Recent events

MaryLou and I went to visit Jan and Ann near the end of May to see the last day of the Tour of California bike event. We had planned to visit the channel islands but the wind was so strong all trips were cancelled so we visited the national parks visitor center instead. Had a good fish lunch despite the weather. Here's Jan holding ML out of the wind and keeping her steady. Went the last day of the Tour arrived, 100,000 people came to see Lance and crew; so, we stayed home and watched it on live local TV. You couldn't get near the finish line.

Ann & Jan visited us before ML's birthday and brought great surprizes and gifts.

MaryLou decided she wanted to go to San Francisco for her birthday and visit all the places she lived growing up there and also see a new exhibit at the Legion of Honor museum. Here she is in fron of the next exhibitwhich we couldn't take pics of so I "snuck" one of her and also of this Louie 14 room.

We did the usual tourist thing and had fish on the wharf

saw the sights,(Alcatrez)

went to the Cliff House and saw the "flyers"and enjoyed the whole atmosphere.

MaryLou had enjoyed being "grandmother" to our housekeepers son. Paola brought MaryLou a beautiful dish of flan for her birthday and Angel had gifts, too. We took Hwy 1 down to Watsonville on the way home and enjoyed lunch in Half Moon Bay.

Most recently, I've increased my activities: playing golf and riding my bike. I'm up to 20 miles in just 4 rides however the last one wasn't so good. When the ride was over and I stopped I couldn't keep my balance and fell over...ugh. To make things worse, two days later while trimming one of our trees I fell again and really messed myself up. Now I'm scratched, brusied and sore all over; oh well, better next time.

Love to all you who read this and keep us in your prayers.

Blessngs

Lots has happened since my last post: I had my second knee surgery and ensuing physical therapy. Am better than ever now.

I had Larry and Donna over to celebrate his 58th birthday. Made him a coconut cake but it wasn't my best effort.

March 26 was Mom's 94th birthday: Sam and Margie, the us "local" all met with her in her private dining room for cake and ice cream after a big Thai dinner. She wanted broccoli beef for some reason.

Easter week was marked with wild weather: near 80 one day and 60 the next. Heavy rain and snow for several day; good part it helped with the drought.

I sold my fifth wheel and truck and bought a Nissan Pathfinder. It actually fits in the garage which is the first time in 4 years I could put my vehicle inside.

There's a huge emply space where the "5er" was. I found out I could pull a small trailer with the Nissan so ???

I had 2 new fences put in and have lots of new plants, an arbor and trellis to put up. I have to rototiller the ground and add better soil before I can plant. I want to paint the back fence so the flowers will stand out.

My "designer" iris finally bloomed after 5+ years. I had a few friends over yesterday to celebrate the blessings.

I hope to do some traveling in the next few months: going to see Ann & Jan, want to visit Catalina and the Channel Islands. We were invited to Las Vegas to visit MaryLou's friend, Bev,

in July.

Wise woman of the tribe

This post includes highs and lows of the last month. I celebrated my 65th birthday and while I know some people wouldn't want to promote the occasion but as my friend, Dori, wrote on her card you are the newest wise woman of the tribe. I really liked that idea because in a way it's as important date as 21 only now you are officially an elder. Many cultures value elders in ways the USA doesn't; considering the experience as important.

My dearest life long friend, Ann, and her husband, Jan, invited me to celebrate with them on the coast for the weekend. Her birthday is the day after mine AND she's much older than I am. haha...one year. We had a great time and I had my birthday lunch at my favorite restaurant, Fat Cat's, in Avila Beach.

Next big event was my second knee surgery to correct the wobble by installing a thicker liner. It was a great experience: very professional RNs, great care & concern and good results. There was very little swelling and good flexibility the next day. Am in physical therapy now and meet my goal range of motion the first 2 weeks. Now I'm working on strength.

The lowest point was the same week of my surgery. Ari, my first standard poodle, and a dear dog had to be put down. I miss his love and presence alot. Here's a few last pictures at the beach and the lake.

Despite the loss, spring and life's renewal has begun in Central California. Sorry to those of you under the snow right now. We put our day bed on the patio for sunny naps; the peach tree is blooming. We've had a lot of rain but not enough to make up for 4 years of drought. Many farmers have lost their orchards and vineyards.

I'm looking forward to a full recovery so I can ride my bike in a century next fall if that's not too an ambitious goal.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone.

I had to look at my notes to see where I left off. The biggest October event was finishing my term on the Federal Grand Jury as deputy foreman. We had a ceremony with the judge and had our pictures taken and awards were given for perfect attendance and certificates of appreciation.

Novemeber last found ML & I sick with sinsus stuff and didn't do anything for Thanksgiving. I restarted PT to tighten up my knee but it didn't solve the problem.

I added another day of volunteering at Saint Agnes Medical Center (http://samc.com/UMAP.asp) in December in the preop. waiting room. We noted our being in here at 1035 W. Ashcroft for 20 years on the 22nd which was also Ubi's 9th birthday. We started feeling better and went to see several movies, I went to 3 Xmas parties and of course shopping. My best gift of all was Larry asking me to go with him on a whirlwind trip to San Diego to see Cody, Heather and little Sam.

On the way down we say a B-1 bomber near Edwards AFB. Little Sam was a joy to see; his red hair floats around his head like a halo of fire. Larry had the time of his life playing with him in Margie's Harry Potter closet with whistles and flashlights. Larry gave him an unwrapped gift and he cried until it was properly wrapped. The gift was a Carthart blanket which provided hours of entertainment while Larry drug him all around the house, then it was a swing, then something else. Sammy's a real man's boy; didn't like the women too much.

2010 has started with me deciding to have another knee surgery to correct the wobble by inserting a thicker liner. Ugh it's scheduled for Feb. 8. Then more PT.

I hope 2010 brings us all lots of peace, love and joy!

What's happening now!

What's up with us: September seemed to fly by. ML went from supposedly needing a pacemaker to having a CPAP machine and is feeling better. We spent 4 days up in the hills at the SKP (http://escapees.com/) park we discovered. It's a interesting concept as it's a nonprofit orgainzation with multiple levels of membership. We joined at the lowest level but are interested in possilbly buying in for a permanent space in the Coarsegold park. tp://www.parksierra.net/ I went to a prayer meeting for the first time in years and reconnected with a woman I'd known since 1975. She's 90 years old and still loves the Lord; what a blessing she's been to so many for so long. I'm still losing weight; thank God and am feeling good.

October has been eventful: ML had 2 cataracts removed and doesn't wear glasses any more after 72 yrs of wearing them. I had one removed and no more glasses for now. Ari ate half a bottle of Rimadol and had to go to the vet's ER and is just now recovering after 2 wks of meds, etc. I volunteered to provide support for the Bass Lake Powerhouse 200 mile bike event (http://www.fresnocycling.com/powerhouse/2006/) and along the way discovered an alpaca ranch with a 2 wk old baby. We followed several riders insuring they stayed on course and were ok.

We continue the downsizing idea with a plan to move in the next 5 yrs. This weekend I'm having a big yard sale in hopes of moving out some of the stuff we've accumulated over the last 20 yrs here. We've been looking a mobile or manufactured homes; so far, I like some in the mountains above Oakhurst in an area called The Grove. http://www.yosemitegrove.com/

I took Mom out for a ride last month and should try again this month as it seems to perk her up a little. She's slowly declining but is more contented and less angry. I went out and cleaned her power chair and found it needed a part I haven't been able to locate yet. It's useable so....

I can't believe I'll be 65 yo in 3 months; however the change in the weather produces aches and pains I haven't had before. My new knee lets me know to get going and get the kinks out which I do by walking the dogs every day.

Recovery and Discovery

I finished my physical therapy and the MD said I was doing very well and wouldn't see me again for 4 months. No more "Franken knee".

Sam and Margie visited us this month as their lives are changing job wise. It was fun and different; we ate out and they stayed in a motel. Larry's girls joined us and we had fun catching up with their lives.

As you can see my brothers have really matured over the years ;))!

One thing I'm struggling with these days is finding a place I can volunteer which enriches me by letting me use my experience fully. My dream is working/being outside enjoying people and helping them some how. I've explored SAGing for various groups. This month I helped Team in Training but there's more coaches than participants. So...I don't think that's it.

Another struggle I have is trying to help MaryLou with her health issues and diminishments. She's had a full heart assessment and learned her arteries, veins, valves and rhythms are good but her pulse is very slow but not enough for a pacemaker. Now she's having a sleep study tonight and hopefully that process with yield some help for her. It may indicate she does need a pacemaker.

I took a trip up to Jones' Store north of Bass Lake some 11 miles; it's one of my favorite spots and it gave me and the dogs a break.

Knee Replacement

This last month has been all about having surgery and recovering from it. I'm doing really well but have had a few ups and downs. My surgeon used what he called the quad saving technique which results in faster recovery as the quad muscle & tendon aren't cut. I would highly recommend him to anyone; for more info check out this site: http://www.spoc-ortho.com/phys_gill.html

Here's the first two weeks of pictures: I had to use a walker for 2 days then went to a cane. This is week one:
Week two
After two weeks, they took the staples out; a few hours later, it opened up and I had to go back in. They glued and taped it shut; here's what that looked like.

The tape is now working it's way off and I'm almost as flexible as they are working for. Larry, my PT, and Tyra, my massage therapist, have been great to work with. My knee is at 110 degrees and we're going for 120.

Along with this surgery I've been trying to lose weight to ease the knee as much as possible; since April 1, I've lost over 30 lbs. As always there's been mixed results but I have always lost something each time I weight in. I wish I had taken a before picture but will try to add one from this year for comparison. This was me in January of this year at the party Sam threw for me.