New Year Plans

I won't call them resolutions because then they seem sort of arbitrary. I signed up at the YMCA for water aerobics 4 days a week. I am surprised at how much I like the water even though I can't swim. I bought the fabric for Rejina and Bill's quilt and have been working on my brother's anniversary quilt. He and Marilyn won't have their anniversary for two more years but the quilt will be my own design and a lot of applique so I need plenty of time. If it doesn't turn out I should have enough time to do something more conventional. I even hand dyed some of the fabric! This will be the last year for Fish City, I hope, it has been a 5 year project. Hubby and I volunteered at the Ford Museum on New Years Day. I worked at the Lego Train and he took pictures of people at a sleigh set up. Hubby and I also work for the Master Gardener Society. I do their web page calendar and he does the newsletter. Today he was out at Tollgate farm splitting firewood for the maple syrup evaporator. Tomorrow is the Lions Christmas party. We both enjoy the Lions a lot. He is secretary for our club and I am tail twister. I think we will be busy this year.

Getting Ready for Christmas

It's that busy time of the year. All seven children are coming home for the holidays. Because they live all over the country this is a rare occurance. Already there are piles of presents under the tree and Hubby has been running to the store to make sure he has all the ingredients for a fabulous feast. Arnold our cat is getting excited about the process as well and has taken to tearing open the presents, licking the crocheted snowflakes on the tree and batting the ornaments off the bottom branches. He is not a kitten, perhaps it is his second childhood. On Christmas Day we will go to my Mom's for brunch. She is pretty well back to normal with no need for the health care workers, which she resented no end. Santa is in his airplane on the front lawn again and all is well.

Nothing is Simple

We have a home care person coming to see Mom in the morning to give her pills and be there when she takes her shower. Since the minimum time for the aid is one hour she also fixes Mom's breakfast, washes the dishes and makes her bed and does whatever else would be helpful during that hour. On Thanksgiving day Mom had a new girl. She told Mom it was her first day and she didn't know what to do. Mom said she could make her breakfast. Mom said she would like some yogurt. The girl asked how to make that. Mom told her to put it in a dish. Mom also said she would like some coffee, instant, but the girl didn't know how to make that. Mom said that she should give Mom her pills. Mom had to explain where they were. Shortly after the girl left the supervisor came and asked Mom how she did. Mom said "Oh, fine." Mom said she was so young and newly engaged and she felt sorry for her.

A Threatening E-Mail

I like to borrow books from the Southfield Library. The latest one I borrowed was Betrayed by Tannenbaum. It really was a good book. Unfortunately since I took it out my Mom had her heart attack and surgery and I have been doing an awful lot of running. When I get home I usually have a glass (or two) of wine and go to bed. The book became overdue but I didn't want to return it because it was good and I wanted to finish it. I tried to renew it but by then the fine was too large ($4). This is the note I received from the library when the book was 20 days over due.

These items must be returned in good condition to avoid a
bill for replacement. Accounts with fines or fees may be
sent to a Collection Agency. Call 248-796-4200 with
questions. THANK YOU

Do you really think they would send a $4 fee to a collection agency?

Back in the Hospital

Mom is back in the hospital. Apparently she has fluid in her pleural cavity. It is a complication of the surgery but treatable. She is in really good spirits and telling us stories about when she was in the Knights of St John drill team and about going to Acapulco's with Dad. She said they had Margaritas and they were so good she sent Dad to get her another and while he was gone the cliff divers jumped and he missed it. He wasn't very happy about that.

Water Aerobics

Now that Mom is recovering so well I have gone back to my water aerobics class. I am actually beginning to like the water. Today Shelly, the lifeguard, was our instructor. She really gives a good workout. One of the things we had to do was stand on our noodle. (I don't mean our head, that might have been easier) I tried to get on the noodle during all the exercises of that group.(quite unsuccessfully) I am even getting used to smelling of chlorine.

I'm Tired

Today Mom was supposed to be discharged. 45 minutes before the ambulance arrived to take her back to Henry Ford Village her heart rate jumped to 130. She was dozing in her chair and I was watching the monitor wondering if I should say something to the nurses. But the nurses were watching it too and called the doctor. It was very discouraging for Mom as the ambulance people stood there waiting for the doctor to call back and when he did he said she couldn't be discharged and maybe tomorrow. She has been in good spirits but tonight she wrapped herself in the prayer shawl the the janitor at Mary's school had sent her and said she was going to sit there and feel sorry for herself.