Just an interesting tidbit.

My Great Uncle Dale and his wife Hattie spent the majority of their lives in Ottumwa, Iowa. For the last 25 years of Dale’s live they lived at the same house on Queen Anne Ave. Hattie may have stayed in the house (she could have added another 45 years to the residency) or she may have moved to another residence, I’m not sure.

 I have too much time on my hands. I’ve been surfing the internet for houses for sale. Great Uncle Dale and Great Aunt Hattie’s home is for sale. And for a very reasonable price!

Max and I chatted this afternoon.

And it wasn’t one of our ordinary talks. You know, the ones that start out with my telling him he’s a handsome cat and has wonderfully soft fur, and then he says some rather harsh things regarding my ancestry, throwing in more than one expletive.

No this time he told me I was handsome and that he withdrew his claim that my mother wore army boots. He purred and gave me a gentle head butt. He was an adorable cat. It was a totally amazing experience.

And then it dawned on me. Tom must be slipping something into his water dish. I just need to find out what it is so I can force feed it to Max every day.

Good Days and Bad Days

Yesterday was a bad day. I woke at 4AM, thanks to a screechy cat and a full bladder. I tried to gather my wits and begin the day, but my wits weren’t into being gathered. I was dizzy and confused. It was all I could do to get to the bathroom and back without falling. Needless to say, that screechy cat went treatless until about 11AM.

So, the first half of my day was spent in bed and the second half was spent feeling a general malaise. I got little accomplished. I guess the high point of the day was that I never fell over. I say take your victories where you can get them, even if you do have to scrape the bottom of the barrel.

Today, I feel much better and my wits have allowed me to gather them. I no longer fear falling. I’ve gone for two walks, done the dishes and just generally been a housekeeper on the mend. And I remember a year ago today. Richard and I spent our last morning in Cape May, having a wonderful breakfast on the veranda of our hotel. We packed our bags and fetched the car and by now were exploring the Jersey Shore.

I miss him; more than words can convey.

The dilapidated barn next door.

It is a mess. It makes my house look good. I’m glad it is next door.

My morning walk was all the way to the barn. That is more exhausting in my head than it is in print. I compare it to a walk up the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. There is no comparison. I must get better so I can stroll the streets of Europe one more time.

Frankenstein

39 staples, 4 stitches and some Elmer's Glue later: they have put me back together.

(The staples and stitches have been removed, but my beauty queen days are over.)

Another trip to Portland

And my doctor had more good news.

I don’t have to go back to Portland until 2015. I am well enough that I don’t need to visit with my doc until January! I call that great news.

And no more chemotherapy.

I think this calls for dancing in the streets!

The whole motley crew.

Another sib trip has come and gone. My four sisters and I gathered to commemorate what would have been our mother’s 100^th birthday. And commemorate we did. We visited Mom’s old stomping grounds; Winlock, Kalama, Ridgefield, Vancouver. Flowers were laid on Mother’s grave and maple bars were eaten in her honor. My frailty prevented us from visiting her birthplace near Spokane as originally planned, but we made it work.

And of course, we gathered to cheer on the Ducks! And the Ducks won again!

A perfect weekend!