Photographic Evidence of Traction

After getting some kind of a clinical dispensation, the tech was allowed to photograph the traction. Nobody had ever asked to be photographed before. I simply cannot imagine why (!). There's a harness around the midsection pulled very tight to keep the upper spine immobile. The hip harness is what pulls your spine toward the end of the table. The little machine at the end of the table is what provides the pull. It cycles between 40 pounds of pull and 100 pounds of pull. It cycles for 20 minutes.
The cord draped over my chest is a call button for the tech in case I should need her for anything. The little box on the wall is a kill switch in case the machine goes perquackey and starts pulling me like Westley in The Princess Bride.





The cord beyond my feet is what pulls on the harness. You actually can feel your spine stretching - it's a good feeling - a good stretch. After the traction, the clinician comes in and has you do exercises. The tricky part is not to hurt yourself. Today I felt hurt when she was finished. I went to visit Mother, and I shouldn't have done that. I should have just come right home. When I got here, I started in on pain meds again, and even some valium. I kind of resent have been marginally "re-injured", but maybe that's just the way it goes. I'm going to ask about it next time. I don't go back until Monday.

PT 2006

Physical Therapy has changed quite a bit in the past 25 years since the other time that I had sciatica.

First of all, this time the first encounter was longer. The whole visit took an hour and a half, with poor Dick sitting in the waiting room the whole time. The therapist spent about an hour doing an "evaluation", which means that I spent an hour walking up and down the hall 14,000 times for her, balancing on one leg after the other, pivoting, lying down on back, belly, right side, and left side while alternately raising my legs, bending, stretching, twisting in every position (Does this hurt? How about this?), standing on my head, waving my arms, and quacking like a duck.

The second part was a half hour of pelvic traction. The object of this is to "decompress" my spine. I also had cane practice. I'm not allowed to limp because limping negates the benefits of the traction. I have to use the cane just right so that my pelvis stays level. I use the cane at all times, even around the house.

The cane I use at home is the cane my Dad got when he graduated from the U of M. It has a block M on it, and under the M it says 3ED0, because he graduated with a degree in Education in 1930. The letters and numbers are in some kind of metal, but I don't know what it could be. Mother says I can't help but improve quickly using that cane!

I'll be going to PT three times a week for the next month. I think there will be pelvic traction each time. I hope we eventually get around to leg strengthening. I'm also trying some bed and chair exercises to counteract having been immobilized for the past month.

Today Dick did a lot of picking up and putting things away outside. He finished just before the rain started. Then we went to recycling, UPS, and Oleson's.

A Plan

I waited all day for a phone call from the Doctor. I kept checking the phone all day to see if there was a dial tone. We got 4 other calls, so I knew that the phone was working. Finally, I called the clinic yesterday afternoon 5 minutes before they closed. I very politely inquired as to when I might expect to hear the results of the test that I had 10 days ago. She very sweetly said that she would give Dr. Burke's nurse a reminder note, and that I could expect a call this morning. I guess all it took was that little kick in the pants!

Dr. Burke actually did phone me this morning. He called at 8:11 a.m. (Don't you love digital clocks?) The MRI showed a lot of arthritic changes in my spine, but he says that everybody over 60 has osteo-arthritis in their spine. It also showed several bulging discs in the lumbar region, but the trouble-making disc is L-4, which is bulging enough to pinch my sciatic nerve.

I'm starting physical therapy today at 3 o'clock. I'll do the PT for a month, and he says that by the time of the wedding I should be "moderately improved". I don't know what that means, but it doesn't sound too bad. If I'm not moderately improved in a month, then he says he would want to do some more tests.

A really good sign is that I haven't taken any pain meds except regular Tylenol for two days now. The pain is mostly gone, but walking is still difficult.

So, I have a Goal, a Plan, the Motivation, and a Cheerleader (Dick). I think I'll be good to go.

What The Heck, Go For It

My Doc didn't call again today, so I just went ahead and RSVPed to Joyce in California that we would be there for all of the wedding activities. I figure I have a whole month to practice walking. We just now mailed the post card.

Jana is always so inspirational - this is what her email said:

Actually I think it is kind of good to have a Goal to Work Towards, you
know? Especially since no one will provide any tunnel lightness for
you, you can come up with your own tunnel lightness.

I am being a nag here -- but, you know that katami bar? I think 2
minutes daily of using it to stretch would probably be really, really
good. I mean, unless it hurts. Remember -- stretching feels gooooood.

Thanks, Jana. And now I definitely do have a Goal!

Mom and a Ride

We had a good visit with Mother. She tires quickly, and confuses parts of the conversation because of her poor hearing. But generally speaking she's fine.

We did a little cache maintenance, stopped to look over another park for possiblities, and did our cruise. I was shocked at how weak my left leg is and how slowly I was walking. The sciatica pain is mostly gone if I behave myself, but there's still a lot of work to do.

No News

Since the MRI was a week ago, I was pretty sure I would hear about the results by Friday. But there hasn't been a phone call or letter, so the next possibility is not until Monday. I would really like to get started on some kind of rehab - my left leg is noticeably weaker, and I walk like a drunken sailor. I'm mostly just elevating it and resting it.

My shoes for California came, and they're all fine except for the dressiest ones which were way too tight - hope I can exchange them. I lke the style.

Rick emailed that Fritz and Ruth will be going to Traverse Manor on Sept. 2. It's a real relief that there is finally a plan for the two of rhem. They both need so much help, and they're so far from family. I know Fritz will be both frustrated and relieved. He hates the part about not being able to drive anymore, but he'll be so relieved to have help with Ruth, who is very high maintainance at this stage of her life.

Dick took some cachers out to Power Island this morning to find the oldest cache in Michigan. He said they all were successful and had a good time. I believe it was photobug2, rathergohiking & the Waypoint Kid, and the Farm Boy and the Teacher. I think he has plans to take another group out there on the 25th. He went caching with them yesterday too.

Kim is Home, Kim is Home

The ordeal is over for Kim and Mike! We got this email last night, and we were so happy and totally surprised! They sort of sneaked out of Minnesota at the first possible moment. Who can blame them!! I edited the email to remove most of the personal things and all of the medical numbers, etc. But I couldn't resist including it because I think it's so charming, positive, and romantic in its own way:

Arrived in CA at 0200 this am.1 day earlier than anticipated since all
apptments were done on Tues afternoon and the need was overwhelming to
scram. The gal needed to get home."Home." An interesting concept when
you relocate 2000 miles from 12 years ofdeep friendships andmost of
your family only weeks before losing an organ system temporarily and
downsize 50% in housing,But here it is,2 months later and our house
is NOW a home. Like when you bring your first kid back from the
hospital when they are born...but better. This team was short our power
hitter for too long this season.

The Kid was unbelievable. I would have crumpled. Temps in the 104 range
for days,pain, diarrhea, pulmonary compromise,full body edema,
nausea....Got on the plane late last night as instructed: scarf, hat,
leg wraps and filtration mask. Fellow travelers wondering....Jessica?
Garbo? Jennifer? They have no idea. She Belongs to Me - (Bob Dylan
http://bobdylan.com/songs/belongs.html)

We did it. Time to make living routine with more than a touch of
priority affirmation, thankfulness, and perspective. Thanks to everyone
for their support, thoughts and encouragement.

Hey! I Lost a Day!

Sleep is a wonderful thing - but are you really supposed to sleep for a whole day? I lay down yesterday afternoon for a nap. When Dick woke me up for supper, I fell asleep over my plate, and couldn't stay awake long enough to eat anything. So he very gently suggested that I just go back to bed, which I did with no argument. I did wake up at 1:25 a.m. and sort of watched TV for about an hour, went back to bed and was wakened by Dylan's phone call at around 7:30 a.m. Went back to bed and finally did get up and dressed around 9 a.m. Then Dick decided to go caching around 9:30. As soon as he left, I went back to bed. Holy cow. I didn't wake up until he called around 1 p.m.

I figure I must have slept for 18 or 19 hours. This just never happens. I hope I've caught up on my zzz's by now.

Just got a call from my cousin Virginia who told me that Aunt Effie died last night at the age of 108 1/2. She would have been 109 in November. When Aunt Effie was 100, someone asked her how it felt to be that old. She said, "Well, there's no peer pressure!" She had many descendants both living and dead. It will be interesting to read her obit. Mother is now the only surviving daughter-in-law of Grandma Kanitz's nine sons and daughters-in-law. Dad was the last surviving son. Makes sense because they were the youngest of the eighteen sons and daughters-in-law.
Here's a picture of the whole family - Grandma and her nine sons and their wives. In this pose, the men are seated according to age, with Uncle Walt and Aunt Opal on the left, and Mom and Dad on the right. Grandma, of course, is in the middle.
In this picture Mom is on the left. Aunt Effie is seated the furthest left by the big round pitcher. (It was green.) It must have been take the same day as the one above because doesn't it look like they're all wearing the same clothes?

It's hard to believe that Mom is the only one left.

Hi Mom

The Big Event of the day was going to visit mother. She was very glad to see that she really does still have a daughter.

We took care of all of the financial details, additions, balancings and such. We caught up on all of the Concord Place doings (there aren't any), and enjoyed recounting all of the cute Dylan stories from July.

Mother gave me all of the good motherly advice about taking care of myself, not overdoing, canceling the California trip and many other things that I should and shouldn't do. She'll be 98 in a month, and she's still mothering me! So watch out kids - I guess it never ends.

We had a great drive through town on a perfectly beautiful day, and Dick showed me the lot that L&C picked out.

And I didn't overdo, Mother.

MRI Redux

Had the test. Now mind you I've give up whining forever, so this is not a whine - this is a completely objective report.

This time the MRI seemed even noisier than I remembered, and quite uncomfortable because you have to lie flat on your back for the whole time, and that's the position I especially haven't been able to tolerate for the past couple of weeks. The test seemed to go on for an hour, but as I left the clock showed only 25 minutes had passed. It seemed to be a long time to stay motionless in an uncomfortable position. But it's over! That's the best part.

We went for a lovely ride and got iced tea and it was just like being alive again.

Downtown was beautiful and full of "touristers", and you wouldn't believe what's happening on Washington Street. The last half of the day was lovely.

The Iceman Cometh

The repairman from Max's came today and finished the refrigerator. So now we have a new gasket and a new ice-maker. No more buying bags of ice - hooray! No more condensation on the floor. Hooray!
I'm having fun ordering things on the internet while I'm sitting in my chair healing up. Mostly great stuff for scrapbooking, and some necessary wardrobe items. Yes, that's it - necessary items.

All we Can do is Cry

I'm a student of common sense and rationality, straightforwardness and integrity

http://www.slate.com/id/2147398/?nav=aisDr. C

What, Me Whine??

I actually am quite a bit better than I was 3 weeks ago, but to be honest, I thought I would be totally better by now.

It seems to me that I've been complaining a lot so I'm going to try to keep a stiff upper lip and stop being such a whiner - especially when I know so many people at the moment who have much more whinable situations than I have.

Just for one example, have you ever heard Aunt Odette whine about anything at all? Me either. (Well. maybe once I heard a sort of a whine about Uncle Doug, but nothing at all compared to a Nan-Whine.)

And our friends Tim & Susie for example - Susie's Mom died last Feb., and last Sunday Tim's Mom had a stroke of the more serious sort and are they whining? Nope - they're dealing with it.

Kimiko Marie is the least whinable person on the planet. Here she is, dealing with tests, proedures, pokings and proddings beyond our wildest imaginations, more closely threatened than we will ever be by life-ending situations on a minute to minute timeline, and yet teasing her Dr. hubby and blaming it on febrile delirium. A whiner? I don't think so. Michael sends daily updates and here's a sample:

Today pretty much the same..fever 39-40 which is not uncommon, every
antibiotic known being given, IV fluids, tylenol, Mag, Phos, Potassium
and gatorade orally as tolerated. A waiting game where, we are told,
cells start to produce anywhere from day 10-14. Today is 11. She is
strong and upbeat, resting with a fever. Still comes up with zingers
claiming febrile delirium. Ha.

(Haven't heard one whine from either of them yet. By the way a temp of 39-40 equals approximately 104* F.)

As for me, my leg hurts. Big whoop. Oh the tragedy of it all. I can't think of a better place to spend my downtime, or a better person to spend it with, or a better doctor, better neighbors, or more beautiful scenery out my window, or nicer weather. I'm the most fortunate whiner in the galaxy. To those who are sick of hearing about my stupid sciatica, I'm sick of it too - so this is the end. No more complaining. Amen.
(With the possible exception of my kids, who have earned a little mom-whining over the past 45 years. Some more than others. Sorry, kids.)

In Another Galaxy Not So Far Away

I'm spending the day sitting in the recliner. Again. With my vicodin of course.

Dick has been bustling around stacking wood, shopping, etc. I'm sitting in this chair. Whoopee. But I'm not feeling sorry for myself because I think I've turned a corner - this is the first day that I have felt better since July 20, so that's very positive.

Kids have sent roses - so beautiful. Thank goodness for the laptop - it's been my link to life, news, & friends. I haven't been able to concentrate on reading, which is usually quite a lifesaver...but this time it's just been too hard to get into a comfy reading position. I am much better today and I'm thinking I'll be terrific in another two weeks.

In another galaxy of medical expertise Kim has begun to respond to her drastic treatment. She has a massive number of cheerleaders on her side, and such a supportive family! Go platelets, go platelets!!

Everybody has someone to worry about - could be yourself, your spouse, a friend or a neighbor. The worst worry of all has to be your child of any age who is putting up such a fight for life and all you can do is be there. So Sniders, we're with you 100%- if all of the friends who are thinking of you were actually there, Mayo would have to add a new wing or two. And if Marie could only be there, she would get those doctors straightened out.

Lost in a Valium Bottle For 3 Weeks

My latest scientific discovery is that valium (5mg) is useless. It was prescribed as part of a pain regimen to relieve the discomfort of sciatica.

I wrote a letter to L,T & J yesterday whining about my sciatica pain and my medications. Thank goodness for children - you can usually subject them to some heartfelt whining without fear of a series of repercussions. It's a good type of
payback. Here's part of my letter from Tom:


>> I recommend morphine. It rocks.
Do you have some you could spare?

>>Sadly, no. It requires hospitalization.

It seems that vicodin is the morphine of Northern MI.

>>Yeah as far as I can tell doctors hand out Vicodin like lollypops.
I've got a lifetime supply. It doesn't really work. Granted, if I take two Vicodin when I'm not in serious pain I get high as a kite. But when my kidney stone kicks
in it's like the Vicodin isn't even there. I've got Percoset, too,
which according to Dr. Amy is supposed to be stronger but I haven't
noticed a difference.

I told my Doc he could either give me morphine or shoot me, but
all I got was vicodin and valium.

>Never tried Valium. I think my margaritas are probably more effective
>than any of that crap. Seriously.

So far it's about as effective as having the Pope wave some smoke
in my general direction.

>Yeah, I definitely feel for you. With the kidney stone the attacks
>usually only last 2-6 hours. It sucks, but you can gut it out. I
>can't imagine it going on for days and days.
>> Or the Ditty Bops. They are touring Michigan.

Do THEY have morphine?

>Doubtful. Maybe an outside shot at some pot, but that's probably about it.

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


I ran out of valium today, and while I was waiting for the refill to be fetched I noticed that I was feeling much better without it. A LOT better! Valium had no effect on the pain whatsoever, and I actually feel more like myself.
Sometimes I get the feeling that the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians are in charge of boiling the leaves and bark for my pain medication.

I was prescribed Darvocet originally for the sciatica, but it made me physically ill. The next thing we tried was percoset plus valium. This combo totally knocked me out -it didn't touch the pain, but it did put me to sleep. So now I'm happy just taking the vicodin by itself. I'm actually feeling halfway normal.

In Hot (Dog) Water

When you're ill and you have diabetes and high blood pressure, your body does even stranger things than usual. One of the things that happens to me is that I lose my appetite, yet get certain cravings. So for the past week I haven't been eating properly, and I've had a craving for ice cream (butter pecan).This is nobody's fault but my own, and may not even be my fault, who knows. The diabetes guidelines know all about this, but unless you're a true student of your disease, how would you even know about it. This is what you're supposed to know:

Food for sick days

If you are too sick to follow your meal plan, try to replace carbohydrates with liquids or soft foods. Carbohydrates provide sugar so that the body does not have to burn fat for energy. Burning fat produces ketones, which can be dangerous. Carbohydrates also prevent blood sugar from dropping too low.

Small, frequent feedings may be easier for you to tolerate during an illness, and help your digestive system provide energy to your cells more quickly.

Try to drink 4 ounces of clear liquids such as tea, apple juice, or diet soda every hour.

If you can keep food down, but still have no appetite, try l/2 cup cream soup, 1/2 cup cooked cereal, 1 cup plain yogurt, Jell-O, 1/2 banana, 1 scrambled egg, 1/2 cup custard, or l/2 cup sherbet. Once you're feeling better, try adding toast, vanilla wafers, and small amounts of food from your regular meal plan. Avoid spicy foods.


[Yogurt and banana worked pretty well, as did butter pecan ice cream.]


Diabetes :
Sick Day Management

(Your blood sugar may go up if you have a cold, flu or infection.)

1. Check blood sugar if you have these symptoms.

A. Symptoms

1. Fever
2. Loss of appetite
3. Nausea
4. Vomiting
5. Loose watery stools
6. Increase in thirst or hunger
7. Urinating causes pain

B. Monitor
1. Before breakfast
2. Before lunch
3. Before dinner
4. Bedtime

2. Always take your insulin or diabetes pill even if you cannot eat your regular foods

3. Drink plenty of fluids

A. Eight ounces of calorie free liquids every hour (noncaffeine)
1. Water
2. Bouillon
3. Canned clear soups
4. Tea or Diet soda

If you cannot tolerate liquids by mouth, see your doctor for antinausea medication or possible I.V. (in the vein) fluids.

B. If blood sugar level is equal to or greater than 250 to 300 before you meal, continue to drink calorie free liquids.

C. If blood sugar is 180-250 before your meal, eat one food choice equal to 15 grams of carbohydrate.

Each of the following foods and beverages contain approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates:

1/2 cup apple juice
1/3 cup frozen yogurt
1/2 -3/4 cup regular carbonated beverage (not diet)
1/2 cup regular vanilla ice cream
3/4 of a double-stick popsicle
1 cup gatorade
3 teaspoons honey
1/4 cup sherbet
5 Lifesavers
1/4 cup regular pudding
1 slice dry toast
1/3 cup sweetened Jell-o gelatin
1 cup broth-based soup
6 saltines
D. If blood sugar is equal to or less than 180 before your meal or urine shows negative ketones and food is tolerated, eat your usual meal.

4. Check for ketones if blood sugar is equal to or greater than 240.

5. Please telephone your health care provider if you have any of these conditions.

A. Temperature equal to or greater than 101

B. Vomiting occurs more than once, CALL IMMEDIATELY

C. Breathing is difficult

D. Loose watery stools occur more than five times in a 24 hour period.

E. Blood glucose levels are higher than 300 after checking twice.

F. Urine ketones measure moderate or large.
*************************************************************************************************************************



This is probably such good advice to someone who is clear headed and pain free and interested. But for someone who is hallucinating about wild cats, unable to find one single comfortable position, and trying very hard not to overdose on some very strong medication, those guidelines are written in hieroglyphics,

Diabetic people can't fast -they have to have something every 4 or 5 hours just to keep conscious. I remember having a banana sometime this morning. But now it was 4:30 and time for something else. A hot dog seemed quick and easy and so I asked about the possibility of a hot dog. I could have done it myself, but standing is still very very uncomfortable so I asked Dick if I could have one. This elicited some kind of a shouting tantrum beginning with NOW? You want a hot dog NOW? And something vague about how I'd thoughtlessly, impolitely slept through filet mignon and sweet corn last night, and so how could I possibly want hot dogs now when anyone could intuit that we were to have chateau briand and pate de foie gras in a mere 3 hours or so. Now I'm in hot water with Dick because I wanted a hot dog. I did get two lovely delicious hot dogs which I enjoyed and appreciated. But I have a feeling that Dick is not speaking to me at the moment. It's possible that sciatica lasts much too long to put up with, and that I would do everyone a favor by taking a week at a good hotel.

Pineapple juice is the answer. Or peanut butter crackers. Or keeping popped corn on hand. It really doesn't take much.
I just have to deal with it.

Suddenly It's Over

This was the last day of the Big Annual visit of Chip, Laurie and Dylan. Things went very smoothly largely because Laurie had things pretty much under control last night.

Dylan and I had time for a long talk about the visit - some new things that we did and some other things that we didn't have time for this year. We missed riding the pontoon on Torch Lake this year, and stopping at Docksides for their fabulous cherry chicken salad for example.

He always enjoys the family picnic and he really enjoyed going tubing at the Rapids this year...I'm sure it will be a "must-do" activity next year. I think they went down there three times this summer.

Dylan was especially sweet this year, especially to his Grandma. When the sciatica flared up, he couldn't have been nicer or more understandintg.

Good Drugs

Went to bed at 10:30 p.m.- woke when phone rang at 8 a.m. Slept through the night just like a baby. Vicodin,steroids,aleve & valium.
Played with Dylan - magnet games. Made magnet book for Dylan.
Guys went tubing from 1-4 at rapids.
Napped whole time.
Kids leave tomorrow.
i feel sick,hurt,out of it,sad because of incomplete visit. Wish they could come for Christmas or something. Once a year is not enough. especially when one is laid up for more than a week,.

Dragged To Doc

Dick woke me up from a drug-induced haze at 8:15 a.m. and told me I had an appointment with the doctor at 9;15. Well I was in no shape to even get out of bed , let alone go out into public. So naturally I gave him a bit of a hard time - Why are you doing this to me, etc,etc.

Well we got there and the Doc is as great as ever. He decides the percocet is not working. so on we go to vicodin, and a steroid medol pack. He schedules a lumbar MRI in August. Whatever. All I want is to go back to bed.

Mackinac Island Day 1

They left this morning
.
They found 3 caches today.

I got a prescription for valium in the mail.

I plan to sleep for 2 days.

Healing Soon Please

My family has gone to Mackinac Island for a couple of days - I'm stuck here, sidelined by sciatica. (For more than you ever wanted to know about sciatica, see link above.) I have very good pain meds, good books, a heating pad, and a great recliner. I've been well stocked with all of my favorite foods, and I've already had 3 phone calls from the guys. I'm just dozing most of the day, and really glad of some time to myself to promote the healing process. You know how it is - with family around you always overdo even when you know better.

Dick is such a love - he says his hotel room is just fine, except it's too empty. Awwww... but we both know I'm better off here. My Doc says we'll give it 2 weeks and see how much better things are. If it's not better, we'll maybe do some P.T.

The guys are at the Fort on the Island right now, and their tickets will be good for tomorrow too, so it was good timing. Dylan found a sea gull feather on the dock at Mackinac City, and he says that it made the ferry go faster! Dick has several geocaches lined up that he wants to do while he's there. I think they'll have such a good time.

The Blues

I am so disappointed. This attack of sciatica is just darned inconvenient! I have pictures that Dick took of the last two days of activities of L,C andD (tubing and geocaching) but I can't go upstairs and put them on the blog. Sitting in that desk chair is just too uncomfortable. I'll post them when I'm feeling better.
I saw the doctor yesterday - he has prescribed 3 different meds for me, and one combo is working for about 2 1/2 hours at a time. So I just kind of zone out for a while. But later, moving around is still very uncomfortable. Tomorrow everybody is leaving for Mackinac Island, so I'll have plenty of time to rest.

Went to Doc

Darvocet didn't agree with system - went to get substitute. Now trying parvocet.

Back to Old Mission

At the Old Mission Lighthouse, Laurie, Chip and Dylan walked way, way out in the water. It stays shallow forever.




We found a very pleasant spot in the shade to read, people watch, and wait for them. The breeze was heavenly.




Here's Mr. D. after walking in the shallows.




A blast from the past - drinking Faygo Red Pop at the Bad Dog Deli. We ran into Rathergohiking and the Waypoint Kid there, and met the rest of their family.

Day at the Dunes

And there they go - up the Dune Climb for the Big Adventure.
Here's Laurie returning from the hike to the Big Lake.
When Dylan got back, there was a lot of sand to dump out of his shoes!
Chip and Dylan gave each other a High Five when they got back from the Big Trek!
Chip timed the hike so we would know exactly how long it took: 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 17 seconds.
Ice and cold beverages waiting at the end. This was a good time to hear all of the stories!

Laurie, Chip and Dylan decided that this year they're "dune" it - walking from the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb over to Lake Michigan. The hike is 3.5 miles round trip, but it's mostly through sand, and there are four or five dunes to climb on the way over. We researched it, and talked to the Rangers and everything. They said it would take 3 to 4 hours to complete the hike, but our guys did it in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 17 seconds! They're massive! They took water and snacks, and while it was difficult, they were none the worse for wear when they returned. Dylan suffered a minor loss of energy on the return trip, but he bounced right back when they took the rocks out of his pockets! Luckily when they got back, we were waiting with a cooler full of ice and cold drinks, and also luckily it was a relatively cool day, although there was lots of bright sunshine.

Here is Dylan's hiking guide:

How To Get to the Lake Through the Dunes

First you go up the hill and up the hill and then down the hill and up the hill and up the hill and down the hill and then up the hill and down the hill, and then down the big big big hill and then you go straight for a while, then you climb up the big, big, big hill out of the valley. Then down a little hill then up a hill and down a hill and up a hill and down a hill then go straight for (it seemed like) 250 billion miles, then you go up the hill, down the hill, KERSPLASH - you're in Lake Michigan! Pick up some pretty rocks in the water, put them in your pocket, and do the whole thing in reverse with rocks in your pockets, which is about 6 pounds extra.

What You Need to Go Hiking in the Dunes
You need a walking stick, some Chewies, and seven bottles of water.

Safety Tips in the Dunes
1. Do not eat the berries alongside the path
2. Do not jump into the poison ivy somewhere along the path
3. Do not do somersaults down big hills
4. Most importantly, when you're going up a steep hill do not let go of your stick
or you'll fall over backwards and go tumbling backwards down the hill.

P.S.
Do not do this in the summertime!

After everybody cooled down and re-hydrated, we went over to Glen Arbor to Art's Tavern for lunch. The food was excellent, and we were really proud of everyone! We had such a good time. After lunch we drove over to Leland to look at the boats in the marina - always so enjoyable.



Everybody enjoyed looking at the boats and yachts.



The Leland Marina is a great place to stretch your legs and see some great watercraft and just enjoy the day.

Dylan discovered a school of fish. They were quite large - not minnows - but I don't know what they were.

I really enjoyed the Marina - the boats were interesting and beautiful.

We had a lovely long leisurely drive through Leelanau County, and ended up at Moomer's for dessert. The perfect ending for a perfect day!

Last Class

Dylan's College for Kids class is over. He's very happy with it, and he says that he would do it again every summer. He really did enjoy it. Today was the day that the kids presented their inventions. Here is Dylan with his two inventions: Super Shoes, and Slow Motion Ball. In the classroom shot, you can see Chip in the background.

We all met for lunch at Bubba's. Then I came home, and everybody else went to play mini-golf, and ride go karts, and take in Friday Night Live downtown. I think everybody had a very good time. Right this minute, Chip and Dylan are having a campfire.

I'm having a bout with sciatica for the first time in 25 years. I'm doing everything I can think of to not irritate it further, and to make it feel better fast. Next week we plan to go to Mackinac Island, and I want it to be better by then. Right now it is quite uncomfortable!

Pirates and Inventions

Dylan's assignment is to come up with an original invention. He's really been brainstorming. His first idea was a flying beach ball which then turned into a slow motion ball. His second idea was Super Shoes which can't get stuck in the mud. He produced both of them!

Rathergohiking has a Pirate cache out in Yuba, and the guys went searching in the Maple Bay Natural Area to find it. Dylan found some pirate treasure!

Laundry

Dick and I stayed home to get some jobs done. He worked outside straightening things up, and I did laundry.

Laurie and Chip took Dylan to class, and then spent the rest of the day looking at subdivisions and houses and such. So far they haven't made any down payments (just kidding).

Hoosier Valley

Dylan's second day at "College". After dropping him off, we went again to the Omelette Shoppe for a great breakfast! Dylan seems to really like his Inventors Class.

In the afternoon, we went geocaching in Hoosier Valley. ABXGuy has put out a series of 10 caches over there, almost in our back yard. Laurie and Dylan were first to find on all 10 caches, so it was a very successful outing. It took us from 2 p.m. until 5:30.

College for Kids

Dick signed Dylan up for a class this week. It's a class about Inventors for kids in grades 1-3, so it was perfect for Dylan, who just finished second grade. It will meet every morning this week from 10-12. Laurie, Chip, Tom and Dick delivered Mr. D to his class, and then went to the Agency so Dick could see if there was anything pressing there for him to attend to. Everything was OK.

Chip and I went to the eye doctor to have his eye checked out. He had gotten something in his eye while weed whacking on Friday. It turned out to be nothing to worry about. We all met up at the Agency and went for breakfast at the Omelette Shoppe. It was great to have a chance to visit with Tom in depth - we really didn't get much of a chance to visit all weekend.

The septic pumper had already finished his job by the time we got home, so the washing machine is back in business!

Tom's plane took off at 3:11 p.m., and then he had a 3 hour layover in Detroit, poor thing. He arrived home safely. We were so glad that he was able to get away even for such a short time!

Everybody but Dick went to see Pirates of the Caribbean at 5 p.m. We enjoyed it - it was entertaining. Everything was fine in the theater, but outside we were having a big storm. Trees were down all over on the way home. The traffic signal at South Airport Road and US 31 was out, and when we got home we had no power. In the theater we didn't have a clue what was going on outside!

A Shower for Amy

The picnic is over - long live the Shower! Barb, the hostess, changed the venue from her home to an air-conditioned restaurant. We met at 11 a.m. at South City Limits for Amy's Bridal Shower. It was just charming. There were eight of us who all survived GenFest together, and were ready for brunch: Barb, Sharon, Melissa, Shelly, Laurie, Melanie, Amy, and me. The private room was blessedly cool, and the brunch was the best I've seen in a long time. The company was great, the gifts were fun, and it was a good time.

Then it was time for the Concord Place family picnic - Mom was proud to have the biggest family group in attendance - Dick and me, Chip, Laurie, Dylan, and Tom. The food was OK, the games were stupid, but we all hung in there. Laurie and I were full from the great brunch earlier, but the men enjoyed the hot dogs and beans and such.

Afterwards it was time to go home and put our feet up and relax after our Big Weekend.
We had to ration water use - no washing machine, etc. because of the septic failure yesterday.

July 15, 2006

GenFest is here at last! Odette and Jana were the two who couldn't make it this year, and they were missed all day long. We had Tom, Laurie, Chip and Dylan, Sharon, John, Derek, Kevin and Amy, Barb, Jim, Melissa, Peter, Autumn, Brooke, Adam, Melanie, Lydia, Shelly and Chris, Doug, Dave, Beth, Lauren, Sue, John, Kris, Molly, Roger, Megan, Fay, and Jackson, Dick and Nan for a total of 34.

The dining room table was groaning from all of the delicious dishes. John and Adam were the intrepid cooks laboring over hot grills in 95 degree heat. We couldn't have done it without them.. Thank you John and Adam!











The food was delicious as usual, and I think everybody got what they wanted, even Lauren, who didn't want grill marks on her hot dog!

My favorite picture of the day was the father/daughter Lichtenberg picture of John and Kris.

The coolest spot in the afternoon turned out to be the umbrella table because of the breeze and the shade from the umbrellas. It started out to be a hen party, but then others joined us to enjoy the coolness.

We didn't get any pictures of all of the activities. Tubing and canoeing were popular because of the heat. The river temperature is always refreshing to say the least! The trebuchet was a lot of fun - we lofted quite a few water balloons and it worked perfectly. The activity soon turned into a water balloon fight though, which was really quite predictable! Nobody enjoyed it more than Dylan.

Volley ball was great fun - people played until the game was called on account of darkness. The volley ball observers gallery was fun, too. The kids had fun playing with the old fireplace and the spring water - they pretended they were cooking. That bodes well for future reunions, don't you think?

I didn't go to the campfire, but I hear that there was one and that it was good, and some people went home to put the kids to bed and then came back! That means it had to be good!

So another memorable GenFest is over. I think I'll remember this one especially because of the heat. It has to be the warmest on record (if we had records).

Set Up

This is the day before GenFest - when the rubber hits the road! Merry Maids came in the morning.

We had all kinds of last minute things to do. In the evening, family came to help set up for tomorrow. Dick and I left to go pick up Tom at the airport. He's sporting a big blue cast on his broken arm. He says it will come off in two more weeks. Tom's luggage did not arrive with him, and is scheduled to arrive around 11:30 p.m.

When we got back to the house, the folks had the tent halfway put up already.
We had pizza for everyone as we usually do, and I had a great time watching everyone else work hard moving tables, etc.

(In actuality, the luggage arrived at midnight, so I didn't really get my beauty sleep the night before the big event.)

Inaugural Blaze

The first campfire of the summer happened last night. Adam came out, and he and Laurie, Chip and Dylan had a great time burning old stuff like a ladder, a table, a bench, and pallets...quite an inaugural blaze. After Dylan's bath and bedtime, Laurie went back out to the campfire and nobody came back in until 2 a.m.

Shelley, Autumn and Brooke came over around 10 a.m. to play with Dylan and Laurie. Dick and I went to the hardware store for flag brackets, and to GFS to get the burgers and brats for the picnic. When we got home, the kids were playing in the river. Laurie fixed hot dogs for everybody. She wasn't feeling very perky, so after lunch the kids watched Hoodwinked, and Laurie took a nap. I went to do recycling and to return cans and bottles.

Dick is valiantly trying to finish the trebuchet with Chip's help. They've been working on it for a couple of hours now, and so far there's been only one trip to Menard's. My job is to make the sling/pouch - I think I've found the perfect fabric.

Chip has found a house he loves 4 miles away in Mayfield. He is totally excited about it - Laurie seems less than thrilled. She's concerned about where Dylan would go to school, etc. They have just gone to take a look at it.

Cousins and Then More Cousins!

Dick painted everything in sight - all decks and porches and even the dock! Chip and Dylan washed and scrubbed and disinfected (not really) the playhouse to prepare for all of the little girl cousins who will be coming on Saturday or before.

Laurie and I made brownies for the Official Brownie Competition this Saturday - she used a heritage recipe from Mother for her famous frosted brownies. I made brownies from a recipe titled Knock You Naked Brownies. We ate some, but we kept our clothes on. In the first unofficial taste test, Dylan liked his Mommy's better than mine.

I went to Glen's and ordered little sandwiches for our evening meal on Saturday. We did that last year too, and it was a big hit. Bought some stuff for Mother, and went to visit her. We cleaned out her sock drawer - thrills a minute! She's fine.

The Gillespies went to the Bounce Arena with Shelly, Autumn and Brooke. They had a great time. We met them for dinner at the Mongolian Barbecue. The kids were all flushed and had wet hair from bouncing for an hour and a half! Dylan said that Mommy was a wimp because she didn't go on the Space Bounce-a-tron. (I don't know, either.)

Adam met us at M.B. just for a drink and a visit and plans were made for a campfire tonight! More plans were made for Shelly, Autumn and Brooke to come over in the morning to play and maybe have hot dogs for lunch.

The Chipster

Chip is here!! Hooray! His plane landed shortly after noon, and they all went out to lunch at Apache. I was at home helping Uncle Danny, the handyman. He is doing odd jobs around the house, inside and out. He's very handy I must say! He'll be back on Thursday to finish up.

When they got back, I went to Glen's and did the big shopping for the rest of the week and for the picnic on Saturday. I got all the stuff for brownie-making and for Laurie's black bean salad. Thursday we'll go to GFS and get the meat.

We finished the Nancy Drew game, and we're starting on Syberia. Dylan seems to like it just fine, but he's still disappointed that we can't load EverQuest.

We all went for a ride again to look at subdivisions and houses. Laurie saw a green one that she liked quite a lot. Some of the new houses are absolutely huge!

Dick did steaks on the grill, and Laurie and Chip made a great salad.

Superman

Grandma and Dylan love to play games on the computer. I don't know which one has the most fun!

In the morning, Dick worked at the Agency, and Laurie and Dylan met Shelly, Autumn and Brooke for bowling. It sounds like a great time was had. After bowling they went to McDonald's Funland. What could be better than that?

In the afternoon, we finished the Old Mission Tour - yaay - . Here is Laurie's log (they are Sharkie Crew): .

July 10 by sharkie crew (101 found)
It's our 100th find!! I think Grandpa planned it that way!
We took two days to discover the clues. The smallest member of sharkie crew gets grumpy after awhile in the car. Our group had lunch at Bad Dog Deli, very yummy sandwiches. We had fun finding the cache and listening to Grandpa's stories. Small sharkie enjoyed driving past the cherry place where Grandpa once worked. We love you Grandpa!!

Then we stopped in at the Old Mission General Store for ice cream. Dylan was having trouble deciding between Mackinac Island Fudge or Superman, so the scooper gave him a little taste test, and Superman won, hands down.

Back in town, we drove through a couple of subdivisions looking at houses for sale. It happens every summer!

We've been playing the Nancy Drew Secret of the Old Clock PC game, and it's a blast. It has many puzzles and games need to finish the whole thing. We've all been stretching our brains over this game! Dylan is almost always at the controls, of course. He's a very good thinker and problem solver.

Bad Dog

We got a good early start on the Old Mission Tour. Dylan figured out all of the clues, and we had a great day. We didn't do it all - we saving the grand finale for tomorrow!

We had lunch at the Bad Dog Deli, a new favorite of ours. Everybody really enjoyed it. Dylan had fun drinking root beer out of a bottle.

We stopped at Haserot Beach to see if he would enjoy swimming there, but the water was way too cold for him. He says, "You know, I'm from Florida!"

He did want to get in some beach time, so we called it quits and went to East Bay Park where the water is shallow and warm. I think he was in the water for an hour!

We all trooped up to see Mother - she was anxiously awaiting us. She was happy to see us all.

The Arrival

Laurie and Dylan arrived a little after noon today. They had good flights, and we were so glad to see them! They both have a case of the sniffles, but we're hoping that it will be temporary! Dylan chose to bring Sheepy along on the trip - Laurie said that he had to dig Sheepy out from the bottom of the toy box where he's been for months! I think he associates Sheepy with us. Obviously.

We went to Scott's for lunch - it was a gorgeous day, but quite windy, so we sat inside - it was great.

We planned to do the Old Mission tour tomorrow.

Just For Fun

This meme was totally stolen from friend Mitchy in the UK ("Scribblings From the Mitchy Side" - see link above). I'm absolutely thrilled to be Wuthering Heights. Give it a try!

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

On the other hand, I was stunned to find out that I'm emaciated! I'm willing to be emaciated of course, but in reality.....not so much!

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Laundromats I Have Loved - NOT

Since our washer flooded the laundry room floor last weekend, the laundry has been piling up. Max's can come and fix it, and they should come Thursday or Friday. But laundry waits for no repairman.

So off I went in search of a laundromat. I nixed the one by Tom's 14th as being too much in the middle of Festival traffic. Aha, I thought, there's one on Garfield over by ex-Oleson's. Well that one was full of men for some reason - not just any men, but toothless men with long scraggly oily hair and dirty hats - at least seven of them. I didn't want to spend a hour with them - call me picky.

There's a "nice" laundromat by Tom's East Bay. It was not bad at all, unless you count the three screaming children who kept running around the place, and in and out of the door. They would run out, and open their car door and get things to play with. The problem was that I had inadvertently parked next to them, and their door was occasionally hitting my car. I said, "Please don't bump my car" in a very pleasant voice, which is when I found out that they didn't speak English.

I think the last time I was in a laundromat was in 1991 in Sydney Australia. We carried bags of our laundry through The Rocks area and walked a long, scenic way to the laundromat. Those were the days when I was still a walker! That laundromat was owned by an Asian man, and was OK, but not much.

On our trip out west we went to many laundromats, but two are memorable. One was in Coos Bay, Oregon, a fishing community. The whole town smelled like fish. The laundromat was particularly fishy. I was afraid that our clothes would never be the same. In actuality, it was fine, and our clothes did not have aroma-of-the-sea.

The other memorable one was in Yellowstone Village, in the national park. I couldn't believe my eyes! The sign said we could leave the laundry and pick it up tomorrow washed, dried, and folded. Oh what a deal - we were planning on staying in the area for five days or more - I was in paradise! The next day we picked up our clothes in paper sacks, very nicely laundered. It was a vacation inside a vacation!

When we were living in Belleville, I was teaching full time and we had three kids who each insisted on using one towel a day. I was overwhelmed with the laundry. I could handle the teaching, cooking, shopping, taking kids to activities, the dog, the cats, yard work, etc. But I just couldn't keep up with the damn laundry. Then I discovered that the Monarch Laundry in Romulus would do it for me! I would drop off a huge laundry bag full every week, and pick it up the next week. It wasn't perfect - they didn't do much sorting, and the folding was iffy, but it really saved my bacon. We did that for almost three years.

Looking back, I guess that laundry has always been kind of a bugaboo for me. I enjoy it much more in retirement! I still hate laundromats.

The day began with two hours of sitting at the computer trying to satisfy the requirements of Sony/Everquest technical help so that we can run EverQuest when Dylan is here. I've tried everything to get it going, but I keep getting error messages. After the first help letter didn't help, I asked again and the second letter had a list of information that they needed to figure out what the problem was - find some obscure files and then zip them - such a pain! It took me two hours and it'll probably be days before I get a response.

Then I went to get a perm at BoTangles, and to visit Mother. I took her a couple of different types of lotions for itchiness. She seems in fine fettle.
On the way to the laundromat, I stopped at the cemetery to check on our geraniums. They were in bad shape - totally dry. I was generous with watering them and I'm sure they'll revive.

Meanwhile, back at 888, Dick was cleaning out the garage and taking chuddah to the dump, closely followed by mowing the entire yard. So we're in great shape - we feel like we each accomplished a lot today.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY !!













Bessie has the 4th of July spirit, ready to greet canoers and kayakers. As a matter of fact, right this minute there is a group of people smack dab in front of our house, beached on the sand across the river, and swimming in the hole. We seem to have the prime location for a beach party. Another group did the same thing yesterday.









Photographic evidence of the Beach Party across from us! They settled in - they've already been there for 45 minutes!






We helped Mother celebrate the Fourth at Concord Place. I was surprised that she let me take her picture - she's usually opposed to having her photo taken.




It has been a lovely day. After we visited Mother, we went downtown and parked in the parking deck, and strolled around town. We had coffee at Horizon - great people-watching during the Cherry Festival. We had a slice and a Coke at Pangea Pizza and sat out on the sidewalk. There are so many people in town, and such a lot to see - it was fascinating. We may not be very racially diverse in T.C., but we certainly have a lot of Caucasian diversity - everything from the tattooed, pierced and dyed to the elegant and upper class - and all things in between. Everybody comes to town this week.

Dick is walking in the Heritage Parade tonight with the Visitor Center Volunteers. They will be Unit 41 - keep your eyes peeled! The parade starts at 7 p.m.

9 p.m. Update:

Laurie and Dylan are on the beach at Delray Beach waiting for the fireworks to begin. She sent these cell phone pictures. They're not the best quality because it's twilight there, and they're phone pictures, but it's another part of the 4th of July :)

Round Robin 2006

Here are the SLGs, TCHS Class of '53. This picture was taken fifty years later in 2003. There are only nine of us here because of the others, one is down with a stroke, one was unable to make it here from Montana this year, and 2 have not come to any reunions although they do contribute to the Round Robin.From left to right: Betty, Nan G., Sandy N., Sandy M., Nola, June, Me, Freda, Mary. 

The SLG Round Robin came today - such fun reading the letters and looking at all of the pictures! Here's the letter that I'm including this year:

Another year has gone by already. Doesn’t it seem like they go by faster these days? This has been a good year for us. It’s been a year of surprises, good luck, fun, and family contacts.

I finished the Kanitz Family Tree Project in time to hand out the books at the annual Kanitz Reunion in September. It was a huge project, and I thoroughly enjoyed working on it.

In September we drove to Washington, D.C. to be with daughter Jana on her birthday. Dick’s birthday is the day after hers, and we celebrated his birthday by packing up Jana’s office and putting everything in crates to be moved to her new office. We were just glad to be there to help out. Her boss gave her tickets for all of us to go to a Nationals baseball game. Our seats were really good, and it was an eventful evening. We sat by Tim Russert, James Carville, and Jesse Jackson, and we saw Barry Bonds hit a homerun. Not our typical T.C. type of evening!

Geocaching remains a big part of our lives - it’s a most satisfying hobby. It takes us to places we would never see otherwise and really helps us explore our world. One of the most interesting things we came across this year was in the Brundage Wilderness Cemetery in Benzie County. It’s accessible only by two-tracks, and way out in the middle of nowhere. We strolled around and came across the grave of Dr. Thomas C. Hall, class of ‘53. It was very strange coming upon his memorial by accident. He had a most unusual life, and his resting place is also most unusual.

Sometimes, visiting Mother can be a very interesting experience. She begins to reminisce about her childhood, and it’s just charming. My favorite is a story about the funeral of her Grandmother. All of the children in the family (her sibs and cousins) were seated on a stairway during the funeral, and they got the giggles. Mother says that they couldn’t help it, and the adults were mortified. She still feels awful about it after all these years. She would have been 13 or 14 at the time. Another memory was of the privy. It was completely surrounded by lilac bushes and really smelled terrific in the springtime when the lilacs were blooming. She can crack me up, too. During the Olympics, I asked her if she had watched the figure skating. She said, “Yes, and a lot of those girls are foreign.” So hard to keep a straight face!

This is the year that I made a quilt! It’s quite a joke, because I’m the furthest thing from a seamstress that you can imagine! We had all of Mother Gen’s living descendants provide quilt squares with their names on them, and my job was to sew them all together. It’s not perfect by a long shot, but it’s finished, and if you examine it from 20 feet away, it doesn’t look too bad. If it looks bad to you, just back up a little bit more.

Dick spent months helping seniors with the Medicare Part D Drug Benefit. He made presentations all over northern Michigan, and he did a great job if I do say so myself!

He became acquainted with some new doctors and every test known to modern man this year. We were very lucky because his heart problem could be treated with medication, and his latest echocardiogram was almost totally normal. (Big sigh of relief)

My health is stable - three chronic conditions, all under control. Of course I’m still way too big, but I can have a good time if I’ve a mind to (to borrow from an old country song).

In January, we visited son Tom in San Diego and had a marvelous time. We did all the San Diego things - Balboa Park, Old Town, GasLamp District, Wild Animal Park. Dick and I couldn’t decide which was the most fun. The whole trip was really delightful.

Laurie, Chip and Dylan are still in Florida. We haven’t seen Dylan for a year, but we talk to him every day on the phone, so we feel like we’re keeping up with him. He’s the best grandson that there ever was - he just can’t help it!
Soon the three of them will be arriving for the month of July - a month that all of us look forward to every year.

Today is the first day of the 80th National Cherry Festival. The Blue Angels were flying around all afternoon, and will again tomorrow. The town is all clean and shiny for visitors - the flower beds are all freshly weeded and the grass freshly mowed. Traverse City really does show itself off nicely.

Sandy N. - You look so great in your red hat! There’s a Red Hat Society in T.C., and one of their big events is a tea at the Opera House. They’re in the Cherry Festival Parade, too. Looks like a fun way to be social.

Nola - I always enjoy the pictures of your grandchildren. This time, the picture of Jacob and Caleb is priceless! Hope you’re enjoying your summer at the cottage.

Nan/Annie/Rosie - What could be better than a new grandchild! Congratulations! I understand that you’re sad that you’ll only have 5, but even though I understand, you’re not getting any sympathy from us, proud grandparents of one! So glad to hear that Jim is back in good shape. And you, too, of course.

Freda - How sad to lose Oskar…I know how much he meant to you. I’m sure it leaves a big hole in your life. “Quite a lot of travels” is putting it mildly! I think you win the “itchy feet” award! I love looking at your fabulous pictures. It’s great to see your Mom - and the last I heard from you, she’s improving - so hooray for her. (And for you, too!)

Donna - It sounds like you have made an interesting and exciting life for yourself! It’s wonderful to have companions to travel with and enjoy life with. I certainly do hope you get to Greece! Hope your health remains stable - we’re all pulling for you. Can you feel it?

June - Have you decided where to settle down yet? We’ve seen some spectacular log homes in this area. I kind of agree with you that having built 4 homes in your lifetime might be enough! But then Jerry has to follow his bliss too. Your grandchildren are adorable, and I loved the pics of Mitchells and Wetherbees at Griffiths. Looks like a great time.

Betty - So nice of you to mention our neighbors Tom and Mary. They speak highly of you also. Too bad that you were brought together by the passing of your friend Warren. I think you folks all have a mutual admiration society!

Margo - I still treasure Sherm’s last solo visit with us. We really hit it off, and we had so much in common. I value that memory. Your grandkids are so precious! Jackson is around Dylan’s age, isn’t he? Dylan is 8 ½. What a thrill for Jackson to be ball boy! He’ll remember that the rest of his life.

Mary - It’s comforting to see that other people have computer problems too! Sorry to say that, but we’ve had computer nightmares here ever since Christmas, and are just now getting back to normal. Your ultra-interesting life continues to be an inspiration! You went to Spain, Italy and France for your 70th? I went to the Hofbrau House in Interlochen! Thanks for telling us about Justin - none of us knows what may crop up in the future for any of us.

Sandy M. - We didn’t know Cuyler as well as your Western friends did, but we’re glad we had the chance to meet him at our SLG picnics. It’s nice to have good memories. We were so sorry to hear of his passing. He was lucky to have you be his nurse at the end of his days. I hope all is well with you and yours, and that you are getting stronger every day.


Yes it is fun going down memory lane - and it’s fun getting the Robin, and reading the letters and looking at the pictures. Seeing the grandchildren is like getting a peek at the future. So we’re at a great stage in life - we can look backwards with fondness, and forward with hope.

Great Times

Beautiful day today - not a hint of rain clouds. Good morning to clean the house (Merry Maids)! Dick went shopping for deck paint and ran across a good deal at Lowe's after waiting for some service, and then waiting some more. He got a 5 gallon can of the stuff for less than half price. Such a deal! I think he's planning to paint every deck in sight. I plan to paint picnic tables for GenFest. Let's hope the rain holds off!

Tim and Susie (DinoDuo) came to town today to try the new Old Mission Tour - and they were the first finders! I think they enjoyed it, even though they did wind up doing it the hard way instead of the "easy" way. This is their log:

We had heard through the grapevine that this cache was "in the works" so were on the lookout for it. When it was published we headed off this morning to seek it and a few others on the peninsula.
We started our journey at 9:00. Took a slow gawk-filled drive up, down, and around the fabulous scenic route. Saw cherries, beautiful blue water, hills, vineyards, did we mention cherries, and several places that we had never visited before. Had a little trouble at two of the stages, but finally gathered the required info. At the final we headed off down the trail and through the woods until we came to a tall obstacle. We scaled that with some difficulty not to mention sweat and screaming quads, and after a few minutes DD-ette found the nicely hidden container. (We also found the trail)
Sorry that we didn't meet up with the BlueJay Team along the way. We really appreciate all of time, effort and troubles to place this cache. Another Basswoodbend Gem. T-FF Prize (Thank You)

When they were finished, they headed out our way, and we had a picnic on the deck. Dick made humungous hamburgers, and Susie brought great beans and a totally scrumptious low-fat low-sugar dessert (are you buying this?). We had an afternoon of great times, relaxation, good food, good company, tall tales, and beautiful weather.

Utility

Annual eye exam this morning - everything is fine. The only unpleasant part of the exam is the eye drops. Too many eye drops, some of which really sting quite badly. My eyes were dilated for about 2 hours - not so bad.

Washed Mom's "best" sweater and returned it. Had good conversations about Julius, finances, family issues, GenFest, upcoming visits, new trailer, etc. The main extended family issue is that one of my first cousins once removed has died by his own hand. He lived in Georgia. I don't remember him at all, but I certainly knew his late Mom and Dad. I'm very sad for the two remaining sisters, the only ones left from their immediate family. That has to be hard.

Picked up Dick's brand new shiny utility trailer at Kelley's. It's a great looking trailer, and I'm sure it will be put to many good uses.