Sept. 23-29

From a glorious fall day in MO,

We have had a good week. We walked at the Y on Monday a.m., but am afraid we have been rather lazy until we made a second attempt on Thursday - and we didn't do nearly as well as on Monday.

Jim had his year old implant removed on Wednesday and another one put into place. This is a very minor procedure, but with his hip replacement this summer, he took a low level antibiotic type of drug prior and then following the procedure. He is looking forward to showering again on Sunday - am not sure how the healing is doing so may need to wrap his arm in saran wrap first.

Jim joined the old geezers for both breakfasts on Wednesday and I joined the ladies on Thursday - had missed the last couple of Thursdays. Both of us enjoy these outings.

We headed to St. Joseph about 2:30 on Friday to first eat at Whiskey Creek (we love the pulled pork sandwiches) and then headed to the North Shoppes area to make a quick trip to Target. I also went in Borders as the last time we bought at the NKC Borders, they couldn't give us Rewards credit as our e-mail address was supposedly invalid- the week before the Borders at St. Joseph had no problem. Anyway I located a very nice salesgirl and she looked us up - no problem on their computer - so she called the 800 number and hopefully whatever the problem was has now been fixed.

Afterwards we headed north to Savannah to the football game which turned out to be very one-sided - in our favor. Lots of boys were able to play. We had a scout from one of our district teams sitting next to us and he was able to glean some of our strengths, but not all. It is good to win our conference, but it is even better to win on the district level so you can keep playing towards making it to state. We left with about 5 minutes left in the game and managed to avoid the crowds with the accompanying potential for Jim to get hurt.

We have had a full day today. We began moving at about 7:00 a.m. and after throwing on old clothes, making a detour to McDonald's, we were at the Musser homestead a little after 8:00. John has planted five rows of Norton grapes - he says about 1/6 of an acre - and this was the day to pick them. First we had to remove many, many feet of netting as otherwise the birds would have finished off the crop. Then we began the process of picking. The crop was about one/third of last year's as the late spring freeze that we had did a negative number on the yield. The grapes were about shoulder height and relative easy to snip off.

The next process was to put them through a mechanical contraption that removed most of the stems, then the semi-processed grapes were poured through a contraption to the basement - last year they carried the large buckets down, but found the old knees didn't hold up too well. I was rinsing buckets and large plastic baskets after they had been emptied. We then took a break for lunch - sandwiches and chips.

I had not been in the basement area where the actual aging is done and found this interesting. Doug and Dara would have enjoyed being there. We were probably through with the picking and the getting the pulp to the basement about noon - am not sure I would have lasted had the grapes been as plentiful as last year.

Jim made a quick trip home about noon as Dustin was going to do some more sanding this afternoon - ended up doing a couple of hours. Once he had the garage open for Dustin, Jim returned to help do the clean-up.

Jim is now watching football on tv and looking forward to watching the USC game tonight - am thinking it comes on at 7:00.

We don't have a great deal planned for next week other than going to Smithville for a football game on Friday evening. I have a Retired Teacher's meeting at 4:00 on Thursday and hope I can persuade Jim to go along with me.

Be safe.
B.

Sept. 16-22

From a sunny and glorious fall day in MO,

This has been a rather full week for us. I had the computer work for Mobile Meals on Monday, but with Ruth's help, we were done in a little over an hour - she is such a delight.

We really didn't do that much the rest of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - of course Jim made both breakfast groups on Wednesday.

We left about 8:00 on Thursday to head to Liberty as Jim had a 9:30 appointment with his cardiologist. Other than a shock with what the scales showed, all else was fine. We made a trip to Borders and then to Sam's - finally coming back to Liberty to first go by the doctor's building at the hospital to leave one of Jim's hearing aids - something is broken as when he leaves the battery in the aide - it won't turn off. Afterwards we went to O'Charley's to eat.

We were back in Chillicothe before 3:00 - tired, but not necessarily exhausted, but when evening came around we were conked out by 8:00. The girls must have had a big day without us as I didn't hear them until 6:00 the following morning.

We went to see the football game between Chillicothe and Platte County on Friday evening. The temperature was about 90 and the humidity felt at least that high as well. The game started, but by the second quarter, lightning could be seen in the north and the players and coaches were ushered off the field to the dressing rooms and the stands were cleared. We eventually made it out of the stands and headed to the truck - with the help of Charles E. He was a lifesaver in carrying Jim's padded seat as Jim worked his way down from the bleachers.

At first we thought we might sit the storm out, but we opted to go home and listen on the radio - we must be getting old! There was a good delay - am guessing 30 to 45 minutes - and we did have quite a lightning storm that arrived along with a little rain. We sat up for awhile when the game resumed and then decided we would listen from the comfort of our bed - then Jim awakened to music playing and must confess we didn't know how the game ended until this morning. Platte County is considerably larger than us and will be in the next division up next year - and has state ranking this year. I think we lost by one touchdown - so not too bad - just wish we could have won in our last meeting with them.

Oh, yes, we did go to the Y on Friday a.m. and I walked a mile rather easily - first time probably since May, and Jim walked on the treadmill.

We slept in today and then did a few errands. Dustin M. came and did more sanding on our deck yesterday (had started roofing at 4:30 a.m.) so he didn't last too long. He is back now.

We are watching football on tv today primarily. Jim is hoping that USC is on tonight.

We have two major activities this coming week. Jim gets the implant replaced in his arm on Wednesday and then we will go to Savannah on Friday evening to see the football game. We are toying with going to Waverly on Monday to get some apples and also some more butternut squash.

Be safe.
B.

Sept. 9-15

From a gorgeous fall day in MO,

We are edging into fall now - cooler nights and days that are ranging from 70s to mid 80s. We noticed on our drive to St. Joseph yesterday that leaves are also showing some changes.

The week as sort of been quiet. I helped Ron with the Mobile Meals work on Monday - only xeroxed, but that saved him some time. Ruth went to Mayo's this week and I am not sure when she will be back.

I joined the ladies for dessert on Monday at 4:00 as Helen comes down to teach an American history class for NCMC at our local vocational school.

Jim of course joined both breakfast groups on Wednesday. I planned on joining the ladies on Thursday morning, but had difficulty sleeping Wednesday night and am thinking I didn't drop off until after 4:00 in the a.m. I just turned the alarm off at 6:30 and went back to sleep.

We went to St. Joseph on Friday - first to Borders and then we went to Cheddars for the first time to eat our lunch/supper. Then we headed to Lafayette High School to attend the football game. It was a crisp evening, but quite tolerable. The game was much closer than it should have been - am not sure if Lafayette is that much on track or if our boys were thinking they would have an easy game. We did end up on top, but there were tons of penalties on both teams during the game - not an easy sight. We got back to Chillicothe about 11:00 and Jim likes to watch the tv clips on Channel 2 as to how various high school teams did - so it was almost 11:30 when the lights went out.

He was moving about 7:00 this morning, but I really was dragging and he finally enticed me out about 8:30 with a promise to go to Country Kitchen for breakfast - which turned out to be sort of a dud for what he ordered - my things were fine - but he spent the time grouching.

Jim over did his activities during the mid part of the week and also decided about the same time to stop taking any Vicodin (was taking two a day) and various pains returned that he had forgotten about and the grouchiness became very unpleasant. I considered checking into a local motel for a few days if necessary. I went by the pharmacy and he suggested taking one Vicodin a day and then using Advil as needed (turns out three will do the job) and peace began to come back to our household. He is testy today, but that is part of the after effects of the drive to and from St. Joseph plus sitting in the stands about 4 hours (Jim likes to get there early).

We have a few things on the docket for this coming week. I do the Mobile Meals on Monday, Jim needs to make arrangements to get his PSA done, we go to St. Luke's North on Thursday to see his cardiologist for a one year check-up, and at least we have a home football game this coming Friday night - with Platte County - a powerhouse for several years now.

Be safe.
B.

Sept. 3-8

From a gorgeous fall day in MO,

We have had a busy week. Jim had his last physical therapy on Tuesday and we detoured by Francine's first to pick up 3 dozen cookies - yum. He joined the men for breakfast (both groups) on Wednesday and then we headed to Liberty on Thursday for his check-up with Dr. George - quite positive - recommended continuing to practice his pt activities at home and use common sense - am guessing that Dr. George realizes that at times Jim pushes a little too far.
While we were in Liberty we went to Sam's, Kohl's, and ate at O'Charley's.

In between all of this, somehow I managed to pull weeds in the perimeter area of the backyard as well as the so-called flower bed in front - ending up with two very large debris bags for pick-up on Thursday (our garbage day.) I do admit that things look much better, but there will be one or two more bags before getting caught up.

We headed to St. Joseph about 2:30 on Friday to do a couple of errands and then joined John and Sandy for supper at Cracker Barrel. We then headed to the football game at Benton (Chillicothe won - not an easy feat at Benton) and we finally made it home at 11:00 - way too late for this old gal. It was a fun game to watch (at least if you were from Chillicothe) and we took special enjoyment in watching the duel of two good pole vaulters - our Clint and Benton's Tyson. Both had seen a lot of time against each other during pole vault season and they saw each other frequently during the game. (Tammy - please tell Clint how proud Jim was of him.)

Dustin Murray is here again today removing more rough edges from our old deck. He has been here twice before for short occasions and will be here most of the day today - may almost have the whole deck sanded by then. We goofed a couple of years ago and with the wrong idea that if a little sealer is good, then why not apply a very thick coat - resulting in a lot of blistering or bubbling. The deck is old, but is still very sound so we are hoping that getting our error off and with a good coat of new sealer, it will last a few more years. Dustin is another of Jim's pole vaulters - graduated this spring - and Jim had started him as an eighth grader as my old memory calculates.

This coming week should be a lot lighter for us - or at least I am hoping so. I have a brief RSVP meeting on Thursday and beyond that we have nothing definitely scheduled except for meeting with "old" friends for breakfast and dessert. The game on Friday will be at Lafayette and I am assuming we will go if the weather cooperates.

Be safe.
B.

Aug. 26-Sept. 2

From a somewhat cooler MO, but still warm,

We have had a very busy week. I had the computer work for Mobile Meals last Monday and won't be on duty again for a couple of weeks - unless Ron has a conflict.

Jim had physical therapy on Tuesday and Thursday mornings - keeps making good progress. He now seldom uses the cane in the house until evening when he is wearing down. He uses it outside when the ground area might be a little uneven - and uses the cane on stairs. He had a big day on Thursday as I turned over the truck keys to him and he made an outing to Westlake's. He figured out how to set the brake without compromising the angle of his left hip and figured out how to release the brake - in both cases utilized the cane. He is carrying small loads of laundry upstairs and down and doing some of the laundry - feels better and better about himself.

He joined the old geezers for breakfast on Wednesday - both groups - and I didn't humiliate him by walking him inside - and he "assured" me that he used the proper chair with arms. He thinks this is rather petty on my part, but I would rather not spend time at a hospital except for emergencies - not dumb mistakes or stubborness!

We went to the home football game on Friday night and he helped pack the extra seating into the uppermost reaches of our stadium - the only problem being that we ended up losing by two points -- Tammy - tell Clint that Jim was still quite proud of him! Bu elevating his seat, he doesn't put the stress on his hip.

On Saturday evening we attended a wedding of a former pole vaulter - actually two pole vaulters. The groom attended a school in the area without good facilities and became acquainted with Jim during his senior year (was dating our junior female vaulter at the time.) Anyway, Jim garnered two or three good hugs from Chauncey so he thought the time well spent! Jake didn't even seem to mind sharing Chauncey with Jim - of course Jake realized he had nothing to fear. We did not go to the reception as when we had received the invitation we had no idea how Jim would be feeling. The parents encouraged us to come on, but we decided to go home and rest.

Jim about killed me on Saturday as he had kept putting off calling the man we had contracted with to mow our yard (had been stalling since Tuesday) and by Saturday Jim was in fits about how tall the grass was in the backyard. Finally to shut him up I climbed on the riding mower and did the front and back yards, but did not worry much about the perimeter area. I know the mowers will be here this week and they always do an excellent job of using the weed eater around the perimeter. Anyway, after mowing and taking a quick shower, I climbed into bed for about 3 hours.

This evening I began tackling the downward spiraling tomato plants. I removed five of the six plants and they are in a large trash bag to go out some Thursday with the garbage - we have to add a special tag to them (75 cents) to have yard debris removed. I need to pull a lot of weeds, but that will be done over the next several weeks. We did get some much needed rain last week and the yards seem to be recovering some.

We have a rather full schedule for this week - physical therapy on Tuesday (probably last session), trip to Liberty on Thursday for a visit with the surgeon, and then if we are up to it, will go to St. Joseph on Friday evening for the football game. The Chautauqua is this coming weekend, but we'll just see what happens by that stage. At some stage this week we want to go to the Amish area to get some Havarti cheese. Jim thinks he is craving it.

Jim is currently in bed trying to read and Abby is on his "cracked" chest batting at the book and keeping him from reading. I think she is sending a message that she is ready to go to the sleeping crate, get a treat, and go to sleep.

Jim has watched a lot of track on tv this week - and of course his beloved movies. I think he could watch movies every waking moment if he could get by with it.

Until I am back home - be safe!

B.