Memories...

I learned today that my great aunt Elizabeth had a stroke and is now at Fairview Ridges Hospital. I do not know her prognosis, but since she's 93 years old, I am not completely optimistic.

I remember spending the night at her house in Virginia, MN, where she lived with her father, my great grandfather Olaf. Olaf was born in Sweden, and by the time I was old enough to have memories of him, his hearing was almost gone. He would shout at me in Swedish, and I would reply in English, and somehow, we understood each other (or at least that's what my memory is telling me now).

Elizabeth still worked back then, so she hired a woman from Greece to watch over my great grandpa. The Greek woman's name escapes me, but I remember she made these great potato dish (okay, the name of the dish also escapes me), and she was thrilled that I liked it.

I haven't seen my great aunt in a while, and the last time I did, it was clear that she was getting older. I am comforted knowing that if Elizabeth does pass, she will join her sister, my beloved Grandma Fran. My memories of G'ma Fran (as she abbreviated it) would fill many Web pages. For now, I will just sum it up: She was one cool grandma!

Life is good

(With apologies to Jugglernaut for stealing her post title.)

Last Saturday, I assembled our new entertainment center. This Tuesday, the Husband will pick up a new area rug for our family room. When Ikea is restocked, I will pick up our new coffee table (that matches the entertainment center).

But do you know what's really good?

Yesterday evening, the Husband and I simply sat on our deck with Pepper and soaked in the beauty of a late summer evening. There was a nice breeze and the temperature and humidity were in check. Pepper noticed some deer in the field bordering our back yard, but (somehow) managed to keep himself from charging (behavior we quickly rewarded with some treats).

Before long, the leaves will start changing (and it'll be time to get out the rakes). Raking aside, I love Fall. The coolness, the colors, the reduced dew points... (sigh). Is August over yet?

Any online shoppers out there?

I figure that if you're reading a blog, you may well be the type of person who may also engage in a little commerce online too. (Is that too much of an assumption?)

Here's a little something that may be of use: retailmenot.com.

You know how there's a space on the online order form for a coupon code so you can save a little moola? Well, if you're ordering online, check this site first to see if there's a coupon code for your online merchant (if you don't already have one).

Online merchants put their codes everywhere (like Coldwater Creek, which puts the codes on those annoying cards you find in magazines). The problem that I have is that I never have a code handy when I am actually ordering.

Hope you find this useful!

Camping 2007

We (the husband, the dog and I) went camping on Big Sandy Lake north of McGregor, MN this past week (for two nights). The weather was beautiful and we had a nice time. Pepper had a great time -- he got to go swimming a bunch of times and he even tried his hand (paw?) at duck hunting (the duck got away).

The week of Independence Day we went camping at a place near Lanesboro, MN (down south). We did not have as much fun since it was so unbearably HOT. The pool was wonderful... and badly needed. Someday we may venture south again, but not in July!

Postsecret

If you have never visited Postsecret, I need to ask: Where have you been? It's a unique site to which people send their secrets (written on postcards). Some are sad, some hit close to home, some are scary and some are kinda funny.

The site gets refreshed every Sunday. This week is a treat -- instead of postcards, Frank (the Postsecret guy) has a mini movie. Cool stuff.

35W

First things first: my heart aches for those who died, were injured, or were at all impacted by yesterday's awful tragedy in Minneapolis. My thoughts are with the victims and their families, as well as the emergency workers who are risking their safety to rescue and recover people.

Growing up in Roseville, I had plenty of opportunities to cross the 35W bridge on my way to Minneapolis. I did not like that bridge. When I was a younger driver, I was never thrilled to go over any bridge (an irrational fear, I know), but that particular bridge was bad because the exit I typically took (Washington Avenue) required me to merge to the far right hand lane while driving over the Mississippi. I preferred to stay to the middle lane on bridges so I wouldn't accidentally go off the side (I said this was irrational, didn't I?).

I thought that I was past my fear of bridges until now.

This morning as I drove to work, I had to cross the Minnesota River from Eagan to Bloomington. Even with my exit approaching, I found myself in the inner-most lane -- just like old times! Man, that bridge is longer than I thought! It seemed like it took forever to cross.

I can't begin to imagine what the survivors of this terrible collapse must feel. I truly hope they all get whatever help they need (I see a lot of post-traumatic stress syndrome coming to Minneapolis). May their hearts be calmed and bodies be healed.

No End In Sight

I really don't know if I want to see this movie, but I am very glad it was made.

The next draft pick for the Minnesota Twins

This is my nephew Cody. He'll be 14 this fall, but he already is showing major league form.

This is getting really old...

Many of you know that I have been seeing doctors for a "mystery illness" that I have had since January. Well, it's almost July and while we know that I don't have a bunch of things (including lymphoma, leukemia, Lyme's disease, fibromyalgia, etc.), we do not yet know what exactly I do have.

My symptoms come and go, with no rhyme or reason. Basically, I feel as if I have the flu with body aches (bordering on pain) and occasional chills. Last night, around 11:40 p.m., my body woke me up (grrrrr...) with incredible chills and aches. It felt like I had ice water going through my veins instead of blood. I could not stop shivering! I went to my bathroom and took my temperature (per my latest doctor's instructions) and found that I was at 98.2°. For all that shivering I figured that I would at least have a lousy fever!

Fine. I put on pajamas over my night shirt, take two codeine, get another blanket and go back to bed... where I tossed and turned and shivered for another hour before falling back asleep. Almost three hours later I woke up again, took off the additional pajamas, tossed off the blanket and went back to sleep (now feeling a little better). Did I mention that this is getting old?

I see my latest doctor (a rheumatologist) again in mid-July. If he does not have any answers by then I want to see another specialist. Hematologist, gastroenterologist, immunologist, neurologist, shaman, veterinarian, I don't care!

Does anyone have any ideas? Home remedies? Harder drugs? Help!

6/28/07

2:15 PM

In memoriam

RIP - My home air conditioner (1986-2007)

After a long, warm illness (i.e., running all the time and the interior temperature would still be 83°), we had our AC checked this morning. The news was not good.

Well, we have only purchased two houses and both needed new units. Next time we buy a house, you know the first thing I will check is the AC! (Fortunately, we are not going to be house-shopping for many years.)

Bah!

A new post! (summer plans)

Could it be??

Am I actually posting to my glob?

It's true! I even have a topic... what I am going to do over the summer.

Our first little vacation will be to southern Minnesota, camping with some friends. We'll be at the Old Barn Resort, but we will slumber in our tent (complete with our dog, Pepper).

Our next little vacation will be up to McGregor, Minnesota -- again for some camping. This time it's at a US Forest Service campground on Big Sandy Lake (again, we will be joined by The Pep). After a few nights in the tent, we will go to lovely Proctor, MN for a family wedding reception. The good news is that my family knows how to have a good time!

I am hoping that the next little vacation will involve walls and a real bed... perhaps in Mexico!

Six Months to Live

No, this is not my prognosis!


It's a music project my bro is involved with. Check out their site. If you click on Members, you can get a look at one of the most talented rock/prog/punk percussionists the Twin Cities has ever seen (i.e., my bro). I will let you guess which one he is... but he's not in the Dead Judds (that's your hint).


Anyway, they have a gig a week from tomorrow - Friday, June 1 at Club Underground. Just go already! It's only $5... I know you can handle that and score a beverage to boot!



Did you go to the site to find my brother? I will give you another hint:

Mon Dieu! Il y a de plus??

Yes, there's more!

Not only am I going to see The Police, Spamalot, and Rush, my Better Half and I are going to see Kooza by Cirque du Soleil. Ça sera merveilleux!

What is your quest?

This is my summer of big events! I have tickets for The Police on July 3 and Rush on September 9... but I will also be attending Spamalot in late July.



This should help me deal with the question that has plagued me for years. What is the air-speed velocity of the laden swallow???

Did you guess?

The thing that I have in common with the other people listed is that we are all ordained ministers in the Universal Life Church.

I became ordained last year to help a friend who needed an officiant for her upcoming wedding (her and her fiancé are different religions). As it turns out, another friend needed an officiant too, so I ended up performing two weddings last August!

So there you have it!

Interesting!

What do the following people have in common?

• Me
• The Beatles (all four of them)
• Johnny Carson
• Hunter S. Thompson
• Tony Danza
• Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
• Carson Kressley (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy)
• Courtney Love
• Alanis Morisette
• Jeff Probst (Survivor)
• Orville Redenbacher
• Jerry Reinsdorf (owner of the Chicago White Sox)
• Sharon Stone
• John Waters
• Wolfman Jack

If you know, don't give it away! I will give the answer on a future post.

My virtual puppy!

adopt your own virtual pet!

Go ahead and play with her! She's a lot of fun.

Cute movie

Stranger Than Fiction. A good way to spend 113 minutes.

April is...

Alcohol Awareness Month

National Autism Awareness Month

National Occupational Therapy Month

National Parkinson's Awareness Month

What does this mean???

Okay - here's the scoop on what we know: My C-reactive protein reading is 5.7. Normal readings are 1.0 or less. My sedimentation rate reading was 39 on 2/28 and 47 on 3/20. Normal readings for a woman under age 50 is 20 or less. The problem is that neither of these tests is very specific. They both indicate some sort of inflammation or infection. Whatever. All of my other tests are normal. I would love a specific test that gave a specific result that would help us take specific action toward a specific treatment. Can I be more specific? These tests were re-done on 3/27. I am awaiting news that they are both decreasing. Otherwise, it's off to see another doctor! (Yippee.)