007 with $1.6 billion in sales by 2010 , a conservative estimate.

A Reuters survey of 60 physicians found ``the vast majority" intend to prescribe Januvia and Galvus immediately.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Unsettling Visit

This has been a beautiful, blue skied, sunshiny day. Couldn't ask for anything better. The fall colors are past their peak, but still gorgeous in certain areas.

It's been a very quiet day here at home - a Sunday papers kind of day.

We made our regular Sunday visit to see Mother, and it was most unsatisfactory. This is the letter I sent to Betsy, the Director of Concord Place:

**************************
Dear Betsy,
We visited Mom today (Sunday, Oct. 15) and we wonder if you would check out a couple of things for us.

First of all, her telephone line is so full of static that she can't hear me when I call her. If you just pick up her receiver, you can hear the static along with the dial tone - check it out. We brought in a new phone because we thought maybe her phone was broken, but the static was on the new phone also. There's definitely something wrong with her phone line. I'm in the habit of calling her every day, and it's frustrating that for the past week she hasn't been able to hear me over the static.

Second, we don't know what happened to the pink box that her new Sylvania TV came in. The manual for the TV is in the box, and we'd like to have it.

Also, the box elder bugs are infesting her window again. Somehow, they are able to get inside - today they were on the windowsill and on the heater. While we were there one landed on Mother's hand, and it was quite unsettling. She told me that they have been on her bed as well. I would have thought that the freezing temps we've had would have killed the bugs, but no such luck. What do you think about using a can of Raid on the outside of the window? We'll be glad to pay for the Raid if that's a problem.

Thanks in advance,

Nancy and Dick Steiger
**********************

Let's hope this letter will achieve a positive result!

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Fall Fun Day

Dick spent most of the day at the MiGo Fall Fun Day out at the Boy Scout Camp. I guess it was well attended in spite of the lousy weather, and it sounds like a good time was had. I know Dick and Tim&Susie had a good time.

Michigan beat Penn State tonight but it was close. It was an exciting game to watch, and a little scary too. This from mgoblue.com.

Football Sacks Penn State Behind Swarming Defense

The fourth-ranked Michigan football team sacked Penn State's quarterback seven times en route to a 17-10 victory Saturday, Oct. 14, in State College, Pa. U-M scored on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter to lead 10-3 at halftime, with Chad Henne throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Arrington and Garrett Rivas booting a 23-yard field goal. Mike Hart, who rushed for 112 yards, added a third-quarter TD run, while Rondell Biggs and LaMarr Woodley led the strong defensive effort with two sacks each.

Friday, October 13, 2006

I Can Cut Back !

Jana went home today - her IV therapy is finished and she feels better already. She's been told to stay home from work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm hoping she will rest and heal and recover completely.

It's a nasty day - the worst possible weather - 40 degrees, cold rain, and high winds. Our power was out for a couple of hours this morning.

Saw Dr. Burke this afternoon and he agreed that I can cut back on my blood pressure medication. Hooray hooray!

He was surprised that the spinal injections worked for me (so far), I'm not sure why he was so surprised. It's a little sobering to me because I'm sure he knows more about it than I do. A visit to the lab for blood tests, and that was it.

Tim and Susie were over here geocaching today, and came here for burgers afterwards. Susie made a delicious pasta salad. We watched the Tigers beat Oakland, and had a great time.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Sort of a Snowy Medical Day

First of all, Jana is having some health problems. She was feeling discomfort when she was here in September, and it's just been getting worse and worse.

It turns out that she has an internal abscess in the pelvic area. She's in George Washington University Hospital receiving antibiotic IV therapy for 24-48 hours.

I just hung up from talking to her (4:40 p.m.) and they had just come in to start the IV. She has a lot of pain, but she seems to be in a really good mood. She's just glad that it's being taken care of. And so are we !

We woke up to a snow-covered landscape. It's been cold and snowy all day. A lot of it has melted already, but more is forecast for tomorrow. It seems really out of place for the middle of October.

Meanwhile, we went to see the neurosurgeon and got a really good report. He was pleased with my progress (!). He says no physical therapy or pool for 2 more weeks. He just recommends normal common sense activity and walking around. He said, "Every step you take will make it better." So now Every Step You Take is my new theme song. He wants me to practice walking without the cane right away, even if I am wobbly. I guess it's possible to get addicted to the cane.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Reception

I have no pain since the spinal injections, but the leg is very weak, and I'm walking slowly with a cane - which is far better than sitting all day! My leg is really trying to get stronger, and I'm trying to do a bit more each day. I still am slow and wobbly though.

The only position that gives me trouble now is sitting upright. I've just been using the recliner. However I can ride in the car for short periods - the car seats give you more ease or something.

Today I'm doing my laundry and changing my bed, and that's the most activity I've done yet. Yesterday I was able to visit Mother, and I actually went up there twice, so I was very proud of myself. She's having trouble with her TV reception. We think it's the cable because we went out and bought a new TV and that reception was just as bad. By the end of the day today, the cable people (or somebody) had it repaired and she was back in business.

Dick has to drive because I'm not supposed to try that yet. I'm trying to be very careful because the last thing I want to do is to re-injure anything.

We see the neurosurgeon tomorrow at 2, and Dr. Burke Friday at 2:30.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Solo Sunday

Jan left here around 9 a.m. Dick left Canton about the same time, and Tom boarded his plane then too.

I spent the day reading, dozing, and watching TV - still no appetite - still drinking the Pepto. I should buy some stock.

Jan stopped by in Houghton Lake to pick up Diann - they shared the drive back down to Belleville.

Dick geocached his way up north - he called five or six times to check in and to announce his finds. He found 3 before he even got on the expressway. He arrived home around 5 or 5:30. It was fun to hear his stories of the tailgate and the game.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Game Day

Still no appetite - weight keeps dropping, which is not a bad thing, but it's happening very fast. I'm just hoping it's not all muscle. Still drinking the Pepto.
I think my leg is getting stronger.

Jan and I had a very restful day reading and chatting and looking at magazines. We watched a Broadway musical DVD.

Neighbor Shirley came by with a treat and a card, and we had a good visit with her. Her husband is off duck hunting in upper New York State until Wed.

In Ann Arbor, Dick, Tom, Peter G. and Bill went to Steve's tailgate - they had 100 people there (not all at the same time) and grilled ribs for everyone, along with salads, potatoes, cakes, etc. It's quite a do. The guys really enjoyed the game, and it was fun to watch here, too. This from mgoblue.com


Henne on the Mark Again as Football Defeats Spartans

Chad Henne threw three touchdown passes for the third time in the last four games to lead the No. 6-ranked Michigan football team to a sound 31-13 defeat of Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Michigan Stadium. Henne tossed scoring passes of 13 yards to Adrian Arrington and 41 yards to Mario Manningham to help U-M to a 17-0 halftime lead, and Henne hit Manningham again in the third quarter for a 27-yard TD play to make it 24-0. Mike Hart rushed 22 times for 122 yards, and Brandon Minor added a 40-yard touchdown run.

Then we watched Walk the Line on HBO and went to bed.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Dick Leaves, Jan Arrives

Still feeling ill this morning. Hoping it goes away soon.

Dick is off on a great weekend of geocaching, football, male bonding, tailgating, and being with Tom. He has arrived safely in Canton and should be picking up Tom at the airport right about now.

Jan got here around 3, and we've been talking ever since! She's my combination friend, caretaker, and companion. She's really here so that Dick can have a worry-free weekend.

I"m feeling better today.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Lousy

Not so hot today. Somehow I've picked up some kind of a bug which I hope is the 24 hour variety. A crummy day.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

"Funny" Mistakes

We've been laughing about the dumb things I've done during the past couple of months because of the pain medications. I've forgotten whole days, whole conversations, whole events. Dick tells me that I have an appointment with the neurosurgeon surgeon on Oct. 12 - you could have fooled me! I suppose it's just to see how the injections are working out. Those strong drugs really do impair your thinking skills - always take somebody in with you!

Today we remedied the worst mistake - at the bank. While I was still "druggy", I was so proud of myself for paying the bills online and keeping up with everything. Ha!
I paid our bills all right, but I also paid Mom's rent and Mom's medical coverage out of our account, resulting in an overdrawal! Now that will put a dent in your budget. Luckily we have some kind of overdraft protection so nothing bounced, but there is a fee of some kind which I have to figure out how to pay.

So I'm not quite as proud of myself as I was before, but at least our bills got paid and Mother was kept covered and that's the important thing.

Strong storms last night - we got about 3 inches of rain. There was a tornado south of us in Missaukee County and high winds causing quite a bit of damage around the countryside. We just got the rain and the thunder.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

A Very Sad Monday

Two very sad funerals today. The first one is Tim and Susie's Mother Shirley Swedine. We've never met her, but our hearts go out to her whole family and especially to Tim and Susie. Susie's Mom died in February, and it just seems like too much to deal with for one year.



Shirley E. Swedine
(September 12, 1930 - September 29, 2006)

Shirley E. Swedine - Age 76, of Owosso, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 29, 2006. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, October 2, 2006 from Grace Bible Church, 201 Michigan Avenue, Owosso, with Pastor Roger Rose officiating. Final rest will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 6 to 8 PM Saturday; 2-4 & 6-8 PM Sunday at Mowen Funeral Home. Mrs. Swedine will lay in state at the church on Monday from 9 AM until service time.

Mrs. Swedine was born September 12, 1930, in South Branch, Michigan, the daughter of James and Florence (Burr) Humphrey. She married Carl J. Swedine in South Branch on June 19, 1948. Mrs. Swedine was a homemaker and lived all her married life in Owosso. She was a graduate of Mio High School, Class of 1948. She was a member of Grace Bible Church of Owosso. She loved music and playing the piano. For a while, she also worked and played the piano in the youth groups and Sunday school. She liked to read and was a good golfer, bowler, loved to sew and do needle point. Mrs. Swedine loved tending her flower gardens, family get together's and making photo albums for all her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include: husband, Carl; children, Tim (Susan) Swedine, Kevin (Marion) Swedine, Melody Livingston, Eric Swedine, and Nancy (Jeff) Bateman; six grndchildren, Quincy, T.J., Erica, Ryan, Nicole and Nathan; four great grandchildren and two on the way; also, sisters, Marjorie DeVoe of Durand, Doris (Don) Mainprize of Higgins Lake and brother, James (Mae) Humphrey of Alabama; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by six brothers and one sister.

Memorials are suggested to the Grace Bible Church of Owosso.
********************

The second is Pauline Brigham Lather, who was a classmate of mine since elementary school. We went to Union Street School and were together all the way through graduation from Central High. Pauline was an amazing woman with a strong will to
live. Suffering from leukemia, she underwent a bone marrow transplant provided by her son, who was a perfect match. She went through a lengthy recovery, and even got back on the bike path and became quite active again. Evidently leukemia is even tougher than we are. She was a wonderful person, and her husband Dave was also in our junior high and high school class - he was always so pleasant and kind. I know it's been a struggle for him for many months now. At least Pauline's struggle is over.

Lather, Pauline Yvonne
TRAVERSE CITY — Pauline Yvonne Lather, 71, died on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006, in the arms of her husband and surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with Leukemia.

She was born to Harvey Vernon and Eva Mae (Brighty) Brigham on April 25, 1935, in Grant Township, Grand Traverse County.

Pauline attended Union Street Grade School, graduated from Traverse City Central High School and Michigan State University.

She met the love of her life, David, in their junior year of high school; They were married by the Rev. Donn Doten at Central United Methodist Church on July 6, 1957.

She valued good health and an active life style. She enjoyed most outdoor sports, including sailing, skiing, cycling, roller blading, snowshoeing and hiking.

Pauline's greatest love was her family and many friends. She always saw the best in people. Pauline's faith was very strong, a faith she passed on to her children.

She was an active member of Central United Methodist Church, her Yokefellow Group, and was a Stephen Minister. She was office manager of Central United Methodist Church and retired as their bookkeeper-treasurer.

Pauline is survived by her husband, David; son, Brantley (Michelle) Lather of Midland; daughter, Lori (Jan) Hesprich of Traverse City; sister, Susan (Wallace) Tuttle of Traverse City; three grandchildren, Henry, Conrad and Sarah Lather of Midland; and mother-in-law, Leona Lather of Traverse City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Eva Mae Brigham.

In accordance with Pauline's wish, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Monday, Oct. 2, 2006, 11 a.m., at Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City. Visitation will begin one hour before the service. The Reverends John Ellinger, Tamara Williams and Dean Bailey will officiate. Inurnment of her cremains will be in the church columbarium.

Memorials may be directed to Central United Methodist Church or to the West 4 Oncology Unit at Munson Medical Center, Traverse City.

The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home; www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.
Published in the Record-Eagle on 10/1/2006.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Hello Mother

After Dick got home from the Agency, we got into the car, did a couple of small errends, and went to visit Mother.

I was very nervous about walking up and down the ramp, but we did it - we did it and it wasn't that bad. I haven't taken any pain pills all day and there is no pain. I'm still walking very slowly with Dad's cane, but we did it. We visited with her for an hour and everything went well. She seems fine and we had a good talk. Then I came home and slept for two hours!

It was a beautiful drive around town. The trees and the hills are all in their fall colors and really quite imppressive. It's a warm wonderful, beautiful day.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Sunny Sunday

It feels like fall today. I think it's around 45 outside, and some of our leaves are turning.
I am continuing to improve - haven't taken any pain meds since yesterday afternoon. I still have a slight ache in my left calf, but hardly enough to mention. My left leg is considerable weakened, but my new hobby can be strengthening it.

Dick has gone off geocaching south of Kingsley. It looks like a nice series along the Manistee.

Next weekend Dick will be going down to the Mich-Mich. State game and staying at Sniders. Tom is flying in from San Diego to go also, and Peter is driving up from Cleveland. I think that Bill will probably go to the game with them, so they should have a great time. They plan to go to Steve Koss' famous tailgate party pre and post game. Jan is driving up here to stay with me for the weekend, so I won't be lonely and "overdo". It should be a great time for all of us.