Messy? painting

This past week I painted the iron posts on the front porch, porch to ceiling.  They have this leafy design in them, and it was sort of time consuming, first priming and then painting.  I thought about spray painting, but opted for the brush.  Whenever I paint I make every effort not to make any mess, laying large plastic to protect other surfaces from getting unwanted paint on it.  But it never fails, I end up with splashes or specks of paint here and there anyway.  It made me think of Daddy.  How did he do it?  He painted for us before, and other than having paint all over himself, he never had paint where it didn't belong.  And I never saw specks of unwanted paint at their house after he did their housepainting, either.  But overall, I'm satisfied with the result.

Fun With Erin and Jill

This is my last week to spend with Erin and Jill before they go back to school next Tuesday.  I've truly enjoyed my time with them this summer.  Today we went to Slugger Museum and saw the special display there, Big Fields, Little Bricks, everything having to do with baseball, made from Legos.  Truly astonishing that all this could be made from Legos.  Miller Field had over 55,000 legos in it, it lit up, and retractable roof.  There would be signs up suggesting things you might want to look for in the ballpark, such as the tv crew, the American flag, etc.  Wrigley Field was another huge ballpark, and the ones I loved best were four portraits of ball players on the wall.  I remember Stan Musial and Derek Jeter, but forgot who the other 2 were.  But there were pictures of the ball players, and the lego portraits next to them, and the resemblance was amazing.  But my favorite were the four "statues, maybe 36 inches high, sitting up on a platform.  From a distance they looked like black cast iron but when you got up close you could tell they were all black Lego.  Each was a different baseball pose....one a player catching a fly ball, one sliding into base, one winding up to pitch, and the 4th swinging a bat.  Each of these had around 35,000 legos in it.  Each piece there told how long it took to make.  Truly fun to look at.  There was a Slugger bat made from Legos, and one interesting bat made from cardboard, which doesn't sound much, but it was if you'd see it.

After touring the Lego section, we got our Slugger Bats. The man getting our bats asked Erin and Jill if they'd like pink bats  Jill jumped on this, and she loves her pink bat.  But as soon as he left to get Erin a regular bat, she let it be known she was in kind of a huff that it was assumed a girl may want pink.  She asked me why pink was for girls, why couldn't boys wear pink, and why were just girls supposed to like pink. 

We then walked a few blocks looking for a restaurant that pleased all 3 of us, and having no  luck returned to the museum, caught a trolley and rode down to East Market Street where we ate lunch at Toast On Market.  They serve breakfast all day and we had breakfast for lunch.  Yummm.  We all liked it.  A few doors from there is Muth's Candy Shop, so we went in there and got a treat.  We then boarded the trolley and headed back to the museum.  A very enjoyable day with my 2 favorite girls.

Dental implants

Ah, yes, most of you blog about your fun and interesting times.  I'm blogging about my dental implants yesterday.  To each his own.  I already had one false tooth being held in by a bridge.  Then when I had a problem with another tooth and it had to be pulled, the entire bridge had to come out because a bridge connected all these teeth together.  So now, where these 2 missing teeth are, I had the 1st part of my implants yesterday.  Implants are surgically placed in, and fuse with the jawbone.  This way, the neighboring teeth are untouched.  The implant is a titanium post placed in the jawbone,  and over 2 to 4 months or so the implant will fuse with the jawbone and forms a base for the next parts of the implant, which will be above the gumline.  That will be the abutment, which holds the crown on, and the crown, or the tooth.  Bridges, like I had before, require cutting down neighboring teeth to get them in.  Implants are self sustaining since they fuse with the jawbone.  It also helps prevent bone loss, which can be a problem with bridgework.

So...yesterday, I had the first part done.   It took about 4 hours.  The first 45 minutes was sawing off the bridge that I had.    It had been reconnected  with temporary cement but was still a job to get off.   There was an incision made in my gum.  Precisely measured.   Holes drilled.  Implants inserted in the holes.  Gum tissue repositioned around implants and stitches placed.  I'm on an antibiotic, was given pain med, which I took and needed yesterday, but don't feel like I need today.  Need to eat soft diet for 48 hours or so, have stitches taken out next week, will have occasional appointments to see how healing is going and when the implant and bone have fused, will get the abutment and crown.  End of story.  And everyone lived happily after.

The Ooga Booga Man and the Ooga Booga Catcher

I picked Erin and Jill up at 1:00 yesterday after Chance Camp.  We went for frozen yogurt and then headed back to their house.  One of the things we played in the backyard was the Ooga Booga Man.  The Catcher has to catch the ooga boogas.  we took turns being the catcher, partly because they wanted to be the catcher, and partly because I can't catch them.  Ooga Boogas can fly, can be invisible, have magical powers.  But if the Catcher catches an ooga booga, the ooga booga is taken to the lab and has its blood drained out of him or her.  Two dainty little girls who can burst into tears one minute if a sister says something that hurts her feelings; next minute - backyard draining blood of the ooga boogas.  That was yesterday. 

the Digestive System

or..lunch conversation with Erin and Jilly.  I picked Erin and Jill up at school yesterday when they had a half day of school and we headed out to lunch before going to their house.  Erin decided to tell us what she knew of the digestive system, which was plenty.  She was explaining how we swallowed our food, it went to the esophagus, telling us about the intestines, and pancreas, how long it took for the food to digest, etc.
Jill then added.  "And then we  poop it out."
Erin:  Jill, we ARE eating.
Jill:  Well, we do.

I also got to hear Erin play the piano; she's something else.  When they first got into the car, Jill announced that we're going to Steak & Shake for lunch.  Erin told her that wasn't their decision to make.  Of course, I was all for it.  I fully intended for us to go to lunch someplace or another.  I'd have tried to get them to the moon if that's what they'd wanted.  We enjoyed Grandparents' day earlier yesterday morning, always a treat.

I've rented Seasons 2 & 3 or Downton Abbey which I've been watching so I'll be caught up when Season 4 starts in the fall.  I'm hooked!  And I've got a great quilt project that I'm working on, though I've not made much progress yet.

Anyway, Erin can explain the digestive system, and Jill will more or less sum it up for you.

Easter Sunday

My my..my last blog was a Halloween blog, and now Easter has come and gone already.  But Bobby posted a little about the egg roll and I thought I'd add a little more.  First of all, we didn't get even 1 picture of Brian on Easter.  I thought we got everyone rolling eggs and didn't realize until later that he didn't participate.  He claimed to have a bad back, but I wonder if he didn't want to face the agony of defeat.  Or maybe he just knew to stay away from Julie where hard boiled eggs and sticks were involved.  The intent was to softly and quickly push your egg around the course we'd set up, trying not to crack your egg.  Julie actually sent one of her eggs airborne once.  I saw something coming at me out of the corner of my eye; yep, Julie's egg.  When she and Jill "rolled" their eggs, you could hear the stick Whacking the egg.  Not a good sound when you don't want to crack your egg.  And once Erin and Jill were accompanying Judy around the course, and coming up the hill Judy fell and it was a hoot.  Erin and Jill were laughing so hard.  Well, okay, we all were laughing so hard.  And Pam actually managed to get the yolk of her egg to break free from the shell once; sort of neat.  Mark Wagner was a good competitor, and when Mark Tabler won he offered Kevin another chance to compete, but Kevin graciously accepted defeat.  Or maybe he was just too tired to try again, or was more interested in watching a game on tv.  Erin never tires out and loved rolling the eggs.  She was pretty good at it, too.
 Anyway, the egg roll was a success and will be a yearly event.  It was followed by the egg hunt.  Thankfully the weather cooperated.

So much for my blog.  Maybe I'll blog again after Derby Day. 

Halloween At Julie's and Jit's

Trick-or-or treating in Grove Port was something to see, even though the weather was cold, windy, and rainy.  I don't think the rain ever let up, and Julie and Jit didn't know what to expect in the way of ghosts and goblins at the door, and I thought it was fantastic.  But they were disappointed that I didn't get to see what it's usually like when the weather cooperates.  We estimated that they still had 450-500 trick or treaters.  And this was in really yucky weather.  There was plenty of fun and festivity inside the house, also, with their friends, lots of food, and and a very good time overall.  I simply can't imagine the usual 400-500 more that they usually have, because I thought this crowd was unbelievable.

SHOPPING WITH JILLIAN

Yesterday Jill and I went on our planned expedition to buy her a new pair of boots; not snow boots - boots for everyday wear.  Our destination was Sears where I'd seen some I thought she might like; however, we ended up buy them elsewhere.  But that's not the point of my story.  When we got to Oxmoor, we entered at the Sears entrance and on the way in Jill noticed a bird nest in the big letter A of the SEARS sign.  We continued our shopping and a little later met Kim and Erin at Panera Bread for lunch.  Then we all exited by way of Sears because that's where both Kim and I had parked.

Kim, Erin and Jill were in their car.  I, however, was wandering the parking lot in search of my little red car.  Nowhere to be found!  Luckily Kim hadn't pulled away yet, and I got in their car and we drove around - no car.  So Kim questioned Jill (not me, you notice) about where we parked the car)  Jill offered we entered Sears, we were parked sort of close to the building, and there was a bird nest in the Big A of the SEARS sign.  Ohhhh...that's right Jill.  Good thinking!  It was the other entrance.   So Kim gave me a ride over to another entrance, looking for the bird nest, and presto!  there's the car.  Moral of the story.  I need to take Jill with me every time I shop at the mall.

Book Titles

I just finished reading The Paris Wife, about Hadley Richardson, the first wife of Ernest Hemingway.  When Bobby asked me what I was reading and I told him The Paris Wife, his comment was, "I guess Kevin won't be interested in reading that."  Because as some of you know, Kevin told some of us quite awhile back that if  someone's only claim to fame is she's someone's wife, why would he want to read about her.  Point taken.  Although, if there were a book called Big Bad Bob's Wife, can't you just see it being a best seller.  And it got me to thinking, as I was reading this book, about how many books I've read with wife in the title - quite a few, I think.  Right off I can remember The Shoemaker's Wife and the Time Traveler's Wife.  I know there have been more, but I can't recall right off what they were.  I don't remember ever seeing a book titled something or other's Husband.  You know....The First Lady's Husband, The Accountant's Husband, The Olympian's Husband.  So why are there so many "wife" titles out there.   But I'll probably keep reading them occasionally; the ones I've read have been fairly interesting.

Where has The Summer Gone??

My last post was 3 months ago, and I find myself wondering how that 3 months slipped by so quickly, and what I did with my time.  I know I read a number of books, and did very little quilting.  Took a little care of a heart patient, one we all know and love.  Attended a wedding in Pittsburgh, which was lots and lots of fun.  Saw a few movies and lunched with friends.  Zumba'd on Wed. mornings when I could, and line danced twice a week when my schedule allowed.  Spent a lot of time with Erin and Jill, which consisted of roller skating, playing miniature golf, walking while they rode their scooters, going to the park where they rode bikes, bowling, playing lots of games, lunch out, and of course, ice cream or yogurt out, and I actually got to take them for their back to school haircuts.  Oh, of course, and played with the pet rats.  We've celebrated birthdays, and overall, I guess it's been a pretty busy summer, but it still always catches me off guard when I realize how fast time is going.  We had occasion last night to see the parents of one of Kevin's good friends, whom we hadn't seen for quite a few years, and we were all like...when did we get so old?  I'm going to drag my feet and see if time goes any slower.  Except then it would take too long for Christmas to come around, and I look too forward to getting those decorations up.

The Hat Parade

Erin & Jill made the cutest hats for the hat parade.  So we have here the cutest hats ever on the cutest girls ever!!!!

Mary Lynn's Adventure

I had a little mishap on my way to the Cherokee Triangle Art Fair yesterday, and of course, I'm going to tell you all about it.  But first, let me assure anyone reading this that I'm A-OK.  Bobby & I parked on Rosewood, and the traffic was pretty heavy on Bardstown Road, making it a little difficult to cross.  So we saw our chance---got half way across, stopped on the middle line, looked to see what the next lane of traffic was doing, and Bobby made a dash for it.  I decided to make a dash, also.  The car coming looked to be coming pretty fast, so I tried to run - wearing sandals.  Bad idea!  I fell hard, right into what Bobby calls a Superman pose, you know how Superman looks when he's flying, on his tummy, hands out in front, overhead, legs straight out behind, my sandals flew off in traffic, I was in traffic, right in the middle of Bardstown Road.  Bobby says when he got to the sidewalk and looked around, he thought "where is she?"  Well, I was lying in the street.  I didn't get run over - Hooray!  As a matter of fact, I ended up pretty well - to scraped palms, a scraped shoulder, a bruised left palm and a bruised left knee, and my left wrist is pretty sore, but much better today than it was last night.  And I didn't harm the jeans I was wearing, which are the only jeans I have that I like; I was glad of that.  And just a footnote * Since I was with Bobby and he can't bend over, I had to pick myself up out of the street, and retrieve my own shoes, although he did kick them over to the gutter for me.  And we continued on the fair and spent enjoyable time with Mark, Kim, Erin & Jill, and then met Dub and Linda for dinner, so it gave me a story to tell and something about which to blog.

This isn't just about Brian's birthday, though it's what prompted my blog. I enjoyed the breakfast, and wish Kevin and Kim could have made it. There hasn't been a year that on Brian's birthday I haven't realized how fortunate we are that he's strong and healthy, and remember Dr. Seligman in neo-natal who cared for him. Of course, that can be said for all children who are strong and healthy, but Brian had a tough start. Happy Birthday, Brian!

A few more tidbits: Erin and Jill came in wearing Louisville shirts - Oh No!!! Brian told them he usually didn't like those red shirts, but "you girls make them work." Mark and the girls left, and returned later in the day with Kim, and watched the Louisville game at our house, which Erin was really enjoying. She told us she likes to watch the basketball games but it causes her to miss Jeopardy. How old is this 7 year old anyway. And then they left after the game so she could get home see the Ohio St game, but I don't think she was going to see all of it; she was looking pretty sleepy. Jill wasn't feeling too well; hope she's feeling better today.

Last thought; Mark was at an art seminar when Kim, Bobby and I were talking about Derby Day and had this idea (kidding). They could bring their rats here and we could have our own "Run for the Rodents." When we started picking out names for the rats, Kim said "too bad the Tabler Boys aren't here- they'd run with this conversation. How True!

This Sign Can't Possiby Refer To Us

When Bobby & I went to line dance Monday, we thought maybe we could find a spot to park in the lot, but there were only 2 spaces available, and both had the above sign posted, so we found a spot on the street. I admit the day and time of the week never entered our minds; the only thing that we saw was "Reserved for Seniors," and we both said out loud, well, this is reserved for seniors, but there's a place out there on the street, so out we went and walked a little further. It was when we got close to the building that we started laughing, realizing, hey, maybe we could have parked there after all. Could we just possibly be two of those seniors that space is reserved for? Never entered our minds. I have to admit I might feel guilty taking that spot; I really don't need it.

It's All About Me

This blog's all about what I'm up to, and have been up to, so if you're not interested, I'd advise you to stop reading right now and find something more constructive to do with your time. Bobby told me I haven't blogged in a month or so, and I decided I'd better blog about something or another. So I'm just writing about how I've been passing a little of my time.

We've been to Comfy Cow 2 days in a row, seeing Mark's art on display and eating ice cream. Today was my favorite visit, though, because Erin and Jill were there and anytime they're climbing on my lap and hugging on me, things couldn't be better. We were there last night after attending a fish fry at Our Lady's down on Portland, seeing some faces from our past. I saw only one high school chum, but Bobby saw more people he knew and we had a good time. One of these guys had a wife into quilting and is supposed to e'mail me with information about some quilting groups she belongs to that sounded interesting.

We've replaced the old lace curtain on the front door with brown blinds. Well, I bought them, Bobby put them up - that's how I arrive at the "we." I'm sure if I pulled old pictures, that same curtain has been up there since we've had this house, I'd be willing to bet. Want to bet? I'll bet you...$10,000.00. Really, I'm pretty sure it's always been up there. These blinds look so much better, and now I've decided to get the same thing for the back hall door. It's a great improvement for just a little bit of money. I've also replaced the shower curtain, and would like a new comforter for our bed. Small improvements which make a difference.

On Monday afternoons, when we can, Bobby & I are going to line dance from 12:00 to 2:00 at this church near us. You know you're getting old when you dance in the afternoon instead of in the evening. and on Wed. morning I'm going to go to Zumba class - well, okay, the class I'm going to is "Zumba 'Gold,' guess I'll admit that gold is on there. But it will still be fun exercise. I'm looking forward to it. And I'm still going to Yoga and enjoy it also.

Are you still with me? You are? Well bless your little heart. You know, you'll never get this time back. Think what you could have accomplished in the time spent reading this. It's not my fault...I warned you. I've read 3 books this year that I really liked, am reading another that I like, but forced myself to finish, after starting, a book that was no good. I can never decide after starting a book I don't like whether to just stop reading it, or to force myself through it. I compare it to having too much food on my plate. Some say you shouldn't waste it by throwing it out, but I think eating it when you're full and don't want it is just as wasteful...you don't enjoy it, you don't need it, it makes you feel bad. So if you "buy" a book, the money is already spent, and you're not enjoying reading it, then it's really a waste of time, time that could be better spent, I guess.

I've done a little Christmas shopping - all the tree gifts for this next Christmas are bought, along with 2 or 3 other items. Movie and lunch with Dub & Linda tomorrow - we're seeing War Horse - the book was pretty good. Bobby and I saw The Artist - it was different - and entertaining.

My next project is to strip the flowered wallpaper off the upstairs hallway - it's got to go, but I have to get motivated to get busy doing that. It probably won't take long once I get started.
Well, I need to let my kind readers (if there are any left) get back to whatever they're doing.
See you next time.

Bunny Mug Dream

Dreams are so darn weird. I can't imagine why this mug appeared in my dream last night, because it's something I hadn't thought of in...well, I really can't say. Since Brian was a small child? And in my dream I was picking things up in the hallway, and one of the things I picked up was this silly mug. Remember this, Mark, Kevin, Brian? I checked it out on ebay, and it sells for $2.00, so if we still had it, we couldn't have cashed it in for big bucks. It was a Nestle's promotion that I sent away for, I believe. And it looked exactly, exactly, exactly like this in my dream.

Old Mantel Clock

Brian has a darn good memory. He came by the house the other night and for some reason thought about a clock that used to sit on our mantel. I thought this clock was a figment of his imagination and was sure he was thinking of a clock that was at Dot's house. He remembered that it was square with Roman Numerals. Still didn't ring a bell with me. He said it was on the mantel, except at Christmas when I'd move it to place decorations on the mantel, and then it would sit on the Oak dresser. Okay...but I don't think so.....

So here it is. All it took was getting the old pictures out and presto! Now I remember that clock. And I don't know what happened to it. Maybe it stopped working. Or maybe I just got tired of it. Who knows. The important thing is...I never got tired of my sons, I remember all of them, and I know where they are. So There!

Feast of St. Nicholas

Dec. 6 is the Feast of St. Nicholas, always celebrated in our house by placing our stockings out for St. Nicholas to fill. I was talking to Mark on the phone this morning, and he reminded me that ours were always placed on the front porch, and St. Nick always seemed to come right after Daddy took the trash out. My, but that's mysterious. He would always come during dinner hour, and not over night, I'm sure because of daddy's work schedule. And if Daddy was off on the 5th, he came on the 5th, and if he was off on the 6th, he came on the 6th. Daddy worked 24 hr, off 24 hours. We never questioned it. It was just the way St. Nicholas did things.

We also never questioned the fact that some of our friends didn't get things from St. Nicholas, the fact that they didn't celebrate this feast day. It just depended on the tradition of the family. I guess the kids more likely to question it would be the kids hearing about it who did not get anything. Who were we to question it...we had our goodies. Anyway, if you observe this tradition, then Happy Feast of St. Nicholas.

Now, Which Cafe Was That???

City Cafe, Mayan Cafe, North End Cafe, Cafe 360, Corner Cafe, 3rd Avenue Cafe - it's easy to get them mixed up. Friday evening the McCulloughs, Norrenbrocks and Bobby and I had dinner plans and I made reservations. I told everyone we'd be meeting at 7 p.m. at the North End Cafe. I then made our reservations, only I thought I made the reservations at the Corner Cafe on LaGrange Road, because in my mind, that's the restaurant I'd been thinking of. At 5:30 Friday Chris called and canceled because she was sick, so I decided to call the restaurant and let them know we would only be a table of four. Funny, but why was the North End Cafe that I called previously now on Frankfort Avenue and not on LaGrange Road? Oh, that's right, we're going to the Corner Cafe. I called the Corner Cafe - no reservations. I'd made the reservations at North End Cafe, a restaurant Bobby & I don't care for, too pricey, especially for someone like me who is going to sit and pick at the food. I canceled the reservations at North End, and Corner Cafe wouldn't take reservations for only 4 people, but I was assured we'd have no trouble getting a table, which we didn't. I called Jerry & Kathy because I didn't know if I'd told them North End or Corner Cafe, and to let them know we'd be meeting them at Corner Cafe and not the North End Cafe, which turns out is what I'd told them. If Chris hadn't canceled out, they'd have been at the North End Cafe on Frankfort Ave. and Bobby & I would have been at the Corner Cafe on LaGrange Road, until we hooked up by cell phone and found out what had happened. Did you follow all this?