January 28, 2012-Not Much Going On

I've been inside all week. Not much happening. I've been working on photos. I'm feeling more pains in my right side. I have a lump in my groin. I think I mentioned that before. Every now and then I get a little stinging pain in that area.. My knee and leg pain comes and goes. It is there every day but sometimes it's not as bad. I'm trying to be very careful not to twist that knee.
I haven't heard anything at all from Nina so I don't know how Salena is doing. I'm going to try and call Nina this weekend. She only has her cell phone. I wish she had a home phone. That's why I don't call her and wait for her to call me. She might be driving or at school so I never bother. But I wish she would call me more often. Salena hasn't been on Facebook either. I send her messages but no answer.
This sure is a weird winter. We got maybe a half inch of snow the other morning and then it got warm again and rained all day yesterday. Today it's 40 degrees and cloudy. They say we might get a dusting of snow tonight. But it's going to be in the 30's all week.
I was seeing the red squirrel every day but for the past two days I haven't. Hope she's still alive. That hawk is watching all the time. One of the BlueJays wasn't so lucky and the hawk caught it. He ate it right in front of me for 40 minutes. It was good for photos and videos though.
I have a headache today. Not sure why. I didn't get much sleep again. That woman was up every two hours flushing the toilet and waking me up. I've been awake since 5:30. It's not good for my body. Maybe I should buy one of those 'White Noise" machines. I sure can't nap during the day with my birds. Ricky drives me nuts.
Maybe I'll be back sooner than this, next time. But if there's nothing to talk about then I won't be. So take care everyone. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

January 22, 2012- Still Very Cold But Got Out

Salena before her operation and after. She doesn't realize that those pain meds are making her feel good. I just hope she's careful till she heals. She's so cute..

It was close to zero again this morning. The sun did come out all day but it only got up to 23. I had to get out though so I took a chance with my bad knee. The guy upstairs had cleaned my car off all week and shoveled around it so I got in easy anyway. That is so nice of him and his wife to do that. They were doing that for everyone last year but this year Wanda said they only clean mine and Lucile's off. That's because no one thanked him or appreciated all that work. I thanked him every time and at the end of winter gave him an American Express gift card with a nice card. He told Wanda that I'm the only one that gave him anything. I can't believe how cheap some people can be. I sure appreciate it, that's for sure!
I unlocked my car and the doors even opened. I thought for sure they'd be frozen. So God was on my side today. My knee was paining but I was careful. I had to go to Aubuchon Hardware and to Walmart. I wanted to get everything I needed so I wouldn't have to ask anyone. When I got home is when I had the hardest time getting up out of my car. I could not get a good foothold because there was a little ice under my boot so I moved the car over a bit where there was a bare spot. But pushing myself up was real hard this time. I must have hurt my right shoulder from doing that because it's hurting tonight. But at least I got home safely and now I won't have to go out again for another ten days. It's been eleven days since I was last out.
Salena came home yesterday. I haven't talked to her mom yet. It was Salena's 11th birthday today so I guess they were probably busy.
Nina had posted a couple pictures of Salena when she was in the hospital so I'm putting them here also. I collaged them first of course.
We are supposed to have warmer weather tomorrow but it will be rainy and windy. In fact they say it will be slick all morning. That's why I wanted to go today. When it gets warmer the snow turns to slush and makes everything more slippery.
My little red squirrel comes around every day now. It's so cute but that darn hawk was out there today. I sure hope he never gets caught.
My Cockatiel saw the hawk and went screaming into the kitchen and crashing into the wall. One of these days he'll break his neck doing that. He's really afraid of everything.
I talked to Jane today. She's fasting and getting ready for a colonoscopy on Tuesday. Debby starts back to work in the morning. That's going to be hard, getting up at 5 am again. I haven't heard anything from Jeanne. Or anyone else. So no family news to report.
So now I'm heading to bed.
Take care everyone.

January 20, 2012-Update On Salena

"Hi everyone my surgery went well today and I am just getting up and I feel good :)"

This is what Salena wrote on her Facebook wall tonight at 8:00 pm.

Salena had a pin put in her hip. Her Growth plate had shifted so she had to have surgery today. She's been on crutches for a couple months. The doctor didn't diagnose her right and had sent her to therapy which was a very bad thing.. I'm glad it's over and she's feeling good. She's going home tomorrow.
She had it done at the Syracuse University Hospital.
Now I just hope she's careful so she heals up right and won't have a limp. This is a drawing of where her problem was.

It was a beautiful clear day but it didn't get out of the teens today. Debby stopped over this afternoon. She was doing laundry and then going to Walmart. She picked me up a few items. I made dinner for us and she stayed till 7 pm. She goes back to work on Monday but will have to work sitting down. She's been out for five weeks now. She is walking on her foot but has pain in it all the time. The doctor for Remington told her that she did have a slight fracture. She's just hoping she will do okay.
When she was on her way to therapy this morning she had a slight accident in the parking lot near the Ilion Post office. Some guy passed her on the right side. The cop came over but didn't take many notes. Debby didn't even know the guy's name but she will when she gets the report from the cops. She did turn it in to her insurance. Her vehicle has a big hole in it now. The left side fender I think. She has to pay $200 deductible though so she don't know when she'll get it fixed. Poor Deb. It's always something.
My knee is crunching and very painful. Feels like all the cartilage has gone. The right side of my belly is tender all the time now. I will just wait and see what happens. One day at a time is all I can do.
We are supposed to get some snow tomorrow. And it's going to be in the 40's on monday! Maybe I can get out if my knee cooperates.
That's about it for today. Take care everyone.

January 19, 2012 Frosty Morning here

Everything was covered with frost out there this morning. It was 5 degrees at 7 am. I think because of the damp weather yesterday and the day before is why there was so much frost. It sure looks pretty though. There was even frost on my window.
Well, I'll be waiting to hear if Salena has to have an operation or not. I won't know till Nina calls me. Unless I call her late tonight.
I saw my first red squirrel in over four years yesterday! I couldn't believe I was seeing one when I first opened the window yesterday to feed the critters. It was running between the gray squirrels and must have run and hid when he heard me. I looked and looked but never saw him again till noon. Then there he was right outside my window on the fencing. So of course I got lots of pics which are on my other blog.
The wind was wicked all that night so maybe this squirrel lost his home. I hope not. He stayed out there for a few hours then disappeared. I am just glad to know that there are some still in the area.
Even though it's wicked cold this morning, the sun is shining and it's supposed to warm up into the 20's.
Have a nice day everyone.

January 17, 2012-Snow-Salena's Hip

I woke up to snow on the ground this morning. It got warmer as the day went on but it didn't melt much. It was only about an inch but that's enough to keep me inside. I didn't dare try to go out with my knee the way it is.
I thought Nina would call to say she was bringing the girls over but she never did. I saw Salena on Facebook around six pm so asked her if her mom was teaching. She wrote back and said that her mom had just gotten home and that she'd call. She called around 6:15. She said she's teaching three nights a week but two of them are in Utica at Mohawk Valley CC. And Salena has been watching Jessi while Nina teaches. I guess she's not gone that long. So that's good. And Jason gets home by 5:30 or 6:00.
Nina was on her way to Walmart so I asked to stop at Aubuchon to get me bag of critter food. She was going to Walmart to get some cupcakes for Salena's birthday party at school. Her birthday is Sunday but they are having it early because Salena might have to have surgery on her hip Friday. They took more x-rays of her hip and finally the doctor realized something else was wrong. Now they think she has a misplaced hip plate. It's very unusual for a girl. Usually boys have that problem the doctor said. He is sending her to Syracuse University Hospital because the doctors are better up there and they know more about that problem. So poor Salena might be having surgery. She will be laid up for a while afterwards.
All the physical therapy she's been having was bad for her. You might know! The damn doctors get things wrong so much. She's taking it well. She says that she'd rather have the surgery if it will make her walk better after. She's not supposed to put any weight at all on that leg and she has been for a couple months. Her father will stay over night up there on Thursday if they say she has to stay. They are giving her an MRI up there on Thursday first to see exactly what is wrong and what they have to do. She might have to have a pin put in her hip. Poor kid. That's going to hurt. She asked me if she'd have pain after it was over. I said yes but they will give her pain pills and it probably won't last too long. I made her laugh when I told her that I had my whole butt taken out and it wasn't too painful. And I never took one pain pill after I got home. I did when I was in the hospital though. But the pain never was real bad. They always ask what I thought it was on a scale of 1 to 10. I'd always say maybe a three. I just hope Salena won't have too much pain. Her under arms are already sore from the crutches. She said she has to walk down those long halls at school. Maybe she should have a wheelchair. There's no stairs there.
I was thankful that Nina got the bag of nuts for me. Now I won't worry about the critters and I have enough groceries for another week. And if I do need anything and can't make it out, Nina said to call and she will pick it up for me. The weather will be turning cold again and we might get more snow. Our next warmer day won't be till Sunday or Monday. It did get up to 44 today. But that was later in the day. Now I can hear the wind blowing and it's raining.
My knee wasn't as painful today, thank heavens.
That's it for now. Take care everyone.

January 16, 2012-My Pains

It was below zero again last night. It did get up to about 22 by late afternoon. I'm glad that cold spell is over. It's going to be a bit warmer tomorrow but the bad part is they say it could be icy in the morning if it turns to rain. I did want to get out tomorrow but I might not be able to. If I can't I'll have my daughter pick me up what I need. I think I'm supposed to watch the girls tomorrow night. (Tuesday) But haven't heard anything from Nina yet.
I woke up at 1:30 in the morning and went to lie on my left side. But this wicked burning pain started in my liver so I turned back around and it went away. I've noticed small pains now and then when I lie on that side. It scared me. I do have tender spots now on my right side. So who knows. It might be starting.
And all afternoon I could hardly walk because of the pain in my left knee. It was okay when I got up and all of a sudden it started and I still can't get rid of it. There's no way I could go out with it hurting like this. I'll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings. I'm just glad the weather is getting warmer again. I had to keep one side of my living room drapes closed so the birds wouldn't get cold. They can catch a cold easy and die. I think Ricky likes it that way better. Then he can't see all those big bad birds outside..LOL My neighbor down the hall called today to tell me she saw the hawk eating something yesterday afternoon. I know the hawk came down and got a dove right outside my window because there's feathers and blood all over. But they have to eat too.
That's all for today. Got to keep moving. Take care everyone.

January 15, 2012-Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

All I can say is Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr! It was 14 degrees below zero here this morning!!! Had a little snow the past two days but nothing to brag about. But this cold snap is wicked. I'm so glad I don't have to go anywhere. The sky is blue today but it's only getting up to about 12 degrees. better days are ahead. back to the low 30's by Tuesday and then in the 20's. We have been spoiled with warmer weather than usual this winter.
I've been busy on Facebook with old town pictures and people sharing theirs. It's been fun but now I'm tired of it all. Jean gave me that CD of an old high school group so naturally I had to make a slide show with snippets of the songs in it. No one seems to have any pictures of that band. That seems odd. But I did the best I could with what I had. It's on my Youtube site.
Other than that I haven't been doing anything else. My left leg and knee has something wrong inside to hurt like it does sometimes. I guess I should get it looked at but not till spring.. I'll put up with the pain a while longer.
Take care everyone and stay warm if you are in cold country.

Had Lunch With Some Classmates-January 11, 2012

Yesterday was a beautiful day and a perfect day for getting out. I met some old classmates over at Denny's at noon and we had a good time chatting about the old days and whatever is going on in our lives at the moment. Cynthia couldn't make it to eat because she was eating over in Ilion with people but did manage to get over to Denny's to visit for a while with us. It was her birthday also so I'm sure she was having a busy day.
Two of the girls have pacemakers. One, Brenda, is having some problems with hers. It keeps moving. She didn't like the doctor that did it either. Bassett. She's thinking about getting a lawyer to sue. Another doctor suggested it to her. I would if I were her. They can't take that one out and redo it either for some reason. She also has to have biopsies on her liver next week. She might have cirrhosis.
Dee had a pacemaker put in last year and so far she is doing real well with it. Thank heavens.
We all have our problems. It comes with old age sometimes..Ha!
I was just happy that there was no snow and the sun was shining, so I could get out. We didn't leave there till around 2:00. Then I went back home for a pit stop and went back out to get groceries. I didn't get home till almost 5:00. I was tired and sore from all the running. But glad I got the grocery shopping done because this morning there was about an inch of snow and sleet on the ground. Some schools were closed. It's melting by afternoon then by tomorrow it starts getting real cold and we might get from 3 to 6 inches of snow. Going to be down in the teens by the weekend with single digits at night. So here comes our winter.
Jean gave us a copy of songs from our old high school band named the Manhattens. I ripped them to my computer and might make a slide show if I can find more pics of the guys. One of the girls I talk to on Facebook is married to one of them. She's the one who sent the songs to Jean and Jean then made copies for some of us. Along with their group picture. We had fun talking about those old days when there was always a dance somewhere in Ilion every weekend. They'd have them at the YMCA, the K of C and at the Municipal building and I remember going to the Elk's Lodge for one too. They even had block dances outside in the summer. Those were the good old days for us. I wished I had never gotten married so young. I missed out on the last year of high school and all that fun. But it was the circumstances at the time and everything just got all screwed up when our mom died But never look back. What is in the past can;'t be changed now..Ha!
I'm hoping I feel good enough to go again for lunch with the girls when the weather gets nice again. And maybe a couple more will come.
Today I'm a bit sore. Got a back ache but that will go away as the day passes. I'll take a couple Ibuprofen.
It's 11:17 am and there are big snow flakes falling....I'm going to enjoy seeing the snow come down tomorrow. This coming down today will be turning into rain or snow all day probably. It's not that cold yet. About 36.
So that's all for now. Here's a picture of all of us yesterday. Take care everyone.

January 8, 2011-Where Does The Time Go?

I haven't been here in five days?? Wow! Guess I've been too busy over on Facebook loading pictures of our old town. The old ones and the new. Now a few other people are loading theirs. I told them all they could download any of mine they wanted. My cousin, Cory, got into it and he has way more than I do and so many I've never seen. But I'm getting tired of that. Got to get back to just my critters and family pics. I have spent too much time answering everyone. It's starting to annoy me..
I haven't been doing much else. The weather is warming up again and it's going to be in the 40's all week. There were a few flakes of snow this morning but that was it. Then the sun came out.
I'll be busy this week too. I am supposed to have lunch on Wednesday with a few old classmates. Hope I'm feeling up to it that day. I've never done that before. Then I have to go shopping for some more groceries. Not sure which day I'll feel like doing that.
I finally did get all my Christmas stuff put away. I had a back ache yesterday though. I can't do much at one time any more. Even doing the vacuuming is hard for me now. I'm always afraid I'm going to fall. Good thing this is a small apartment and I can hold onto things as I go. I guess one of these days I'll need help. I can get a girl from the county to come in. But I hate people in my space. But when it comes time I think I really need the help then I will ask for it.
The mold is making my head feel stuffy in this bedroom where I sit on the computer. I'd move it but it's a hard job for me now. Guess I better get the bleach spray out and spray all the corners again. I'm not sure what it is but something is bothering me.
I haven't heard from my daughter so the kids still haven't come to get their Christmas gifts. Soon I'll be watching the girls again on Tuesday nights while their mom teaches a class. Nina wants to come when Jordan is with her but maybe he hasn't been down or someone is still sick. I never know. She never calls.
Nothing else going on. And I don't feel like typing today so I will say so long for now.
Take care everyone.

January 3, 2011-Brrrrrrr!

It is real cold today. About 15 degrees but the wind chill makes it feel -3. We got some snow overnight but not much. I'd say maybe an inch or two. The sun is out today so it doesn't look like we will be getting any more snow. I saw one fox outside last night and the Opossum came by later. Sure wish I could get pictures but they will run away if they even see me at the window. At least with snow on the ground I can see them better at night. And see their little tracks.
The cold doesn't stop the squirrels. They were all down here at 7:30 am.
I'm so glad I can stay inside now for a few days or more. The next time I go out I have remember to get some rock salt to keep in my trunk. That's for when I go out it will be bare around my car and it also keeps it easier to shovel when I have to hire someone. At least when it only snows a little I don't worry about it. By the time I go out again it will be warmer and melted.
I've been uploading old Ilion pictures and some county pictures of buildings that I found online a couple years ago. Also some old trolley pictures that I got from newspaper articles. I opened those albums to the public on Facebook so anyone can download them. Trouble is now everyone wants to be a friend. Most just the Ilion kids though so I don't mind.
So it's just a relaxing day. My knee and left leg are really hurting today. I guess it's from trying to get up those stairs yesterday. I pulled the ligaments again. The bones actually are crunching in that outer knee area. Yuck.. The Ibuprofen isn't helping either. But I'll survive. I always do! Ha!
I ordered my yearly book from Sharedbook. That's from this site. I ordered on last year for the year. I can keep this running diary in book form for the grand kids to read someday. I always get mine in black and white though so it's cheaper. The cover and back cover pictures are in color though. But I had 150 pages for this year so it cost me $24.95, which isn't bad.

Have a nice day everyone.

January 2, 2012-Went To Uncle Bill's Wake

I woke up this morning and looked out the window, expecting to see snow but there wasn't any! It was quite breezy yet but still 33 degrees. So I did get out at 1 pm to the funeral home. I am sure glad there wasn't any snow or I don't think I would have gotten in there too well. I parked in the first handicapped spot. But it sat on an incline and the ground is a bit rough. Then no one told me there was a ramp and a back door if I needed it so I had to go in the side entrance and go up a few steps. That was very hard for me to do.
I never would have recognized Uncle Bill. He sure did not look like he used to. Even his son, Jim, said he thought it was someone else at first. Aunt Betty was sitting in the first chair. At least it was comfortable because I sat right next to her, in one like it, for a while to talk. She kept telling everyone that came by that Bill didn't look like that and would show them his picture. She also said she has fallen twice recently while she was alone. She'll be in a nursing home next. And she's getting forgetful.
Met Billy's wife for the first time. She seems nice. Their little boy is a cutie. Jim and his wife and daughter got home Friday. Billy got there the day before I think.
I had gone out on Saturday afternoon to Aubuchon to get critter food then went to Walmart. I ran into Diana and Megan ( Jim's wife) there. They were stocking up for New Year's Eve. That's when Diana told me about her dad being in pain and not good at all the two days before he died. His lungs were so bad. I think she said it was a pulmonary embolism in his lungs that did it, but he had other problems too. He was 81. He kept talking about projects he wanted to get done. That's the way he was. Always puttering in the garage. He missed that because he couldn't walk any more.
Diana was glad it was over. No more suffering. I guess Jeff's daughter, Nicky, will be staying with Betty a few hours a day while Diana is working at the college.
Donna had her husband, son and daughter with her, along with Ryan's girlfriend. Any of you who aren't family that are reading this won't know who I'm talking about so just skip it..
My sister, Pam, came while I was there. Also my brother, Jim and his wife. Some cousins that I haven't seen in a while. Nancy and Art, Jerry and Cindy.Mary, my Aunt ,came with her son, Mike and her daughter, Gloria and Gloria's two sons. Then Sandy and Angie came and Karen. Chris Hoover was there also. I sat in the back after and talked to them all. Most of us got up to leave when the VFW people were coming. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Aunt Betty because there were too many people crowded around her at that time, so I just left.
As I was going down the street I saw my sister, Jane go by. Guess she decided to come earlier too. Too bad she missed Jimmy and Pat and Pam. Not sure if she was going to the VFW later or not.
I thought it was sad that none of Betty's sisters came. I know Aunt Bev couldn't come because of her husband but I thought for sure Shirley and Sarah would. Shirley's boys were there though and I think Shirley's daughter Theresa stopped in for a minute. I didn't see her. I thought that is what Betty told me. Shirley's son, Jeff was going to be playing the bagpipes for the service at 4.
Patrick and his wife, Christie, were there. Bill Rankins came with his son and Betty Miller from Herkimer.
I forgot to pick up a card and envelope while I was there. Darn it. But maybe Diana will have extras. The envelopes are for donations to the food pantry where Uncle Bill volunteered all the time. He was the head coordinator for a long time.
The snow didn't start till about 7:30 tonight. Not much coming down yet. It's going down to 15 tonight. Brrr!
Jeanne called. She had to work all day and was too tired to go over to the funeral home or VFW. I don't blame her. It's her 64th birthday tomorrow. She'll be getting her card late because I didn't get one made yet.
All the kids will be starting back to school tomorrow. I still haven't seen the kids. Guess they aren't quite over their colds yet.
So that's it I guess. Can't think of anything else at the moment.
Take care everyone.