Still kind of Sick......

     Sorry, Folks,  Grandma G hasn't been feeling herself.  Does that mean she doesn't feel like a grandma?  Might be a good thing.
     I did put in a lot of hours programming a new GeoLou Schmidts family calendar so I could get it ordered by midnight, (PST) Jan 30 and get free postage. It got it all settled by 11:35 PM.  This morning I saw on my email that the order didn't go through because of credit card failure.  I have 7 days to reorder and still get free postage.  The calendar month starts with February since January is over.  Hope the family gets to use the February month.
    I have the start of 2 new songs. That is always exciting to me.  That revs up my energy levels.
    I also have my FIRST music student starting this Sunday.  Yeah!   She's an 11 year old girl who is starting guitar.  I haven't played since last spring.  A friend said to put a dab of clear fingernail polish on my left fingertips so the strings won't hurt my fingers so much.  Don't know if any of you have tried that.  I put some on this evening--about an hour ago--and my fingertips are still sticky.  What I put on was something called "base and finish coat".  Maybe that is not the same as regular polish.  I'll see in the morning how this remedy works--or not.


      I am feeling bad for my northern Wisconsin friends tonight and tomorrow.  I walked over to get my mail this afternoon.  It was high 40's.  Plants and weeds were sprouting.  

    











                

               WARMER TIME IN WISCONSIN  OCT. 27, 2012
              GRANDMA ROSE'S 100TH B-DAY PARTY

      

                Starting at the back:  Gerry, Bill, Louie,
         Angie, Burt, Grandma Rose, Debbie, Chuck, Al

       This is the only time all my kids have been together----and I wasn't with them.  Seemed appropriate for the occasion.  Grandma Rose is Louie's mom.  


    This has been a good 3 "not feeling well" days in the life of Grandma G.

  "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits---who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and covers you with love and compassion."  (Psalm 103:2-4)

SICK DAY.....

Sorry, Folks,  Having a blah sick day.  Happens even to Grandma G.
Must have been the pretend plate of shrimp from yesterday.  
Vancouver, WA is having a classic winter day......rain forest rain all night and all day.  Still ain't snow.
I tried uploading a short video of a dancing spider, but couldn't.  Keep watching for it.  

ENJOY A FEW OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS......

 When the doctor said he was all hands,

 I thought he meant he had 2 large hands

                                  Mom, I always want to be just like you!

I didn't think this is what they meant when they asked if I wanted to hang around with them.

Hey, Abe, why is George being so stone faced?

Don't know, Teddy, I think he is tired of us telling folks, 

"Let George do it."

:

One for real

"Twelve Apostles" southern coast of Australia

    This has been a good "sick" day in the life of Grandma G

    "Trust in the Lord and do good,  Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture."  (Psalm 37:3)

Boring Day/Granddaughter B-day.....

     Yes, Grandma G was actually BORED.  Not by a granddaughter's B-day, but by the Saturday before.  I think I have figured out the problem.  I am NOT out running around National Parks.  I am NOT planning the Great 3 Senior Sisters Cross Country Road Trip. I am NOT closing out a music store.  I am NOT going to the California beach soon. I am NOT planning a big party.  I think Grandma G is an adrenaline junkie, senior citizen style.  

      This is the first time in several years that I can just "live".  Unfortunately, that means getting insurance policies in order, figuring out how to do a complicated tax report, knowing how to maintain a household, advertising for music students.  Now some of this sounds like it can get the adrenaline pumping, but not in a "fun" way.  I hear that self discipline is good for the soul, but my hearing isn't all that good these days.  

      So.... I slept through water aerobics....figured 1&1/2 hour of exercise the day before was sufficient; lounged around; looked over the piggy puzzle and figured it was too challenging for the moment; contemplated events from the past few years.  That is the difficulty of having time to think.  One comes face to face with ghosts of the past.  It was actually a good thing to re-access why I have moved out here and what my goals are.  But such times can be a bit painful.   One has to quit "running" sometime and come to terms with the present reality.  Sorry for the philosophying.   That is what happens when Grandma G hasn't had a fun senior citizen adrenaline rush for a few days.  

    In the evening I started watching a disaster movie, but the trouble with disaster movies is that they are always full of disaster.  This one had a redeeming moment when the vulcanologist (sounds like someone from Star Trek) got his information from a "center for volcanic disruptions" in Vancouver, Washington.  Woo!  Woo!  

   I was SO bored I ate a plateful of shrimp.  Unfortunately, I am allergic to shrimp.

(Just a joke, Folks)

_____________________________________________________________________

  Sunday was Gemma's 6th B-day.  Six years ago today she was born by C-section and was immediately discovered to have a disconnected esophagus and a leak into her lungs.  After emergency surgery she spent her first month in the neonatal unit in San Diego.  Her first year she was fed mainly by a feeding tube.  Today she is an energetic, talkative, singing, pixie of a girl.  During her month in the hospital her dad would sit with her and play soothing music to her through a small tape recorder.  He would leave on to play while she slept.              

 Gemma"s Feeding Tube and Equipment

GEMMA TODAY, THANKS TO GOD'S GRACE......

HAPPY 6TH B-DAY, GEMMA!!

SINGING ABOUT HER DAY...

MAKING SNOWFLAKES WITH DAD

   WITH GRANDMA G AND BROTHER JUDE

                                                                          GEMMA AND MOM AT DISNEYLAND 

                                         PLAYING IN SNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME

IDENTICAL COUSINS                               AT MT. HOOD WITH JUDE AND DAD

      I wasn't able to be with Gemma to celebrate, but today was one of those special days I get to celebrate also.  After  a blessed church service I came home to rest and to wash  2 loads of clothes.  I invited myself to Deb's to dry the clothes (my dryer quit last week) and to bring the meatloaf I had made for the last senior pot luck dinner. (It wasn't ready in time so it didn't get taken.)  So it was a pleasant, special time to spend with Deb's family.

      This has been a good 2 "boring/Gemma's 6th B-day" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  (Lamentations 3:22&23)

Surprise Visit/Grandson B-day...

     Thursday, Jan. 24 was the 18th B-day of one of my grandson's from Wisconsin.  He is in his first year of college at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. His goal is to become a doctor.

      Happy 18th B-day,  Josh!!

        Mom Jen, Dad Burt and Josh                                                        3 brothers in The Music Man

                                                                                                                  Josh, Cory, Devin

      I like to do something special on my kids and grandkids B-days.  With 7 and 18 I get a fun day every 2 weeks. Yeah!   Today the "special" presented itself or rather herself.  Granddaughter Angie called to see if she could come over, we go to dinner and she stay the night. 

      I was glad for her to come over.  The days get long for me even though there is plenty to do.  Having another person around, especially a grandchild, adds a fresh dimension and an extra spurt of energy for me.  

      I had gift cards to Olive Garden and Pier One Imports so when she get here late afternoon off to a night out we went, even in the rain.   After dinner and some browsing and buying at Pier One Imports it was a stop at Freddy's to buy Bentley some dog food.  That was the longest and most difficult decision of the evening.  So many choices for one little dog.   

       Dinner at Olive Garden                                                                Bentley sleeping over, too

   Back at home Angie and I settled in to work on the piggy puzzle.  It has gotten to be a challenge for both of us--1,000 tiny pieces with even tinier pictures of farm animals.  Angie found a few pieces while I sat and pondered a strategy to move things along more quickly.

     I have come up with a plan.  After sorta separating the colors, I am organizing the "same shapes" into sections.  That way we (one) can discern the tiny picture and the shape then scan all the same shapes for just the right picture.  Now if you can follow that you are welcome to come over and help us complete this challenge.

       It was fun this morning to wake up to company. I felt like I was on vacation.  After lounging around we headed out to Freddy's to pick up a ring I had re-sized and to look over lawn gnomes.  Angie and I are going to decorate my yard in gnomes when we find the perfects ones.  

     We made a surprise visit to Angie's mom, (my daughter), Debbie's work office.  She is staff manager at a large medical facility.  I hadn't seen it yet and Bentley hadn't seen Deb for a day, SO....we stopped by to check things out. 

         3 generations  Angie, Debbie, Grandma G (and Bentley)

     Angie had to end her visit by 3 PM on Friday since she had other obligations.  But since she is referring to the guest bedroom as her bedroom I think she will be over again real soon. Happiness.

     I couldn't resist more organizing on my puzzle plan after she left.  By 5:15 I figured it was a healthy idea to go for a walk since the rain had past.  One trip around the streets of the park takes me 1/2 hour--just right for a walk.  Upon returning home a one  hour stretching session completed a good senior workout.  

      I took some time to email a dear friend back in Park Falls, WI. It would have been less time except I accidentally hit a wrong button and wiped out all the news.  Had to redo it all.   

    One pleasant past time right now is thinking about summer travel plans.  It is time for Jake's and Austin's 12 year old trip with Grandma G.  Jake lives here in Vancouver; Austin in Oconomowoc, WI.
The trip will go something like this. Grandma G and Jake fly to Milwaukee and spend a week there. We bring Austin back here with us for a week.  I fly back to Wausau, Wisconsin with Austin, have his mom pick him up.  I then drive up to Park Falls for a week (nice weather) and then fly back here to VC.   That is probably 3-4 weeks of summertime.  Fun.  Probably tiring, but Fun. 

     This has been a good 2 "surprise visit with Angie" days in the life of Grandma G.

    "A generous man will prosper: he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."  (Proverbs 11;25) 
     

One Person Boarding School.....

Weather is the name of the game these days.  Back in northern Wisconsin they are enduring brutal temperatures and wind chills.  Tonight (Wednesday) the temp is "only" -11, but added wind chill equals -22.  I can remember bearing some of those days.  That is why I am in Vancouver, WA.  Here it  has been chilly but totally tolerable.











     I have come to an unexpected problem.  My smart card for the camera just broke.  I didn't know they could do that.  It can't be from over use.  Huh?  Besides that I insisted that it still brings up the photo program when inserted into the computer.  I insisted so much that it is now STUCK in the computer.  And it still didn't activate the program.  That means "stock" photos for the blog for a few days.  There are plenty of those.  

                                             ENJOY A FEW....

WHO'S KISSING WHO?

GRANDMA G ARRIVES
IN VANCOUVER, WA

     OREGON COAST AT MISTY LOW TIDE

      The past 2 days have been "activity" quiet, but busy with computer and paperwork.  Tuesday I went for a 30 minute walk in the chilly sunshine since forecast was for the return of winter rain on Wednesday. 

    There were 9 ladies at water aerobics yesterday morning.  I didn't feel like going, but did.  While we were soaking in the hot tub one lady was telling another about a travel group she likes to go with.  Not that I was eavesdropping, but I didn't get the name of the group so I asked her about it and where to find info. She told me and then went on to tell about a trip to Egypt she took a few years back.  She flew there by herself and met up with a tour group.  She was 67 at the time.  Now at 75 she just travels domestically.  I want to be like her when I am of age.  Oops.  I am--almost--67 in February. 

      I have spent most of today and a lot of yesterday uploading pictures for a new family calendar.  That is a short sentence for a whole lot of time.  But time I have right now, though I have to figure out an income very soon.  I did discover that our family had a lot of fun times together this past year.  Yeah!

     I'm to the point of living out here that I need to develop a healthy daily routine that includes sleep,  exercise, prayer time, paperwork time, cook and clean up time, piano practice time, social time, and income time--it's like a one person boarding school.  I need to keep moving along, even at a slower pace--just don't sit in front of the TV and rot the brain and butt.   I find it is very important to get out among others.  It would be SO easy to isolate, but that isn't good.

      This has been  a good 2 "quiet activities" days in the life of Grandma G.   

      "But the noble man (or woman) makes noble plans and by noble deeds he (she) stands." 

 (Isaiah 32:8)

     

My First Invitation to lunch/Grandson B-day....

     I enjoyed my first invitation to someones home here in the park today.  A lady in our Bible study had a few of us over for a lunch of quiche, sweet bread, fruit salad and hot tea.  We ate and visited for almost 3 hours.  I had a great time of getting know a few ladies a little more closely.  
    Today was grandson, Jude's, 11th B-day

HAPPY 11TH B-DAY, JUDE!!

                                             I'm Jude!  I'm Jude!  I'm Jude!

              Enjoying the beach, cousins Austin, Jude and Ryan

                       In South Dakota with LOTS of cousins

On the way to Mt. Hood with Dad and Gemma (the white in the background)

Playing in the snow on Mt. Hood with Grandma G and Gemma

                       

     The weather  in Vancouver was cold for here, in the 20's.  Back in Park Falls,WI, they were enduring -14 for the high today and -18 now at night.  I pity them.  That is why I left before winter set in.  
After the luncheon the weather was refreshing for a walk of 1 &3/4 miles.  The sky was blue so I got glimpses of Mt. Hood.  That is always a thrill for me.  I want to keep walking when the weather is nice.  I have a goal of working up to walking 4 miles and then trying one of the senior hikes.  I can't quite do 2 miles yet.  Hopefully by September I will do the 4. 
     Later in the afternoon I worked more on uploading pictures for the family calendar.  It is time consuming because I want to linger over the fun photos of various outings we had throughout the past year.  
    An hour at the piano and then blogging finished up my day.  The "day" gets long sometimes when I am alone. Having several projects (that don't seem to get done) to do helps, but one also needs the self-discipline to keep moving everything along.  
    This has been a good "first invitation to lunch" day in the life of Grandma G.

    "There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."  (Proverbs 18:24)











     

A Plethora of Activities

     Saturday morning dawned cold (28) and frosty.  I anticipated an active day. With a surge of energy I headed outside to scrape  (Yes, scrape) off the car windows before driving to  water aerobics.  The  pool water was warm and the hot tub even warmer.  Our discussion that morning centered on how cold it is today.  (Ha, I thought, these ladies don't know what cold is.   Cold is -7 to -19 degrees, one's nostrils sticking together when one tries to breathe outside, the car tires going THUMP as one tries to drive along, being dressed with 4 inches of padding totally surrounding oneself, loosing the feeling in one's fingers and toes in about 10 minutes time. )  One lady said she had friends in Fargo, ND and they would tell her stories of the snow and frigid air.  She commented, "Those poor folks, they have an entirely different way of life".  Little does she realize HOW different.  
     Once back home I worked on getting the dishes done, the laundry done, (that worked until the dryer breathed out a terrible burning smell and quit drying the clothes).  I was aiming to get the house in order before driving to Deb's for a late afternoon B-day party and dinner.   But before that I needed to remedy some banking woes--like a negative checkbook balance.  That required a brief drive into the business area  before their 1 PM closing. 

                     When I left my home the sun was bright and the sky a lovely blue.  I didn't mind hauling a basket of half-dried clothes to her house to finish drying.  At one point about half way there a curtain of fog abruptly fell across the atmosphere.  At Deb's the scene was one to be seen out of a London mystery show.   It was to remain that way well into the night.
           I hadn't been to Deb's since Christmas weekend.  It was like learning the route all over again.  

          After a yummy dinner of steak, large baked potatoes and B-day cake  (The other grandparents, Frank and Carole, each had a B-day in January.) we settled in to watch an old, but very funny movie, Pure Luck.  All of us laughed and laughed.  It is one of Deb's favorites.  Check it out if you are looking for hilarious comedy with no indecent surprises.  

       When it came time for me to go home the London fog was still thick.  Carole and Frank offered me a ride home.  Angie would pick me up for church the next morning and then bring me to her house to get my car in the daylight.  Being leery of night driving and fog and unfamiliar roads, this sounded like a good option which I opted for. 

         My plethora of Saturday activities ended at home after a couple of hours of  playing piano and finding family photos on the computer for the calendar project.  

_______________________________________________________________

     Sunday dawned cold (29) and frosty, but not AS frosty as the previous mornings.  I was awake for a while earlier in the AM so wasn't too concerned about getting up early again.  I anticipated Angie coming over about 9:30 to get me for church.  About  9 I called her to make sure plans hadn't changed---no answer--10 minutes later, no answer--10 minutes later, no answer--a call to Deb, no answer--panic.  What does one do in a city and no car?  Fortunately I had the numbers of 2 new friends from church that might give me a ride.  Question was, was Angie coming?   I made arrangements for a ride and figured that if Angie show up she can drive herself to church.  One more call to Angie,  "Hello, Grandma, I'll be right there."  I told her I had a ride so she volunteered that she is awfully sick and wouldn't be going to church but said she would meet me there around noon to give me ride back to her house for me to get my car.  All settled.

                                                 Frosty VC morning scenes......

        After church, no Angie, call to Angie, no answer, no answer, no answer.  People are leaving.  What does Gram G do?   The folks who gave me a ride offer to take me to Deb' house.  Call to Angie, "Gram I am SO sick.".
       One of those plans that sounds really good but really isn't.  At least the sun was shining and the London fog gone.  I got to Deb's, had some lunch, watched some football and headed home mid afternoon.  Moral of the story?  Who knows.   Your pick.
          The weather in the afternoon was nice enough for a walk for me, though folks I met up with agreed about the terribly cold weather we are having.  Better here than there (Park Falls, WI)

         I enjoyed a phone visit with my son, Al, in Park Falls, who confirmed that indeed it is COLD.  Later received an email from a dear friend in PF who also commented on the frigid weather and right then a more temperate climate sounded very good.  

        So, having done an hour of stretches while watching Sense and Sensibility, eating dinner and blogging a bit I am ready for a long winter's nap under cozy covers in a more temperate climate.  Yeah!

      This has been two good "plethora of activities" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.  The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."  (Psalm 145: 17 & 18)

       

Day of Senior Adventures....

     I needed to venture out today to go to the chiropractor and bank and to get gas for the car.  Everything outside was frosty white earlier in the morning.  Guess they call it freezing fog.  Soon, though, the sun was out and the white disappeared.  It was "nippy" here, but not -7 degrees. 

    As I was driving in to buy gas I saw a truck pulling a weird looking canoe type boat.

    I asked the driver if I could take a picture and if it were a carnival ride or a real boat.  He said it is a real boat and that they race it and others (dragon boats) on the Willamette River in June during the Portland Rose festival.  He said to come out and watch them.  (There are several wooden benches inside.)  Hopefully I can go watch the races this June.  You all come, too!

      I sold a gold ring today.   I have never done anything like that before.  I stopped in at a buyer's shop while I was out and about.  He seemed honest, explained how such transactions work, said there were several other shops if I wanted to compare prices, said the insurance man next door is from Wisconsin and has Packer stuff all over his walls (this was when he saw on my driver's license that I was from Wisconsin ), and he was left-handed.  I figured all that gave him good credentials.  I hope I received an honest price.  Not lots of money but a little boost to my cash fund.  The fellow also told me how to know if a piece of gold looking jewelry is real gold.  If it clings to a magnet it is NOT gold.  I will try that with the handful of old jewelry I'd like to cash in.  

     The weather was SO nice I had to go walking--walked 2 miles.   Got some great views of Mt. Hood and snow on the distant Cascades Mountains. 

                                 
                 Interesting cloud formation over Cascade Mountains

                                                  Pacific Northwest Living
        Into the evening I "listened" to a little TV while working on the piggy puzzle.  I found 6 pieces, which is actually quite good for me.  Later on I started finding pictures for the GeoLou Schmidts calendar that I do  for the family each year for Christmas.  Christmas?   Last year's calendar started in February and ran through January.  Probably again this year--too late to have it start in January.  Here's a secret.  It is a secret gift to them so don't say anything.  Chances are THEY AREN'T reading this blog.   

      This has been a good "senior adventures" day in the life of Grandma G.

       "I lift my eyes up to the hills--where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."   (Psalm 121 :1)  





                                                                                                                                                                                                        

WHY I AM LIVING IN VC....

 This was 9 PM Central Time.  -3 degrees.   Vancouver at the same time was 36 degrees. 39 degrees difference.  It's not California, but still feels very good.  (Park Falls was showing -7 by the time I finished this post.)  Ouch.  

                     PICTURES TAKEN THURSDAY AFTERNOON

SPRING WAITING TO 
HAPPEN.....








THE MOTHER OF 
HOLLY TREES.....
JUST TO THE RIGHT OF 
THE COMMUNITY









     After a being awake a lot overnight, it was difficult to get up for water aerobics, but once there I was glad to be with other ladies and to be in the pool followed by the hot tub.  Later in the morning blue skies started opening up and soon the sun was out full force.  After some days of rain and clouds, and a "stagnant air" warning, sun and blue sky were very welcomed.  I went for a walk before the sun might disappear, but we were blessed with sun for the rest of the day. 
      The rest of MY day was spent catching up a little on tons of paper work.  In my heart I would rather be out running around or driving around National Parks with my senior sisters from Indianapolis, but the "real world" has to take priority, for awhile anyway.  I am glad to be settled in enough that there is time to start digging through paperwork and actually getting a system of organizing going here at home.   I am dismayed at being "organized challenged"----AKA "I can't find anything" like phone numbers, insurance cards, unpaid bill notices----stuff like that.   
      Fortunately, also, there aren't any senior Vancouver day trips I am interested in until late March.  Gives me more time to work on household necessities and hopefully get the studio arranged and going.

_____________________________________________________________________

FLASHBACK A COUPLE DAYS..........

       Tuesday I got back to water aerobics after having missed since before Christmas.  I was getting pretty tight and stiff.  It is encouraging and "in your face"  observing ladies in their 70's and maybe even 80's determined to continue being active.  It is also quite entertaining and inspiring to listen to their stories and experiences as we soak in the hot tub.  There is coffee time available afterwards, but so far I haven't taken the time for that.  
       Later in the day Handyman Bob came over and hauled out the Christmas tree to the back yard. There did remain a thick trail of dried pine needles through the living room to the back deck.(How to dispose of the dried tree was a dilemma.  Back in Park Falls it would be chopped up and burned either in the furnace or outside come June when one can find the fire pit in the ground.   I-- and Bob--decided to haul it to the backyard until whenever.  I think, come spring or summer,  I will get a  senior village sized metal fire pit for the deck, have Bob chop up the tree and enjoy the smell of burning pine at some point.)    
     Bob had just had several of his teeth pulled and posts for implants put in the day before.  I thought he would show up looking very toothless, but NO, he had a full set of teeth.  He explained he paid extra for temporaries so he wouldn't  have to be toothless the next 4 months.  The brave ex-marine did his duty here and hurried home to rest on his couch.  

   I took some time to make a batch of butternut squash soup.  The squash was a left over edible Thanksgiving decoration.  The soup  is tasty, but has the texture of adult baby food.  In Australia it would be pumpkin soup rather than squash soup.  If one were in the UK one would be deemed silly for eating squash soup, since one should drink it.  Over there squash is actually a fruit drink.  Words can mean many different things to different folks. (When visiting England  years back, I couldn't figure out why they were serving "squash" at a coffee time after church.) 
     
         There appeared a "stagnant air" alert on the weather website.  I wasn't sure what that meant.  The atmosphere was gray, but that was it.  I went outside to try the air quality--seemed alright to me.  It was like a low lying fog.  The alert remains through Sunday, but today (Thursday) was beautiful and sunny.

      Wednesday  I met a friend for lunch and then spent too much time shopping at Freddy's.  It's not that I had much to get, it's just that it "took too much time".  It is a learning experience for me to decide what is a good sale on a quantity I can buy and use before it goes bad and the remains are not a good buy anymore.  (All that is subject to your own poetic interpretation.)  I am still psyched out to buy for 7-31 people.  Don't need all that anymore.  Frozen entrees are getting more and more appealing.       
     I hadn't seen Angie or talked with her since last Friday.  She had said she wanted to go to Bible study with me on Wednesday evening.  She called and came to get me in the evening.  She has been helping out her mom's friend who just had surgery.  I enjoy having her be here, wanting to chat, wanting to go to church with me, making a fuss over me.  I've never had anyone make a "good" fuss over me so I enjoy it.  

        I've taken a little time these past 3 days to relearning another one of my songs.  Piano playing and practice have been neglected since last May.  Time to work up that skill again. 

     This has been 3 good "hanging out in Vancouver" days in the life of Grandma G.

      " Praise the Lord, o my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty."   (Psalm 104:1)