Sunday, June 29, 2025

I can finally write that I am feeling a bit better. On Wednesday, it was starting to look like a very busy week when I made the call to do nothing but rest/sleep every chance I got and that is exactly what has happened.  I have felt much more rested the last two days, to the point of feeling like stretching and getting decent walks in.

Deb and I did some driving (she's out of practice too), made stop at the store and parked the car where we had a beautiful view of the Minnesota River valley, chatted and just enjoyed the countryside. 

Yesterday, Cathy and I took a drive, did a bit of shopping (I had to replace my toaster/oven that died) and I got a little more practice doing that.  

Sunday, June 24, 2025, MN

Since I haven't been sleeping well at night, I have been trying to get as much rest during the day as possible, napping every chance I get, so not a lot is happening in my world these days. I have never been a good sleeper but this is really not good.

Camille played a role in a 4th & 5th grade play called "Cats" on Sunday and it was so cute and fun to go to.  I had intended to go to both shows but it worked out better to come home after her first performance. She was one of many gel cats and they had her hair all frizzed out so it was a little hard to pick her out. They did a great performance and the stage design was very professional - a Broadway musical right here at the Minnetonka Art Center.

Ben and I had a meeting with the neurologist yesterday, got an answer on what happened and idea of a care plan. Of course, it is complicated because the diagnosis was of an unusual condition called LGI-1 encephalitis that caused the seizures and is considered to cause  in the brain. The good news is that there is little risk for relapse and chances are good for full remission. I've always known I was kind of an odd ball, but this proves the point. Ha! Ha!

Friday, June 20, 2025

 It was another night of little and poor quality sleep. I placed a call to the nurse line, mostly to see if there was anything that I could do to improve my sleep and learned that I need to keep taking two of the most important medications, prednisone (I believe that drops to the lowest dose this week) and sodium - probably the ones that are having the most affect on sleep. She didn’t make any other changes other than suggest melatonin might help a little bit.

I had couple of fun conversations on the phone, one with my sister-in-law Karen and one with my long time friend Leslie who is the wife of Mike’s friend and coworker. Those two guys met at Madison Kipp - a factory in Madison where they both as for life drivers right when they got out of college.

Denny was able to go home from the hospital.

This brought me joy today.

Thursday, June 18, 2025

Ben came to pick me up for a neurology appointment and I intended to drive but didn’t feel comfortable doing it, mostly because I don’t feel alert and rested due to lack of sleep lately. We both agreed that we had a good and productive appointment, the cognitive testing resulted in a score of 27/30 - considered to be in the ‘Normal’ range. My friend Deb says that ‘normal’ is a setting on the dryer - ha, ha!

I also learned today that my sister Rita is sitting in the ICU with her husband Denny who went in for a simple heart ablation procedure and they ended up nicking the wall of his heart, causing it to bleed, and then having to pump all of the excess blood from there. 

One of my longest and dearest friends, Patty & her son AJ are coming to spend the night with me, as they are on their "Then & Now" adventure - a exact repeat of a hiking and fishing trip taken seven years ago in Alaska.  Their travels were filled with delays and at the last minute, I was unable to pick them up at the Amtrak station,due to the neurologist suggesting that I might not be quite ready for driving just yet. 

It was chaotic when they arrived - just the excitement of seeing each other again, their pile of stuff in the living room, serving dinner (of course I had all good, healthy beef, chicken, & Ben’s slow-cooked pork and all of the condiments for tacos.  We visited for a while and then hit the sack about midnight as Cathy was giving them a ride to the airport at 7:00 the next morning.

 

June 18 2025, MN

Happy Father’s Day to all you guys who have been a part of my life, especially my Dad, and Dad Bridge, and the great one that I chose (I guess we chose each other) and had for my life partner.

America and many parts of the world are experiencing unrest and this morning, as I was just sitting here reading a post from Hillary Clinton that showed side-by-side news images from Trump’s parade of military might and American’s Power birthday bash and the millions of Americans gathered in huge groups that showed up for peaceful No King’s Day protests. I started to bawl - overcome with deep, achy heavy-hearted tears rolling down my cheeks that even drew Joey’s attention and he came over to comfort me.  What a world - full of turmoil, possibilities of war and yet, you go to the store and all seems normal (like my friend says, "a setting on the dryer".

I had a nice conversation with Tom this morning and I’m glad that we have kept our friendship going. He is a good guy and we had lots of fun adventures for a few years.

While Ben and I organizing my medications for the week and were working on some technical issues, we had a good chuckle. The background is that way back when I was a kid, my brother gave the the nickname of Schosher (maybe instead of Roser?) and that is what he always called me.  This is what gave Ben and I the chuckle.

Later on when headed to their house for dinner with the family it was with me behind the wheel. It was a bit stressful but Ben said, he didn’t have to react by slamming on the ‘fake’ brakes. The guy is so good at putting a positive spin on things.

The Quinns and Bridges had a lovely visit,  hung out on the deck, ate a yummy dinner and then Ben and I came home again and agreed that I was competent to drive.

Saturday, June 14, 2025, MN

A childhood memory came to me as I was waking up this morning - on this day in 1956, as Rita and I were walking my friend Louise home from some play-time, I was hit by a Gardner Bakery truck while crossing Main St. they left femur was broken just about the middle between knee and hip and I spent the summer in the hospital in traction and got out a little before Labor Day, in a cast that went from the toes of my left leg to just under my boobs. They fixed it good and I never had any issues. 

Today is "No King’s Day" and there is an incredible amount of protesting and instability going on in our country recently, much like during Vietnam war.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement are inciting riots and there have already been two senators/representative's  shot and injured and two murdered in their homes already today. The current administration seems to hate anyone who isn’t rich, has brown skin, or doesn’t side with them.  They certainly can’t even try to relate to how the majority of Americans grew up or got here.

 It’s been a busy day and it’s not even 1:00 pm yet.  Another night of restless sleep and when awake you might as well get up, so that happened at 5:15 this morning. 

While I was having my last cup of coffee, I had a call from Tom and we had quite the good conversation, always a few good laughs  and pokes about him sitting around the pool and me.still dressed in my fleece sweats and wool socks.

After that, Leslie and I went to the farmers market and I stocked up on groceries for the week. It is pretty expensive but when you really consider the quality, freshness, and the fact that I will be eating good healthy stuff for the next week, it’s not much more than the grocery store. To top it off, I bought a small bag of mini donuts to share and have for a couple of mornings.

Friday, June 13, 2025, MN

Absolutely perfect timing and the old superstition certainly held true last night.   I prepared for bed by taking my nightime meds at dinner time, had a short walk (it was raining), took a hot shower and went to bed about 9:00.  Joey barked at something that woke me up around 10:00 and that was it for the night, waking almost on the hour, stirring quite a bit and then repeat the process all night long.  He chewed on a bully stick that he found in his toy box and that must have upset his tummy as he had to go out at midnight when it was pouring down rain. I guess we will see what today brings.

One thing that I am looking forward to today is going out for a yummy, juicy burger with Cathy this evening.  No Friday fish fry for me tonight, as I have had fish twice this week and I have had burgers on the brain all of this week. Cathy’s son-in-law said this was the best place in the area and it has been a tradition around these parts for years - it proved to be true.

My friend Judy has a cute little black and white dog named Oreo and she walks him to the neighbors, Tom & Sue’s house three doors down because they just love all of the little neighborhood pups.  The other day, she was walking past the house next door just as the lady was turning into her driveway and the lady stopped and pointed to her stone wall, shook her pointed finger at Judy and demanded that she not allow little 8# Oreo to pee on her stone wall. Tonight, I got a good chuckle as I walked past Tom & Sue’s driveway and saw this.  They are such sweet neighbors. 

Wednesday, June 12, 2025, MN

A lot of thoughts have been going through my head, especially during the night that have mostly identified the seriousness of this whole darned episode.  My sons and I agree that the whole thing that led to a hospital visit back in January indicated nerve and neurological issues with continued follow-ups.  Well, here we are.  I have not have any sensations that would indicate seizures but am still quite unsteady on my feet, wobbly, and definitely not clear-headed and my memory sucks. Names, faces, events, the location of items are hard to recover.

Little by little, though, I’m gaining ground as I’m getting better sleep, stretching, a more normal routine, walks, and cheerful hugs and conversations with friends and family. 

I attended our monthly art class with Genevieve yesterday and we decoupaged oyster and conch shells - a project I have never done before.  After class, she helped us put up the clay garden totem that we made last year.  It was several attempts before I could recognize the ones the were my creations.

Mary, the Vet Tech who comes to trim pet’s nails came tonight and we visited five apartments. One cat and one dog - guess who? were uncooperative so it might be another trip to the vet my little brat. 

Monday, June 8, 2025, MN

 Well, I’m back at my own home and little by little am getting settled in.  Just walking in the door to this place, I was greeted with several big smiles and welcome home hugs - I think it is reassuring to Ben that there are many good friends here and we all watch out for and help each other when needed. This beauty greeted us when we came in the door - thanks to Deband Cathy.  

He was so helpful - it took us an entire hour to distribute my many meds into the container for the week. I sure can’t wait to decrease that load, although there are some that I will probably be taking long term. I have a telephone meeting with the pharmacy specialist this morning.  

We also looked at my finances and realized that my brain might have been experiencing some trauma back when I let that whole scam thing happen in February.

We stopped at the grocery store to pick up some fresh fruit to have on hand and my neighbor, Sue from down the street greeted me. She had to remind me of her name (that memory thing this embarrassing)

This beauty was 

Saturday, June 7, 2025, MN

I saw this guy out the window last night, they and the turkeys have been pretty active since I’ve been here. 

The family is getting ready for an afternoon of activities with friends in their old neighborhood and I am looking forward to having the house to myself for a few hours. The kids are hanging out with their friends and the adults are doing a brewery bike ride.  

I’m feeling a little more energetic and steady each day but it sure is going slow.  

I started this jigsaw puzzle yesterday, so it was a 2-day challenge.  Fun though - it reminded me of one of Ben’s breakfast offers. 

Thursday, June 5, 2025, MN

 I was a little more active yesterday and even managed a walk with the dogs up to the bus stop. I still feel real exhausted and have taken lots of naps and rests.  Today has been even better for short activities.  Norah gave up her room for me and it is quite comfortable and they are all attentive and caring for me.  I have also been shown lots of love and support from my wonderful family and friends.  I’m ready to start feeling a little more perky and alert.  

I had a phone follow-up with my Primary Care Physician today and she feels that all is on track, cautioned me on some things to be aware of what to do if something happens - mostly signs of urinary differences and/or seizure activity. 

And now for something beautiful - the view from my chair on the deck. 

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

 What a week spent in the Neurology Department of Methodist Hospital since Tuesday, the 27th and I was released from the hospital yesterday.  It all started with seizures that led to a 911 call. At one point, they glued about 50 probes to my head and they were all connected to a machine that recorded the seizures.  They told me that there was a lot of activity although any times I didn’t feel a thing.  Getting up to use the bathroom was a real hassle and I wasn’t able to have a shower for a few days. 

The cause is suspected to be auto-immune/low sodium but tests were sent to Mayo Clinic and I have not heard any conclusive results. It has been pretty serious brain trauma and I am feeling exhausted and it will take some recovery time.

Saturday, May 17, 2025, MN

Happy Syttende Mai to all of my Norwegian and Norwegian-by-proxy friends! Living in Stoughton, I would be participating in many of the weekend events.

I saw the Urologist on Tuesday and learned that there is no infection now and that my bladder is emptying as it should be. She suggested that I make sure that the cranberry supplement that I take is for urinary support and contains at least 36 mg of PAC  and D-Mannose (limits e-coli bacteria from adhering to bladder walls). What I had been taking must be for dietary support.

My third doctor appointment this week was with my primary care provider and we just reviewed all of the other results and I have no further actions to take other than possibly   COQ-10 supplement for cramping in my hands and feet that has been going on for a while.  No more doctor appointments for a while - Yay!

I helped out with the girls after school on Tuesday and Thursday as Ben was out of town on a business trip and Jill wasn’t able to get home in time.  I took the twins to swim practice and fed them some dinner.  Charlotte sang in a choir performance Wednesday night at her school and that was very enjoyable to watch. The 7th grade Honor Choir got to perform three songs in the annual 8th Grade Concert. 

Cathy joined me for dinner and a drink last night and we had a great chat. I made pizza and a huge salad and she came to the door with a huge salad too.  Guess we didn’t communicate that very well and will be eating lots of salad over the next few days.  I love it and won’t have a problem at all. It is what I have most nights for dinner - a salad and a protein is about the extent of my cooking these days.

Monday, May 12, 2025, MN

 It’s been a week since I’ve written and I will really have to dig to remember the events of the last week. I’ll start with the most recent - Mother’s Day yesterday. It started with a call from Pat and Tracey and we had a lovely conversation.  I then met Ben and his family, Lois and Dennis at Olivia’s organic restaurant in Burnsville.  We have been going there the last few years and it is so nice because it is a celiac friendly restaurant so Norah and Camille can select items from the menu and know that they are safe for them to eat.  It is also quite delicious and I just had a repeat of my breakfast this morning with leftovers. 

In the afternoon, I went with Cathy to her friend Heidi’s house and enjoyed her beautiful yard and gardens and good food and conversation with some great people.   It was a beautiful day and felt so good to be hanging out - looking forward to a while summer of it. 

Sherry and I went shopping for flowers last week and I spent part of the day on Friday getting the planters in front of the building planted.  They look very nice and I’ve gotten lots of compliments. 

I had an appointment with the Neurologist this morning, a second opinion and follow-up to the  issues I was having in February. It is all related, still considered to be mild, and was told to just be cautious about stumbling, dropping things, having trouble with grasping or picking up items, confusion, or any other unusual symptoms - otherwise follow up in six months. 

It appears that the fluid that insulates the spinal cord is pinched off because of the compressed disks and is what is causing the problem. Surgery is an option but that was left up to me and I would prefer to put it off as long as I can and that decision was supported by the doctor. 

Wednesday, May 7, 2025, MN

 Yesterday morning, I got a call from my clinic to tell me that the bacterial bladder infection that I have can’t be treated by the antibiotic that was originally prescribed and I was to stop taking that and go to the ER for an IV infusion of a different antibiotic.  I’m glad they are on top of it. I headed for Methodist Hospital, waited in the busy ER waiting room for 1 1/2 hours and then the infusion took an hour - now, I hope that takes care of it.  

We have had some beautiful weather here the last few days and everything is greening up so nice. I think it reached 82 yesterday and is predicted to be nice for the next week. I will take it!

Sunday, May 4, 2025, MN

 The last few days have been busy ones. I ended up meeting Ben at Staring Lake Park on Friday for a walk around the lake with the dogs.  It’s been quite a while since I’ve done that and I can really feel it in my hips and thighs ever since.  It felt good! and that was the first night that I have slept through with only getting up once to go potty and that felt really good too.

Yesterday, Ben called to see if I was interested in playing a game of mini-golf. So I headed to his house and he, Charlotte, Camille, and her friend Bryn went to the Big Stone Mini Golf in Excelsior that was part of a large sculpture garden.  It was fun to play a game of golf and then we walked around the gardens taking in all of the sculptures. 

After the sculpture garden, we headed back to his house where I joined them for another delicious dinner - pork tenderloin, baked potato, and salad. Yummy!

I was up every half hour to hour all through the night again and I am suspecting another UTI. I had a video conference with a nurse this morning and she is prescribing another antibiotic (I just finished the last round on Friday morning).  I’m getting real tired of this shit and not feeling well. Hopefully, this will get me through to my Urology appointment that is scheduled for the 13th.  Fingers crossed.

Thursday, May 1, 2025, MN

 My friend Cathy treated me to dinner tonight for my birthday.  We had it at my apartment because the smoke alarms in her apartment go off all of the time and she can’t cook a steak there. So she brought everything to my place - a good sized sirloin steak, twice baked potatoes, a yummy salad with lots of veggies, nuts, and crunchy stuff and I made us a little dish of fruit to have for dessert.  How nice is that?  I’ll have to out of the way when her birthday comes around in December.

We had a beautiful day today - it felt so good NOT to have to wear an additional warm layer - and the sun shone bright all day long!

Wednesday, April 30, 2025, MN

My birthday was so nice, spending the afternoon the Ben’s family and getting lots of calls, text messages, and posts to my Facebook to wish me happy birthday.  I just love that I have so many great friends that have reached out to make my day special.

I cleaned at Ben’s house on Monday, as I was dealing with fraud charges last week on my scheduled cleaning day.  Before that, I have been spending much time to get my accounts straightened out and filing claims and taking care of my money and bill pay situation.  Previous accounts have all been changed, a police report has been filed, and I am working on getting all of my accounts updated with the new information.

Wednesday, April 23, 2025, MN

What a week it has been! My iPhone was hacked on April 23 and it all started with a email from PayPal showing a charge of $909 went through my checking account. I called the fraud number provided in the email and was on the phone for over an hour with that customer service rep and , supposedly, the charges were backed out.  In reality, the person I was speaking to was the hacker.

Immediately after hanging up from that call, I received a call from my credit union fraud department and they were already aware of the charge and had tracked the charges to a local Marshall’s store, they were coming from a Chinese iPhone 13 mini. My phone was hacked and they had all account information that was in apps on my phone.  The person stayed on the phone with me for over 5 hours, directing me to drive to that store, attempt to make a purchase of a gift card, and they were tracking every attempt to get at my card.  He explained that hackers not only go for money but also for any information that is on your phone (accounts, addresses, etc) and they are seriously attacking seniors these days.  Needless to say, I should have been suspect but I fell for it - hook, line, and sinker.

While on the phone with the fraud control person, I was directed to several stores where I purchased gift cards, then back in my car, provided them with photos of the cards - front, back, and the receipt, then instructed to cut them up in many pieces.   Over and over, I was assured that my accounts would be replenished and I would not be out the money from these transactions. Fingers crossed that this person is truly a fraud control person and not a hacker, he is very thorough and reassuring - nope - he was the hacker and by that time, all of my available funds were used to pay for the gift cards that were not available to me to use as I had destroyed them as I was instructed.  

I am much smarter than this and I’m sick just thinking of how vulnerable I let myself be and now I have this huge mess to clean up and to try to recover the money that I lost - possible through my credit union or also a claim that I will make with the MN Dept of Commerce.  

Sunday, April 20, 2025, MN

 What a lovely Easter I just had at Lois and Dennis’ house. She made the entire brunch meal with two kinds of quiche, a frittata, deviled eggs, muffins, and a fruit tray.  My contribution was chocolates from the Drooling Moose shop here in Bloomington.  

Jill’s creative spirit had the girls working together to solve 25 riddles, each correct answer led them to a hiding place where a candy filled egg was found.  When they collected all 25 of the prizes, they got to open the Golden Egg that had $20 for each of them.  She comes up with the greatest challenges for them - of course there was some grumbling but they got into it and had fun doing it.

Friday, April 18, 2025, MN

 A Happy, Happy Birthday to my niece Becky today! 

It has been an active and busy week with several more sessions of helping people with their income tax for renters refunds. Building 2 finally got there certificate of rent paid on the day after tax due day and I had to redo several that I had done for folks in that building. What a pain! 

I helped out with food shelf on Wednesday and Joey and I went for a nice walk around Girard Park.  

Yesterday, I cleaned for Cassie & Tommy and had an appointment later in the afternoon to get my permanent crown.  I am so satisfied with my dentist and his assistant - the temporary was comfortable and the permanent fits perfectly. I’m not too satisfied with the cost, as even with my insurance, it is $725 out of my pocket. 

Cathy texted me shortly after I finished my dinner last night and invited me over for a glass of wine and some conversation.  We had lots of that! I didn’t even have to put on shoes to go there!  I’m thankful that we have become good friends and neighbors.

As I was reading the news this morning, I got a text from Patty letting me know that Judy passed away last night.  She and I have been friends since 6th grade and my visits to Stoughton won’t be the same without being able to see her.  She will be missed by so many! 

Spring is getting closer! The grass is green, the shrubs are starting to leaf out, I’ve see n Magnilia trees in full bloom, my first blooming Pasqueflower, and today - a Goldfinch singing at me from a branch in the tree.  Life is good!

Sunday, April 13, 2025, MN

 The week has been busy, helping neighbors with their renters refund on Thursday and Friday, only to learn that the workaround for the folks in Building 2 is much more challenging than it should be.  Without a Certificate of Rent paid that should be provided by our landlord, they need to contact the Department of Revenue by phone (a 40+ minute wait) or by email.  I helped a few sent email request and a couple of gals did it by phone.  They now have to wait to get the form from the state before they can submit their taxes in order to get the refund.  What a pain! I haven’t felt stress like that in a long, long time and I’m trying real hard to let it go.

I cleaned my humidifier and when I turned it back on, it just kept shutting off.  I still had the manual, so I tried to fix it and when that didn’t work, I called the company, Lasko.  The service technician was so helpful and patient, telling me what to do to fix the issue and it still didn’t work. His solution was to offer me one-time complimentary replacement that I am 100% satisfied with - I had to cut the cord at the machine, take a photo and email it to him. It wasn’t long after that, I got an email telling me that the replacement had been shipped and I should receive it in 5-7 days.  Now, that is customer service and I will be loyal to that brand in the future. 

Sherry and I went to Willy McCoy’s for dinner Friday night and it was already loud and packed with a 20 minute wait at 4:30. So we headed to the Northstar Tavern and had a nice, quiet dinner and conversation.   We both had the walleye dinner and it was very tasty with the exception of the coleslaw that was dry and had no flavor.

Yesterday, after a couple more tax sessions, she and I headed out to Eagan to a couple of estate sales. It’s nice to have a friend who likes to do that, as it is something that I normally do all by myself. One of the sales had absolutely beautiful artwork and I was so attempted to buy a new ring (there were 3-4 that I really liked) but then - do I really want it and will I wear it?  I left without one.

Ben invited me to join the for a BBQ rib dinner, so I made a batch of baked beans and Jill made potato salad and Charlotte and her friend Lily made chocolate cupcakes that were frosted by Camille and Norah. Everyone contributed.  I wasn’t very happy with the way the beans turned out, I used a Martha Stewart recipe that called for lots of cloves - I cut way back to less than half - and they still had a way too strong clove flavor.  Oh well, live and learn.  It was nice hanging out with the family.  

Wednesday, April 9, 2025, MN

 The weekend at Ben’s was uneventful and I spent Monday finishing up on my laundry and cleaning their house so I could leave it in tip top shape for their return.  I left there about 6:30 to go back home and they got home about 9:00. They weren’t home for an hour before I heard from Ben on how nice it was to get home to a sparkly clean home. That made me feel real good!  It’s nice being back to my own home.

I ended up having to go in to see my doctor yesterday for a follow-up on my recent UTI. The good news is that it is completely cleared up and I got some suggestions on how to prevent getting another one.  I am so happy with my doctor - I never feel rushed and I feel that she is very knowledgeable and willing to present options that might not include a treatment with drugs.

I helped 4 more residents with their MN income tax forms today and they all left feeling pretty good about the renters refund that they will be getting - much more this year and nobody has a clue as to why that is. I’m not complaining - mine is almost double this year.

I could resist buying this adorable jigsaw puzzle the other day and it was a really fun one to do.  It brought back many memories of my travels with my little trailer.

Friday, April 4, 2025, MN

 Dang! Another storm came through here on Tuesday evening and dropped another 3-4” of heavy, wet snow on us.  Temps on Wednesday got in the upper 30s so it melted pretty quickly.  This was taken when I woke up around midnight.

Since the weather was so nasty, I got busy and got the girls bedrooms and bathrooms cleaned, so I have a bit less to do on Monday before the family gets home.  It’s kind of nice to be able to spread out the job over several days rather than pack it into one.  

Lois invited me to go with her to the Galleria mall to see the flower show that Bachmans puts on there every year.  The huge island arrangements were scattered throughout the mall and it was so nice to see colorful arrangements and beautiful tropical plants. We were both a little disappointed that there really wasn’t much of a flowery odor except when we got near some hyacinths.  There were a few Jasmine plants here and there but they didn’t even have an odor.

I cleaned for Cassie & Tommy yesterday and it went quickly because the dog was at the groomer and Tommy was out of town (he works from home).  It is a pretty easy job and I always feel the reward of leaving things sparkly clean for them when they get home.  They appreciate my work and pay me quite well.

I went to dinner with Lois and Dennis to the Lion’s Tap last night - it is located out in the middle of nowhere in Eden Prairie and has been a popular burger joint for many years, it is a hopping place.  They serve only hamburgers and French fries and local craft beers.  My burger was delicious and it really hit the spot.  I will definitely go there again.

This morning started out with a nice walk with Lois and the dogs at Minnewashta Regional Park.  The dog park is closed for Dutch Elm tree removal, so we walked the trails.  It’s a good thing that I wore my muck boots, as the lake trail was very wet until we got on higher ground.  When we got near the beach and a wide open area, Lois let Yoshi off the leash and let him run around for a bit.  It wasn’t long and a ranger came walking up to us and reminded us that they have to be kept leashed.  Busted!  It was a nice hour long walk and felt so good after being cooped up for several gloomy, wet days.

I took a nice, long shower and got ready to go to a birthday party for Heidi, one of my new friends that is part of Cathy’s circle of friends..  Cathy is staying at her daughter’s house in Richfield this week, so she took advantage of the space to entertain her group of seven ladyfriends and we had a fun night of lots of talk, laughter, and great food and drink. One of the group, Tilly is not back from her winter in Florida’s, so she joined for a while in a FaceTime call.  Dinner was beef and cheese fondue with lots of veggies, an assortment of breads, and then chocolate fondue for dessert with strawberries, angel food cake, and pound cake.  We started early and I expected to be home early but it was almost 9:00 when I got back. What a fun night!

Heidi, Karen, Cathy, Me, Sandy, Susie, and Jodi

Tuesday, April 1, 2025, MN

 Happy 58th Anniversary to Rita and Denny, married on this day in 1967 at St Ann’s Catholic Church in Stoughton.  That is some good longevity!  

I spent quite a bit of time last week helping residents with their income tax so they could get the renters refund that the state offers.  Initially, I thought it was going to be real pain but after doing several (twelve so far), it is going smoothly and each one takes only about 10 minutes.  

We had a wintry storm on Saturday that left us with a 2” coating of snow on the ground. It did not stick to the roads and was mostly gone by early afternoon the next day when the temps got up in the 40s.  Another similar weather event is predicted for today and tomorrow, although it looks like this one is tracking farther to the  north. 

I had a physical therapy consultation on Friday and was given a few stretches to do to see if I can get some relief for the pressure behind my eyes.  That is the one symptom that is most uncomfortable right now, although I still have these strange episodes a few times during the day and night.

I started gathering up stuff to take with me to Ben and Jill’s house where I will be spending the next week while they are on vacation.  I was loaded up this morning and got here by 9:30.  It should be a relaxing time in a beautiful place.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025, WI, MN

 Monday was another nonstop, whirlwind kind of day.  Dawn and I walked over to Sunrise Restaurant and met with Mary, Lori, and Erin. Jonnie was not feeling good, so she didn’t join us.  We ended up sitting there for 2.5 hours talking, laughing, and reminiscing.  

When we got back home, we took Joey for a walk and then had about 10 minutes to rest before we left for a tour of some apartments at Greenspire.  I know, I haven’t mentioned this much but I have decided to move back to Stoughton and this is one of the subsidized options there.  Every apartment was remodeled last summer and cabinets, appliances, bathrooms, heating & AC, patios or balconies were all completely redone.  It is a complex of about 80 units in ten two-story buildings.  The grounds are nice with mature trees and it is location in a residential area.  After seeing the options, I am thinking a 2nd floor unit with balcony would be preferred. So…I am looking at a possible move in July or August, depending on availability of units.  

The hardest part about this will be moving away from Ben and his family, as I have been closely involved with them for the last 13+ years.  My thinking on this is that when I do come to his house for a visit, it will be more hands on quality time spent with the family - rather than the little snippets of time we have together now.  I feel that I am ready for small town living again, will welcome the quiet that comes with that, and I don’t feel I will ever lack for an active social life.  

Dawn and I went to The Feiring, a new restaurant in town and had a cocktail and a serving of bruschetta that were both yummy. Then we walked over to Fahrenheit 361 and she had a glass of wine and I abstained since I was feeling pretty chipper after the jalapeño margarita that I had at the previous place.  I dropped her off and then went to hang out with Pat and Tracey for about an hour before saying our goodbyes.  The days have been really busy and full and I have slept so good every night - including an 8-hour window of sleep one night - that just doesn’t happen for me very often.

This morning I was packed up and ready to hit the road by 9:30 and I made it home by 3:00 with a short stop at Randy’s house in St Paul to drop off a care package from Dawn. It feels real good to be back home and I enjoyed a nice, hot bath and walk to the park.

Sunday, March 23, 2025, MN, WI

Fifty-seven years ago today, Mike and I got married in San Bernardino, CA - a day that started our life together, raising our two sons, having lots of adventures, and becoming the best of friends.  It’s so sad that only 45 of them were spent together.  I miss him. 

 I cleaned house for Cassie and Tommy and made an easy $100 that is always good for the pocket.  After I got home, I walked Joey and while walking, I got a call from Judy asking if I was coming to art class. Oops! So after getting ready for my next appointment, I headed to class and we made a mosaic painting that turned out really cute.  After class, I went to my bone density test appointment and was ready to veg out at home when I got back home.

I packed up and was on the road and heading to Stoughton by about 9:15.  The drive was easy, road conditions were great, and the trip went fine.  I saw huge flicks of pelicans along the Mississippi River and several Herons in the sky too.  Traffic was quite heavy after hitting Wisconsin Dells.  I visited with Dawn for a while and then went to see Pat and Tracey - it was great to get hugs again from them.  We had Reuben sandwiches for dinner and then I headed back to Dawn’s house.

Friday was a whirlwind, starting with coffee, a nice walk, and breakfast with Dawn.  I then went to visit Judy, who stopped dialysis treatments last October and is still doing fairly well, although I do feel that this might be the last time I see her.  We had a very nice visit, reminisced about a lot of things, and then we hugged and said ‘see you later’.  And I cried when I got to my car.

My next stop was to see Susan and Joey and Rocky finally met - they came quick friends and got along fine, although they didn’t play together.  We had a nice visit, always finding lots to talk about.  We have been good friends for a long, long time.

Pat and Tracey and I ordered pizza for dinner and watched “A Million Ways to Die in the West” a fun parody of the old west that brought lots of laughs.

I spent most of the day today with Pat and Tracey, helping Tracey clear out her closet (she still has difficulty getting her hangers hung) and part of that is because she has way too many clothes in there - not much room to hang more.  I also helped her with her laundry and then made a pasta, meatball, cheese and marinara hot dish for dinner that turned out to be yummy.  I will definitely make that again. 

Wednesday, March 19, 2025, MN

 Wow!  I’m just sitting here next to the window having my coffee this morning when I see cop pull a blue pickup truck over.  He goes to the truck and is there for about five minutes when another cop pulls up behind him and goes to the truck.  As they are taking the woman from the truck, three more officers pull up behind (one is unmarked) and another unmarked car pulls up in front with lights flashing.  There doesn’t appear to be any scuffle, I can see the woman surrounded by cops and they start to search the truck with big bright lights, then they take photos from many different angles and put the woman in the cop car.  It will be interesting to see what the news has to say about this one.  

Tuesday, March 18, 2025, MN

 My big news today is that I DO NOT need surgery for the compressed disks in my spine - the Neurologist feels that it is not severe enough to warrant surgery and has referred me to a physical therapy consultation to determine if I can relieve some of the discomfort that I have been experiencing (numbness and pressure on my left side). I am relieved and willing to do what is necessary to feel better.  

Ben and Jill invited me and Lois & Dennis to dinner on Sunday he made a yummy Vietnamese dish called Bun Cha - grilled pork meat balls that were served on a bed of rice noodles, cucumbers, cilantro, and mint and a yummy sauce over the top.  I made a strawberry crumble for dessert and Lois brought Oatmeal Raisin cookies. It was great to hang out with them all. 

This morning, I put potatoes, carrots, onions and corned beef in the crock pot and had it simmering all day long.  There wasn’t room in the crock pot for cabbage, so I tried roasting the slices in the oven with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and bacon crumbles - yummy! I met with my Stampin Up group and then headed out to my doctor appointment.  Sherry from Building II joined me and Deb came by and had a beer with us.  It was a nice evening hanging out with the girls.

Thursday, March 13, 2025, MN

 Well, another serious health possibility has been ruled out today when I had an ultrasound of the Carotid arteries to determine if there was blockage that might have caused the strange ‘unable to speak’ symptom that I had a couple of weeks ago during an episode.  The ultrasound showed less that 50% stenosis of the arteries, so they are not blocked and are functioning well.  This leads me to believe that the episodes that I have been having are all related to the compressed disks in my upper spine. They continue, have changed over the last six weeks and are now just mostly brief warm, numbing pressure sensations that are mostly concentrated from my left shoulder to ear that happen periodically throughout the day.

I also had my annual physical on Monday and she was in agreement that the symptoms could be caused by the compression of the disks and that any slight movement could cause discomfort.  She has ordered the usual mammogram (I had that on Wednesday and there are no issues there) and a bone density and a meeting with a pharmacist to review my meds and supplements.  To complete my medical stuff for the year, I will still need to see the dentist and have a vision check.  

Cathy asked me to do her taxes for her and I agreed but just have to wait for the Certificate of Rent paid from our landlord (they were due to us on January 28 and MN gives refunds to renters, so even if you don’t have to file income taxes, you can file for the renters refund).

I made a big pot of 15 Bean and Ham soup today, had a bowl for dinner, and gave a bowl to Cathy, and will take some to Ben and his family today when I clean.  That still left me with at least two more meals - yummy!

Saturday, March 8, 2025, MN

 I had my annual physical on Monday and that all worked out just fine.  Her opinion regarding the episodes that I’m having was that it could all be related to the compressed disk and any slight movement could cause that to happen.  She did order an electrolyte panel blood test to determine if my heart medicines were all still ok and I heard back that no changes should be made.  She also suggested that I meet with a pharmacy specialist to review my current meds, a mammogram and a bone density test.  Guess I have a few more appointments coming up in the near future.

We had a big winter storm all through the night on Tuesday and Wednesday and it dumped about a foot of heavy wet snow on us.  I heard from Mary, the Food Truck coordinator on Tuesday night that she would let me know on Wednesday morning if the delivery would be made.  Several volunteers gathered in the community room and waited at least an hour but the truck never showed and I never got a call, nor were my calls returned.  They made the delivery on Friday instead.

Lois invited me to go to the Spring Junkarama event in Shakopee with her and it was fun to look around, bringing back lots of memories of antiques and stuff that I have owned in the past.  My only purchases were a bottle of local Maple Syrup that was already on my grocery list and an interesting little fern plant.  Lois bought a plant stand for her porch.  It was fun!

I’ve been working on a 1,000 piece ‘Puzzle Twist’ puzzle of the Minnesota State Fair this week and managed to finish it in four days.  What a challenge! The puzzle itself turns out to be different from the picture on the outside of the box - items can be arranged differently, can be different colors, and there are also a few added items.  The top photo is the box and the bottom one is the finished puzzle with a few of the differences circled.  

   

Monday, March 3, 2025, MN

 Last week was quite the week.  The deal for the Camry fell through, as George was not willing to negotiate with splitting the cost to replace the starter and I was not comfortable paying his full asking price plus that expense, so I backed out.  Not a problem, as my RAV4 is still in great shape and will get me where I’m going for a long, long time. Beverly felt bad and was afraid that it would jeopardize our friendship - no way!

I had spent the last 10 days or so with very few of the tingling, numbing effects that I had been having and I was feeling so good on Wednesday that I made a pot of Cream of Potato soup, a salad, and drop biscuits and took them over to share with Ben’s family.  Everyone loved the soup and it is always a compliment when you are asked to share a recipe.  We had a nice visit.

Unfortunately, the weird symptoms came back early the next morning and have continued to repeat every hour to hour and a half with an occasional break of several hours.  I have sent an email to the neurologist’s nurse and hope that I get a response before too long.  I was able to get a decent night of sleep last night, had a few episodes but did not record them and was able to go back to sleep.  My annual physical is today.

Cathy invited me for dinner on Saturday night and she made a delicious chicken chow mein.  I whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies to share and also took them to the swim meet yesterday.

I went to the girls’ swim meet yesterday and they are all doing so well.  They each swam in four events and most of their previous times were improved upon.  Charlotte took a first place in the 50 Yard Fly.  She also swam her second 500 yard freestyle event and said that she really likes the endurance of that one.  Norah and Camille each had a second place event too.  

Saturday, February 22, 2025, MN

I had my appointment with the neurosurgeon, Dr. Charles Watts on Monday and most of my symptoms have dissipated. Ben came to the appointment with  me and we both felt it was a thorough exam and we covered all of the details and he thought there might be a chance that the warm, tingly, prickly sensations could be due to a Vitamin B12 deficiency and ordered a blood test for that and also an EMG that looks at the condition of the nerves.  I had that test (a very uncomfortable) tesr that sends electrical signals into the affected body parts (my left arm & leg) with either a pad that was stuck to my skin or a needle that sent an electrical signal into my skin. My B12 levels are normal and also the nerve study proved to be normal.  The neurosurgeons comments after seeing these results were a possible neurological exam that would be repeated every six months to look for neurological issues.  My follow-up appointment is not until March 17.  Ben and I went to lunch at the Perk Up Cafe in my neighborhood after the appointment. 

It has been another frigid week with temps barely reaching 0° until today when our high was 37°.  That meant that Joey and I did not get any good walks in but resorted to quick in and out jaunts just long enough for him to go potty.  I am spending the weekend ar Ben and Jill’s house, so Lois and I met up at the Minnewashta Dog Park this afternoon and both Joey and Yoshi had a blast running and chasing and meeting lots of other dogs. It felt so good to be out in nature and have a nice companion to chat with.

Our food shelf this week was organized by me and Cindy and we did a great job of pulling it off.  It became our responsibility when our Service Coordinator, Maureen, was fired just after the last one.  Weird - she was fired and escorted out the door by the local police, came back on Monday to get her personal items and was escorted by police on that trip too.  I kind of get the feeling that she might have made some threats or became violent but I really don’t know.

My sweet little frail 97 year old friend, Beverly, called me last week to see if I was interested in buying her car.  I must have said something to her in the past. I am seriously considering buying it and selling mine.  It is a 2002 Toyota Camry XLE with 127,000 miles on it for $3,000 compared to my RAV4  that has 190,000 miles on it.  The Camry is the top of the line model with leather interior, heated seats, power windows and seats, sun roof, clean as can be, and there is hardy a blemish on the body. It has been stored outdoors in her friend George’s driveway for the last 6 winters and has been driven, but not a lot.   I took it to my mechanic, it turns out that he has also been her mechanic, and had it checked out, it will be needing a starter, but everything else checked out (other than possible future shocks and struts and exhaust - just general wear and tear.  I will be meeting with George on Tuesday to see if we can come up with acceptable terms for both of us.

Monday, February 17, 2025, MN

 I have felt better each day since Friday, finally waking up without feeling intense sinus pressure this morning and actually slept in 3-4 hour shifts last night instead of waking up hourly.  Woo Hoo!  

I do feel some anxiety about my appointment with the neurosurgeon this morning, but am determined to face it, fix it, recover, and get on with my life.  Ben is going to the appointment with me and then we are going for breakfast.

Saturday’s temps were reasonable enough that Joey and I were able to get a couple of decent walks in. That will not be happening for the next 4 days as temps are expected to linger in the 0° range.  I might be tossing the ball down the hallway for him to chase.

Yesterday was Ben’s 48th birthday and the girls had a time trial swim meet early in the day but I stayed home and watched it all on You Tube.  Jill planned a fun birthday celebration for him and we all met at the bowling alley and played 2 rounds and then ween to Woodfire Grill for dinner.  I did not bowl, as I do not want to put a strain on my spine and do any additional damage.  

Charlotte announced that she has made it to the Junior Swim Team and will be competing at a higher level now.  She came in first  in the 500 yard freestyle today, winning by an entire pool length and she told us that she really likes the distance swimming.  I sat next to her at dinner and she is such a pleasant teenager who is excelling in school and always has a big beautiful smile on her face.  

Norah and Camille are also growing up to be such sweet girls, getting great grades in school, having lots of friends, and stick together like glue.  I gave them some money to play the driving game at the bowling alley and Norah waited until Camille could drive the car next to her.  The twin thing is so evident in many things, although they have their own individual personalities and interests.  Ben and Jill are such good parents, strict in the sense that they need to behave in a respectful manner but yet fun and engaging and willing for them to learn through life experiences. 

Friday, February 14, 2025, MN

 This week continued with feeling mostly sh*##%, due to taking the antibiotic for sinus infection and the recurring symptoms that I have had since last Thursday. When I woke up this morning, I thought “I feel pretty normal!” But still have some slight sinus pressure and got sleep but not good, interrupted sleep.

I had made an appointment with physical therapy based on what others have told me of options to help with back issues and also to see if there were things I could do to strengthen the area before surgery, if needed.  After talking with her, they would not suggest anything other than seeing the neurosurgeon and the surgery will be necessary because of the location of the severe compression in the spine.  So I guess I’m getting my ducks in a row for that but will know much more after my appointment on Monday.

I did manage to do the majority of my house cleaning job at Ben’s on Thursday, the only thing I didn’t do was the vacuuming.  It felt good to be up and about and he and I had a good conversation.  I also delivered the pop up valentines that I made for the girls that were just cute as could be.   Each one was slight different and they were fun to make. 

When I got home last Saturday, my friend and neighbor, Beverly, called to ask me if I was interested in buying her car.  Apparently, I had told her in the past that I might be interested, and yes, I am.  It is a spotless 2002 Toyota Camry XLE (loaded) model with 122,000 miles and year old tires. Compared to my 2007 RAV4 with 190,000 miles, tires that are almost due to replace, and a few body dings, it makes total sense to me and my sons agree,  The last few years, it has been stored at her friend George’s home during the worst of winter as she didn’t drive in snowy conditions and it has been so slightly driven the last few years.  I will be dealing with George on the sale, having it checked out by my mechanic, Eric, and then dealing with selling mine.  They are fine with having no rush because of my current health issues but I would like to take care of it quickly if I can. 

I made it through another anniversary of Mike’s passing and really try to do just that.  The events leading up to it can’t be forgotten but I would much rather celebrate the life we had together on our anniversary and his birthday, 45 years together for a roller coaster ride is nothing to forget!