Family Day @ Concord Place

One day after the big snow storm, it was a beautiful, sunny day with a bright blue sky. Jim drove up from Saginaw to visit Mother, and he brought along Dan, Pam and 18 month old Jace! What a treat it was to see them all!



Here's Mother holding Jace (quote "He's Heavy!) with Dan ready to grab him at any second.



While we were all there, Rick and Mary came in with Uncle Fritz and Aunt Ruth. Fritz and Ruth have moved to assisted living and aren't on the road any more, so when Rick and Mary come to town they always bring them to visit Mother. Fritz is Mother's only brother, and he's now 90.



A fun family "crowd shot" - Pam with Jace, Dan, Dick and Jim. Jace will be a big brother before he's two years old. The new baby is due in April, and Jace will be two on May 1.



Rick, Dan and Fritz:


Cousins Rick and Mary with Mother - thanks Rick, for bringing Fritz and Ruth to our impromptu Christmas gathering!


Dan's family meets Great-Grandma - Mother was very happy to meet Pam and Jace.


Thank you Jim, for bringing everybody to Traverse City! It's hard to believe that we had 11 people at once in Mom's room, but it worked out great, and we all loved it!


This little tree was a centerpiece at yesterday's Visitor Center party. I thought it would be perfect for Mother's room, and I think it looks wonderful and festive. Thanks, Kathee for letting us take it. So now the Christmas season is off and running - hang on to your hats!

Ushering in the Holiday Season

The T.C. Convention Bureau and Visitor Center volunteers Christmas Party was this afternoon. It was very festive, with great food, lots of Christmas tree decorations, and good company. To help usher in the season, we had a foot of snow during the afternoon. The party was held at the Maritime Academy, so we were right on the bay. It was interesting to watch the waves smash over the pier - the wind was strong and right out of the northwest. We sat with Jean and John, John and Penny, Val, and Jack. Dick liked the shrimp best; I liked the meatballs and the cheesecake! The coffee was fantastic. There was an open bar, but with the weather the way it was we didn't indulge. I think Dick had one glass of wine. It's always the most enjoyable party of December.

Traffic was awful on the way home, and the roads were treacherous. It took us about 45 minutes to get home, usually a 20 minute drive. The snow drifted up over our porch steps. It was good to be home by the fire.

Jim called this evening. He plans to come up to T.C. tomorrow to visit Mother. I think this will be the official Christmas visit. We're hoping that the main roads will be plowed and sanded by tomorrow.

Julius is 103 !!

Dr. Kevin put in my permanent crown today, and it went very smoothly. Dick went with me, and afterwards, we went out to lunch at Bubba's, and then for a short drive (cache maintenance). He dropped me off at Horizon and went to get a haircut. It's so nice to be out and about - it's like I was never away :)

This article was in today's Record Eagle. It's so nice that Julius can get out of his room occasionally. I hope he had a wonderful birthday. Julius lives across the hall from Mother at Concord Place. He helps her sort her daily newspaper and throws away all of the ads, etc. He has trouble with dry eyes, and he's very hard of hearing, but he's hanging in there. It's hard to believe that anybody is 5 years older than Mother!

Julius Petertyl shares life stories for his birthday

Julius Petertyl remembers when Traverse City had all the bells and whistles.

And he's telling people about them as he turns 103.

"There were churches ringing bells and factories with steam power whistling for starting time,” said Petertyl, who was born in Traverse City on Nov. 30, 1903, the year of the Wright brothers' first flight.

"There were school bells and fire drills and you could go on and on and on,” he said.

He shared his stories of a century-plus of local history with a reporter and later to about 100 people at a party hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Traverse City Monday. Sitting in his wheelchair at the front of the room, he spoke of memories both personal and of the city, including sawdust in the streets to soak up the mud, workers earning 16 cents per hour and a world champion Holstein cow at the Traverse City State Hospital barn.

"When the cow expired, they had a funeral service for the cow,” said Petertyl, who now lives in an assisted living home.

He teared up and had to stop when he spoke of meeting his late wife Dorothy on the golf course and the happy years that followed.

"I love my wife,” he said. "I talk to her every day.”

He recalled the fire whistle that would blow like a siren, which he imitated, and then a code to signify which sector the fire was in.

"When we were kids and heard that at night, it was scary,” he said.

The full-time firemen would take a horse-drawn wagon, pails and a ladder to the fire. Volunteers would leave their homes or jobs and run or ride a bicycle to the fire to help out.

"There were dry, cedar shingles on the roofs, so a spark on the roof starts a fire,” he said.

Petertyl's grandfather Victor Petertyl had come to Traverse City from Prague, Czechoslovakia, in the 1800s. He was a furniture- and cabinet-maker who sold his work at a shop on Front Street.

His father Albert owned the A.T. Petertyl Meat Market in the 500 block of South Union Street when Julius was born. That was before cars were mass-produced, so a horse-and-carriage was the most likely way to get around town. People took a train to go to Grand Rapids or Chicago.

"There were five or six horseshoeing shops in town,” he said.

Two of the town's wagon-, carriage- and sleigh-making shops were owned by Petertyls, cousins of Julius' father. The last name is best known locally because of Petertyl Drug & Gift Center on Front Street, which his brother started; it is no longer in the family.

When Julius was young, his family was one of the few in town who had a telephone, because his father owned a business. To place a call, they had to turn a crank, then tell the operator who they were calling.

In his spare time, he enjoyed making some of his own toys out of wood.

"We'd get wheels from the shops in town that repaired baby buggies and make a cart,” he said.

He also liked to fish the Boardman River off the Union Street bridge.

"You didn't need any fancy equipment,” he said, adding that he and his friends would cut a branch from a tree and tie a line and a hook to it.

The first car he owned, at about age 25, was a used 1919 Ford Roadster.

"It was not enclosed,” he said. That meant the driver and passengers were exposed to the elements.

Petertyl also remembers when snow on the sidewalks was plowed by horses and the city streets were not plowed at all.

"The milkman went through with his milk sleigh and made the first tracks,” he said. "We used to get some big snowstorms.”

In the 1970s, Petertyl helped document the histories of 460 homes and buildings in Traverse City's Central Neighborhood to help get it on the National Register of Historic Places.

"He was instrumental in pulling the Central Neighborhood together with a historic bent and getting it on the National Register,” said Carol Hale, who worked with him on the project.

He attended what is now Central Grade School on Seventh Street and later supervised bricklayers building the barn at Traverse City State Hospital in the 1930s and at Munson Medical Center in the 1950s.

He retired 43 years ago from Consumers Power.

Of course, one of the questioners at the party wanted to know how Petertyl has remained healthy and happy for 103 years.

"I just keep breathing,” he said, which was met with laughter and a standing ovation.

Copyright 1998-2005 Traverse City Record-Eagle

Bumper Stickers

Seen around town:


Who Would Jesus Torture?

and

I was Born OK the First Time

and

Honk If You're Against Noise Pollution

Have you seen other good ones?

Turkey Trot Event

Here's some real geocaching teamwork!
Basswood Bend and cohorts solving problems of the geocaching universe.
One of the cute critters along the way on the Critter Hunt. It was fun!


The event was on Portage Lake in Onekema. There were around 50 people in attendance, both old acquaintances and new folks. One couple came all the way from Wisconsin, and Craig's family came from the Soo. We enjoyed it, and we had so much fun doing the "Critter Hunt", and found 7 caches along the way. We didn't stay for the whole thing, but we did a good bit of it.

Here is Dick's log:

We had a great time. The breakfast was super, the facilities superb and the company was fantastic. It was great to see so many familiar faces as well as so many new ones.
Thanks to Jamie and Barb for hosting and prep. Thanks for the Petersons as well. Thanks also to Gary and Donna for the slide show.
A special thanks Sandrich for the activity. This was our first lengthy caching outing since mid July and to have an activity that allowed full participation, even when a little "gimpy" was much appreciated. We even picked off a few caches that showed up along the route. Sorry that we didn't make it back for dinner and prizes but our energy levels declined and we didn't think it would be a good idea to push it. We'll see every one at the Winter Social.

Gobble, Gobble

Parades, Football, Turkey, Mother, and Pumpkin Pie.

That's what America is all about.

Well, today anyway.

We did it all, and in that order, too.

Mother was felling "some better". but she doesn't look so good, and she was making some mistakes in choosing her words. She calls Bortz "Knox" for some inexplicable reason. She has trouble remembering the names of those around her. She often refers to Julius as "Luther". She has been on an antibiotic for the past week - the last day will be tomorrow. Maybe that medication contributes to the problem. We're getting the feeling that she may need some major dental work and we're trying to figure out how to best accomplish that without making her too uncomfortable. She really doesn't like to move out of her room. 'Tis a problem.

She ate shrimp, and some homemade dressing and gravy, and a couple of olives. It was good, because she hasn't been eating well for a week - mostly just soups.

Spoke to Jana last night - she's feeling much better. Spoke to Laurie and Dylan today - he eats his pumpkin pie with ice cream instead of whipped cream. It's his favorite part of Thanksgiving. Tom had spoken to Laurie and he plans to spend Thanksgiving with Kevin and Amy's family. They have really welcomed him into their family circle. It's a Good Thing.

Thanksgiving Prep

Pool Day at Premier Fitness. Kari is on vacation, so I worked with Sandy. I like Sandy a lot, but....it was a tough workout for me. Went to New Oleson's afterwards to get last minute items for Thanksgiving dinner. Rested for about 2 hours and then wrestled with the turkey, cooked the giblets, and pulled bread for the stuffing. Dick always chops the cooked giblets and the onions, thank goodness.

Dick winterized the boat in the driveway - always an exciting event! He lowers the motor into a bin, fills the bin with water, and runs all of the gas out of the motor. It was fun - lots of splashing and smokiness. The whole place has been winterized now - all of our outside furniture is under cover, the covers are on everything, the yard has been de-leafed and it looks great. In the words of our illustrious President, Bring it on.

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

Today is the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Baby Tommy was almost one month old, Laurie was 2 years and 9 months old. Mom and Dad were coming for the weekend because it was the weekend of the Michigan-Ohio State game. Kennedy was shot around 1 p.m. on Friday, and the football game was cancelled. We spent the weekend watching events unfold on TV - it was very bizarre and upsetting.

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

That Day in Dallas

By TOM WICKER

Forty years after the death of John F. Kennedy, the world is obviously a different place. Since Nov. 22, 1963, numerous developments — most recently, those of Sept. 11, 2001 — have shaken the nation and the world until both would have been all but unrecognizable from the perspective of the Kennedy years.
The young president's more extreme admirers lamented in 1963 that even the greatness of the nation, the future that had seemed so glowing, might suffer decline with the loss of the Kennedy touch. Some political analysts calculated that the Democratic party would not for years recover from the loss of so attractive a leader. Many were deeply affected personally. "We may laugh again," said Daniel P. Moynihan, then an assistant secretary of labor, "but we'll never be young again."

In the shock of the assassination — the first of a president since Leon Czolgosz had shot William McKinley more than a half century earlier — no one could be sure how the cold war would be affected by a new man at the head of American policy. What about Kennedy's civil rights bill, deadlocked and stymied in Congress? Could his space program, including the promise to put a man on the moon, be continued? Might the war in Vietnam be won — or should it be abandoned?

Four decades after the shooting in Dallas, it's surprising how little the assassination — at the time a veritable thunderclap among events — affected these specific questions, much less the inexorable tide of history. Kennedy's absence from the government and the political scene, of course, immediately changed the presidential succession — but politics already was changing, not necessarily for the better, and would have changed even if Kennedy had lived.

Sweet Tuesday

I am out and about more, mostly walking without the cane, and it does feel great! I'm still a little unsteady, but it's not that bad. The pills that Dr. Burke gave me for gout relieved the pain already, and I'm really grateful. The gout was on my good side, so it was hard to know which way to limp!

We'll be having a very quiet Thanksgiving - just the two of us. We'll do the traditional dinner on Thursday, and spend time with Mother. She hasn't been feeling well this week, so we're kind of playing that by ear. We have a geocaching event on Saturday over in Portage that we're planning to attend, assuming that all is well with Mother.

Jana is still not back at work - she has been really sick. She had pelvic inflammatory disease associated with her infected cyst and it laid her low. Now she's battling the mother of all colds - it hit her when her immune system was down. She sounded much better when I talked to her yesterday. We're expecting her home for Christmas if all goes well. The others will all be in Florida for Christmas.

Game Day

Well OSU is still number one. It will be interesting to see where Michigan winds up in the rankings. They came close, but no cigar. This from mgoblue.com:

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan football team was unable to overcome a 14-point halftime deficit and could not pull closer than three points from the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday (Nov. 18) at Ohio Stadium, losing 42-39 before a sellout and stadium-record crowd of 105,708 fans at the Horseshoe. The Wolverines (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) gained 397 yards of total offense while yielding a season-high 507 yards to the Buckeyes (12-0, 8-0 Big Ten.

Michigan has had a marvelously entertaining season, and we've enjoyed it every step of the way. Well done, Wolverines.

BO

Bo died today. Hail to the Victor Valiant. "'Michigan-Ohio State tomorrow, [Dan] Dierdorf correctly said Friday, "will just be the football game that was played the day after Bo died.'"

*******
MITCH ALBOM:

DETROIT - The biggest game doesn't seem so big anymore, because the biggest man in the history of Michigan football won't be watching it.

Bo Schembechler is dead. I never wanted to write that sentence. They've asked me to construct his obituary and I don't want the job, because I don't want to fashion a world that doesn't have Bo in it. He used to joke with me that he was an accident, because he was born in 1929, the year of the Great Depression, and "anyone who wants a baby in 1929 is crazy."

But he wasn't an accident. If ever a man seemed destined to be in a certain place at a certain time, it was Bo Schembechler prowling the sidelines of a Michigan football game on Saturday afternoons. He seems permanently painted into that picture - and while the players are bigger and stronger, he is always the largest thing in the frame. Bo could cast a shadow in rainstorm. His voice could be heard on the moon. It is being heard today, in the heads and hearts of the thousands of men who are balding, overweight, nursing sore backs and knees, but who still can hear their old coach's shrill but powerful urgings, telling them to block harder, to tackle harder, to do things "the Michigan way" and good things will happen.

"We are heartbroken," said Dan Dierdorf, one of the more famous of those former players, talking Friday night on a cell phone in a parking lot a short distance from Bo's home, where he was going to do something he never wanted to do: pay a condolence call.

Dierdorf, like anyone who ever played for Bo, knows the old man's voice will never be silenced. And yet the man himself is gone, done in by the very organ that truly defined him: his heart.

It was tragic and sudden and awful and shocking and it was exactly the way we knew it would happen. Bo told me once, "I will die one day from a bad heart."

As usual, the old man was right. We should have seen it coming. Thirty-seven years ago, he was walking up a hill in Pasadena, Calif., alone, in the dark, and he felt a stabbing pain and he grabbed a tree to hold himself up. He was only 40 then, but that incident - the night before his first Rose Bowl - was his first heart attack. Friday's incident, when he was 77 - the day before the biggest Michigan-Ohio State game ever - was his last.

In between there were too many surgeries, procedures, EKGs, a pacemaker, too many scary rushes to the hospital with everyone thinking, "Is this it?" But Bo came back from them all. Sooner or later, there he was, Michigan's Lazarus, in a natty sports coat with a maize-and-blue tie, and he'd be barking his same old bark and telling people he was a medical miracle, and, well, after a while, you just figured he could straight-arm anything, even mortality.

But if death doesn't get you at the shoulders it will get you at the knees, if not by the front, then from behind. And so, during a taping Friday morning of his weekly television show on Channel 7, doing the thing he liked second-best, talking about football - coaching it would always be No. 1 - death tried blindsiding Bo once more.

And this time, the only time, it took him down.

Checking out Michigan

I likely will fail at this assignment, because I cannot focus on what posterity should know about this man. You start with facts about Bo Schembechler but you quickly drift to anecdotes. It can't be helped. Bo made memories even better than he made history.

I can tell you he was born in the small town of Barberton, Ohio, the son of a fireman, and that long after he'd left he still could name you every factory in that town. I can tell you that he had two older sisters who teased him constantly and a mother he adored and who could match him stubborn for stubborn. I can tell you that his father once had a chance to get a cheater's advance copy of a civil service exam but he refused, and he finished one point behind a guy who cheated, and he didn't get the job he wanted. Bo said that night taught him more about integrity than anything ever would.

I can tell you Bo, growing up, was an excellent athlete. I can tell you that the first time he set eyes on a Michigan football field was as a senior in high school, on his way home from a family vacation. They drove through Ann Arbor and the Wolverines, by luck, were practicing. Bo and his father approached to take a peek. Not wanting to be noticed, they watched from near a field that was then open space.

Today there is a building on that field.

It's called Schembechler Hall.

You realize, by that geography, that while Bo played for Miami of Ohio and coached several other places (including Ohio State) he was, and will always be, all over Michigan football. Everything you see now has ties to him. The head coach, Lloyd Carr, worked under Bo, and the coach before Carr, Gary Moeller, worked under Bo. The radio announcer, Jim Brandstatter, played under Bo, and as he gets older he sounds more and more like Bo.

Brandstatter was one of those guys from Bo's first U-M team, the 1969 team that put him on the map - guys like Dierdorf, Jim Mandich, Garvie Craw, Don Moorhead, Billy Taylor - his first team, his most beloved team, the one that shocked the nation in upsetting Woody Hayes' Buckeyes, then ranked No. 1.

It has been 37 years since that game, and yet those players still can tell you every moment of it, every play, every exuberant shout, how in the locker room at halftime, they knew they were living through an historic moment. Bo was their drill sergeant, their tormentor, their teacher and their father figure. He has been the glue that has held them together all these years, the catalyst for their conversations - Hey, remember when the old man whacked that yardstick through Brandstatter's legs?" - and they always spoke about him with love, laughs and reverence.

Today they will be speaking through tears. Many will no doubt see each other again the way too many of us see our old friends again: at a funeral. And they will likely be saying what the voice in my head, maybe your head, too, is saying now: Bo cannot be dead. I refuse to believe it.

He was there for too many of them. He came to their golf tournaments, he stood up in their weddings, he spoke to their sons, he visited them in hospitals. Once, he even walked a former player who ran afoul of the law virtually to the prison door, urging him to stay strong and remember who he was. If you played for Bo, you were granted permission to a special club; you were always one of his boys. Bo had a sign above the locker room door his first grueling season at Michigan: "Those who stay will be champions."

He could have written underneath it, ". . . and will always be welcome here."

A visit with The King

What else can I write? Did you know Bo met Elvis once? It's true. He was in Las Vegas and somehow, after the show, he ended up backstage with The King. Bo didn't really know what to say, so he paid the singer a compliment on his jumpsuits and next thing he knew, he was back in a private closet with Elvis showing him his collection of rhinestone-covered costumes. He told Bo how much they cost, and that he never wore them more than once and then they were shipped to some museum. There was, Bo recalled, an awkward a pause, just the two of them, alone with those jumpsuits, and then they came back and joined the crowd.

Years later, I asked Bo what he thought of that encounter.

"I thought, `I don't want to be him,' " Bo said.

He wasn't. Bo was the King around here, but not in private counsel with secret dressing rooms. He was out among the people, everywhere, at banquets, at charity functions, slapping backs, punching arms, bounding through the press box. Bo genuinely liked people, interesting people - in later years he even mellowed with sportswriters - and he could just as easily strike up a conversation with a janitor as he could with a president of the United States. And he did. Bo knew Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, Bo Derek and the guy next door. He embodied that Rudyard Kipling poem that celebrates a man who "can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch."

He as a great storyteller, you hung on his words, and he was one of the funniest men you would ever meet. He loved to laugh at himself, and he used his hands to communicate, pounding on tabletops, poking fingers in chests - I once sat next to him at a basketball game and my arm was black and blue from all the times he slapped me when he got worked up. He used phrases like "dad gum" and "by god" and "now you listen to me ..." It is the mark of his combustive personality that he is remembered today by a sentence he bellowed at a news conference: "A Michigan man will coach Michigan."

You had no doubt that a Michigan Man was saying it.

Battling with Woody

He won more football games than any coach in his school's history and his teams won or shared the Big Ten title 13 times in his 21 seasons. He held a small edge in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry - 11-9-1 - and a one-game edge over Woody Hayes in their 10-year war - 5-4-1. His relationship with that irascible coach was as deep and as complex as any in sports. Bo played for Woody, he worked for Woody, and he was ultimately burdened with trying to defeat Woody. It was the son battling the father. The student battling the teacher. Yet for all their fierce battles, their traded tantrums, the most emotional moment came years later, in 1987, when Hayes was long retired.

There was banquet for Bo in Dayton, Ohio. Hayes, despite failing health, insisted on coming to introduce Bo. He was using a wheelchair at this point, but he spoke for 15 or 20 minutes, fond memories, compliments, the kind of thing a friend does for a friend.

The next night he died.

And just as Bo was forever shaped by Woody, so have all the coaches and players who labored for Bo been shaped by him. They have spread out over the land, become pro athletes, lawyers, doctors, some have taken head coaching jobs and come back to play Michigan. But they remain a unique fraternity, ribbons around the maypole of Bo Schembechler.

Bo was passionate about what he did. "Some of the finest people I know are football coaches," he once told me. "They're smart. They're tough. Good thinkers. Hard workers. When I say I'm a football coach, I'm damn proud of the fact that I'm a football coach."

His later careers - athletic director, Tigers team president, TV analyst - were all well and good, he made some nice contributions, but you always knew they were things that he did because he couldn't do what he really loved to do anymore. He told me several times had he had it to do over again, he would not have retired when he did in 1989.

Then again, Bo never really retired. He kept an office at Michigan, close enough to chit chat with any coach or player if he wanted. He served as the elder statesman, the grandfather at the table, Don Corleone sitting in a side chair after he'd turned the business over to his son Michael.

"A guy from Michigan State once told me Bo's still coaching there," Dierdorf recalled. "They just use a different name `Bo-Mo-Carr.' "

There is some truth in that. Bo is the cloak from which the cloth is spun. And it is impossible to imagine what today in Columbus, Ohio, will be like for Carr, who has to guide his young players through one of the biggest games in Big Ten history, while everywhere he looks he hears and sees his old boss and friend.

"Michigan-Ohio State tomorrow," Dierdorf correctly said Friday, "will just be the football game that was played the day after Bo died."

Living a good life

I can tell you he loved his wives. Millie was his partner on the way up, gave him a home, a family, three adopted sons and one more they conceived together. After she died, Bo might never have married again, had he not found Kathy, a perfect partner for his later years, a loving, supportive woman whose strong will probably kept Bo alive years longer than he would have done on his own.

He is survived by Kathy and his sons, the ones who share his name and the thousands more who do not, the ones who wore Michigan helmets and have no blood ties, unless you count bleeding maize and blue a family trait. They all remember him, and if you live on through memories, then Bo is far from dead, he will not be dead for generations.

Maybe I can best end this rambling remembrance with a personal account. Bo and I spent more than a year together writing his autobiography. During that time, by his admission, I spent more time with him "than my wife!" (He usually added a few expletives after that.)

It was a whale of a time. We talked, we argued, we reminisced, we argued, we talked and talked some more. We took planes and cars, we sat in offices and in locker rooms. We ate. He loved to eat. One time, en route to a banquet at the Naval Academy in Maryland, he spotted a Fuddruckers hamburger joint. He loved those places and he gave a forlorn look. I told him he couldn't eat a hamburger because he had a big steak banquet coming up.

But I, on the other hand, was going.

"You dawg!" he exclaimed.

And of course he went with me. And he ate a hamburger - no pun intended - with more relish than I have ever seen a man eat one, he was like a kid getting away with playing hookey. He told me that was the "most outstanding idea" that I had ever had.

Why can I still remember that moment almost 20 years later? Because Bo filled the most normal moments with a sky's worth of wonderful, boisterous air.

Today they are saying "it was his time." But I disagree. Friday morning in a hospital was not his time. His time was Saturday afternoons from September to November, his time was on the field, making memories, his time was chomping on a hamburger, his time was looking up from his desk and seeing an old player pop his head in, accomplished, proud, a man.

His time was the time he lived, not the moment he died. When we finished our book together, the publisher asked if there were any dedications or thank-you's we wanted to insert. I listed dozens of Bo's relatives, friends and former players. Bo only wanted to put in one sentence. He wrote, "I want to personally thank Mitch Albom. The poor son of a bitch had no idea what he was getting into."

He was right, but not because it was worse than I thought, because it was better. A million times better. My days with Bo, like so many others days with Bo, were a carpet ride with a sultan, a balcony address to a cheering crowd, a sidecar on a speeding bike through glorious, chilly football afternoons.

There was a time around here when they chanted, "Bo is God! Bo is God!" He wasn't of course, but now that he's gone, everywhere you turn you hear their names in the same sentence. He will be missed. God, how Bo will be missed

*********

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The game of the year in college football has yet another storyline — a sad one. The first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between Ohio State and Michigan comes a day after the Wolverines lost their most celebrated leader, Bo Schembechler. The longtime coach, who played a starring role for two decades in the century-old grudge match, died Friday at age 77.

An Ohioan who became a Michigan icon, Schembechler cut across this rivalry and helped make it the biggest — and at times bitterest — feud in football. Now even his death will be forever linked with The Game.

"He will always be both a Buckeye and a Wolverine, and our thoughts are with all who grieve his loss," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.

Now, the second-ranked Wolverines enter Saturday's showdown, with the Big Ten title, a spot (or two) in the national championship game and perhaps the Heisman Trophy at stake, with heavy hearts.

"We have lost a giant at Michigan and in college football," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said in a statement released by the school.

Carr, a Schembechler protege, declined to speak with the media when he arrived with his team at Ohio Stadium on Friday. The Wolverines (11-0, 7-0) went through a quiet 25-minute walkthrough, putting the finishing touches on their preparation for the top-ranked Buckeyes (11-0, 7-0).

Schembechler brought Carr to Michigan as an assistant in 1980, and Carr was promoted to head coach in 1995. But Schembechler was never far from the program or Carr. Carr's office is in Schembechler Hall, right down the hall from his former boss.

In fact, Carr asked Schembechler to speak to the Wolverines on Thursday.

Schembechler's Wolverines were 11-9-1 against Ohio State, 5-4-1 while Woody Hayes, Schembechler's mentor at Miami of Ohio turned Big Ten rival, patrolled the Buckeyes' sideline from 1969-78.

Carr, who won the national title in 1997 that always eluded Schembechler, hasn't fared so well against Ohio State lately. Carr's Wolverines have lost four of five to the Buckeyes since Tressel took over in Columbus.

Carr has drawn the ire of impatient Michigan fans for being on the short end too often against the hated Buckeyes. Winning one for Bo on Saturday — especially one this big — would no doubt appease many critics.

It's hardly fair considering these Buckeyes might be the most talented Tressel has coached, including the squad that won the 2002 national championship.

Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith directs one of the most explosive offenses in the country, and he's been at his best against Michigan the last two seasons.

"My success is credited to everybody else around me," Smith said. "It's not just that I'm 2-0 against Michigan. Everybody who has played on the field against them is 2-0."

True, but no one is more responsible for that 2-0 against the Maize and Blue than the multitalented Smith.

He passed for 241 yards, ran for a career-high 145 and accounted for three TDs in Ohio State's 37-21 upset of Michigan in Columbus two years ago. Last season, Smith threw for 300 yards, ran for a touchdown and led two long, late scoring drives to beat Michigan 25-21.

If Smith has another magical day against Michigan, the senior can all but wrap up the Heisman Trophy race. Smith has thrown 26 touchdown passes and only four interceptions while completing 66 percent of his throws.

"First of all, he's a great leader for their offense," said Michigan linebacker David Harris, the leading tackler on a unit ranked No. 1 in the country against the run. "He has a great arm. He has good mobility in the pocket. He's their guy."

He's not their only guy. Speedster Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez make up one of the country's best receiving duos. Antonio Pittman has run for 1,032 yards and 12 TDs.

"You can't really just focus on one guy," said Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley, who leads the team with 11 sacks. "It's an all-around team. They have other weapons in there."

Woodley is the catalyst for a tenacious defense that has 41 sacks and is allowing 29.9 yards per game on the ground.

"It's safe to say he's probably the best defensive end in college football," said Ohio State offensive lineman T.J. Downing, whose father, Walter, was a captain on Schembechler's 1977 team. "So we're just going to have to get after him. We're going to have to hit him in the mouth every play and just go from there."

What Next?

If it ain't one thing, it's another. Sciatica, leg weakness, pre-cancerous thingy on forehead (actinic keratosis), dentist says I need a new crown starting next week, today I was told I have gout in my big toe. (Did you know that doctors call it the great toe?) And through all of this the aqua therapy people think I'm some kind of a deadbeat because I've had to cancel appointments that conflict with the dentist, etc. Anyway, I got some kind of a strong anti-inflammatory prescription which is suppposed to eliminate the gout by Monday. Sounds too good to be true, and you know what that means!

These are all minor afflictions and I'm really not complaining because in the infinite scheme of things I'm really very lucky in every way. Today we got the news that one of the Northern Michigan Geocachers (Crafter Cat) has died from complications of a stroke. We were merely acquaintances of hers - did not know her well at all, but as John Donne wrote, "any man's (woman's) death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind..." I feel especially sorry for her husband and son.

Here's a list of foods to avoid and foods that are OK to use if you have gout - a lot of it is counter-intuitive, recommending white bread and white rice, for instance. I'm including this list just for my reference - ungouty people can stop reading here!

The following foods have very high purine levels, and should be avoided completely:

Anchovies
Bouillon
Brains
Broth
Consommé
Dried legumes
Goose
Gravy
Heart
Herring
Kidneys
Liver
Mackerel
Meat extracts
Mincement
Mussels
Partridge
Roe
Sardines
Scallops
Shrimp
Sweetbreads
Yeast (baker’s and brewer’s)
Yeast extracts (e.g., Marmite, Vegemite)

These foods have high purine levels:

Fish
Shellfish
Poultry
Meat (except those with very high purine content, noted above, or those with moderately high purine levels, noted below)

These foods have moderately high purine levels:

Asparagus
Cauliflower
Legumes
Lentils
Mushrooms
Oatmeal
Peas (dried)
Soy
Spinach
Tripe

Best bets:

Beverages (carbonated)
Butter
Cereals and cereal products
Cheese (all kinds)
Cocoa (however, caffeine is prohibited in Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome)
Corn
Cornbread
Eggs
Fruit juices
Fruits
Gelatin
Ice cream
Milk
Noodles
Nuts
Refined wheat flour
Tapioca
Vegetables (except those noted above)
White bread and crackers (but not whole wheat, which is moderately high in purines)
White rice

Partners

We went on a mini-geocaching expedition today. It started with lunch in Alden at the Wild Onion, and then we finished the Alden Historical Tour cache. It was on the chilly side today - I should have worn my winter coat. Brrr. It was good to be out with my partner again.

On the way home we went back woodsing and Dick found a cache at Guernsey Lake. It was interesting to be in the woods with all of the deer hunters. They are out in force in their orange outfits and their guns. We didn't see any deer.

This morning we went to the store, and Thanksgiving dinner is now in the freezer and the pantry.

On My Own

Dick was at training again today. He said it was very interesting to learn some new things pertaining to Native Americans- there were 8 or 9 of them in attendance from 3 different counties. They have to deal with Elders who receive payments from some treaty settlement which are not regarded as income. The payments have an impact upon their applications for Medicaid.

Meanwhile, I began the day by going to have my teeth cleaned. This was another appointment that we had to cancel in September - that's why so many appointments have piled up in November. Dr. Kevin is from the U of M, so we talked about the upcoming game. He's worried. (Imagine that.) Then I found out that one of his patients showed up this week in an OSU sweatshirt. I said - Do you accept that kind of patient? He said - Yes, but I charge them double.

The next event was more pool therapy - it was pretty much a repetition of the first session. Today I found out that my therapist is allergic to the bromine in the water. She has hyper-sensitive skin, and being in the pool makes her itchy. She said she showers and scrubs for 15 minutes after her 3 hours in the pool. Such irony - to be allergic to your work environment. The pool was less crowded today. When I watch the other patients, I feel very lucky because I have no pain. It was obvious that some of the others are really suffering. My therapy is for weakness only. After the pool I went to the grocery store.

So today I feel like an effective, independent adult woman - I was out and about on my own from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Another first on the road to recovery.

F & P

Dick has more all day training today and tomorrow.

Don't laugh, but I got my gift wrapping station set up downstairs, and I actually wrapped six or seven gifts. I know it's early, but I want to do it gradually instead of having a last minute rush. Christmas will see four of us here (Dick&Nan, Jana, Mom), and four of us in Florida (Laurie&Chip, Dylan and Tom) - so we have a lot of shipping to prepare for.

After his meeting, Dick went geocaching and found Whitard's newest puzzle cache.

Dick brought in the mail when he got home, and we had a package from Frank and Peggy. Two stocking caps were inside - beautiful colors of the forest, with images of deer, and personalized with our names on the front. They are really spectacular. Such a pleasant surprise. Thank you Peggy!

Bones, Burritos, and Bikes

Dick worked at the Agency. I had another wonderful medical morning (hah), a bone density test closely followed by a mammogram. The density test is a breeze. You just lay on a special table fully clothed and stay still for a few minutes and that's it. The mamm. was not as bad as I remembered - not bad at all really. Maybe I'm just getting accustomed to it.

We met for lunch at La Senorita, and it was very nice. It was Senior Citizen Day so we got 25% off the total. Such a deal! Then we went to the library to do some more research on recumbent bikes, and then we went around the corner to McClain's and bought one! It's being delivered this afternoon at 4 o'clock. It's by Vision Fitness. I think it will be a big help. I tried it out and it was wonderful to have a back rest and a big seat. Hooray! It was $100 off, and the salesman cut the delivery and setup fee in half, so we got another good deal. I personally think that the cane creates sympathy...I could be wrong.

We drove home in a beautiful snowfall, with big fluffy flakes. Makes me think it' s about time to buy the Thanksgiving turkey.

Wow. All of the Maize and Blue Faithful are really looking forward to next Saturday's game with Ohio State, (a know-nothing party school). It's a major rivalry every single year. We used to sing their fight song with different words "Liquidate Ohio State and humble Woody Hayes." I don't have a song for Coach Tressel.

This year the game takes on national significance because it's between the number 1 and the number 2 teams in the country, and the winner will play in the National Championship game. I think our team is ready, and up for the challenge. OSU has many outstanding athletes, but they may not have the chemistry and team spirit that Michigan has. No matter what the outcome, it has been a great season for Lloyd and his team, and we're naturally wishing them all the best.

Meijer Wipe Out

The last Concord Place newsletter asked that we make sure that our resident has hat, gloves and boots in case it becomes necessary to leave the building. I knew that Mom's winter coat was there, and I also knew that she didn't have any of the other things with her. So we went to Meijer to get those items and to do some grocery shopping. I found just the right hat and gloves, but they didn't have boots the right size for Mother. I got my big feet from her.

Somewhere around the cottage cheese section, I got very tired of walking (limping) around, and headed for the front. I should have known that would happen - Meijer is just too big for me at the moment. I always get over-tired there, even with a cart to lean on. Dick checked out while I sat on a bench with two really old gentlemen.

We visited Mother - she likes the hat and gloves very much. We had a nice visit, but a short one because I wanted to go home.

Game Day/Veterans' Day

HAPPY VETERANS' DAY
Lest We Forget


November 11, 2006 Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Memorial Stadium)
Score: #2 Michigan 34, Indiana 3
Records: U-M (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten), Indiana (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 18 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 3:30 p.m.

Breaston Shines as Michigan Defeats Indiana

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Event Recap | Boxscore | Player Participation | Postgame Notes | Photos

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Fifth-year senior Steve Breaston (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) broke loose with a pair of touchdowns as No. 2 Michigan defeated Indiana, 34-3, Saturday (Nov. 11) at Memorial Stadium. Breaston scored on a 62-yard passing play and added a career long 83-yard punt return for a touchdown as the Wolverines (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) won for the 50th time against the Hoosiers (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten)


Michigan battles top-ranked Ohio State in the 103rd renewal of college football's greatest rivalry next Saturday (Nov. 18) at Ohio Stadium. The Wolverines and Buckeyes will wage battle in a nationally televised game by ABC at 3:30 p.m. EST

Cushy

Mother's new seat cushion arrived today, and this one wasn't defective. Dick was volunteering at the Visitor Center, so I had a solo outing to deliver the cushion. Mother liked it - her old seat pad was really unsatisfactory - so I'm hoping she'll be more comfortable now. The dining room there is decorated for Thanksgiving, and it looks spectacular!

Since I was out and about, doing errands and such, I stopped in at the Visitor Center and surprised Dick. I was the 4th visitor of the morning! It was such a slow day. Kathee said it was like the middle of winter during a blizzard.

Geocaching Adventures

Dick spent the day geocaching in the Bellaire area. I think he found approximately seven for the day. His favorite was at the grocery store in Bellaire - the clue for the coordinates is a grocery list - it was very clever.

I'm still not ready to sit in the car that long. I went grocery shopping, did some walking, and the Sit and be Fit exercises. Soon I hope to be Dick's partner again intead of sitting home alone.

Dems Rule

The Democrats have control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years! It looks like they will win control of the Senate also, depending on whether there will be a recount in Virginia, and on which caucus Joe Lieberman votes with. As an Independent, he could go either way.

Dick got a kick out of the news that the last two Republicans to concede were named Burns and Allen. (Conrad Burns and George Allen). Goodnight, Gracie.

Jennifer Granholm won re-election as our Governor, And Debbie Stabenow retains her Senate seat.

With the Democrats in charge, we're hoping to see movement on the minimum wage, Medicare reform, etc. As far as the war in Iraq goes I'm not sure how easy it will be to clean up the mess that the Bush Administration has made. Somebody should have told the candidates "Be careful what you wish for".

Whew!

This is the day I've been looking forward to. Not. First came the annual physical exam, which I passed with flying colors - hooray for me. My counts were the best they've been since 2000 and everything checked out well.

Next came the first session of aqua therapy. Now this was kind of a challenge for me, as I have never been a pool person, and I wasn't looking forward to limping around a fitness center in a bathing suit. But I am so brave (ha) that I did it anyway. That shows you how badly I want to improve my mobility.

The pool is long and narrow and very warm, thank goodness. It doesn't have a deep end. The deepest it gets is armpit high for me. I think that it's only used for therapy - at least today everyone was being "therapeutic". I may have been the oldest, but I was not the fattest, believe it or not. (Inside joke).

The therapy is one on one, and that is a very good thing. My therapist (Kari) is very friendly and pleasant. She explained why we were doing every exercise, and how it would help me. She was very encouraging and helpful. We did a lot of walking - then she told me exactly what I had to change to walk correctly. It's easy to move in the water, but I still was having balance problems - sometimes it felt like I was going to float away. In addition to the walking, I did shoulder exercises, balancing exercises, weight shifting exercises, and such like that. The session lasted for 40-45 minutes, and Kari thinks I'll need more appointments than I have scheduled. She's going to call me if there are cancellations. She thinks that my hips are weak also, as well as my left leg, most likely from having been immobilized for a month.

The locker room is lovely, with great benches and nice carpeting. I was able to change out of my soggy suit with no embarrassment because there were only a couple of others in there and they were ignoring me anyway. The main reason I changed is that a wet bathing suit is not very comfortable, and it was dripping all over the carpet. My original plan was to slip into sweats and change at home, but I think that would have been most uncomfortable.

We went out to lunch at the Big Eazy, which was close, convenient, and yummy. Dick had etoufee and I had a quesadilla. It was so good. It was listed on the menu as an appetizer, but I brought home half of it.

Talked to Dylan twice today - before school and after school - so we are the luckiest ones!

Yesterday was mid-term Election Day, and most of the Good Guys won. It was a spectacular election. Now we get to see how power corrupts Democrats. Power did quite a job on the Republicans. We still have two more years of W. Oh well.
In Michigan, we kept Jenny and Debbie, and that's a Very Good Thing. In the House, the Democrats became the majority and in the Senate the Virginia seat is still up for grabs. If the Democrat wins, they'll have a majority in the Senate, too. The Democrat, James H. (Jim) Webb's name wouldn't fit on the voting machine - it just said James H. (Jim). I'm wondering if in California the voting machine said Arnold Swartz.

W. fired Rumsfeld today. What an impeccable sense of timing. Last week he said that Rumsfeld was doing a fantastic job. If Rumsfeld had been fired last week, maybe the election would have had a different outcome. Interesting.

Election Day

Dick had more MMAP all-day training today. I went to the drug store and got some Aleve for Mother and went in for a short visit. She has no interest in elections anymore, but she definitely leans Republican. She hasn't really kept up with what's going on in the outside world as far as pre-emptive war, imprisonment, removal of basic rights, and torture. I believe she's more of a Milliken Republican - the kind we had 50 years ago.

Dick left his meeting a little bit early so that we could go vote before the after-work crowd. We went to the fire house first, and then realized that voting must be at the township hall. We finally got to the right place, and it was not the least bit crowded, and there were only a couple of people ahead of us.

The early returns from around the country were very encouraging. The Democratic candidates are winning from coast to coast. We went to bed early but happy.

Rejoining the Human Race

I'm feeling human again. I haven't used the cane for 2 days, although I'm still slow and a little limpy. I keep finding bills that haven't been paid, and one that was paid twice!! So that kind of evens out. I found an appointment reminder for September that got lost in the shuffle - but it was just the annual dermatology checkup, so not exactly vital. I'm doing that tomorrow.
I've driven twice, once by myself. Today I went to the beautiful shop (inside joke) for the first time since June! That's the main reason that I feel human again. After that, Dick took me out to lunch (Red Lobster) for the first time since July! Now there's an odd reason for feeling proud of yourself!

The news is full of John Kerry's botched joke. The reporters seem to have forgotten about Bush's Botched War, which is not a joke. http://images.ucomics.com/comics/ta/2006/ta061101.gif

Last Sunday we went to the Concord Place Halloween party! I'll bet you're jealous. After that kissing game last summer that Laurie and Chip played along with us and some other couples, Dick swore that he would never again play a game at a Concord party. Ahem! This time he was shamed into doing the ghost walk...and he didn't even win anything! I think that Mother had a good time (and that's what it's all about) - she waved at all of her fellow residents, ate a lot for lunch, and stayed for an hour and a half. A real party animal!

Jana says she's feeling much better, and is back at work. She sounded great on the phone. Tom sent a picture of his latest mountain biking incident - a lacerated arm (no, not that arm, the other arm.) Evidently his biking buddies are making sure that someone has a camera to record whatever happens, because they're sure that something will. For Christmas, Tom is getting a lifetime supply of Neosporin, a biker's first aid kit, and a new sling,

Dylan hasn't called for two mornings in row, so we don't have a report on trick or treating or on the field trip to the Environmental Study Center. We don't even know what the spelling words are for this week. (Heavy sigh)

This week I was a widow for two days in a row. Tuesday I was a geocaching widow, and Wednesday I was a Medicare volunteer training widow. I was lucky, though, because when Jana was here in September, she left a couple of good books!

We had an inch of snow this morning at Basswood Bend. We drove into town, and there was nary a flake to be seen. More snow is predicted for the next two days.

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!

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.

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."

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

There are: 14 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

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:

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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.

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:

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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.
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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.

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:

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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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.