Friday, November 13, 2026

  Just when I turned on the news about an hour ago, the first thing I saw was that the FAA has issued a nationwide ground stop of all airplanes this afternoon.  I'm not sure what time it all started. Those on the ground cannot take off and those in the air were ordered to land. Airports are filling up and passengers are scrambling to find ways to get to their destinations and there are no cars available to rent already.

The next clip I saw was a freight liner heading directly to a cruise ship in the Gulf near New Orleans. It crashed and the ship immediately started to sink, although all crew and passengers were able to get off safely.

My day was fine, starting with a 20 minute workout with Dawn and Valerie, and then a short chat with Dawn.  Susan picked me up at 11:00 to go to Hobby Lobby because their yarn was on sale.  She crochets baby blankets for a local church group and I was looking for some for Christmas gifts. We also shopped at Kohls and both bought some socks.  She also had a dermatology appointment in that area if Madison, so I went to that with her before coming back home.

I just heard that the ground stop has been lifted, they are saying there is no cyber threat, and also that all are safe and they are working to resolve the issues. Weird!

One perk to living in this apartment is the view of the western sky and some gorgeous sunsets.  I captured this picture last night and tonight's was pretty interesting too.

It has been a busy week.

Monday, November 9, 2026

 My weekend was pretty uneventful except for a few mentionable events.  First off was a video meetup with Tom on Saturday - it's always good to have a conversation with him (other than our daily text messages), especially when it is face to face.  I ended up having to cut our conversation short because I told Dawn I would go with her to a grand opening event in the downtown arts district. 

Someone purchased 3 old building near the railroad depot and they are converting them into a woodworking shop, an art gallery, and a combination restaurant and individual art shops.  The woodworking shop is up and running and they had some beautiful items on display, including several inlay tables and a giant piece of petrified tree trunk that was gorgeous! A charcuterie board making class was in session for us to watch.

I got home and got busy making a vegetable beef soup and Pat came to join me for dinner - Tracey wasn't feeling up to it. The soup was yummy.

Dawn invited me to go to the Opera House this afternoon for a free event.  We saw Dr Eric Tran, a classical concert pianist and it was all new to me. I've never been into classical music and he played several of Chopin's etudes and described to us what they were before sitting down at the piano. The music was incredibly involved and very moody in parts.  The venue is so beautiful and they have now added cushioning to the original wood seats, so much more comfortable than in the past. 

We walked to The Feiring (Norwegian word for celebration and is a bar/restaurant) and had a cocktail after the show. Ran into Patty (a friend who was married to Rod, a classmate of Mike's) and talked with her for quite a bit.

Friday, November 6, 2026

 I had to be up and moving early this morning for a 7:45 appointment to review my choices for Medicare coverage for 2027 and I ended up sticking with my current plan. It has a $59 monthly premium but I qualify for a discounted rate and that will bring it down to the $25/month range.  The $0 premium plans were not an option for me and I chose to stick with United Healthcare.

I got an email from Jill this morning telling me that Charlotte and her friend were going to McAllister College today as a Model UN (an academic simulation where students act as diplomats representing UN member states or historical figures to debate and resolve global issues). Yes, I am a proud Grandma!

Yesterday, I got together with seven cousins and 2nd cousins (or their spouses) for lunch at Kozy Nuk. What a nice turnout and it was great to see them all. 

Monday, November 2, 2926

 I went to bed around 9pm on Saturday night, got up once during the night, and woke up at 8:45am the next morning. Since daylight savings time ended that night, it was actually 7:45am - whaaat? 11 hours of sleep?? Crazy.

Later that morning, after a nice walk and a Silver Sneakers workout, I layed down to read for a bit, fell asleep and woke up 3 hours later.  I'm blaming this on the change in seasons and the time change. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Saturday, October 31, 2026

 Happy Halloween! There will be no celebrating for me, as it is my least favorite holiday. I did go with Susan to see the Norwegian Dancers perform at the middle school this morning.  They are such a talented group of kids and are dedicated to putting on a good and fun show.

While I was there, I got regular updates and videos from Ben on Charlotte's championship swim meet today. She swam in 4 events and placed first in the 100-yard freestyle.

I took a nap when I got home and just as I was waking up, I got a call from Patty to let me know that they have taken her sister Sandy off life support this morning as she is full of lung cancer and having a real rough time. She is too weak to undergo any kind of treatment, so the family came together and decided this was the right thing to do. My heart goes out to all of them and I'm glad I got to see Sandy and her family in August. I just got word that she passed away - may she rest in peace.

The big news here this week is that the Milwaukee Brewer baseball team won the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 5th game.  This is a first for the team and I tuned in (unusual for me to watch sports) but I knew the crowd would be so fired up.  The stadium in Florida had more Wisconsin fans than Florida fans and those people know how to back their teams and celebrate.  Fun times!

I made a pot of chili yesterday and Pat and Tracey joined me for dinner. Pat brought some sourdough bread that he had just gotten and that topped it off just perfectly.

Our weather has changed and the days have become cloudy and much cooler. There might even be some rain for the trick or treaters tonight. 

Thursday, October 22, 2026

 It sure has been a beautiful fall-like week around here with sunny skies and temps climbing near 70° the last few days.  The trees across the field from me are especially beautiful right now and are getting brighter each day.

I took a drive up to Montello to see Pat & Roger on Monday and it was pretty iffy with Joey and Chloe initially.  We took them for a walk down the road and it wasn't long and they were being nice to each other, sharing sniffs, and covering up each other's potty.  It was nice to see those guys again, we sat out in the back yard and enjoyed the sunshine in their beautiful spot.

I installed a curtain rod to hand my hand-blown glass balls and it finishes off the living room and emptied out another bin.  Yay!

Tracey needed a ride to the chiropractor yesterday, so I dropped her off and then went to get bloodwork done at the clinic for my next infusion - it's not scheduled until March, but they wanted to have that done in advance.  After our appointments, we went to Walmart and did a bit of grocery shopping. The back hatch of my car was loaded down.

Today's project was to finish my application for SNAP benefits (should save $290 in groceries each month), which included a telephone interview and uploading my ID and insurance premium information.  When I finished that, I headed in to the post office to pay for and mail my passport renewal ($146 included $130 for the renewal, plus a money order, and postage) and then to City Hall to cast my early vote for the November 3 mid-term election. Blue baby, blue - all the way for this gal! 

It is so much easier to take care of business in this small town - no long lines to be concerned with and everyone is friendly and efficient. 

Saturday, October 17, 2026

 It has been a pretty 'normal' week for me and that feels good.  I'm looking out the window at a gathering of people and am wondering what is going on there today - probably a football or soccer game. I guess I won't be seeing much since there are now two school buses from Mount Horeb blocking my view.  

Jonnie came by on Monday and we visited for a while and then went for lunch at the Sunrise Cafe. Neither of us were very hungry, but both had room for a piece of pie. She was happy to see that I still have her partner, Marty's grandmother's dining room chairs that I bought from her when we were all living in Florida.

I got together with about eight classmates on Tuesday at Culver's. They have been meeting up the second Tuesday of every month for several years now and I had been looking forward to joining in. Patty and Susan were there and it was good to see them again. A lot of lively conversation was going, some about Stoughton's happenings, some about health and life changes, and some reminiscing while looking at photos.  We were there for a couple of hours and then Pat & Susan came by to see my apartment.

Tom and I had a nice phone conversation on Wednesday morning and then as we were saying goodbye, he mentioned that we hadn't had an any video calls for a long time. We used to use an app called 'Duo' but neither of us had it any longer. He suggested using 'Google Meet', so I loaded it on my phone and he got it set up on his and we got to see each other for the first time in over a month.  What were we thinking or maybe 'not' thinking? It was nice. 

I did some grocery shopping and a little more decorating and organizing closets. I now have everything out that is to come out and everything else is tucked away in bins. I did find my shower curtain hooks but two towels are now missing. Hmmm!  I'm now on a quest for a small desk for my living room. I have the perfect spot, now have to find the perfect desk and then I can clean a few more items out of the closet and will have a nice place for writing and working on craft projects.  

Yesterday, I had a video appointment with a Neuro-psychologist, the first appointment leading up to some testing they want me to have to determine how much my brain has healed since my seizures started a year ago in May.  He asked a lot of questions about my memory, my coordination, confusion, physical activity, diet, day-to-day structure and management of tasks, limitations, interests, social involvement, and overall lifestyle.  My answers to those questions will determine which tests he selects for me to do and those tests will establish a baseline in case I have future problems such as more seizures or dementia and how I will continue to be treated.  The tests will be done at UW Hospital and will take two-three hours.  

We have gone from 80° days earlier in the week to cold, rainy, gray 50° days and it is way too early for that. There is a beautiful clump of bright orange Maple trees across the field from me and I hope they stay that way for a while.  

Friday, October 9, 2026

 It's been a busy week, although I have spent plenty of time resting and a little bit of social time too. Almost everything is unpacked and a few pictures are hung on the walls. I still haven't found the shower curtain hooks.  A trip to Walmart last Saturday changed that, but I just got some cheapies in case the others showed up.

Here are some shots of my new place:

I've been enjoying watching some of the activities that go on across the street - high school football practices, soccer games, and a drum and bugle corps competition on Sunday evening.  It is so much better that the heavy traffic and sirens that I heard on Old Shakopee Rd, although I do miss some of my friends from there.

On Monday, I went to the Post Office to prove that the change of address I submitted was actually for me, got my utility account set up, and stopped at City Hall to inquire about registering to vote and was able to take care of that on the spot since I had a copy of my lease with me.  Later on in the afternoon, I met up with Doug at Deak's and we had a beer and some good conversation for a couple of hours. 

Wednesday morning, I woke up to a family text message wishing Camille (born at 6:14am) and Norah (born at 6:15 am) on this day back in 2013. It's hard to believe that they are teenagers now.  Conversations with Ben are a lot about all of the running around that he is doing these days with Charlotte in swim, weight lifting, and her job as swim instructor, Camille's swim practice and meets, and Norah's tennis practice and whatever other school and friend activities are going on.

I had a nice conversation with Tom this week, it's always good to have a chat with him.

Yesterday, I picked Tracey up and we went to a thrift store and the grocery store and she was so happy to be able to get out of the house. She is doing so much better these days - physically and mentally. We also stopped at the Kozy Nuk for a light lunch.

Dawn and I went to the American Legion tonight to see the Country Corners Reunion Band - Frank (Lefty), Susie, and RJ. Mike and I were regulars at the Country Corners Bar when Frank and his wife opened it back in 1984 and Frank's band played every weekend.  I have lots of good memories of fun times and always great, traditional country music.  Susie plays the stand-up bass and sang several songs that Dawn's Mom, Wanda, would have sang in her singing days.  I remember babysitting for their family when she had gigs to play - it was Wanda Star and her two brothers Mickey and Joey. Anyway, it was a fun night and felt good to get out and about and a see a lot of old folks out on the dance floor doing the two-step. 

Friday, October 2, 2026

 The move is complete with the exception of a few boxes left to unpack. What an adventure.

Monday and Tuesday leading up to moving day were filled with last minute things like getting a haircut and returning the Xfinity router (not available in Stoughton). Deb invited me for pizza and a beer on Tuesday night and Chelsey joined us. She will be missed. 

I got busy with the last minute packing on Wednesday morning and Ben showed up and helped disassemble the bed, cover the mattress and box spring, remove the shower curtain, load up my car and then helped with the loading of the trailer once Richard and Carol arrived around noon.  Dustin and his wife (Go2 Movers) arrived at one and they trudged everything down the stairs to the trailer. It took one hour and fifteen minutes to load up. Several neighbors stopped by for hugs.

We headed for Stoughton at about 2:00 and made it by 7:30. Getting through the construction on the west side of Stoughton was a challenge. What a mess. A quick run through Culver's was our dinner.

I met up with the assistant manager to do a final signing of lease and got the keys to the new place just in time for Carol and Richard's arrival with the trailer. Just when the moving team was scheduled to arrive, I got a text saying they were delayed by two hours. Richard had already started to unload things, so when then texted again to say they could have movers here in 15 minutes, I checked with Richard and he said to cancel and request a refund of my deposit.  The three of us proceeded to empty my car and trailer and were done in two hours. I'm really feeling it though.  They headed back home shortly after that. 

I got busy getting organized and got most of the kitchen boxes emptied. The only item that I haven't found is the shower curtain hangers. I know I had my hands on them at one time, but they did a disappearing act. 

Sunday, September 27, 2026

 I've been packing and cleaning out cupboards and closets and now have the kitchen done except for a few things I will need and a few things to eat. Today, I got the stove and refrigerator cleaned. I also sold my dresser to a lady in my building and will replace it with something that better matches my other furniture once I get settled.

I spent the afternoon with Ben and the family again. He made bbq ribs, Jill made potato salad, I made baked beans, Camille made chocolate cupcakes, and Lois made a pumpkin dessert.  I gave Norah and Camille their 13th birthday gifts a little bit early - hug rings (a large hand and a small hand that meet) and are engraved "Always With You". They really liked them and said they will treasure them. Charlotte is wearing the sweater that I made for her.

Charlotte participated in the Homecoming events at her school this week and went to the dance last night.  What a beauty she is and has the personality to go along with it.

It was sure hard to say goodbye - we shared lots of hugs and they all gathered in the driveway and threw kisses and waved as I drove off.  I was bawling until I figured I'd better get focused on getting myself home safely.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

 Moving day is getting closer and closer and I am feeling the pressure and anxiety that comes along with it.  I am checking things off the list and my apartment is filling with boxes.

I spent Sunday afternoon with Ben and the family.  I gave Charlotte her sweater but then forgot to take any photos. She wore it until the time came for her to model her Homecoming dress and I didn't get a photo of that either.  I'm sure Ben will share photos when the day comes.

We played a silly card game called "Exploding Kittens" and it took a while to figure it out, but once we got it, it was fun.  We didn't play to the end because Ben had dinner ready. We sat down to a delicious meal of Bun Cha (grilled pork meatballs served on a bed of rice noodles and complimented with lettuce leaves, mint, and basil and topped off with a yummy sauce and a spicy sauce too). I went way out of the way and stopped at Kowalski's for GF Rice Krispie bars for dessert.  It was a fun day.

Chelsey did my apartment inspection and I passed with flying colors, so no worries there as far as getting my deposit back.

I heard from Peg at the company that manages Greenspire, my new home, and we went through her questionnaire and she gave me a list of documentation that would be needed to calculate my rent and determine my deposit amount.  

Our Stampin Up group had our annual summer luncheon and everyone brought salads. I got several nice going away cards from them and also a gift card for Hobby Lobby. Even though I only see them once a month, they have become such good friends and we always have interesting conversations and do fun, creative things with paper.

I spent a good part of yesterday gathering up proof of my income, bank account balances, medical, dental, and Joey expenses - all will be considered in the calculations to determine how much my rent will be. Needless to say, this caused some stress and I was unable to go to sleep last night. After laying there for over an hour, I just got up and got to work to get the info to Peg. I learned that I can scan a document and share it as a pdf file through my email account. That was a huge time saver (as long as it worked ok), rather than having to go somewhere to have a 30-page document faxed.  

I finally got back to bed around midnight and slept until 5:30 this morning and tossed and turned for a couple of hours before finally dragging my butt out of bed.

When I came in from my morning walk, I checked the mail and there was a card from my friend, Leslie. Her sentiment was so sweet and enclosed was a gift card for $250. Dang - I have nice friends and Leslie and I go back to the early 80s, as our husbands were great friends.

My neighbor, Ted invited me over for a glass of wine last night and to wish me well.  He also might be going through some relocation changes in the near future. 

A going-away gathering is planned for this afternoon. It was a very nice turnout with lots of desserts, hugs, and good wishes.

Saturday, September 19, 2026

 There was a meet and greet on Thursday with our new manager, Branden and the guy appears to have a lot on the ball. He is experienced, a good communicator, and has an interest in making things right here at Penelope.  I won't be here to see it, but I'm happy for the residents to finally have a manager on site who seems to care (5 managers in 5 years). 

Art class was also scheduled for Thursday but Genevieve had to cancel due to an unexpected trip out of town.  I feel bad that I will be unable to say goodbye in person.

I finally got a good night of sleep and woke up feeling rested yesterday. That led to a pretty productive day. 

For a long time now, I have considered getting rid of my giant microwave oven and replacing it with something smaller. I gave it to my neighbor and then went shopping at Best Buy Outlet (they had junk) and Walmart for a new one.  I also dropped off a bunch of items to donate to the PROP thrift store.  

I packed up the small appliances in my kitchen that won't be used between now and moving day.  If I get 1-2 boxes packed each day, it seems like I will be ready. 

We finally got much needed rain - all day on Friday and Joey and I didn't have very long walks throughout the day.  The grass is getting greener - just in time for the leaves to start to fall soon and cover it up again. 

I invited Deb up for a beer and we had a nice chat. Cathy stopped by later in the eventing and brought me a gift - a pretty, soft blanket for my sofa. So sweet of her! 

I finally finished the crochet part of Charlotte's sweater - I now have to block it and then pass it on.  It was a fun project with quite a bit of detail and some techniques that I had to learn by watching You Tube videos.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

 I had my 4th Truxima infusion today at the Burnsville Health Partners Specialty Center.  My nurse was Jessica and she tried two locations on my right arm but couldn't get the IV set up correctly, so she called in Emily for assistance and it took a bit of a warm compress and some massage to get it set up but the medication finally started flowing through at about 9:30. Since I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, I thought I would be able to rest but I couldn't get comfortable. I did rest, but didn't sleep.  I was finally finished at 1:00.

As I was heading out of the clinic, I passed the TRIA Orthopedic Urgent Care Clinic and stopped to see how long it would take to have my sore wrist checked out.  I was told there was only one person ahead of me, so I got in right away. They took X-rays and I spoke with a doctor who showed me the results and I learned that the joints are full of Arthritis. Imagine that!  I was prescribed Voltaren over the counter topical rub, a brace, and a series of exercises to do.  My range of motion is good, so they think the exercises will help.  

I was really hungry, so I stopped at Pizza Hut - dang, it was $23 for a medium Supreme pizza that I will be eating for the next 4 days.  I guess I need to pay more attention to what I am ordering in the future. 

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

I don't think I have said how much I will NOT miss the heavy traffic sounds that I hear on Old Shakopee Road every day - the big heavy semi trucks and trailers and the multiple sirens every day. It is my only complaint of living in this place. Other than that I have loved looking out my windows at the nicely wooded yard, the fence with beautiful perennial gardens, walking through this neighborhood, and meeting up with the many friends I have made over the last six years.  

Today is the anniversary of my engagement to Mike - waaaaay back in 1967.  For years I have remembered it as the 23rd of September but reading my old diary the other day corrected that memory. He left for active duty in Long Beach the next week. 

My car is getting an oil change today whether it needs it or not (I couldn't find the little sticker from the auto shop).

Sunday, October 13, 2026

 Ben texted me this morning and wanted to get together, and since I had just gotten up (finally got a full night's sleep), I suggested that he come here and we would walk to Perk-Up Kitchen for a coffee and pastry. The bees were buzzing around our outside table so we asked for take-out boxes, finished our coffee and headed back to my place. Ben went through a box of stuff that belonged to Mike and some of Grandpa Bridge's toys from his childhood.  He ended up taking a box home, but I still have lots of stuff that my boys will have to go through at some point. I guess that's what happens when you were a collector of many things and also when you had a house that was big enough to store lots of stuff.

It sure was nice to hang out with Ben and we plan to get together the next couple of weekends too. 

I packed up the glass shelves for my TV stand, my plant pots and most of my fancy glassware. I'm making progress and feel comfortable that I will be ready for the big move on the 30th.  

Saturday, September 12, 2026

 My days have been filled with walks, phone calls to change/cancel accounts, reading Doug's book, working on Charlotte's sweater, and packing and organizing.  

I have learned a lot from reading (and editing) Doug's book and was not aware of the role that his ship the USS Valley Forge played in Vietnam back in 1967.  Most of my comments have been regarding acronyms and terminology used that I don't understand, nor would other novice readers.  I also went on You Tube to watch a video and that gave me a better understanding of what was going on.  I feel bad for what those guys went through - no wonder many of them have and still are suffering.

I met Mavis for lunch at the Yankee Tavern on Wednesday and it was nice to see her again.  She wants to take a bus to Madison to come and visit some time in the future, once I get settled in.  We had a really nice visit and I learned that she will be having knee surgery in November and will turn  89 next week. I can only hope that I am as mentally sharp and active as she is if and when my time comes.

I sure haven't been sleeping well lately. My body is either restless or my mind is going with moving plans and coming up with things that I need to get done before I move.  Dawn sent me a walk thru video of my new apartment and I really feel like I am going to be comfortable there. I was asked if I was up to a 'farewell' gathering here at Penelope and that will be on the 23rd from 2-3:00 pm.

Tom and I had a nice phone conversation on Thursday and we reminisced about some of the travels we have had in the past. Looking back, we covered some ground together.

Yesterday was busy - I had to get Joey in to the vet for his annual checkup, so I dropped him off at 9:30. He has been licking his paws a lot the last few weeks and has refused to jump up on the bed lately, so I asked them to check that out, in addition to nail trims and anal gland expression.  He was prescribed some pills to help with the itching and also some prescription shampoo that I need to use on his feet at least once a week.  All of this to the tune of $175 that I wasn't counting on.  Oh well, anything for the little guy that keeps me company and keeps me moving every day. 

Monday. September 7, 2026

 The week has been busy with fitting in a bit of packing here and there and, of course, everything that comes off a top shelf or cabinet needs cleaning because it hasn't been done in a couple of years.

Deb came over got the things off the top of my cabinets and in the shelves that were hard for me to reach. What a great friend! I proceeded to wash and pack. I'm the 'handle it once' kind of gal, so things are getting done.

I received the book "Boredom to Bedlam" that my friend Doug just finished, about his experience in Vietnam.  I offered to edit it for him and so have started working on that.  I've also been working on getting Charlotte's birthday gift finished - have one sleeve almost done and the other to finish and that should be it.  It's going to be so cute! 

This morning, I met Ben at the Neill Lake Walking Trail in Eden Prairie, a 1.75 mile trail around a nice, clear lake.  One side of the lake was covered in native flowers and were full of butterflies - they must be getting ready for their big migration. We also saw two beautiful swans and a couple of Egret.  It's a very nice trail and it was great hanging out with Ben for a couple of hours.  We were looking for a place to have a coffee and pastry but most of the places were closed.

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

 Happy 15th Birthday to my sweet granddaughter Charlotte today.  I went to her first JV Swim Meet last night and I'm so glad that I went.  I got there early enough to see both teams doing their rev-up cheers and I get why she is hyped about it.  She swam in two events and placed 2nd in the 100 yard freestyle, only 4 seconds shy of 1st place.  Of course, it made me feel proud and wish her the best.

I spent three hours on the phone today with my health insurance benefit provider, to choose a new policy for Wisconsin.  I ended up with a United Healthcare policy that covers all of my current doctors and medications.  

I have also made arrangements for movers on both ends. Life is good.

Monday, August 31, 2026

This afternoon I got the news that I have been waiting for over two years to hear - an apartment at Greenspire in Stoughton is available for me and I did not hesitate to accept it.  The person I spoke with is with the management company so I will have to work with her on the lease, deposit, and rent but will chat with the manager at the apartment for a move-in date. Based on the new address that she gave me, my apartment is on the first floor, faces east, and I will have a small patio to enjoy.  Carol and Richard are still willing to move me with his snowmobile trailer and I have already touched base with Dustin to load it up with my stuff.  

I talked with both of my boys and Pat was happy to hear the news and Ben has mixed feelings, as do I.  I am confident that I am doing the right thing, as my long-term plan since way back when has been to get back to my roots.  I think Stoughton will be a good place to age gracefully and I will have many contacts to keep an active social life going.  

Charlotte's sweater is coming right along, I started on a sleeve today. I will be going to her first high school junior varsity swim meet tomorrow - dang - she is growing to be quite the young lady and is excited about high school. 

Sunday, August 30, 2026

 Tom and I managed to fill up the days this week, mostly with walks around the neighborhood, daily naps, and dinners.  I had a haircut appointment with Shirley on Tuesday and he and I went to Costco and Cub to do some shopping on Wednesday.  

Thursday was laundry day, as Tom was getting ready for his trip back home to AZ on Friday. We had a nice steak dinner that night and watched a good movie with Liam Neeson called "The Land of Saints and Sinners".  

I got Tom to the airport around 11:30 on Friday for his 1:15 flight back to Phoenix.  I heard from him around 5:30 that afternoon that he had gotten back to his trailer, his truck was still there, and all was good.  The last three weeks have been nice having him around and we manage to find things to do, but we both kind of enjoy doing our own thing too - reading, napping, watching shows on TV.

I stopped at an estate sale and a couple of garage sales on my way back home and then it was time to get accustomed to living a solo life again.  I bought a couple of books but that was about it.

Yesterday, Jill called to see if I wanted to come by for pizza and birthday cake for Charlotte.  I took along the 'work in progress' gift that I am making for her (I need some measurements before I can continue) and she really liked it. She is really excited about high school, has made several new friends on the JV swim team.

Charlotte's Birthday Gift

Me and the Birthday girl, Charlotte

Camille and Norah

Sunday, August 23, 2026

 Happy Heavenly 79th Birthday to my Mike today.  Dang - I sure do miss him at times, mostly on memorable dates, but there are reminders all over my home and just about anywhere I go can spark a memory. Thanks for those, Mike!

I went and picked up Norah on Thursday afternoon for a couple nights sleepovers. Charlotte is staying with Lois as she has two swim practices each day plus 2 hours of weight lifting and various events with her friends. Ben, Jill, and Camille are in San Diego to celebrate her upcoming 13th birthday. They will be taking Norah to New York City later on in October. 

Norah and I did some shopping so I would have plenty of gluten free options for her to eat - and she mostly wanted junk and snack foods. Imagine that for a 12-year old.  She wasn't interested in doing a whole lot other than being on her iPad but we did walk to the nearby school grounds and she got into some of the playground equipment and we watched a couple of movies. I taught her how to play 21 poker and that was kind of hit, especially when there was money involved.

Lois had to go out of town on Saturday for a funeral and needed some backup help.  She dropped Charlotte at swim practice before heading out and Norah and I picked her up, went to their house and out until it was time to take her and her friend Holly to a pool party later that afternoon and then Holly's parents brought her back home. Norah was hoping to stay at her own house and sleep in her own bed that night and Lois was ok with it, so I came back home without her.  Of course, she forgot a few things at my house, and I returned them today after Tom and I went for breakfast at Ruby's Family Restaurant. Breakfast was good and I would definitely go back there.

Thursday, August 20, 2026

 We haven't done a whole lot this week, although it has been busy. I had Stampin Up on Monday and it was nice to see the gals again. We assembled 120 autumn themed cards to donate to hospice for patients and their families.  Ronnie provided a yummy dessert of a pie with vanilla cookie base, topped with melted caramel, then melted chocolate and a dab of whipped cream - it was yummy and something to keep in mind for the future.

Tom and I went to dinner at Shantytown on Tuesday and we're both happy with our meals - Reuben's - but our server was kind of a serious, gruff person, although she was speedy.

I helped out with food shelf on Wednesday and we got loads of good veggies and other goodies.  It was a busy morning.  

Sunday, August 17, 2026

 Saturday was a relaxing day and we mostly hung around the apartment other than going for walks.  Funny how a 3-day road trip kind of drags you down these days.

Yesterday was a little better and we took care of some chores including watering the plants around the building and going to the grocery store. I made quesadillas for dinner and we watched the movie "Arthur the King" with Mark Wahlburg - a good movie that had us on the edge of the couch a few times.  

Friday, August 14, 2026

 Again, after a nice continental breakfast at the motel, we headed out for a walk.  This time, we went to the Wisconsin Canoe Association Museum and learned about various canoe builders and their differences.  Since Tom MacKenzie built traditional style canoes, several of his were on display, as was a model that showed the various layers of how they were built and assembled.  I'm glad to have known him and glad that I got to revisit this place.

When we got back to the hotel, we packed up and headed to Rice Lake where we had a reservation at the AmericInn for the night. We were way too early and they weren't checking folks in yet, so we headed downtown to check things out. There isn't much in this town but we did stumble on the Agonic Brewery and Tom had a beer and I had a Bloody Beer that was quite tasty.  

Back at the motel, we checked in, got settled and by then it was naptime.

We had a reservation at Lehman's Supper Club for dinner and it was a great place that has been in business since the 1930s. We were seated in the Lounge and each ordered an Old Fashioned and the lighter Walleye dinner that came with salad, fries and white bread toast.  The walleye was excellent and then we ordered a crème brûlée for dessert to share - yummy!  Again, we were both full and felt like a walk when we got back to the hotel. This room is frigid and no matter what setting we put on, it is cold.

Thursday, August 13, 2026

 After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we headed to downtown Spooner to do some window shopping and check out the two blocks of shops. As we drove, we passed the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum and I immediately had a feeling of Déjà vu.  No wonder - as our dear friend Tom MacKenzie was a founding member and after he passed away, his entire shop and several of his canoes were donated to the museum by his wife, Karen.  Tom built two of the canoes that Mike had - the first was a birchbark and then he traded that one for a wood and canvas model, the first that was built in 1988. We attended the dedication of the museum and then I stopped again on my travels back in 2017.

We walked the streets of downtown Spooner, then headed out of town to the Spooner Outlet - a huge store that recently moved from downtown to a new location - they sell lots of outdoor clothing a sporting equipment.  

We had reservations for the dinner train ride on the Great Northern train. We had a reserved table in the dining car, an original that was built in the 1950s.  Our table was made up with white linen tablecloth and the works.  We ordered cocktails from the cash bar and our server, Freedom, gave us some information about how the meal would be served and a little bit about the route we would be taking.  

Each course was served on some of the original dishes and fancy glasses and the dishes were cleared off before the next course came out.  We started with cheesy biscuits, chicken wild rice soup, beef tender chateau with mushrooms, garlic mashed red potatoes, roasted carrots and then a dessert of blueberry cheesecake.  Everything was delicious.  

Once the meal was finished, Freedom told us about the various train cars, the history behind each car (dating back to the 20's and 30's, and then we were free to roam around as we wanted.  There were two additional dining cars and one was a western themed one with cowhide upholstered booths and stools (apparently Teddy Roosevelt rode on that one during one of his whistle stop campaigns). There also were three sleeper cars and we were able to see one of the sleepers - a queen sized bed and full bath, but not much else.  At the rear of the train, a staff member monitored the tracks (we were now headed forward) for animals and obstructions, ready to radio the engineer or to stop the train if necessary. All in all, it was a lovely night, we were stuffed and ready for a walk when we got back to the hotel. 

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

 Tom left Arizona without bringing any shorts, so we took a drive to Target on Monday so he could get a pair. He wore them around the apartment with the tags on to make sure they fit ok and I couldn't resist calling him Minnie Pearl.  

Yesterday, we loaded up Joey's stuff and our stuff, took Joey to Ben's house and Tom and I headed out on a road trip to Spooner, WI. We drove in a northeast direction through many small towns, stopping for a quick potty break and then to gas up in Shell Lake, the last town before getting to Spooner. We had talked with someone at the Best Western earlier in the week and had trouble communicating so we decided to just check it out when we got there.  A conversation with a gal at the Visitor's Center led us drive about 15 miles north to check out another lodging option. Neither of us were impressed as there were no cars around and the place looked really beat up.  The good thing about going out of our way is that the route took us past the Great Northern Railway where we will go on a dinner cruise tonight.

Before heading back to Spooner, I called the Best Western to check on availability and a guy named Blake gave us a really good deal on a room for the next two nights - the place is clean and well cared for and our room is spotless.  He told us about a couple of places within walking distance to get a burger and a beer.  Yea, right.  After unloading the car, we headed down the Wild River Trail that is adjacent to the motel and supposed to get us to Tony's Riverplace Bar, but after at least a mile and not seeing it, we walked back to the motel and got the car and drove there.  The service was great and our burgers were tasty. Tom had a couple of beers and I had an Old Fashioned.  We were stuffed and ready to settle in for the night.  

Sunday, August 9, 2026

 Not knowing the seating situation at  the Turf Club, we wanted to get there by the time the doors opened at 7pm last night, so we could get some decent seats. After attempting to squeeze into a parallel parking spot and not fitting, we ended up with the very last spot in the parking in the lot adjacent to the venue.  Emmy Wood, a local singer/songwriter started the show and neither of us were impressed.  When Ben arrived just before 8pm, he wasn't too impressed either. Dale Watson and The Lone Stars started right on time at 9pm and they put on a really great show, featuring all of the members of the band and Dale's singing and amazing guitar licks.  It was definitely a thumbs up performance.  

I'm certainly not used to being awake at midnight, but I made it and am thankful that I did.  I sure did feel sore and stiff from sitting on a stool for 3 hours but after stretches, a great shoulder massage from Tom and some coffee this morning, I'm not feeling too bad.  Is there really such a thing as aging gracefully?

Saturday, August 8, 2026

 I spent Thursday and Friday last week recovering from six days away from home - restocking a few groceries but other than that, resting. 

We had an all-day soaking rain last Sunday and Joey and I even had to do two of our walks in the rain.  We really needed it and it has made the grass turn green and grow taller again. Everything is looking lush again and I haven't had to water flowers for several days.

Monday this week was spent getting the house cleaned - getting ready for Tom's arrival on Wednesday.   My stomach was not feeling real great so I stuck pretty close to home. I did my laundry and stocked up on groceries, dog food, and beer and wine on Tuesday.

I hadn't seen Sue or Tom for a couple of weeks, so went over and hung out on their deck and talked with Sue for a couple of hours while Joey hung out indoors with Tom.  They invited Tom and I to come and join in on a family gathering they were having on Wednesday evening but I said we probably wouldn't be doing that, as Tom's flight was getting in around 5:00 pm.

I wanted to have some good food to serve Tom, after his day of travel, so I made a batch of Mrs. Gumtow's casserole and chopped up lots of veggies for a salad.  His flight was right on time and I waited in the cell phone lot until he was at the door.  It sure is good to see him again - not sure how long he is staying this time.  My lease has a clause that says guests are only allowed for two weeks each year, but since we don't have a manager right now, we are going to see what happens.  

Happy Birthday to my good friend, Patty!

We haven't done a lot other than taking good walks, listening to music and enjoying each other's company again. Tonight, we will be off to see Dale Watson at the Turf Club in St. Paul. Ben will meet us there, as he has a day of boating with friends scheduled.  

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

 The week of  July 13 was full of activities and appointments.  I helped with Food Shelf, had a haircut, did some shopping, and got my new crown. I am amazed at the technology today - they no longer take impressions with that funky, pasty, pink stuff that always set off my gag reflex.  Instead they use a camera that takes digital images and measurements of the tooth and then the new crown is made right in-house. No more temporary crown. I was out of there in 1.5 hours with a new crown and I don't have to go back until my next hygiene appointment.

My brother-in-law Denny ended up in the hospital with a bladder/UTI infection that led to him having Sepsis. He was there for 4 days and then sent home to recover.  I talked with him last Sunday and he said he was feeling better little by little and looking forward to seeing the Doctor next week for some answers regarding his current condition and recovery prognosis.

I took Joey to Ben's on Wednesday night, the 22nd, as he will be staying with them while I go to Stoughton for my class reunion and to connect with family and friends that I haven't seen since last September.  I drove to Stoughton on Thursday, landed at Dawn's, chatted for a few hours then went and had dinner with Pat and Tracey. I had really been missing them and it felt so good to see them again. Both are doing well.

On Friday morning, Pat took me to my appointment at UW Hospital for a consultation with a Neurologist. We were both very impressed with how informed they were about my experience (the technician had it all memorized and went through the series of events verbatim as if it had just taken place. She went and reviewed our discussion with the Neurologist and then they both came back in the room to talk with us. My brain has healed a lot since the initial seizures but there is still a small vulnerable area.  Because of the LGI-1 auto immune issue, I will need to continue having the Rituxan infusions for now and take the Keppra seizure medication.  She also set me up for future appointments with her and an epileptologist and a referral to a general practitioner in Stoughton when I eventually move here.

Pat and I stopped and shopped at Costco, took a tour of the west side of Madison where he had worked on several historic homes, and then we hung out until 3:00 when I left to meet Patty at the hotel for the next 2 nights of reunion activities (our annual girl's weekend).

The Friday night meetup at Deak's Tavern was lots of fun with about 22 classmates showing up.  There were lots of hugs, stories, memories, and laughter.  The place was pretty much cleared out by 9pm. 

On Saturday, after a morning walk and breakfast, we went to Patty's sister Sandy's 80th and her brother-in-law Denny's 85th birthday party in Wyocena. It was a great opportunity to see her extended family again, including her son AJ.  We couldn't stay too long as we had to get back and fit in a short nap before going to the reunion.

Me & AJ

The reunion was such a fun time and the organizers did a great job. We got there early, so we helped with putting up a banner and decorating the tables.  The turnout was about 35 classmates and some spouses and I talked to all but one or two.  Again - we were all ready to head out before 9pm, except for a few stragglers.

Front row left to right: Doug Olson, Jon Dahle, Richard Benson, Milt Sperle, Harvey Skaar, and ?

Back row: Art Mertz, Dennis Malinowski, ?, Monte Ortman, Jody Norem, Jim Cowee, Greg Jensen, Dennis Olbrecht, George Jorgensen, and Vern Bronson

Front: Alice Winters,, Mary Jo Jerdee, Pam Lynch, Anita Ellis, Pat Quale, Mary Monson

Middle:  Me, Donna Hawkinson, Nancy Gloyd

Back row: Margie Lund, Susan Brown, Nancy Stiklested, Mary Jo Norgaren, Linda Aslakson, 

Brenda Lunde, Mary Williams

Sunday was pretty low key - hanging out with Dawn, taking a nap, and having dinner with Pat and Tracey.

Dawn and I met up with cousins Jonnie, Mary, and Erin for breakfast at Sonny's in Oregon.  It was sad to see that Jonnie is not doing well - she has osteoporosis with tiny fissures in her spine - said to be caused by a lifetime of smoking cigarettes - paybacks are hell, right. She is on lots of meds and either sleeps or hurts most of the time.  Dang - I did not get a picture.  Dinner with Pat & Tracey.

We took a nice walk on Sunday morning, up to the grounds of Greenspire - the apartment complex that I will move to eventually. I was unable to get a tour, as they didn't have any vacant apartments to show. I then went to meet up with Mike's family - brother Tom & his wife Karen, sister-in-law Sharon, and cousin Louie at Off Broadway in Monona. Again, it was great to see them and catch up on the latest news.

I hung out with Pat and Tracey for a couple of hours Tuesday night, said my goodbyes, and then went and had Mexican dinner at Dawn's house with her friends Scott and Kim.  I settled in early as the next day was to be the drive back home.  

I was on the road by 8:40 and made it to Ben's house by 2:00 - only two backups due to construction and they weren't long. My car did great, as did I. Joey was happy to see me and also happy to get back home

July 12, 2026

 Most of my days have been hunkered down and getting walks in the neighborhood. I am now on day 11 of my 250 mg dose of Depakote and will drop to 0 mg on Wednesday. Yea!

This week I did do a small bit of driving. Deb and I went to visit a neighbor who fell and broke her pelvis and is in rehab at the Masonic Home nearby.  The buildings are gorgeous, as are the grounds and she lit up when we walked into her room.  Her family and the social services have determined that she is not able to live independently any more, as she is also having signs of dementia.  She did get pretty emotional when telling us about this decision - her son will be moving her to be near him in Arkansas this week.  This is one of the drawbacks to living in senior housing - you see this quite often.

My cupboards were bare, so we stopped and did some grocery shopping and made a stop at the local thrift store. It felt good to get out for a few hours.

My friend Elaine has also moved in with her daughter, as she had become very weak and I don't think she was eating right.  I talked with her briefly as she was leaving the building and she told me "I will be back".  We shall see.

Tom and Sue invited me and Judy to join them for burgers on the grill last Sunday, as Tom was trying out his new grill. They are such good neighbors! We enjoyed sitting on the deck and watching all of the birds that come to her feeders and birdbaths and also enjoying all of her beautiful gardens.  She is a plant lover like me and we can always talk about that subject. 

Last night, Ben and Jill took Lois and I out for belated birthday celebrations and we went to downtown Minneapolis to a very nice high end restaurant called Spoon and Stable.  I had my first Old Fashioned in a long time and chose Alaskan Halibut for my entree - it was deliciously seasoned and served on sticky rice and a piece of Bok Choy.  We shared some scallops and a beet salad. Everything was so delicious and seasoned very tastefully. They also brought the birthday girls a scoop of ice cream topped with cotton candy for dessert.

From there, we headed to the Guthrie Theater to see the play, "Come From Away", a story about September 11, 2001, 38 planes are diverted to the small town of Gander in Newfoundland that has a huge airport that had served as a staging area for allied troops heading to Europe during WWII. 7,000 people from all over the world ended up in this small town of about 6,000 and the townspeople came up with ways to feed, house, and care for them. It celebrated kindness, generosity, and diversity and was based on true events.  It was sad, but also lively and humorous.  After six days, the planes are finally cleared to take off and head for their original destinations - some back to New York where they saw the destruction for the first time.  What a lovely night out on the town!

Of course, this reminded me and Ben of that day, as he was traveling home from Japan and his flight was diverted from Los Angeles to San Francisco (his home).  Mike spent hours calling on the phone trying to get information about his flight and all that we learned was that he was on the plane when it took off from Tokyo.  He said they got off the plane and the airport was completely empty of people other than FBI and police. Jill was unable to even pick him up at the airport - the passengers had to be taken outside the airport by bus and they met up there.  I still have the article from the San Francisco Chronicle.