Gee Whiz!

Believe it or not, I AM still kickin'. What an experience. I am safe at home at the present, but an experience like I had certainly shook me up. At the present, every little twitch or blah feeling scares me.

Fran and I were walking along Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, heading toward Barnes and Noble (surprise, surprise) when I started feeling very peculiar. (More peculiar than usual!) I was stuck into taking glances (like snapshots) of the buildings above me. I couldn't get on with my walk. I remember thinking, "When can I get on with it? I want to go to B&N!" A sweet woman who was walking along with us on the sidewalk asked if we needed help, Fran said yes, so the lady went into Barnes and Noble to get the police woman there. She brought a chair and called 911, and I was soon being well attended with 7 or eight uniformed people all around me taking my blood pressure, etc., etc. Call to Naomi, ambulance, trip to Fairview/Riverside hospital, Fran riding with in the front of the ambulance. 6 hours in ER later, up to a room.

I had all kinds of tests, not the least of which was an MRA/MRI. Not fun being stuck into a cigar like tube, but I managed to put myself into a sort of snooze while I was in the tube. Then an EEG. They put wires all over your head and make you look at bright blinking lights. Not fun, but the EEG was the test that finally showed them what was wrong. It seems I have a glitch of some sort in my brain. Many of you have suspected that for years, I'm sure! Anyway, What I had was a seizure caused by that glitch.... so now I am on a very expensive pill, twice a day, that will prevent a reoccurence of the experience. The trouble with that is that the pill also makes me sleepy and can make me grouchy. So, watch out!

I had an interesting experience being in the hospital. I cannot say enough good things about how I was treated, but I had a roommate when I entered that made my stay drama filled. She finally stalked out at midnight, cursing one and all. The staff had treated her very well as far as I could see, but nothing would satisfy her. Wow. Drama.

Got back to Naomi's. I was sort of still recovering, George has very painful sciatica, Then Naomi calls up the stairs for me to come down. She has stepped on a huge rusty nail! Luckily, before she went to Africa she had all the shots known to man, so we soaked her foot in hot salt water, the wound bled profusely, and she is stuck lying down with her foot up. What more could go wrong? We wait uneasily further happenings. Hopefully this is it.

Naomi's lawn is starting to look really nice. We are home safely. Great! Now, when I say "Take Care" Just know that I MEAN IT. Take care. I certainly put Fran and the rest of the family through an adventurous time. Thank you, one and all.

From Fran's

My first attempt at writing this blog from Fran's and on her brand new Mac. I feel quite la de dah! I will soon be having new dsl cable at home, too, so this will be fun. I do not have a Mac, however, but a new Dell. What fun!

Fran says the coffee's hot and it's time to eat, so I will say sayonara. I just wanted to try this on her computer to see if it would work. Have a nice day and TAKE CARE.

Repeat Performance

Fran said the last picture wasn't dark, but I took another one when the wind was gusting and the sun glinted on the wavelets. That was yesterday, and today the lake is already subsiding. When we first moved here the back area was all marsh, and we had mallards and other wild life right in the back yard. Then a neighbor bought the land and started to fill in and try to make it into ho-hum regular land. He never succeeded in avoiding the spring flooding, so no one has built on it, but no more marsh or wild life to speak of.

Yesterday, however, two mallards swam majestically on this little pond. A taste of yester-year. At least we don't have the mosquitoes that a marsh land would generate! Usually, there is no water at all.

Yesterday was Habitat for Humanity Sunday in our church. What a wonderful Christian movement. I didn't realize it was a Christian based deal. We heard all about the history of it and the fact that the guy who founded it approached Jimmy Carter to help long after it had already done lots of house building. Their goal is to wipe homelessness from the planet.. That is certainly an awesome goal. The people who help build a home through this program buy it through purchasing it with a no interest loan. They also have to put in 200 hours of sweat equity. They must qualify through need and through ability to purchase. It is far from a free ride for them.

The sun is shining brightly. I think Spring has finally sprung! Take care.

Spring Lake!

A rather dark picture, but the middle part of it is our lake! Two nights of thunder storms gave us a lake! Yippee.

Yesterday we had a wonderful fun day at our Art Center. Linda Frances Lein was the speaker at an event sponsored by one of our book clubs, "A Novel Experience!" Her most recent book is about Hannah Kempfer who was an immigrant child to this part of Minnesota. Linda is a very gifted speaker and we are fortunate that we will get another opportunity to hear her speak at our Mother/Daughter luncheon at Faith Lutheran Church on May 12. We are also planning to have her at the Art Center this summer for a one day writing seminar.

Today is "Habitat for Humanity" Sunday at church. More about that later.

But for right now, here is Carol Ulrich's poem, "My Lava Lamp." She very graciously gave her permission for its inclusion in my blog ....

My friends may say it's kitschy

But I don't really care,

'cause I sleep so much better

If my lava lamp is there.

And all those scary things

That go bump in the night

Don't dare to make a sound

In my lava lamp's dim light.

If I wake up in the night

Because of nature's call

My lava lamp will light me

Out the door and down the hall.

If I've had too much coffee,

Or if I'm feeling low

I just lie and watch the sparkles

In my lava lamp's sweet glow.

And I think of God's protection

Over everyone I love

As I see the stars reflected

On the ceiling up above.

Yes, my friends may say it's kitschy

But I don't really care,

'Cause I sleep so much better

If my lava lamp is there.

Carol Ulrich.

Lotsa Firsts

Yesterday marked the advent of lots of firsts: George de-thatched the lawn, spread the thatch over the garden plot, and tilled the garden three times.
Then we went golfing (I am going to try to golf this year after a hiatus of two years). We managed five holes. (We are members at Tipsinah Mounds Golf Course and have the use of a golf cart, so it costs the same no matter how many or few holes we play.)
Then when we got home and were fast asleep, we had the first thunder and lightening of the season. No damage to anything although the electricity was out for a time, but it was a boomer! Such fun to sleep to the sound of rain on the roof and thunder in the sky. I love it.
An energetic day for two "old people" as Fran so truthfully designated us.

Now I must rattle around to get myself ready to go to a special program at the Coffeehouse Art Center. An author (Linda Lein) is going to talk to us at 10 and the emphasis of the day will be on book clubs. I think our book club will attend this talk and then meet after the talk is over. There are only four of us, but at least one other club with 10 members will also be in attendance. We are trying to get people excited about our library and involved ever more in the fascinating world of the printed word in book form. Wish us luck!

The lawn is a nice combination of green and yellow ochre. The rain has made its impact on the land. Finally, Spring has sprung! Take care.

Wow!!!!!!!!

This computer is slowly dying (dieing?) so I'm glad I have another in the wings. I never know from day to day what part of its activities are going to hit the dust. So far I have been able to do this in a rather slow way! But I CAN do it! I cannot download things unto a CD at the present moment in order to put them on my other computer. Bummer.

Poetry night was the bomb. We had such fun. It is such a variety of of talents and emphases. Some sheer fun and the others serious. All unexpected. It evolves in an entirely unplanned way... In response to Izzy, Here's MY poem that I read. I also read a poem from my friend Carol. She called the Gallery to tell me that she was too sick to come and would I read her poem. How? She dictated it to me over the phone. It is called "My Lava Lamp" and was great. So I read her poem, and then this one of mine:

MY BRILLIANT BIRCH

Little birch,

you give me

your dazzling display

with no thought of greatness.

Behind you

the blue of river

ripples by,

moving on its way.

But you,

though eternally changing,

are still the same:

your leaves, pulsating,

celebrate light

with ceaseless

shimmering,

darkling, glinting,

sparkling, glimmering,

growing -

glowing-

in the wind.

I wrote that at least 20 years ago about our favorite camping spot up in Scenic State Park on the Lake of the Isles there. Izzy - that's the spot where you and yours stopped by to see us.

If Carol gives me permission I could include her poem here, too. We'll wait to see.

I am so glad I have the other computer up and running. This poor old thing is gasping its last. Take care.. WE poor old things have to keep breathing in a healthy way. Life is fabulous. So... take double care, but enjoy smelling the roses!

Up and Running, almost

I have the new outfit up and running, but I don't have an appointment to get the new cable system until May 4. I decided to go with the faster dsl after all. Now it is to get the new computer all filled up with my stuff. Wow. It's like opening birthday presents! Or Christmas.

Tonight is Poetry Night at the Coffeehouse Art Center in Evansville. We've been doing this for at least 10 years now. Pretty fantastic. I haven't written a new poem, but I will search through my previous endeavors to see what I can find. With my limited memory I don't always remember what I've done before, but no one else will remember, either, so that is a plus.

I will be going down at 5 to sit the gallery, too. There are new books to be put away. The library is available free to everyone. I think today is Library Day. We are getting a really interesting collection going.

I'm going to the gym in a few minutes. One of the high lights of my life! I try to keep my body going, but the laughter is really good for my soul. We miss you, Karen L. Hope you will soon be able to join us once again. If not every time, at least now and then!

Take care.

Happiness Reigns!

For the moment, I'm ecstatic. I realize that it probably won't last and I will have endless problems connecting and adjusting and getting set with my new computer, but it all arrived and I am about to set it up and attempt to get it all connected to the internet, etc.

I was going to go for fast cable connection, but I think I will rather just keep connected through the phone line for the present to see if the new computer is enough faster, that I will feel ok with it as it is somewhat cheaper that way. I need to have time to save some more money to set it up with the cable stuff, too. so............... I'm excited!

I feel like I just opened a Christmas Present. Wow. I will appraise you later of the actual vagaries of connection, etc. Off to my joyous task! Take care.

I'm Back!

It might look like I'm a mere shadow of my former self, but not true. I have been gone as a ministering angel to our "granddog" John YaYa. Last Sunday he went for a run on the trail and fell through a coating of ice on a ditch. He cut his leg severely on the ice and went to the vet for a two hour surgery. Two vets worked on his leg for two hours. It was Easter Sunday, so Nay had to take him to Glenwood. The local vets take turns being on call on holidays and Sundays. She was extremely satisfied with the service and attitude of these local vets as compared with some in the cities, (the "cities" being Mpls/Stpl) which made me feel good, of course.

What a trooper the dog was. Naomi and the dog stayed overnight and then I went with her to help with the dog during the drive to the cites on Monday and the rest of the week while she and Tony were at work. It went very well and the dog is on the mend. Turned out he also had an ear infection. With all the uproar, he hates the medicine for his ear the most! He has to wear a cone to keep him from worrying the stitches in his leg and he looks so cute! I didn't take my camera with me or I would be entertaining you with a picture of him in his cone! Hilarious. Strangely enough, he doesn't seem to mind it.

We saw Fran and her two daughters for a brief hour or two. She entertained us with deviled eggs, sugar free jello, muffins and tuna salad. It was great. She is having trouble with her new computer which I trust will soon be solved. Computer troubles are the pits.

Well. I'm glad to be back communicating with you. See some of you at the gym on Monday! Take care.

HAPPY EASTER!

He is risen, He is risen, indeed! The stone has been rolled away and we have a glorious hope in the resurrection promise. On this brilliant sunny day, we will sing hosannahs to the Lord.

I am very happy. Our daughter is home. She brought our "grand dog" with her but not her husband. Bummer, although I do like the pooch. I also like the husband. Oh, well, next time! We have been having fun talking. We do have one problem: she is an ardent game player and George and I are not, so I am afraid she gets bored. We run out of steam way too early in the evening! Oh, well. They are contemplating a move back to the West Coast, so we love every minute we can spend together now.

When someone lives at a distance, you tend to plan for long visits to make the expense and time worth your while. When you live close, you can make a visit of a day or two. Both have their positive side, but I definitely prefer frequent short visits over a couple of long visits. We will work it out, but it makes me a bit sad.

I am savoring each moment of THIS visit and the opportunity to sing praises to God together. May God bless and keep us all!

Spring?

Cold and about 8 inches of the fluffy white. Beautiful stuff. I am so much better with snow and sun than with gray and rain.

Because of the slippery roads I stayed in the house today. Got some projects completed, did some reading, and had a fine at home day. A good friend (!) brought us an Easter Lily. It is beautiful and I am looking forward to the gym tomorrow. I was way too comfy to try it today.

Anonymous is not coming for the weekend. sigh. But I hope Naomi and Tony can come. Have to hang loose to see what's happening. Take care.

Tuesday

Ok. What a difference a day makes. We're back in the middle of winter, seemingly. The only thing about it is that I like the look better than rainy drippy blech. The picture on the left was taken rather early this morning, thus the darkness... But after that it snowed most of the day. I suppose we got at least 6 inches of snow. Wow. Wet heavy snow.

Well, Florida pulled it off handily. Beth will be glad as she is from Florida! Two years in a row! Not bad.

We had a comedy of errors last night. We were to meet at a certain restaurant at 6 pm. Two couples of us got there and the restaurant isn't open on Mondays. We called the woman who lived nearest and she had forgotten about it completely. She didn't think we had decided for sure. We caught her just as they were leaving for another date.. so she called that off and they met us at a different restaurant. We never did find the other people we were supposed to meet, and they were thoroughly disgusted over the whole debacle. Hopefully they will get over it within a decade or two! We will have to be more careful in the future when we make plans to nail the plans down more thoroughly.

Have a nice wintery evening. Now is when I wish we had a fireplace. Perfect weather to curl up in front of a roaring fire with a good book. Yowsah. Take care.

Monday

Well. I am recovering from a couple of weeks of depression. It is amazing how difficult it is to even raise your hand when you are in the depths. Today I am on the upswing, thank goodness, and feeling much better.

I would look at the blog and think, well, I should write something. But what? I would struggle along and try, but the joy wasn't in it. But now, I'm back. I still don't have much to say, however, except "Happy Monday."

We are not going to be at home tonight so I suppose I will miss the big basketball game. That's sad, but I will enjoy my night out. I suppose I could tape the game, but that seems lame. The rest of you who are basketball fanatics can watch it and cheer or boo twice as loud to make up for my not being in attendance!

Take care.

Hi ho

This is another image of the "Beer Tree." This is the large original attempt at this painting. Later I will put a photograph in of the tree. You'll be able to see what you think of this painting's verisimilitude. ( That word is for you, Karen l. Gotta keep you on your toes!)

I have been mulling over anonymous's (?) comments about my last posting. It amused me as her exhortation to think about life and not death was exactly the point that I thought I had made in the posting! Hmmmmmm. I think part of the mulling over life and the necessity to savor each day and each spring, etc., comes from living in a small town. This week we have two funerals of people that we know well. Each month several friends or acquaintances "bite the dust" and we are very aware of the tenuous nature of our lease on life. So, Carpe Diem! Make the most of each day. Onward and upward! Which is what I take from the comment! And the point I thought I had made in the posting!

Today I went to the gym and heard them remark that I had not posted for a day or two, and I realized that I had not decided what to say about death. Have I covered it well enough so that I can go on in the future and talk about LIFE! I think the realization that death awaits us all makes us savor life all the more. Yup. Carpe Diem! The first time I remember hearing that expression was in the movie, "The Dead Poets' Society." I thought it was a terrific movie and Robin Williams was great in it, but it is a very difficult movie to watch. I have never had the courage to watch it again. I love Robin Williams in movies but I don't like his comic schticks. He is way too manic for me. "Awakenings" is another of his good ones.

Off to make lunch and then to paint, etc. Take care.

Sunday

From my window the view is both beautiful and dreary. Rain is predicted and the rusty grass will begin to turn green. The life cycle will begin again. Soon, George will be fussing with the garden (the left part behind the birdhouse he uses and the right part behind the foreground tree our neighbor uses). George and I have begun saying, "Well, I guess we will see another spring!" At our age, nothing is certain. In reality, at any age, nothing is certain... but at our age we can see the handwriting on the wall... each day of life is a tremendous gift!

Yesterday I went to a birthday party for Ellen Eilers. She is 90 years old and is still completely dedicated to living! Somewhere on this blog I included a picture of her. Her art is great, but even more inspiring is her zest for living. At her party I was chatting with the others at the table and we were discussing whether we would want to live to 100. We all agreed that we would like it if we could have all our marbles and reasonably good health. In actuality, of course, we just keep on truckin' with what we have. So far so good.

On that note, I will trundle off to getting dressed and ready for church. I am lector today. I love being lector. I get up in front of the congregation and look out and see the people whom I love. And then, I have the privilege of reading the Lord's message to them. Doesn't get much better than that! What a thrill to be alive and "Still Kickin".

Take care.

lAnother Try....

Ok. I'll see if this picture cheers you all up. This is a picture of my sister sitting in our breakfast area/dining area. The dot on her face is from the chain that is hanging down from her glasses. She lives in the big city in a fabulous apartment. I have shown you endless pictures of the views from her SEVEN windows. Her adventures on the skyways of Minneapolis always cheer the country mouse in me. Sort of a variation (for me) of "it's fun to visit but I wouldn't want to live there." I think she had that feeling living in the country. She visited us for five years before succumbing to her love of the bright city lights!

Our weather is in flux... that dreaded time between winter and spring when it is just damp and ugly. It is the harbinger, however, of wonderful times to come. Just stick around and you will see that wonderful Spring Green. There is a town in Wisconsin named that, as well as a color in my watercolor collection.

Ok. That's it for today. Take care.

Counterattack

OK. Stay with me, now. The day outside is foggy, gray, miserable. I decided to look through my pictures and find one that was the opposite of foggy, gray and miserable, and I came up with this one and managed to download it (or upload it?), which is a miracle in itself. This portrait of a tree should be colorful enough to make you look at today in a cheerful fashion. This is one of three such portraits I have painted, as it is an actual tree that grows on the shore of Lake Waubesa in Wisconsin. It is called the "Beer Tree" because the farmer that had the property years ago kept his beer stored in the hole in the base of the tree. His wife, so the story goes, wouldn't let him drink in the house, so he made this adjustment to continue his drinking. Whatever it takes?

Well, ok, this is a great day to be alive. Don't let the grayness get you down. Do something lively and fun today. My friend and I are going to Fergus to visit the Waage Art Center for their annual invitational show in which we both have paintings. The tea is today from 3 to 7, so we will go and schmooze and look at the art. Should be great fun! You are all invited! We will then come home and go to our respective Wednesday night Lenten Services. All in all, a great day.

Take care.

Small World

Wow. I got a comment from a friend and student whose class is celebrating their 50 year highschool reunion. I'm invited as their teacher ... oofta. Talk about a blast from the past. I'm so excited and I do plan to attend this gathering. I realize I'm only about 9 years older than these "kids" are now. And I'm frisky as my exercise buddies can attest! Right? I even have the hulu hoop tries up to seven revolutions. Wahoo. It will be an interesting meeting as we all try to adjust to our views of each other... after 50 years. Wow.

I also check in often to the Laurie R. King blog (there is a link on this blog) and she received a comment from a gal in Brazil. We lived in Brazil for five years, so that was another reminder of our past. Life is so interesting a weaving of the past and the present ... and then the future. What will it all entail? Carpe Diem, for sure. Make the most of every day.

I have made mention of our book club in this blog from time to time. The husband of one of our members has died. Duane was a person who made the most of every day and then fell victim to Alzheimer's. Although his final months were a challenge, his life was a blessing to all. May God bless and keep his family at this difficult time.

Take care.

Whew!

I had a big day yesterday. To the gym. To Alexandria. Home to make dinner. To the Art Center to work in the lending library. (It's open Thursday evenings from 5 to 8.) Then to an Americal Legion Auxiliary meeting. I have just joined this group and it is fun to attend.

By the time I got home at 9 o'clock, I was really tired out. But what fun that there is still so much to do at my "advanced" age. Today I have been taking it easy and only went down to the Center for a couple of hours. I'm still working at arranging the books. Some of the other volunteers were there, too, and we talked over plans for the library area, as well as set up some things getting ready for the open house tomorrow for Della Conroy, the featured artist.

I hope that many of you will come to meet her and peruse the art as well as check out the new library area. See you there? Take care.

lighter?

Oh, wow. I managed to do it. Now, of course, I can't remember the names.. but it is a picture of little people drawing on the table in the new lending library. Please notice how cute they are, the wonderful terra cotta paint in the back ground, and the books, ah, yes.... the books. I was planning to be there yesterday to begin going through the books that have been donated and reorganizing the shelves. But it will have to wait until I feel a bit more able to function. Soon.

I'm scheduled to work on Thursday evening, so I can definitely do it then.. but I was hoping to get in a few licks before that. All in due time. And remember that there is a wonderful art exhibit, too. The "Open House" for that is Saturday when Della Conroy will be there to talk about her art. 10 to two. Should be great.

Take care.