Wednesday in Michigan

Good Morning,

Sorry I missed posting yesterday. Busy day at Colleen's doing laundry, and running errands. 

Today, I have an appointment and then I'm watching Frankie. Then I'm going to do some volunteer work. 

Must go. 

Hugs,

 

Hi Trish and my OFF family to come:

Where is everyone? It's after noon and I'm the first to post after Trish? 

Not much going on here. I'm off today, but have a chiro appointment. Then off to get a few groceries. I'd watch the White Sox game but I don't want to get depressed (I'll probably watch it anyway ... on DVR ... I don't get to see them often ... but boy, they're awful this year. Who put together this team?). 

Last night, I watched "The Girl who Kicked the Hornets' Nest," the third of the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. Boy, that's a good trilogy. She's a tough little cookie. If you get a chance, watch it. I've been reading "Satchel" about Negro League great Satchel Paige ... I've always been interested in him and this is a very good biography. If you have a chance and you're interested in baseball as well as that period of our history (it goes into the early 1900s and Jim Crow laws, etc.), read it. So far, very good. Early in the book, but very interesting.

Well, I should get off. Hope you all have a good day.

Hello Trish and sistas!

Gee, it's almost noon here.  Busy morning around this house.  I've watered the plants, bathed the dogs, and mowed the grass.  I'm ready for naptime!  LOL!

Hope everyone is doing well today.  Connie, hon, still praying for you!  Nan and Morgan, you're in my prayers, too.  Haven't heard from our Nancy lately, either.  Hope she is okay.  Wish some others would check in.  We're missing so many of our sistas!

Had a really nice day yesterday for my birthday.  Nothing special, just lots of love and happiness.  Did buy two really nice "new" flowers at the nursery.  It's funny how many different species there are down here in South Texas as opposed to East Texas.  Bought a beautiful purple and white thing called Angelonia.  Heat and drought resistant and attracts butterflies.  Also bought a tropical plant with gorgeous orange blossoms called a Cassandra something-or-other.  Got them both potted up and out in my "sun spot" corner of the backyard.

Also, Judy mentioned birthday cake to me yesterday.  Butch offered to bake a cake, but I said no, that was too much sweets in the house.  So we bought some cupcakes instead.  Oh, Benny had such a good time sticking candles in them and he helped me blow them out with real enthusiasm!  LOL!  He even sang Happy Birthday to me.  He and Papaw practiced it all afternoon.  So sweet!

My poor Carrie called this morning.  She is passing a kidney stone today.  My poor girl!  She is sure plagued by those things.  I wish there was something I could do to help her.  I asked her if she wanted me to come, but she said no.  Still feel just awful for her though.  Mamas don't like it when their babies hurt, do they?

Well, time to make my boys some lunch, then naptime for Benny and Mimi, too, I think.  Love you all!

Hey Vic...is your daughter drinking any tea? My ex father in law used to drink it ALOT and his dr told him that WAS the cause of him having so many kidney stones...just a thought...hope she passes it fast and not to painfully...

HUGS

Thanks for the tip, Judy, but I think in Carrie's case the culprit is (was) Diet Coke.  Of course, she's not drinking it anymore since WLS, but I'm sure this stone had already formed months ago.  She drinks coffee, too, but I've never heard of that causing kidney stones before, have you?  I did talk to her awhile ago and she has stopped hurting, so I assume the stone has passed.  Poor, poor baby.  They must be so painful. 

Aloha Trish and Eileen........and everyone else who posts today.

Finally checking in after a long absence. I have been reading everyday and feeling for those of you in pain and other life's challenges, and feeling happiness when I read of happy birthdays, travels, loving between partners, and about all of the children who belong to we OFFers!!

Speaking of children, I just got home from Santa Cruz where I spent a couple weeks with my son, DIL and three little grandsons (5, 7 and 9). Wow...the energy generated in that household could fuel my home!! LOL Life here on Maui is mostly quiet and peaceful. When with my family it was non-stop go, go, go. My son and DIL are very social animals, and had people over and went to others' homes almost daily...or out to dinner with a crowd. That mostly happened after baseball games for my two older grands. I LOVED going to their games and cheering for them. We spent a day on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk for my littlest grandson's 5th birthday party. Rides, mini golf, birthday cake.....etc. etc. It was fun. I was exhausted every night. Ha.

I felt good being with family. I did as much as I could for them...laundry, babysitting, taxi service, grocery shopper, dishwasher, etc. Mark and Shelley have a new dog, KOBE, who is a puppy and also full of energy. Kobe was my shadow and we got lots of loves and ball throwing in.

Also I got a chance to drive down to Carmel to spend an overnight with my brother and SIL who have a little hobbit house there where they spend the weekends. Lovely quiet time visiting and going out for Italian dinner.

My kids want me to move to Santa Cruz really badly, and my son said he would rent an apartment for me if I make the move. Sweet of him, AND I have a lot to think about before I make such a decision. I love Maui....and my job screening newborn babies' hearing. I have roots here, but I also have a family that needs me there. Big decisions about the rest of my life. I'm so glad to be home where I do have time to think and try to even envision trying to get rid of all the STUFF I've accumulated here....yikes. I'm not a hoarder, but I have collected a lot of dooad....baskets, candles, pictures of whales, turtles, hula dancers, etc. I think I may just begin selling things on Craig's List, and/or taking things to the thrift shops.

Sorry for the long post, but just needed to reconnect with all of you.

Beautiful Connie...I so do hope and pray for a happy transition for you, and a painfree future. You are so worth it!! Eileen, I enjoy your posts and hearing about your meals and adventures. Hoping for good health for you, too.
Trish, you sound so busy! Makes me think of my recent trip and the constant busyness!! Vickie...sure glad you had a happy birthday.......and I love hearing about your little guy, your big guy, and your daily activities.

I know there are many more I'd like to acknowledge, but this is way too long already, so I'm hitting send, and hoping to catch up my other sistas later.

With so much aloha,

OXOX

Maui Karen

Hello to all OFF'ers,

     Today finds me happy and content. Still have things to do to be ready to start my next job with Cochise, but I'm just taking my time. I can't believe the heat here. The weekend is to be 108 and 109. I'll be sweating the pounds right off with our evening walks. Tell me again why I moved to Arizona? I miss being able to go home to Indiana for the summers.

      Best get going. Time is flying by today. Good thoughts and God bless you each and everyone.

       Mag

Carl and I are leaving for camping again tomorrow in Ocala. That is North of us about 100 miles and a bit east in the Ocala National Forest. We are meeting up with a camping club. I hope the rain stays away!!!!!

I am feeling a bit old today! My oldest neice is turning fourty tomorrow! Granted I was eighteen when she was born and I thought then I was to young to become an auntie!!!!! but I was thrilled!!!!!

Then today my jaw dropped when my daughter called and asked me to bring her a tent cause she was going camping!!!!! she told me she never was going to camp again!!!! Boy how things change when your friends talk you into doing stuff!!!!!

We are going up north on the 24th for a month to get out of the heat down here!!!!!

 

Hello everybody.

Today was chemo #3 and the doctor changed some of the meds. Now to wait and see if I feel better or worse. I am not getting in the 4-5 liters of liquids a day so they said I may go daily for IV fluids - easy with the port. Not getting in the 2,400 calories a day either and lost 3 more pounds.

Cooking is not a favorite activity. Aromas are often bad and my sense of taste is bizarre - worse than after WLS.

I miss going to the gym and using the heated pool. Not enough strength to do anything but I WILL get my strength back eventually.

Kisses to all

Annette 

Aloha Annette.......I sure hope you can get back your strength and your appetite. You are such a fighter...I have a feeling you will give this you all. I'm so glad have your DH to give you love and support.

I have several friends who are going through chemo of one kind or another. It just seems like cancer is still rampant and I wonder where all the money is going to is donated to the relief of this disease.

You are an inspiration, and thank you for sharing your story.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen