tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31758608001028439292024-03-18T08:18:56.668-07:00The Gift of Another YearMary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.comBlogger460125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-66211997083008128332024-03-18T07:20:00.000-07:002024-03-18T08:18:25.428-07:00Our Basketball Teams<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WEIRPiOXGw_jMdZfoZELcuq8HHIj_D0KP0TZzQBwsILF-CB37YKJbR_MRVF9DFxeW3ErwbiWJAXdEMd5N8KT3VgVfClI1xXXOMjTQSYk4KVXeu1yFuyP64DZAal1sBG7jfzecZKsHlFnvXsxVZwSGfVOLtIYsNJfHjzL3Qfl6aD0c95_IFpo01mo_Rg/s1225/IMG_8662%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1225" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WEIRPiOXGw_jMdZfoZELcuq8HHIj_D0KP0TZzQBwsILF-CB37YKJbR_MRVF9DFxeW3ErwbiWJAXdEMd5N8KT3VgVfClI1xXXOMjTQSYk4KVXeu1yFuyP64DZAal1sBG7jfzecZKsHlFnvXsxVZwSGfVOLtIYsNJfHjzL3Qfl6aD0c95_IFpo01mo_Rg/w227-h154/IMG_8662%20(1).jpg" width="227" /></a></div>Last week the Notre Dame women won the ACC basketball tournament. We enjoyed watching freshman Hannah Hidalgo who was named the ACC tournament MVP. She is so feisty and steals the ball from opponents. If she is double-teamed, she finds her teammates and gets an assist. So now we get to watch them again in the NCAA tournament beginning on Saturday.<p></p><p>And we watched the NCSU men surprisingly take the ACC tournament championship after playing five games in five days to do so. They beat Duke, Virginia, and Carolina. When they were playing Virginia, we turned the TV off when it looked like a lost cause--and then they tied the game at the last second and won in overtime. We decided it was good luck for them if we turned the game off. </p><p>So when they were playing UNC and were not doing well, we turned it off again. And then UNC's star player, RJ Davis, stopped hitting all his shots and NCSU's star player DJ Burns (the body of a football center with the feet of a ballerina) continued to do his thing and they won! Thus they were able to be in the NCAA tournament--winning was their only chance to do so. So we can watch them later this week too!</p><p>March Madness is always fun and now we have two teams we care about that we can cheer on to victory--unless we decide again that we bring them bad luck and thus have to turn the games off.</p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-65702866716321489882024-02-20T09:56:00.000-08:002024-02-20T09:56:26.911-08:00The Saga of the Hips<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgv0LEao6iVTZhyphenhypheno6yFSx1kVgxddVdiEdQQ2SO7gWZ-JyB7Vw-TudmtzbuC__rar6shK8I7NnFkn0SucNJq7NDraSIbPRkRa31PPO5dLZKWYgug5W0LxVdxxgM8sA2FIreJwIdz76dk82vmcrUQim4s0WXIAuPCxXe9cNyeRDjqbV-HBlWHhG29zvX04/s3424/IMG_8634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3424" data-original-width="2607" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgv0LEao6iVTZhyphenhypheno6yFSx1kVgxddVdiEdQQ2SO7gWZ-JyB7Vw-TudmtzbuC__rar6shK8I7NnFkn0SucNJq7NDraSIbPRkRa31PPO5dLZKWYgug5W0LxVdxxgM8sA2FIreJwIdz76dk82vmcrUQim4s0WXIAuPCxXe9cNyeRDjqbV-HBlWHhG29zvX04/w133-h174/IMG_8634.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Four and a half years ago while we were in the process of packing up 27 years of life in one house, I was having a lot of pain in my left hip. I could hardly walk across the parking lot of the Air BnB where we were living temporarily. I asked my South Bend doctor if he could give me a cortisone shot to get me through the next month of moving to Princeton. He said that only a specialist could do the shot. However it was easy to get an x-ray in his clinic so I had one done immediately. He showed me that I had arthritis in my hip and warned me that in one to four years I would need a hip replacement. Meanwhile, I could take Tylenol and Aleve every six hours for relief. He told me not to stop when it felt better but to keep on for a while for more permanent relief.<p></p><p>For four years my hip gave me no trouble even though I was no longer taking pain medications. And then it started up again this fall with a dull ache down both of my legs and sometimes a feeling like my left leg was caving in on me. My primary care provider in Princeton warned me against taking more than two Aleve a day. I dreaded the thought of surgery. A good friend had complications with her hip replacement surgery and had to have it done a second time. So did my South Bend doctor who had to have his redone as well. I knew rehab would be a problem with our living in a second floor apartment.</p><p>I did very little walking during our time in Florida not only because of my hip issues but also some balance issues. I felt sturdier hanging on to Jim's arm. He was kind enough to say that he actually liked it when I did so. When we got home, I began a routine of taking one Aleve in the morning and one at night. I also found some exercises for issues with limping on Youtube and began doing them daily. </p><p>And to my great relief, the dull ache down my leg is gone. There is no pain at night when I am trying to sleep. I feel some sensitivity when I walk but no feeling of my leg caving in. Something is working! My body is coping and maybe even healing. I can live with this small amount of discomfort and am relieved not to feel like a hip replacement surgery is my only option. </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-29205488057424234182024-02-07T11:47:00.000-08:002024-02-07T11:47:36.865-08:00My Reading Life<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pQmvVyOnhfbZgyLxHQxOOzM1EKhsD-oFTksosOEw3FGJjTXQxRE4mmBvefst4PM5mi_R6skzu3bF1iFBLFbrT24rgKs33UaDavH9HHSEoK-0izsWQHJFkwGJqU8Y_YKCQvg5Ya4Jr7upenucRSjJIITg2dVRHyWjNgyDa0CN_ae36aUNptmPYgMV6gI/s4032/D93E4800-57AD-4CC3-9B9F-8E9A24E01230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2655" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pQmvVyOnhfbZgyLxHQxOOzM1EKhsD-oFTksosOEw3FGJjTXQxRE4mmBvefst4PM5mi_R6skzu3bF1iFBLFbrT24rgKs33UaDavH9HHSEoK-0izsWQHJFkwGJqU8Y_YKCQvg5Ya4Jr7upenucRSjJIITg2dVRHyWjNgyDa0CN_ae36aUNptmPYgMV6gI/w142-h215/D93E4800-57AD-4CC3-9B9F-8E9A24E01230.JPG" width="142" /></a></div>I just spent an hour or more going over the books I read and recorded on Goodreads this year and last year. I wanted to find all the books I rated five stars and then to look for more books by those authors. In the last month I have rejected at least ten books that I brought home from the library or downloaded for my Kindle app. Sometimes I just take those rejected books off my "to read" list on Goodreads or the "For Later" list at the Princeton Library. Sometimes I shelve them as "abandoned" on Goodreads and then write a "private note" as to why I abandoned them. I never rate a book one or two stars. If that is all it was worth to me, I probably abandoned it. I know authors look at these reviews so I don't want to disparage any books publicly. <p></p><p>Goodreads statistics show that I read over 1400 books in the last ten years. I abandoned 140. 10%! I know however that I give up on more than 10%. Recently I came home with six books from the Princeton Library and I read two of them. </p><p>I found 59 books in 2023 and 2024 that I rated five stars. I jotted down the names of the books and the authors. My next project will be to find other books by those authors. Sadly, I have read everything Nicholas Rhea wrote before he died. I will have to wait for more mysteries by Martin Walker or memoirs by Niall Williams and his wife Christine Breen. Hal Borland wrote many years ago. </p><p>I wondered if I had recorded reading Jim's biography of R. H. Charles when it was published a year ago. I had neglected to do so! So I rated it five stars and wrote a review--the first reader to do so. I think probably the target audience for such an academic book does not use Goodreads. So the average rating as it stands today is "five stars." </p><p>Goodreads saves me from rebuying books. I get lists from EarlyBird books in my email and when I check to see what Goodreads readers think of a book before I make a purchase, I see that I have already read it--or rejected it. I put books on a request list at our wonderful Princeton Public Library or if it is not there, I can often find out of print books at Better World Books or the used book list on Amazon. I purchase a few books from Amazon every month for my Kindle app--for 99 cents or $1.99 or $2.99. </p><p>In my retirement, I have plenty of time to read and am grateful to have ways to find books that I enjoy and appreciate. </p><p>One more thing about my reading. In the last year or so I have found email addresses for several authors and let them know how much I appreciated their work. I have had lovely responses from each one making me realize it was worth the effort to find a way to contact them. </p><p><br /></p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-42271748629144672612024-01-29T08:58:00.000-08:002024-03-13T13:51:41.569-07:00Blog2Print and the Joys of Being Home<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYB_8fk0_XG7hXvBER8gy9G1bbm4_zaWFw4lhFjOlmC8zKw7Y20b3tO5aeu0NvJk90dW5zrHLaUA1CReBN_79Gkfn1F0hvEKW0MTcHUbkb9vIQjYIbmjH4UcFoiVmp_abo1snRo9nnxGT15QSBEvmI-7RfVWPAJsPDRKonoxjl-xQww2Jax-AKAD4jMI/s3076/IMG_8600.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3076" data-original-width="3024" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYB_8fk0_XG7hXvBER8gy9G1bbm4_zaWFw4lhFjOlmC8zKw7Y20b3tO5aeu0NvJk90dW5zrHLaUA1CReBN_79Gkfn1F0hvEKW0MTcHUbkb9vIQjYIbmjH4UcFoiVmp_abo1snRo9nnxGT15QSBEvmI-7RfVWPAJsPDRKonoxjl-xQww2Jax-AKAD4jMI/w163-h166/IMG_8600.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>Since getting home, I have been aware of three folks who read my blog posts from Florida. 10 to 14 folks are usually recorded as readers but I have no idea of who these readers are. I don't blog for my readers although I am happy to have readers! I blog for Jim and me--as a record of our lives. And then in January I make a Blog2Print book of the previous year. We now have more than 10 years of these books and they are great for our memories. We both keep journals and diaries but these books have photos. <p></p><p>Life is back to normal. Jeff has returned our plants. We shopped for groceries and went to CVS for prescriptions on Friday which left Saturday strangely free. It was rainy and cold yesterday so we did church via livestream again instead of having to walk from the municipal parking deck to the sanctuary. (Nassau Church has no parking lot.)</p><p>We do our NYT spelling bee in the morning until we get to genius--even if it takes many hints about initial letters for words. We do a NYT crossword puzzle in the late afternoon, often going back into the archives to find ones we haven't done. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are days that we can do the puzzle of the day. Jim does Sunday from the magazine. The puzzles earlier in the week are not usually challenging enough to do them together--although often plenty difficult enough for me to do alone.</p><p>We watch a lot of sports on TV and are happy to manage our own TV with minimal challenges. Yesterday it was two great NFL playoff games with surprising winners going into the Super Bowl next month. </p><p>I miss looking out at the beautiful Boca Ciega Bay but we both really do like our spacious and comfortable apartment. There is a requested book for me waiting at the Princeton Library and Jim has one to return to the University Library (which Susan checked out fof him.) I have cooked meals for the last three nights and didn't find it so burdensome after a break from meal preparation. </p><p> I am contented enough to feel that maybe we should wait to pursue living at Stonebridge, the senior living community we had looked into. But we have to remember that we need to commit to that while they are still willing to take us as "independent" seniors. </p><p><br /></p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-334410095609299322024-01-24T12:40:00.000-08:002024-02-02T16:18:37.814-08:00Days 9, 10, 11, and 12<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nqDH286ghhfB_qn_ESABEXV7tP4L9NKEIQ70QQSXd8DJjsVJ9QN_MmlIjYZWFYevoDKoF5bGZKcYrxmhGucQYD41wVDBqsNEbbDD73JZmwkqp7VBuZ7yY3qJCr4hDUp8fFfqOp3_Uvde0QQLdaF5CTThBkzeCxJOxPEFBDzTLsfqBYpNYKz9M7gTjHI/s4032/IMG_8581.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nqDH286ghhfB_qn_ESABEXV7tP4L9NKEIQ70QQSXd8DJjsVJ9QN_MmlIjYZWFYevoDKoF5bGZKcYrxmhGucQYD41wVDBqsNEbbDD73JZmwkqp7VBuZ7yY3qJCr4hDUp8fFfqOp3_Uvde0QQLdaF5CTThBkzeCxJOxPEFBDzTLsfqBYpNYKz9M7gTjHI/w191-h143/IMG_8581.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>My sister said a friend of hers who comes to Florida every year said this was the coldest January in memory for her. I would feel worse about that if I had any more energy for long walks or exploration. Walking has been difficult for me and I have been happy to take my husband's arm for support. I have been quite content to sit in the condo and enjoy my books and enjoy sports on TV. And to enjoy looking outside at the beauty of the bay at any time of day or night and checking out the pink sky over the Gulf at sunset.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArvnI-TQBbcdFNFoObv-eXl8QjYak361_Z6fxnTgEybo8Yo-FNv1GPxHl50hKEB-lrA6BqlgONJE0pPupYijyV94Ihe7Wz6yI6ypflM62u2TyHpGg0baMvb2p1WSjZS-dktX2tRbeORHbC404mqtmQIbCP2ci7D-Zx_uuxaPGUVadKLmmGSWXQms9udE/s4032/IMG_8590%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArvnI-TQBbcdFNFoObv-eXl8QjYak361_Z6fxnTgEybo8Yo-FNv1GPxHl50hKEB-lrA6BqlgONJE0pPupYijyV94Ihe7Wz6yI6ypflM62u2TyHpGg0baMvb2p1WSjZS-dktX2tRbeORHbC404mqtmQIbCP2ci7D-Zx_uuxaPGUVadKLmmGSWXQms9udE/w167-h125/IMG_8590%20(1).jpg" width="167" /></a></div><br />We decided to enjoy a restaurant we have visited every year--Agave. It is a very untouristy Mexican place with inexpensive margaritas and tasty meals. It is noisy and crowded and it was great again.<br /> <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjCkWYFDZHIV1bh5foPgYRR0biKTdP3E6211MrDkDTLmTPkzL2ePmYL8zYaMAsIRSNsa4pHIoA_I2aWdMIiZNNAYwSqjy-SSzlSqGWYEWXy4v8kDLZlJAXA7SyY5l2DLxz_Zv9MzAVJhPp5O4_5lrf7yTuVW6L9eVzqs2HCCdHnJvWUUPvxidujQvOU8/s320/IMG_0592.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjCkWYFDZHIV1bh5foPgYRR0biKTdP3E6211MrDkDTLmTPkzL2ePmYL8zYaMAsIRSNsa4pHIoA_I2aWdMIiZNNAYwSqjy-SSzlSqGWYEWXy4v8kDLZlJAXA7SyY5l2DLxz_Zv9MzAVJhPp5O4_5lrf7yTuVW6L9eVzqs2HCCdHnJvWUUPvxidujQvOU8/w124-h165/IMG_0592.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>The weather was a bit warmer today--and will get warmer each day with the warmest day this week the one in which we hope to be heading home. <p></p><p>Our prayers this week have been with Laura who is struggling with pretty bad hip pain and has spent a lot of time in bed. And for Susan's dad who had a heart attack and now has had complications from his treatment and is back in the hospital. </p><p>Day 10 We made a quick trip to Publix and Dollar Tree before getting gas and returning the car to the Hertz kiosk across the street. Jim put in a grand total of $2.64 worth of gas to fill the tank. We had not gone far at all and the car was a hybrid. </p><p>Today is the warmest day thus far. I may even venture to the fishing deck on the bay and enjoy the sunshine. I have just spent an hour perusing books on my "want to read" list on Goodreads and have downloaded a few of them. We have some frozen lobster bisque for supper--I couldn't find any fresh servings which I knew they had last week. Jim is always glad to have the rental car returned safely. I always feel constrained without wheels. But just one day and a half and we head home. I checked the flight status and it is still a go on Thursday. May that continue!</p><p>-------Day 11 </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhja5r5TQdFB8OtnQS-ChmlP23NDwpxHNLWBUyouzubg-bDxIhKLGPxUbx-GfkwYxPFl3eIvnFmPJFm1hYAnyEc-Gnms0jCSxU9y0865IKs10vpD3ytIINHuPFj3YFxgE1PRYjnsclAuOlRdKvxO9BU04jWoEWRHCeHWSP02pOvAbvP_zc_doYdtj3D6E/s4032/IMG_8596.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhja5r5TQdFB8OtnQS-ChmlP23NDwpxHNLWBUyouzubg-bDxIhKLGPxUbx-GfkwYxPFl3eIvnFmPJFm1hYAnyEc-Gnms0jCSxU9y0865IKs10vpD3ytIINHuPFj3YFxgE1PRYjnsclAuOlRdKvxO9BU04jWoEWRHCeHWSP02pOvAbvP_zc_doYdtj3D6E/w140-h187/IMG_8596.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>Yes, that is Jim in shorts and sandals for the first time since we got here 11 days ago. And we have just downloaded our boarding passes for tomorrow's flight at 12:14 pm. It is a beautiful 76 degrees outside and we enjoyed sitting by the bay for a while. We are having great weather just in time for us to leave!<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfpWjy5L1DxaQFPUUwIVl-4nCUbGMJtvnz1fKmgpevaqmfFppF3dQgZNVXvf2ZoC92lxwP5HGfkqxisELkQ3lVwlO6hUIU8hsd-j8ZLvT5CZu_zs_MKX8wYfaqBPmOyXLp885IFLQQXQ95d4iUr_wrukZOC2_iaS9cOS9-aPOjiEFVvoIapotQaboJd0/s3262/IMG_8598%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3262" data-original-width="3024" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfpWjy5L1DxaQFPUUwIVl-4nCUbGMJtvnz1fKmgpevaqmfFppF3dQgZNVXvf2ZoC92lxwP5HGfkqxisELkQ3lVwlO6hUIU8hsd-j8ZLvT5CZu_zs_MKX8wYfaqBPmOyXLp885IFLQQXQ95d4iUr_wrukZOC2_iaS9cOS9-aPOjiEFVvoIapotQaboJd0/w156-h168/IMG_8598%20(1).jpg" width="156" /></a></div>On our last evening it was warm enough to enjoy drinks at the Tiki Bar across the street at Tradewinds. A meal of jumbo hotdogs and french fries from the Food Truck next to it was perfect! <p>I am so glad we have our boarding passes and am optimistic that things will go better heading home than they did getting here--with our delays of day after day. I am eager to be home and yet feel a bit melancholy because I really do think we will not do this again. Travel was difficult and stressful. I am finding it hard to walk anywhere without taking Jim's arm. Life gets to be more and more limited and I am thinking that is OK. I like home and will be happy and I hope contented to be home soon.</p><p>------------And after listening to the news tonight, I am thinking that I am not going to fly anywhere again. There were too many air incidents. May we have safe travel tomorrow! I am saying my prayers. </p><p>------------Day 12 Home at 4:40 pm. Our flight was uneventful and landed early in Newark. We had to wait to deplane because there was a medical emergency mid-flight and an ambulance was there to pick someone up. Newark is a big airport and it was a long walk to ground transportation and lots of traffic where we were waiting for our Uber. Six minutes away--now four minutes--now five minutes! Four Uber rides for this vacation--and all went well.</p><p>So glad to be home! Thankful for the beauty of St. Pete Beach and for the good eating and drinking we enjoyed. But home is best! </p></div>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-80521021918372532802024-01-18T12:54:00.000-08:002024-01-29T08:19:42.446-08:00Days 6, 7, and 8<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoO8oENdXRPUyF_rwBniwp2pa9q4L9ZstFBzavqcqklrEMWXdzyOkNb3UBESdCkxBMVBQ8pKNQO_gQIuV3BJPGizZyw6-X5po3p3-uhAjRMs9umcYPkVubg2oZJDD5xjo2wyI9-h4_O6rARA9oMx_KwUHCTnbUOuvfEEYuFFlROWldcwBrElPOGHpJhg/s4032/IMG_8581%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoO8oENdXRPUyF_rwBniwp2pa9q4L9ZstFBzavqcqklrEMWXdzyOkNb3UBESdCkxBMVBQ8pKNQO_gQIuV3BJPGizZyw6-X5po3p3-uhAjRMs9umcYPkVubg2oZJDD5xjo2wyI9-h4_O6rARA9oMx_KwUHCTnbUOuvfEEYuFFlROWldcwBrElPOGHpJhg/w187-h140/IMG_8581%20(1).jpg" width="187" /></a></div>It is cold here in Florida. And today it is rainy. Yesterday our only outing was to get supplies at Dollar Tree and Publix--toilet paper, tissues, toothpaste, cookies for Jim and chocolate for me. Plus more fruit and sandwich meat to make up a healthy supper that we could eat at our condo.<p></p><p>Today we ventured farther to John's Pass where we have our annual late lunch at the Pirate Grub and Hub. We found the municipal lot and then ended up paying a whopping 23 dollars for parking because we couldn't seem to regulate the kiosk to do less. It was drizzling so we ate inside but we enjoyed our beers and hot dogs in spite of the rain.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h6m1fcYrm5HKMw2Hh4FAFbvGVaWxXy0nWU-3EKNt4ph79oSObzOM4hw_xGIkvTkaoCoTPkfYAg9bOyEez40DqK6qO5tHPQxGo6G4eRtXZuZ9rS32lRMpEMLFQIi9-UEiVGi6Ch3sRpwcXZYqjij_veFcPi7zkhpXq2laqVLqXpFqxL6ZqSVEiM5V9Wc/s3024/IMG_8584.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2822" data-original-width="3024" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h6m1fcYrm5HKMw2Hh4FAFbvGVaWxXy0nWU-3EKNt4ph79oSObzOM4hw_xGIkvTkaoCoTPkfYAg9bOyEez40DqK6qO5tHPQxGo6G4eRtXZuZ9rS32lRMpEMLFQIi9-UEiVGi6Ch3sRpwcXZYqjij_veFcPi7zkhpXq2laqVLqXpFqxL6ZqSVEiM5V9Wc/w149-h140/IMG_8584.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><p></p><p>I got a phone call this morning from Jessie asking us if we wanted to reserve a place for next year. I said that we did not want to commit to that. I will have to remind myself next June or July that this really does need to be our last time here. Once again, travel was so stressful--for far different reasons this year than last. I find it difficult to walk any distance at all. And the January weather is not great--even if we do appreciate being here when rates are less and restaurants are not busy.</p><p>But as always, the view of the bay is so lovely--early this am with big clouds over it--at dusk when it is all purple and the white buildings of St. Petersburg gleam in the distance--and then at night when the lights over the bay are twinkling. </p><p>We did better with finding the TV sports Jim wanted last night--in the living room. Jim is very patient with trial and error--and we enjoyed lots of NBA games and even one college game with Bronny James playing for USC.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTxBRoVTyE4AvShI1BSmBjvZJ-j9BNXLQDtDwacGdUPB9pzQoJ3fP6lAOtrS_pzKxYaj1oqb1PQvsIy66R5rxm49mZdWSoMbVmV_0ve5mfLXa80OgDFNu75CxLQbk_Lac4l1LnqoGvFVvtw7KFvuj1T-XE_viMOFQPKvI-TECvkKHLCdB1gGDZQgdwyI/s4032/IMG_8586%20(2).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTxBRoVTyE4AvShI1BSmBjvZJ-j9BNXLQDtDwacGdUPB9pzQoJ3fP6lAOtrS_pzKxYaj1oqb1PQvsIy66R5rxm49mZdWSoMbVmV_0ve5mfLXa80OgDFNu75CxLQbk_Lac4l1LnqoGvFVvtw7KFvuj1T-XE_viMOFQPKvI-TECvkKHLCdB1gGDZQgdwyI/w117-h156/IMG_8586%20(2).jpg" width="117" /><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></a></div><p></p><p>Day 7 We walked across the street to the Gulf and sat on a bench that was coincidentally inscribed "Mary's happy place." The sun was shining and it felt almost warm. We took off our winter jackets! </p><p>We left for an early dinner and drove to The Wharf in Pass-a-Grille. We sat outside looking at the bay and ordered our tropical drinks and meals. Jim was suddenly surprised by a sea gull tapping him on the shoulder and aiming for his bag of potato chips. The waitress had given us a bottle of water to squirt at the menacing birds and Jim used it more than once during our dinner. </p><p>Day 8 We enjoyed breakfast (55 and over menu) at IHOP--as we have done every year on a Saturday morning. The sun is shining but it is a chilly 48 degrees. Florida in January is not warm but it is not the blizzard like conditions folks are having in Indiana and Michigan and New Jersey. The plan for the rest of the day is another Publix trip and lots of playoff football. </p><p><br /></p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-32080425422927428202024-01-16T15:07:00.000-08:002024-01-29T08:17:45.552-08:00Days 3 and 4<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZp9aBsCeZyfqKZY0xkn_ymsb2qVgk9j5-n71LR7cBqouco0O4Qz4-Vig6NJu0BDXO7hquiKXhpqwnA4qOO9nit5cjAzTXR7yGu5rH0je8iAnuY9T37LBKj2d5Epx_EsDDTrfhBrXatgBYEubFIzK1BA0nWwzxOGBfMPQ8iadkirrWL3ex6nJ-k546Zo/s2560/IMG_8575.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="2256" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZp9aBsCeZyfqKZY0xkn_ymsb2qVgk9j5-n71LR7cBqouco0O4Qz4-Vig6NJu0BDXO7hquiKXhpqwnA4qOO9nit5cjAzTXR7yGu5rH0je8iAnuY9T37LBKj2d5Epx_EsDDTrfhBrXatgBYEubFIzK1BA0nWwzxOGBfMPQ8iadkirrWL3ex6nJ-k546Zo/w169-h192/IMG_8575.jpg" width="169" /></a></div> The view from our condo is lovely and for that I am grateful. Because I have not left the premises since the first few hours after we arrived. Yesterday I was just so glad to not have to walk through airports and today something disagreed with my digestive system and I stayed put. So we didn't rent a car or make dinner plans. Toast and cheese was good enough and Jim had another frozen Lean Cuisine. He walked to Publix both days to get supplies. <p></p><p>When I went out on the little porch I looked down at the green palms and noted the variety of green color from bottom to top--dark to light. I had never noticed that before. So it was my little bit of joy in an otherwise somewhat dreary day. Plus the lovely orange and yellow buildings--colors we don't see in New Jersey! </p><p>Of course, there is plenty of football--with wildcard games. We could not get the living room TV to work but we succeeded with the bedroom TV so we have had happy hour and supper sitting in bed. </p><p>I hope tomorrow is a day to rent a car and find some good seafood to enjoy. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNoKZihas9o2IG5sdvO9cCSbSx9ovmkZiUg7dnAOenBHx5HL36OsNTNNpUpSM8XuJ2kHzq37Y4-tVPhtuWebgeTJXSNSdmFtpD4J2vMTtCGT06HjHICIvHF2cC2CRfOqUOHVWoKiDt5eTEIbUAJQ2C52zlq47r2vdI_DicG6O-dYt3yODEg28owwwgMM/s4032/IMG_8578.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNoKZihas9o2IG5sdvO9cCSbSx9ovmkZiUg7dnAOenBHx5HL36OsNTNNpUpSM8XuJ2kHzq37Y4-tVPhtuWebgeTJXSNSdmFtpD4J2vMTtCGT06HjHICIvHF2cC2CRfOqUOHVWoKiDt5eTEIbUAJQ2C52zlq47r2vdI_DicG6O-dYt3yODEg28owwwgMM/w113-h151/IMG_8578.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>----------Tuesday: Jim rented a Corolla from the Hertz kiosk right across the street and we drove to Pass-a-Grille where we have eaten many times before. We parked behind the Hurricane Restaurant and thus chose to go to Hurricane--eating inside because it is cold and windy. I had a crab cake sandwich and Jim had a shrimp dinner--so we got our Florida seafood. We ate early like the old folks that we are and came back to the condo for our daily Key Lime Pie dessert--our usual purchase from Publix. <br /><p></p><p>The news is about the Iowa caucases in which Trump won easily with Haley and DeSantis well behind and pretty much tied with each other. I despair. How can the Dutch Christian Reformed folk from our heritage in NW Iowa go for a man who is so unChristian in his life and actions and words? </p><p>I am thankful to feel better today. I wish the weather were warmer but it is not the blizzard conditions they are having in Michigan and the snowy condition in New Jersey. I sat out on the deck and enjoyed a bit of sunshine and a warm breeze. </p><p>We were frustrated trying to get sports on TV. Someone came to help us use the living room TV but it was still difficult. Jim was very patient and kept trying things--and finally got TNT so we can watch NBA tonight from the living room--not the bedroom. Ah, there are many good things about home and our easy, comfortable life there!</p><br /><p><br /></p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-36791635227586308992024-01-15T15:29:00.000-08:002024-02-02T16:13:20.385-08:00We Made It to St. Pete Beach<p> After two cancellations and reschedulings and much uncertainty, we traveled yesterday from Newark to Tampa on a Max9 plane that we trusted had been thoroughly inspected. TSA in Newark was easy compared to the nightmare of last year. The flight was smooth and arrived a bit early. We found our Uber ride easily and successfully opened the lobby door and our 512 condo door with the new passcodes. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNegmzPDshUj4tW3ljoZykJeVPKkySFDKWgJJpSW1QWQ9n7_qFa2MfBQu52rHY2IOQiEAAzOkJohhdnE1Sr6K0PI3IEjPQREUsxq9SMnjxTCCzT4BaI216jLUZRffzDFSRvKVnEgOgM6GL2RuL4ouH3UlteCGELqaSr2O4Os2VwKIfcHr32h8rZ0CjpH4/s4032/IMG_8568.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNegmzPDshUj4tW3ljoZykJeVPKkySFDKWgJJpSW1QWQ9n7_qFa2MfBQu52rHY2IOQiEAAzOkJohhdnE1Sr6K0PI3IEjPQREUsxq9SMnjxTCCzT4BaI216jLUZRffzDFSRvKVnEgOgM6GL2RuL4ouH3UlteCGELqaSr2O4Os2VwKIfcHr32h8rZ0CjpH4/w139-h185/IMG_8568.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>We walked across the street to Tradewinds Resort and got our usual margaritas and chili nachos to share for supper at the Flying Bridge location.<p></p><p>Then the trouble began when we could not get back into the lobby. This time the code would not work. We called the emergency number and communicated with difficulty. I envisioned our sitting outside for the night--unless someone happened to leave the building and thus open the door to let us in! Eventually we got a call from Bonnie, who was on call and told us how to open a lock box next to the bike rack. Sadly it was too dark to see the numbers--but iphone flaslights helped. The numbers were still hard to read--but we opened the box to get the key to the stairwell. We were given strict instructions to replace the key in the box for the next person who might need it. We walked up the five flights of stairs.</p><p>And we were able to get into the condo again. It was not a good night of sleep for me--just too wired from the day's journey and too full of nachos! This morning Jim walked across the street to get us muffins and Starbucks coffee and will probably make a solo trip to Publix with a list because I am walking with difficulty. We did our Nassau Presbyterian Church via livestream and heard a pastor from Myanmar speak of the dire situation there and how churches can and need to help. </p><p>It's a cloudy and cold day here and we have even put on the heat. But it's colder in New Jersey and it's blizzard weather in Michigan.</p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-80701027715559006012024-01-11T07:57:00.000-08:002024-01-12T12:14:07.093-08:00Max 9 and Us<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jQh1WaUa8GeqB4EItkLK-GTe5i3l25so9SpDujeIKY-aTDzuyR7szIF8-r2uoCG5M6vJODNd50-dYvC7DU5zGUEVKiWriCIrxkguHJd7FIbmBxTQ9xMCfGCGseixhcox6QgwqqYaIY0KpcHFWrIBf1x9pEP3Yfso7oTlFCcO8QetndDqWMb2a8EuqyY/s3020/IMG_8561.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="2926" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jQh1WaUa8GeqB4EItkLK-GTe5i3l25so9SpDujeIKY-aTDzuyR7szIF8-r2uoCG5M6vJODNd50-dYvC7DU5zGUEVKiWriCIrxkguHJd7FIbmBxTQ9xMCfGCGseixhcox6QgwqqYaIY0KpcHFWrIBf1x9pEP3Yfso7oTlFCcO8QetndDqWMb2a8EuqyY/w155-h160/IMG_8561.jpg" width="155" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home and a gas fire<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Last week there was a terrible scare with a Max 9 aircraft when a door fell off in the air. No one was lost but it was very frightening. So all Max 9 aircraft needed to be inspected. That meant our flight for today was cancelled. I spent a lot of time yesterday rescheduling for tomorrow--time on my United app and on the phone. <p></p><p> We woke up this morning to another text message saying our flight for tomorrow was cancelled too. Jim got on the phone this time working with someone who was trying for different airlines. Their connection got cut off! He tried again and now we are scheduled for Saturday afternoon arriving in Tampa in the evening. </p><p>So we lose two days in Florida. That is not so bad. If that flight gets cancelled again, I may have to see if the travel insurance I bought covers the condo fees. At some point, we would give up and get our money back on the flight at least. </p><p>It is a direct flight--out of Newark--so that is good. We are familiar with the area around the condo so we can figure out food when we arrive. And drinks! </p><p>I am stressed but am grateful to be home and not in an airport. But now I am convinced this needs to be our last Florida trip! </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-74489229205030348762024-01-09T11:49:00.000-08:002024-01-10T09:17:06.595-08:00Getting Ready to Travel<p> Last year, I said it was our last trip to St. Pete Beach. I pulled my suitcase through Newark Airport on our return home thinking it was my last time of air travel. But I thought differently as the year went along and we made reservations for Sunrise Resort again. And United Airlines reservations again. It can't be as bad as last year--I hope--when they were opening a new terminal and were not prepared. The weather is not good today or tomorrow but looks better for Thursday morning. We plan to get an Uber to the Newark Hilton tomorrow evening so it will be an easy shuttle ride to the terminal the next morning.</p><p>So today it is a long list of things to do and people to contact. Jim just got cash for the trip. I contacted Sunrise Resort who said they had sent us the access codes but we have not received them. So they are trying again. One year we had a problem opening a lock box--but they don't use them any more. But where is the errant email? I asked them to send it again to Jim's email and my alternate gmail account. (update--we have the codes--hooray!) Along the same lines, my UHC health card had to be reiussued and was still in the mail. Jim found a way to access it online and print it up. But my laptop has yet to be connected to our printer. I found a way to make a pdf and sent it to Jim who printed it up. Now, we hope we won't need it but we are ready! For our offspring and their offspring, this may all seem easy--but to us old-timers, we are very glad when technology works!</p><p>I am doing loads of laundry but will not start to pack until tomorrow. I have downloaded books to read although that can be done at any time and from any place. I have contacted our downstairs neighbor to let him know we will be gone. I have canceled the weekend NYT. We have both made sure we have enough meds and eye drops. I will distribute mine tonight so that I don't have to pack seven bottles of pills--ah, far too many but they do keep me in good health! We are trying to use up the food in the refrigerator--and I've checked to see that eggs can keep for weeks so they don't have to be thrown out or eaten. </p><p>We plan to bring our plants to Jeff and Susan's for watering while we are gone. </p><p>United Airlines has recalled Max 9 planes to be inspected after a horrendous incident a few days ago when a door fell off a plane. Supposedly they found loose screws on a few they inspected. I am telling myself we are safer now than before the incident because they have checked for problems. Even still, I try to put that image of the opening in the aircraft out of my mind. And I don't know if we are flying a Max 9 plane or not.</p><p>We are renting the same condo (#512) as last year and it was lovely. The bay view is wonderful at sunrise, all day long, at dusk and after nightfall. Looking the other way, we can see the sunset across the busy boulevard between the hotels on the Gulf but it is the Bay that is most beautiful. I am remembering Publix's Key Lime Pie and margaritas enjoyed with views of the Gulf or Bay and crab cake sandwiches. I hope I can post soon with an account of an easy and safe arrival.</p><p>----------uptdate on January 10 Because of the Max9 incident, our flight was canceled for tomorrow. I jsut spent a lot of time on my app and on the phone and think I have successfully changed our flight to Friday. Too many confirmation numbers and passwords! But I did talk to two live people and they were helpful. Alternatives were flying stand-by at 6 am or transferring in Houston or Cleveland--not exactly on the way to Florida. </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-60455658159395344602023-12-29T09:21:00.000-08:002023-12-31T08:09:06.512-08:002023--What did I Miss?<p> Yesterday I looked over my blog posts for 2023 in preparation for my annual Blog2Print book. I realized that there were some events, national, international, and personal, that did not get included. </p><p>I pray every night for peace--in Gaza and in Ukraine. But I had not posted about Putin's escalation of the war in Ukraine last February. At least there have been no nuclear accidents as we feared at times or really any push beyond Ukraine. But it has been months of fighting and destruction without any progress for peace. There is so much destruction and death in Ukraine and many Russian soldiers have been sacrificed for Putin's cause.</p><p>And then there are the 91 indictments of our former president Donald Trump. NYT asks if I want to be kept informed by a daily newsletter and I do not want to have my news feed focus on him any more than it already is. It is confusing. There will be trials in Florida, Georgia, Washington DC, and there were already trials in NYC. With his appeals, it could go on forever. He hopes it goes on until he gets re-elected and then he can pardon himself and his co-conspirators. I pray for justice, for wisdom on the part of the judges and juries, but also lately for a change of heart for Trump. Enough of his ugly pronouncements insulting the judges and President Biden! </p><p>I wrote about Jim's crisis with high blood pressure but not about mine in late November. It is always high when I go to the gynocologist so I took it at home to reassure them that it was lower there. Well, it was a bit high at home too but at their office it was scary high. They immediately called Montgomery Internal Medicine and sent me over there to see Nurse Patel. It was still high there but not enough to send me to the ER thank goodness! She prescribed an additional drug and it worked! My bp was pretty normal at my follow-up appointment last week. </p><p>Jim is very faithful about walking every day. I am not. My back and hip ache and it makes walking unpleasant. Which brings me to my next update. We have begun inquiring into Stonebridge, a senior living community. We went to a very nice lunch this fall which was informative even if overwhelming with the decisions that would need to be made--various price points and many floor plans. I am ready for someone to take over our meal planning but we are not really ready to give up our lovely appartment here at Barclay Square. At least we have no house to sell and have down-sized once already. </p><p>But one cannot postpone a decision to move until one really needs it! You have to pass their medical checks to live independently--as well as their financial checks. So if we are going to make such a move, it needs to be done while we are still "independent." We had a second appointment for a brunch at Stonebridge with a smaller group but we were both sick with colds and had to cancel. I am wondering what 2024 will bring in that regard. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-86022657111581474802023-12-25T12:44:00.000-08:002024-03-11T13:27:10.326-07:00Christmas 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50YmEHGSn76LDc0ZT4b1QPzjcD2uG8K05D-8AQBQZ7AJroL8Odj9v12bqW8q1EMlhz1Ccc0A6cCtYymBnCmm9a5Ltgdqk3KUgoT_yFYP8kJUnx85hZWicYzeIiNpN-jogKeRoxK9p7Qw4KsvT1VwUr1iyz88ZH9pHAMaWsA8oEjcl0xzAK7VyKIZX8Pw/s4032/IMG_8540.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50YmEHGSn76LDc0ZT4b1QPzjcD2uG8K05D-8AQBQZ7AJroL8Odj9v12bqW8q1EMlhz1Ccc0A6cCtYymBnCmm9a5Ltgdqk3KUgoT_yFYP8kJUnx85hZWicYzeIiNpN-jogKeRoxK9p7Qw4KsvT1VwUr1iyz88ZH9pHAMaWsA8oEjcl0xzAK7VyKIZX8Pw/w207-h155/IMG_8540.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>It's Christmas Day. We can still look forward to a dinner at Jeff and Susan's home with all of our grandchildren plus a boyfriend plus a boyfriend's parents. Is this a step in a relationship when it is time to meet the grandparents?<p></p><p>Saturday was our family party at the Conway's home with 17 of us. I had settled on quilted vests from Land's End for everyone aged 12 and up and was very pleased to see that many of the group donned their vests immediately. The chocolate letters are a tradition that always seems appreciated. Michael and Laura had a great dinner for us with beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Dan and Alex made a spinach salad and cookies. And how happy we are that Susan is always willing to make her wonderful rolls! H helped me put together a snow man brownie. A highlight for me was our all joining in singing Christmas carols--from sacred ones to a vigorous The 12 Days of Christmas with Susan helping us all keep track of where we were. Even little H could join in on Jingle Bells. I took a video but I will joyfully keep the vision and sound in my memory.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-yLhjNfwwwocrCWqhfvCyotUKXVKTfgI7zJybcZsQncWar9NCTaM3jV_B8Db7RS3y5J17MX-HKvXvubcs8S56SnC31lGVzrHmUymqt8C3DfakdH30lhyphenhyphen_TqJbDee_IHlJU4c5ZAFNOcUDMqoB8JsUhywJacC3xhLoKanMWbB4poWR5RDsqPm9Nis0D4/s4032/IMG_8546.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-yLhjNfwwwocrCWqhfvCyotUKXVKTfgI7zJybcZsQncWar9NCTaM3jV_B8Db7RS3y5J17MX-HKvXvubcs8S56SnC31lGVzrHmUymqt8C3DfakdH30lhyphenhyphen_TqJbDee_IHlJU4c5ZAFNOcUDMqoB8JsUhywJacC3xhLoKanMWbB4poWR5RDsqPm9Nis0D4/w203-h153/IMG_8546.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>Sunday was Christmas Eve. We could have gone to church four times. We settled on three livestream services. We did the Nassau Church 10 am service from home and then were happy we could do the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church nativity pageant from home too. R and A were readers and did their readings so well. H was an adorble sheep peering over the rail overlooking the pulpit area. We saved our church's 9 pm Lessons and Carols for this morning while making banket.<br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTS2VVRlTQtOqQk-T3JK0Nbr8IEPwk0yKHioz1Br8OPeKr6IQi09lfbftMuUvn1LKDFweDPRISaJSi6KImxuOgkQX-PjEsVGKRGlYE7lUpg7v1P6Uox4RlFBwc5pvlJ03RMOEMpm_Gtv4ho_KfoqAkEJoH-o68mX9Wkw9VOSVEtzkPbF21BFQFVEymq6c/s4032/IMG_8550.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTS2VVRlTQtOqQk-T3JK0Nbr8IEPwk0yKHioz1Br8OPeKr6IQi09lfbftMuUvn1LKDFweDPRISaJSi6KImxuOgkQX-PjEsVGKRGlYE7lUpg7v1P6Uox4RlFBwc5pvlJ03RMOEMpm_Gtv4ho_KfoqAkEJoH-o68mX9Wkw9VOSVEtzkPbF21BFQFVEymq6c/w166-h124/IMG_8550.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>Banket! Two years ago I said never again, but for some reason I decided to try once more. Now I say again no more! Next year I order from VanderVeen's Dutch Store--ready-made, not pounds of almond paste. Rolling out the pastry, removing it from the parchment paper, sticky hands from the almond filling--what a mess! I will give some to our neighbors downstairs and bring some along to the Princeton VKs and maybe one for Alonso, our former maintenance man who once asked me if I could make some for Halloween too!<p></p><p>I hope and pray that we have many more Christmases to celebrate together with our families. I feel very thankful for this one!</p><p><br /></p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-18170986626484438372023-12-15T06:54:00.000-08:002023-12-16T15:25:25.147-08:00Why We Moved to Princeton<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4uIDUqChIJJSULPcfkRbIc8VgQ0i90dnYK-HA40qOmAIldjlvuBlp9jQ2YdOdEF0VFJpGOs81j1t5j_JveivFAnl0ODk7QrKY7489GfpyYvKcTi3UUq2X0EFUxq0EsznlF1LrzjOIrOLIS73uIKNUgRvCVmkmjMjcgw9flZJgJWCBv2hwxzyLKohbFM/s1490/IMG_8474%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1490" data-original-width="1236" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4uIDUqChIJJSULPcfkRbIc8VgQ0i90dnYK-HA40qOmAIldjlvuBlp9jQ2YdOdEF0VFJpGOs81j1t5j_JveivFAnl0ODk7QrKY7489GfpyYvKcTi3UUq2X0EFUxq0EsznlF1LrzjOIrOLIS73uIKNUgRvCVmkmjMjcgw9flZJgJWCBv2hwxzyLKohbFM/w152-h184/IMG_8474%20(1).jpg" width="152" /></a></div>Jeff and Susan live ten minutes away from our apartment. Laura and Michael and their family live about an hour away. Dan and Alexandra are about 2 1/2 hours north of us. This means that holiday get-togethers are possible without a 700 mile trip east on I-80. But it also means that we can participate in other family events.<p></p><p>In the last month or so we have gone to Katie's Princeton University Ballet show. We have seen Susan's photos in a photography exhibit. And last night we went to the Harriton High School Winter Concert in which Jasper sang in the large concert choir, the select and auditioned Vocal Ensemble and the acapella group Pitch Please. When the large choir opened with "Festival Gloria" -a gloria in excelsis deo--I just closed my eyes and let the beautiful sound enter my soul. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSMSRPv3SDP7D7mkVePYmD8TafSaSNi7Govt0t3rvXDdnpcJ4PczOz24PEAWycHHaLFwxc-3BN2_56aHdpcikvP5VqYNtgTdchykoiIrruvsG8iC2DjRykvz66YPCD5CF4pRIx7zM7nVbD2DFz4P4LjGgQ8h1xrCprbhUxtX_keO9yvGzwO75wOUZZyI/s4032/IMG_5748.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSMSRPv3SDP7D7mkVePYmD8TafSaSNi7Govt0t3rvXDdnpcJ4PczOz24PEAWycHHaLFwxc-3BN2_56aHdpcikvP5VqYNtgTdchykoiIrruvsG8iC2DjRykvz66YPCD5CF4pRIx7zM7nVbD2DFz4P4LjGgQ8h1xrCprbhUxtX_keO9yvGzwO75wOUZZyI/w144-h192/IMG_5748.heic" width="144" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm so glad we can support our grandchildren in their musical endeavors. Adding to these events, we livestreamed Michael's George Washington Jazz Orchestra Holiday Concert and Lessons and Carols from Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church--in which Laura and Jasper sang and Jasper read a lesson. It was good to be able to do those events from home because traffic along the eastern corridor is often very heavy--as it was last night. We were home safely by 10 pm. </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-9990115368650988912023-12-12T12:38:00.000-08:002023-12-12T14:35:58.332-08:00I'm Happy Because I Sing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DZMR6hZjSEFcGdCR8Uj-PQHhDh5Kw3uIGci5Cj1h1b5KdWEJIibeh5xQjyxcKKe5BKlnbAOY94E3tBdw5ckjmPf6_ttKaCoQaf80jovtDq9kOAmEVsR0eNNL1DuaFmDfSkB1jZOj6piz-1QlWo8OpAEJge2ydoO7ikdbvneOR4h-t3J6SLcTe08hYvc/s4032/IMG_0588.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DZMR6hZjSEFcGdCR8Uj-PQHhDh5Kw3uIGci5Cj1h1b5KdWEJIibeh5xQjyxcKKe5BKlnbAOY94E3tBdw5ckjmPf6_ttKaCoQaf80jovtDq9kOAmEVsR0eNNL1DuaFmDfSkB1jZOj6piz-1QlWo8OpAEJge2ydoO7ikdbvneOR4h-t3J6SLcTe08hYvc/w143-h191/IMG_0588.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>A few years ago our church choir director quoted an aged choir member who said, "I don't sing because I'm happy; I'm happy because I sing." Singing does bring joy! <p></p><p>This fall Jim and I began singing with the Grace Notes Singers, a group of older folks who meet twice a month at a nearby senior citizen community. The director is the music director at our church, Nassau Presbyterian Church, and is a wonderful musician who also has the gift of being a great teacher and a person who accepts less than perfection! The music he chooses has been challenging and really beautiful.</p><p>Today our group led an Advent Communion Service for the residents of the community. Next week we will do the same service at another nearby senior community. </p><p>It has been a joy to make music with others again--and to do it with Jim. He encouraged me to join and I encouraged him to drive me there and give it a try. </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-28875238719944048432023-12-01T10:36:00.000-08:002023-12-03T07:40:57.292-08:00A Voice from the Past<p> On Wednesday morning I woke up to a message on Facebook from a 5th grade student in 1968 wondering if I was the Mrs. Vanderkam who was the "beautiful woman" who was his teacher. He said he saw my name through one mutual friend and if I didn't want to respond that was OK but if I did, he had "more to say." </p><p>I remembered him--but have to say one memory was when he jumped out an open window when we had a fire drill. The principal came on the intercom and said, "Mrs. VanderKam, tell your students to leave by the door, not the window." I was not happy! But I did not think I would remind him of that incident!</p><p>I sent him my email making it easier to communicate because I don't often use FB messenger. He wrote me a long email. And of all things, he said he wanted "to issue an apology for jumping out of the window of your classroom during a fire drill and inspiring xxxx to follow me. Hope you didn't get in trouble for that."</p><p>I was so tickled that after 53 years, this was still on his mind! It seems amusing now, but it was not funny at the time! I was angry and embarrassed. And as I was rarely angry at those students, it must have made an impression that lasted! </p><p>He also remembered my doing a mock election and exactly what the numbers were--one for Humphrey, one for Wallace, and all the rest for Nixon--including his which he said would no longer be true. He remembered my bringing in a TV for the World Series--and he found a note I wrote to his parents telling them that he was a good writer. All good memories!</p><p>I was also amused that others at his recent 9th grade reunion remembered a class trip in which I did a very unteacher like thing--and wore a bathing suit! He was not in that class he said or he would have remembered! I laughed out loud reading that and hoped it was not the Italian bikini I had purchased the previous summer! I still have a photo of Jim and me on a Mediterranean beach from that summer but I will not post it! Maybe I can find a less revealing photo of those mini-skirted, long-haired days.</p><p>What a lovely thing to get his affirmations and thanks from so many years ago. Those were three good years of teaching 5th grade and then 6th grade. </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-35201863764789010572023-11-21T11:12:00.000-08:002023-12-21T09:09:37.145-08:00Holiday Planning<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShBrpVzPvoUIkGag-oRD6if3JCS5rWP81_T6iXw2nQBWlmOTMJhTPUrTAuScTAoMRFQshBBdy4WLKuR0xMTQbsP2voMKh9BN14VsSufQPSCZecM_1Uld_jKgAMoLwWbgsbnRxXh-9QrSfPoLgxMNBeZyO2eMPYQOlpmJFT8mB3TX16QHJ16YTuLM81b8/s3024/IMG_8494.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2713" data-original-width="3024" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShBrpVzPvoUIkGag-oRD6if3JCS5rWP81_T6iXw2nQBWlmOTMJhTPUrTAuScTAoMRFQshBBdy4WLKuR0xMTQbsP2voMKh9BN14VsSufQPSCZecM_1Uld_jKgAMoLwWbgsbnRxXh-9QrSfPoLgxMNBeZyO2eMPYQOlpmJFT8mB3TX16QHJ16YTuLM81b8/w188-h169/IMG_8494.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>Holiday planning and preparation is so much easier than it was years ago. My daughter and daughter-in-law settled who would host Thanksgiving and who would host Christmas. I asked what we could bring but did not get any definite answers. Our traditional fudge? Dan said he would make it using the lessons he has learned from The Great British Bakeoff. My usual sweet potato and cranberry dish? No. Last year I wrote a reminder to myself that Jim and I were the only ones who really liked it and the leftovers lasted a long time! <p></p><p>I will try to make a cheese and fruit platter that looks like a turkey. I bought some asparagus this morning. Last Saturday we saw a turkey cake at McCaffrey's but I didn't buy it thinking it was too soon to purchase it. So today we went back, hoping there were more. And there were loads. I even got to thank the bakery manager for her efforts. The cashier, an older man, wondered if we could stop the line, get coffee and dig into it! </p><p>Every year I ask one of the grandchildren to read Psalm 100 before we eat. Several of the older ones reminisced about how it was their turn over the years. It was a rite of passage. The child I asked to do it this year may be reluctant but his older sibling has already made plans to take over if needed. I felt so good that the tradition was remembered by others besides Grandma. </p><p>Then there is Christmas planning. For years, planning for work at Family Literacy took effort. It meant buying lIttle gifts for the children, finding someone to be Santa Claus (I always successfully recruited someone who was African-American), organizing food to be served and a place big enough for parents and children and staff to sit down and eat. But those days are done and I remember them fondly but with a measure of relief too!</p><p>Gift-giving is a joy but also a source of stress. I want to give just the right gifts but am at a loss for what that can be. This year I have already purchased gifts for the women in the family. The men and boys? I have no idea but I am collecting suggestions. I will remember to buy chocolate letters from VanderVeens Dutch Store--early enough so that they can be mailed out in time. One year it was a crisis when I was too late. The same child who remembered Psalm 100 has asked about the letters in the past. Another tradition that I want to keep going! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudGPC16ERbpX3QEUTPiCPHetivECN4u9H0kOPyVmyqQpBu0tGXeQEkapHten_dE9wo3O4kUSCD-IgjvT_1reg9HW2o6TxMYQkOazt0S5oL0ms6dOyEug7AxL7WXn2tCbhqtlXEozAHR49M30GnkbTcMJxhfAd7DbcW_t1fNMFxov1NAHN3-E1IeotDic/s1242/IMG_8499.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1242" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudGPC16ERbpX3QEUTPiCPHetivECN4u9H0kOPyVmyqQpBu0tGXeQEkapHten_dE9wo3O4kUSCD-IgjvT_1reg9HW2o6TxMYQkOazt0S5oL0ms6dOyEug7AxL7WXn2tCbhqtlXEozAHR49M30GnkbTcMJxhfAd7DbcW_t1fNMFxov1NAHN3-E1IeotDic/w236-h186/IMG_8499.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>Everyone will remember when one grandson opened his gift last year and found Jim's puzzle book under his gift that I thought I lost. My Amazon boxes got mixed up and Jim got his puzzle book after all.</p><p>It is a joy that we will travel four miles and not 700 miles to spend the holiday with our family. Everyone should be there--several hours home from college in D.C., several hours from work in Maryland, an hour from Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, and 2 1/2 hours from Wallkill, New York. Plus two others dear to our family from New York City. How many of us? 16 I think! What a blessing! I am thankful! ( I was corrected--18--I forgot Jim and myself!)<br /></p><p>-----------December 21 All gifts are purchased and have arrived. All shopping was done online which seems a bit sad to me, but was easy. The chocolate letters have arrived. I can't do the banket because I still have the end of a cold. I hope we can go to our family party at the Conway's. I will probably be over the cold but Jim's is four days after mine and he is really coughing a lot. </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-88043450878174160102023-11-12T10:17:00.000-08:002023-11-12T10:20:04.635-08:00A Saturday in Princeton<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Most Saturdays involve a morning of errands and shopping. There is almost always a trip to McCaffrey's for groceries and often a stop at CVS for prescriptions. Sometimes we make a trip to the library to pick up my requests. And later in the day we cheer for the Irish when there is a Notre Dame football game on TV.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUHWDaTSjQaqKfcAVRGP8cCKY0razp_doilnaHFdkXdQyrf_uPN4Qc8wlvM9pQcJ3WAfIoqOci2b3MTc2ttLr5eMUQPzDL9RsbIrdmYhAIMYGxcTplI7Tp64VGLq-9wuF_42LxUcfhioAbr-tPAsDiu4gZGG8dUrtQ64dILYXDEWa11n2q87PDrC2p1w/s1490/IMG_8474.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1490" data-original-width="1236" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUHWDaTSjQaqKfcAVRGP8cCKY0razp_doilnaHFdkXdQyrf_uPN4Qc8wlvM9pQcJ3WAfIoqOci2b3MTc2ttLr5eMUQPzDL9RsbIrdmYhAIMYGxcTplI7Tp64VGLq-9wuF_42LxUcfhioAbr-tPAsDiu4gZGG8dUrtQ64dILYXDEWa11n2q87PDrC2p1w/w165-h218/IMG_8474.jpg" width="165" /></a></div><p></p><p>But this week there was no game. We made just a one stop trip to McCaffrey's. And then we had an afternoon and early evening of adventure.</p><p>We drove ten minutes to Jeff and Susan's house and they drove to the Princeton campus on surprisingly busy roads. They had tickets to the 5 pm PUB show--Princeton University Ballet--in which Katie was dancing. It was so good to have them know their way around and for us to be able to follow their lead. Katie was in only one number this semester due to her busy schedule as a Mechanical Engineering PhD, living off campus, and teaching a class. But as always, it was a great show of amazing dancers and the best number for us was the one in which we got to see Katie. (modern dance, not ballet and very lively!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhJFMs2cVEr3c1Pfk6RO4rv035gRdskPiMacUX1R_bWqNFieefRGIH_LtaTY-hpZqd0swSepTzWyinGRRORR6yHv39Sg8PDEzea8xL23k39t7noUelZLppDBhcAR8LG6_D-GkuR-wYWh7pYVn2prZc8osO2eXQrZtJ0EJiw18-u08Y-YZ0WZvat2owVY/s4032/IMG_8479.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhJFMs2cVEr3c1Pfk6RO4rv035gRdskPiMacUX1R_bWqNFieefRGIH_LtaTY-hpZqd0swSepTzWyinGRRORR6yHv39Sg8PDEzea8xL23k39t7noUelZLppDBhcAR8LG6_D-GkuR-wYWh7pYVn2prZc8osO2eXQrZtJ0EJiw18-u08Y-YZ0WZvat2owVY/w210-h157/IMG_8479.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p></p><p>From there we walked across campus to Birdivirsity--an opening reception for photos of birds in which Susan had two photos accepted. It was great to see the enlarged photos with her descriptions. We were proud in-laws!</p><p>Again, we were happy to have transportation provided as we headed to Nassau Diner, a restaurant right across from our church that we had never noticed. With breakfast served all day, there was a variety of good choices and we all had delicious suppers. </p><p>Jeff and Susan have been so good in welcoming us to their home town for the last four years and we are grateful to be able to share in their lives here. </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-3838205263292342502023-10-28T12:23:00.006-07:002023-12-28T11:35:22.567-08:00A Visit to Shawangunk (and Dan and Alexandra)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix93slxJNrx4coarq3LYFf5ztRutYjjMOj44kyVctA5LZkXmpNi9y6Ur7K6iw8wpx8bZiDZHx4gvEz9233iV-oFdBy8APatK-tXd0kyu67Hfl-w93wKGUnjy6c-9jKdkPaRiDn2LbXIKAUxysHUc_nBX4quSRX1L7zAedjp6Eqla6PI-qMjmR-L5C2B_g/s3232/IMG_8456.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3232" data-original-width="3024" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix93slxJNrx4coarq3LYFf5ztRutYjjMOj44kyVctA5LZkXmpNi9y6Ur7K6iw8wpx8bZiDZHx4gvEz9233iV-oFdBy8APatK-tXd0kyu67Hfl-w93wKGUnjy6c-9jKdkPaRiDn2LbXIKAUxysHUc_nBX4quSRX1L7zAedjp6Eqla6PI-qMjmR-L5C2B_g/w171-h183/IMG_8456.jpg" width="171" /></a></div>We are home from a short overnight visit to see Dan and Alex in Wallkill, New York. It may have been a bit past peak leaf peeping time but the ride there and back was lovely and the view from their home was spectacular--looking up at the Shawangunk Ridge (I think that is what it is called--Gertrude's Nose was one rocky cliff).<p></p><p>We began our visit with a walking tour of New Paltz's Huguenot Street in which our guide Eddie told us the history of the first settlers with an emphasis on debunking the usual theories of their fleeing religious persecution. He included accounts of the Lenape Indians who were there first and the slaves who lived and worked in the homes of the patentees. </p><p>We had a very nice dinner at One With Land, a new restaurant that had taken over from one called Owl and paid tribute to its predecessor with its new name. After dinner, Jim and I were introduced to the Great British Bake Off so we feel we are now more culturally aware.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hprnlwSimZW8jQserttskA54egeyek7eaLM9FgqqFd_IivJz17pJVEPaa7HLgB2fqAh0-V4fpzsUNGB3tLsMemMLtxgn5-NAj0JW5zeupLMxmBGlyLesk9PW_SpgLdE8xhEspswJeHussFXiUq_S3_xJjHvgfmleg4xshYMmdkIoI34z6_bYssvB6r8/s3024/IMG_8453.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2653" data-original-width="3024" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hprnlwSimZW8jQserttskA54egeyek7eaLM9FgqqFd_IivJz17pJVEPaa7HLgB2fqAh0-V4fpzsUNGB3tLsMemMLtxgn5-NAj0JW5zeupLMxmBGlyLesk9PW_SpgLdE8xhEspswJeHussFXiUq_S3_xJjHvgfmleg4xshYMmdkIoI34z6_bYssvB6r8/w212-h186/IMG_8453.jpg" width="212" /><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">D</span></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbxBxJ_X7o1inH42b2_UQebWekx-iyA8OF0fydG-g5gnaKGc0DL_o6Phwm1cnTuCmZouNPNZjLoyWKjNM7P3WB-3grk5xQEpKjWw7mE3OyZlslZ8drVCd8yjx_X-y_-cnn7vsaQh2H3xUGTsZM6jrZp6qhDNvWbZlg6pu8Inn3gjfCSu2yRwThrmwNNc/s4032/IMG_8454.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbxBxJ_X7o1inH42b2_UQebWekx-iyA8OF0fydG-g5gnaKGc0DL_o6Phwm1cnTuCmZouNPNZjLoyWKjNM7P3WB-3grk5xQEpKjWw7mE3OyZlslZ8drVCd8yjx_X-y_-cnn7vsaQh2H3xUGTsZM6jrZp6qhDNvWbZlg6pu8Inn3gjfCSu2yRwThrmwNNc/w208-h156/IMG_8454.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbCw5s_cRy2HTbaonmTxmIBRzLo_iKyMVtsrltHx0sEbMsiQY0zGGYct6xpruxuLuaRDFK2VNPR5oVppR8zolQu1Pv7sZcIuXWHrbGhNxjiT8mW-vT1kVn5qNHU_2iz6_UP0B__XapulF-Hda_7iO5uRulGxlyi6FEmlcZdzxOlm5avgS5ooui5rJ0pY/s4032/IMG_8459.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbCw5s_cRy2HTbaonmTxmIBRzLo_iKyMVtsrltHx0sEbMsiQY0zGGYct6xpruxuLuaRDFK2VNPR5oVppR8zolQu1Pv7sZcIuXWHrbGhNxjiT8mW-vT1kVn5qNHU_2iz6_UP0B__XapulF-Hda_7iO5uRulGxlyi6FEmlcZdzxOlm5avgS5ooui5rJ0pY/w164-h219/IMG_8459.jpg" width="164" /></a></div>This morning we did a bit more sight-seeing beginning with a look at the extensive garden Dan and Alex have created. Then our first stop was the Shawangunk Reformed Church founded in 1730. The church doors were open for visitors. The cemetery was huge--with almost 300 years of burials. <br /></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm000JoxkoLlui-LbG61ZveJGpSytR43-vdpGcgDe4-zOOOLAwzTSENMQxctpgArSRBou31YbSyPLoo0yzGvOzFdWw8q7O085S-RJv2pWv-NV4jz9AOUugl7XLfJ1Ev376ymUbdHS0NJJyez_H5XRGEA9mYykp2TNdeDyT4X1H-IPPqZvKihZZSyAbT7Q/s4032/IMG_8464.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm000JoxkoLlui-LbG61ZveJGpSytR43-vdpGcgDe4-zOOOLAwzTSENMQxctpgArSRBou31YbSyPLoo0yzGvOzFdWw8q7O085S-RJv2pWv-NV4jz9AOUugl7XLfJ1Ev376ymUbdHS0NJJyez_H5XRGEA9mYykp2TNdeDyT4X1H-IPPqZvKihZZSyAbT7Q/w233-h175/IMG_8464.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>The next stop was the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge where Dan and Alex look for birds that are native to the diminishing grasslands in the USA. I was fascinated to see what grasslands look like--not just reading about them in the memoirs I've read recently about prairie life. The grass is taller than I imagined and waves in the breeze. Dan and Alex feel privileged to live so close to a national wildlife refuge. They spotted fellow birders Tom and Jane (a lot closer to our age!) and exchanged ideas of what they could see in the area today. (cattle egret--not usually in Ulster County)<p></p><p>It was an easy ride home and we are glad that there is no evidence of our mouse invasion--no smell. We shall see if it is quiet tonight.</p><p>Our children have always enriched our lives with their interests and activities and they continue to do so as adults! We are thankful!</p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-29989852818489998562023-10-26T11:15:00.003-07:002023-11-03T12:55:46.612-07:00Warfare with a Mouse<p> I noticed that I posted on the mouse issue already a few weeks ago. Sadly, the saga is not over but we may have moved into a new stage in the battle.</p><p>After the spraying did not eliminate the nightly scratching sounds, Adriano set traps in the attic. Jim said that he heard a new sound that night--one that seemed like thrashing and banging around. He assumed the mouse was caught and was trying to free itself. Amazingly, I slept through that episode. </p><p>When Adriano and his colleagues came to inspect the traps, they said that two of the seven traps were missing and there was no mouse dead or alive in sight. So what could have happened? Adriano looked all over the attic but with blown-in insulation, it was hard to find the missing traps. </p><p>We did not hear a mouse last night. I fear the next evidence of a mouse will be the terrible odor of a dead one. Adriano said that the odor should rise up and not come down to us. I hope not. He said he is going to come back to check on the status of the traps again today. Didn't see him today--maybe tomorrow.</p><p>We have been so happy with our apartment and with maintenance here. But this has been frustrating. We pay too much money in rent to not be able to get an uninterrupted night of sleep. </p><p>To be continued....(The available mouse photos are so cute--but not appealing to me right now! So no photo on this blog.)</p><p>----------November 3--no mouse sounds for several nights now. Shhh. Hope this doesn't start it up again!</p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-3613146174987517852023-10-20T10:04:00.002-07:002023-10-23T09:37:31.287-07:00Home for a Week<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe2DFvLRjs4jg8leIe6CmYOzrv2E0LqzYk2d6Qm45pWNCDWyPNVAgTVdotg30kpma6ZwO2OY0JHrAX9vuQ0zLhAOFFu2VjGESNqxhB81Wv4S7Wx3MRM7VAH-nJn3Sw8uC3jq-twNP3peDuBaAOQ2KPIzjwt96-MmB-LjDQSOUrG-GH9qJk5fSVnYoCM8/s4032/IMG_8442.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe2DFvLRjs4jg8leIe6CmYOzrv2E0LqzYk2d6Qm45pWNCDWyPNVAgTVdotg30kpma6ZwO2OY0JHrAX9vuQ0zLhAOFFu2VjGESNqxhB81Wv4S7Wx3MRM7VAH-nJn3Sw8uC3jq-twNP3peDuBaAOQ2KPIzjwt96-MmB-LjDQSOUrG-GH9qJk5fSVnYoCM8/w120-h160/IMG_8442.jpg" width="120" /></a></div>We have been home for a week and we are happy to be home. I have been thinking how it is a good thing to like being home and not wanting to be on the road or busy all the time. We like our routines. We like our apartment and our frequent sports watching. I am not fond of meal planning or preparing but I like to eat so it needs to be done. Two weeks of frequent meals out gave me a weight gain of three or four pounds that have to go! <p></p><p>This week has been one of terrible news coming out of the Middle East with thousands dead and injured--both in Israel and in Gaza. Our hope and prayer is that it doesn't escalate. The news out of Washington DC is also chaotic with the House of Representatives unable to choose a speaker and thus unable to accomplish any goals. And then the news continues on the several indictments for former President Trump with the latest bit that one of his lawyers has pleaded guilty just before her trial in Georgia; we wonder what her cooperation will mean for the others.</p><p>Our lives involve frequent doctor's appointments. Jim had a good and reassuring one this week with his urologist for the six month follow up for his prostate cancer diagnosis of four years ago. </p><p>We had the joy of a dinner out with our friends the Moorheads who treated us at Seasons 52 to celebrate Jim's induction into the AAAS. And we had the fun of our first Wall Street Journal Wine Club shipment which to my surprise, my husband took charge of ordering. Our first bottle (Caballie Blanc)was really a winner; the second not as much. But it is fun to enjoy them and read about them. </p><p>We began planning for the church small group which will meet at our apartment starting next week. Suddenly the carpeted steps look terrible and needed cleaning. We will dust and vacuum and clear off the coffee table. We have begun to look at the lesson and have emailed the group. I have planned the snack.</p><p> Jim was able to get in his weekly golf outing again. I have spent time with my Goodreads "want to read" list and began downloading some for my Kindle app on my phone. And as always, there is our daily Spelling Bee time each morning where we don't stop until we get to "genius" together--usually with the help of the two-letter hints on the site. And we do a happy hour NYT Crossword puzzle with each one of us on our own laptops. </p><p>Last week Saturday was a great win for Notre Dame football over Southern Cal. We are watching the Phillies and the Diamondbacks in the NLCS with the Phillies ahead 2 to 1. We watched the Liberty lose to the Aces in the WNBA finals. When we complain about the frequent repetition of some commercials, we have to admit that maybe it is because we are spending so many hours in front of the TV in the evenings.</p><p>I write about our trips and adventures. It seemed good this morning to also write about a wonderfully ordinary week at home.</p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-31687661549968334422023-10-11T18:41:00.004-07:002023-12-28T11:31:23.160-08:00A Trip to Notre Dame<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL7olkTwiePvzlhEOZUeV6kinPJCq_7RVAjZsANzFpa7gRsWiWgufUQEXSiEr3L3k0mFi5Mr75fvv9K1zjjoP5eoOPwDzFe1cuaWSdthw3lgfwTpwNot4jFWEeynSnPUT7WUULz8ju1J5jZax2XCzJVXETlSGf0FUaKgdbOg6R7FWQ9ddbp01EcpWt9g/s640/IMG_0578.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL7olkTwiePvzlhEOZUeV6kinPJCq_7RVAjZsANzFpa7gRsWiWgufUQEXSiEr3L3k0mFi5Mr75fvv9K1zjjoP5eoOPwDzFe1cuaWSdthw3lgfwTpwNot4jFWEeynSnPUT7WUULz8ju1J5jZax2XCzJVXETlSGf0FUaKgdbOg6R7FWQ9ddbp01EcpWt9g/w150-h200/IMG_0578.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DQ treats!</td></tr></tbody></table>We have arrived at the Morris Inn at Notre Dame where Jim will be participating in a conference honoring his former colleague Gary Anderson who is retiring soon. We had a mostly uneventful trip here--almost 700 miles--a trip that we took many times during the years we lived in South Bend.<p></p><p>Last night's stay was at a place familiar to us over the years, the Holiday Inn Express. Because it was unseasonably cold, Jim turned on the heat in the room. Smoke billowed out of the register. He quickly turned it off and opened the door to the hall. We were given another room down the hall but were hesitant to turn that heat on. Eventually, I was so bold as to give it a try and all was well--and the room warmed up nicely.</p><p>Supper was also at a familiar place--Ruby Tuesday's--just down the road. We came back to the room for Sunday Night Football.</p><p>Today's trip was blessedly routine. We stopped at Martin's and picked up a few things for snacks. We were able to check into our room early choosing priority parking--at $18 a night it was a bargain compared to last week's $48 dollars a night in the challenging parking deck at Le Meridien in Cambridge. </p><p>The trip was easy for us but because of the Hamas attack on Israel and then retaliation by Israeli forces, four participants for the conference were unable to come. We are wondering if they can still join by Zoom. </p><p>-------------October 10 Jim is in meetings all day. I had granola from home for breakfast with some milk taken from HIE yesterday. I then got a great cup of coffee at the coffee shop downstairs--no complimentary coffee available. I was able to meet Linda Hanstra, a friend from church here in SB, and one I've kept up contact with--particularly because she has asked me to vet several pieces she has written. We had a great chat over another cup of coffee.</p><p>Meals are always an issue--but I treated myself to an apple turnover for lunch! </p><p>Last night's dinner at the Anderson's was lovely. Lisa planned a musical celebration for Gary with several numbers--mostly light-hearted but one very somber canon for four women's voices: By the Rivers of Babylon We Wept--as we all thought about the war in Israel and the conferees who could not fly to the US.</p><p>October 11 Last night we joined a few others for a light supper at the Coleman-Morse Building, a short walk from the Morris Inn. It was fun to see Door Dash robots roaming the campus. After chatting over supper, Jim suggested a DQ treat--a great idea.</p><p>October 11 Jim gave his paper today. Four of the presentations were via Zoom with folks who could not leave Israel.</p><p>I met with Lisa, Madge and Andrea, friends from our South Bend church, for coffee this morning. We stopped at the grocery store on our way back to the Inn and I heard "Mary!" It was a student from Family Literacy days--the kind of meeting that would occur more often in South Bend but never in New Jersey! I had to ask her name but then I certainly did remember her--and her toddler from those days is now 20 years old! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1VHTL2wrnWQMGQg7BPem7vzGxFqOI_saX1LA3GBJXQrAqkm6Op1ph-m3DvleFGS_QYamduEVKJ3GB6iY946OD0LIJdy6aebs28g0Y4p26yRV_Q7GD6wF3tkNd8KMZ700In1gesjqHZIgYdR1QOv1u4hllE2i8XjUYmdPalYPQ2SU4DBoNtCpfVaMGM/s4029/IMG_8438.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2485" data-original-width="4029" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1VHTL2wrnWQMGQg7BPem7vzGxFqOI_saX1LA3GBJXQrAqkm6Op1ph-m3DvleFGS_QYamduEVKJ3GB6iY946OD0LIJdy6aebs28g0Y4p26yRV_Q7GD6wF3tkNd8KMZ700In1gesjqHZIgYdR1QOv1u4hllE2i8XjUYmdPalYPQ2SU4DBoNtCpfVaMGM/w208-h128/IMG_8438.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>We met John and Lois who drove two hours to meet us for supper at Villa Macri where we had a leisurely dinner. After getting back to the Inn, we decided we could still make a short walk to the Grotto. I lit a candle and prayed for all those on my nightly prayer list. <p></p><p>It was a Phillies win tonight --10 to 2. Leaving the restaurant we saw a few moments of it with Bryce Harper's three run home and then Trea Turner's later.</p><p>I think I'll end this posting now with the hope that it will also be an uneventful two day ride home--with an overnight stay at another HIE, another familiar one in Donegal, Pennsylvania.</p><p>October 12 Donegal, Pennsylvania Holiday Inn Express--407 miles--bought supper at nearby McDonald's which we have done before. With a bottle of wine from Martin's we were all set! Time to watch the Phillies who are ahead of the Braves 2 to 1 games amazingly! </p><p>We began the day with coffee at Martin's with Dan and Jody Machiela--a great visit with them--and a gift for Jim of Dan's latest book. </p><p>It was a good trip but we are eager to be home--maybe about 5 hours tomorrow.</p><p>--------------October 12--home at 1:30--easy driving today--about 700 miles total.</p><p><br /></p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-20427354309371396222023-10-01T13:44:00.006-07:002023-10-16T13:25:49.324-07:00Jim is Inducted into the AAAS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKyWALXf5oD657nEFG9xN7Ph6aIurrd9XuY2-pDmampATddB31nR7ykGL1fZ3WC9br_Uq9IG2kTJPOqtp2g5IEFsjhyDyxVtHxFGNEUQsKMKMy7-H1pMRI5qhyphenhyphen4dOMaHkiWdmKxjogGES63mqFEdrB1xKoUD6-6OfikFUabya3JWrczXJM6qe3wgOkMw/s4032/IMG_8424.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKyWALXf5oD657nEFG9xN7Ph6aIurrd9XuY2-pDmampATddB31nR7ykGL1fZ3WC9br_Uq9IG2kTJPOqtp2g5IEFsjhyDyxVtHxFGNEUQsKMKMy7-H1pMRI5qhyphenhyphen4dOMaHkiWdmKxjogGES63mqFEdrB1xKoUD6-6OfikFUabya3JWrczXJM6qe3wgOkMw/w142-h189/IMG_8424.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>We are home after a three day trip to Cambridge, Massachusetts where Jim was inducted as a part of the class of 2022 and 2023 into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He joined a long list of scholars, artists, performers, leaders, philantropists, etc. going back to John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. His class included Glenn Close and Abraham Verghese who gave a short speech as the representative of his group of the humanities. <p></p><p>Our trip did not start well. We almost forgot my dress clothes on the floor of the bedroom. The weather was terrible and the five hour ride was dangerous with poor visibility and trucks spraying us with water. We found our hotel easily however (Le Meridien) although getting into a parking space in the hotel garage was a challenge. We enjoyed our kind of supper--MacDonald's and we bought a four pack of wine for later. The opening event Friday night featured John Lithgow and a conversation with David Rubenstein and Sheila Johnson. Coincidentlally Jim's sister Terri and brother-in-law Ken had visited us the previous night in Princeton after their stay at Johnson's Salamander Hotel in Virginia. We briefly joined the hotel reception afterwards but it was noisy and crowded and we were happy to escape to our room.</p><p>Saturday morning we found a great coffee shop, Mariposa, on Massachusetts Avenue and enjoyed pastries and dark roast coffee. The afternoon was the highlight of the induction ceremony. The AAAS provided shuttles to Kresge auditorium on the MIT campus. Jim had a reserved seat with his Humanities Group Section IV Religious Studies 7. I found a seat on an aisle in the mezzanine--after looking for restrooms knowing it was going to be a long program. And it was--three hours of short speeches and then each inductee called up by name and affiliation to sign his or her name to the membership rolls. After the session there was a really nice reception in a tent outside the auditorium and then a shuttle ride back to the hotel. Jim said he was delayed in meeting me because of the many folks who wanted a selfie with Glenn Close. Jim was not among them!</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzpl9etRKDpYUhdhjjQwoZl4CA_qZP7MNQV5j2fVoC1qRHWphZeKLEJDO4uQn1tjckdV_dneznwxD1x16CMm3z-hyP7aXiI4r8rrBer7Qmazp2PjA_l1bSTpHjuEroAmolNTWAi-E47e4WQShc1bE1hJ6GcbCSJh0v_bsjxolViSM8dO6BqSi9m7eV_I/s2590/VanderKam%20P2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2590" data-original-width="1850" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzpl9etRKDpYUhdhjjQwoZl4CA_qZP7MNQV5j2fVoC1qRHWphZeKLEJDO4uQn1tjckdV_dneznwxD1x16CMm3z-hyP7aXiI4r8rrBer7Qmazp2PjA_l1bSTpHjuEroAmolNTWAi-E47e4WQShc1bE1hJ6GcbCSJh0v_bsjxolViSM8dO6BqSi9m7eV_I/w155-h216/VanderKam%20P2.jpg" width="155" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signing the membership book</td></tr></tbody></table>And then--the Notre Dame football team won a very tense game over Duke in Durham. With less than a minute to go, Audric Esteme ran for a touchdown--surprising everyone who expected a last ditch try for a field goal for a possible win. <p></p><p>Leaving the hotel this morning presented a few more challenges. We almost left our suitcase next to the car with each one of us assuming the other had put it in. And then we had to get help to open the exit gate of the parking deck when the access card was a challenge. And there was a 5 K race closing off some streets. But we made it! And now we are home again after a much more pleasant ride in dry conditions. </p><p><br />I was very proud of Jim and so glad he could be honored in this way. When the inductees were first asked to stand for applause on Friday night, it made me tearful! </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-64766617416610718302023-09-23T10:20:00.000-07:002023-09-23T10:20:02.829-07:00Apartment Life<p> In so many ways, we are happy with our apartment but there are adjustments and issues. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc0dn2TbdzHivS-9a8C34YiWaVvMol1136eDZ6m9XIi4iiKdmRj-Acigj7lhUqC9MIrV36K_woApPT-xDsJej6FrwNjnUkVzgduQW1aTDRgq4TvODT1KLBIEz5h3F8xBFsZX2Fuyy3nbU_hYDjsbt-lErWGKyLQ0s5u_xWw7tMWSxe1c9UneMjywwlek/s4028/IMG_8406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4028" data-original-width="2475" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc0dn2TbdzHivS-9a8C34YiWaVvMol1136eDZ6m9XIi4iiKdmRj-Acigj7lhUqC9MIrV36K_woApPT-xDsJej6FrwNjnUkVzgduQW1aTDRgq4TvODT1KLBIEz5h3F8xBFsZX2Fuyy3nbU_hYDjsbt-lErWGKyLQ0s5u_xWw7tMWSxe1c9UneMjywwlek/w122-h198/IMG_8406.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>Jim has been hearing a mouse in the wall in the middle of the night. Yesterday he put his complaint on the "portal" and maintenance was here promptly. They will return on Monday morning to do something about it--which may involve a hole in the wall. I fear a mouse in the house but at least the annoying scratching will be over we hope. I am not bothered by it because by that time of early morning, I have wandered to the guest bedroom--where Jim joined me last night. It was like the earlier days of our marriage pre-king-size bed. <p></p><p>Our appliances are mostly just fine but the freezer is not large enough for what we purchase--which may be too much. So Jim coped today by finishing off the old coffee ice cream so we could find room for a new container! Ice cream for lunch! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcCMzANQVD2oyWBpHDbSGnng7CCf8xmHhDxuxYSMASqo2x45II3fL6aggUGl9U39tR4SNQityRTNBXKPA4gsVl6FyzYEaQ9AEgSXnNDyDvDsY4rZZdLPQcsRkXRdzQQOwKwl7UOmmii-lBZapNgRfJaoZgh3M1lXOcBlUK8fmWkm2xvniviNtFl0emMs/s3217/IMG_8405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2614" data-original-width="3217" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcCMzANQVD2oyWBpHDbSGnng7CCf8xmHhDxuxYSMASqo2x45II3fL6aggUGl9U39tR4SNQityRTNBXKPA4gsVl6FyzYEaQ9AEgSXnNDyDvDsY4rZZdLPQcsRkXRdzQQOwKwl7UOmmii-lBZapNgRfJaoZgh3M1lXOcBlUK8fmWkm2xvniviNtFl0emMs/w171-h139/IMG_8405.jpg" width="171" /></a></div>This is not an apartment problem, but a technology issue. In order to get the Mets-Phillies game last night, we had to sign up for Apple Plus streaming. It is free for three months and then not expensive. But Jim put in his password instead of his Apple ID and there was no going back. We watched the game on his phone for a short while and gave up. The Phillies have more at stake and will be in the wild card games but our heart is with the Mets and they lost again last night. We hope to watch ND vs. Ohio State on NBC tonight with no issues! <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_5DiJUddT5Le5lZJLAMnK56XW75pbz6DtE6nxogkHp4yHGCk5o6n_DvrfI5nkGcqUxwPDD6WZgdOb1WYGVqePloxTE0l2QhejGGZYHv8bsxBxMGPOJ_RyPIY_uyKuuT4ls7j2Czmsyk2Etr9z4GMdOr3BgkeM77bv8i6kyKEYD3XWb-cZ-vQzRnrsOE/s4032/IMG_8383.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_5DiJUddT5Le5lZJLAMnK56XW75pbz6DtE6nxogkHp4yHGCk5o6n_DvrfI5nkGcqUxwPDD6WZgdOb1WYGVqePloxTE0l2QhejGGZYHv8bsxBxMGPOJ_RyPIY_uyKuuT4ls7j2Czmsyk2Etr9z4GMdOr3BgkeM77bv8i6kyKEYD3XWb-cZ-vQzRnrsOE/w142-h189/IMG_8383.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>One more item to note--my gardening is limited to my moonflowers which are doing well again this year. I started them from seed in April and potted the only two that germinated in May after the danger of frost is over. With a tomato cage as a trellis they have blossomed ourside our door--just one or two a night and then they are withered in the morning. They have attracted the attention of neighbors--and maintenance too who ask about "Jack and the beanstalk." <p></p><p>Today is a very rainy day and once again we were glad we chose a complex with garages attached to the units. When we came home from the grocery store, we got a bit of exercise climbing those steps. But at least it was dry! Jim's sister and brother-in-law will be visiting this week and I wonder what they will think of our apartment life. We think Barclay Square was a good decision.</p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-21916832695149145842023-09-01T18:38:00.002-07:002023-09-15T11:03:35.697-07:00He's OK now but....<p> Many years ago, Laura emailed me after a night in an Australian swamp "I'm OK now, Mom." It was a memorable line after a terrible experience.</p><p>I've been thinking about that line today. Yesterday Jim had a routine rheumatology appointment in which he had a high blood pressure reading. He attributed that to his hurrying into the examination room from the car. I said we could check it when we got home with a monitor I've had for a few years. </p><p>When we checked at home, his reading was even higher--much higher. After a few more tries with confirming readings, I asked him to cancel his golf date and call our doctors. He did so and got an appointment for this morning with a nurse practitioner. Little by little the reading went down but it was still definitely hypertension. </p><p>Googling the numbers told us that one had to head to the ER immediately if it was 180/120. It was not that high but the initial numbers were not far below that. </p><p>Jim felt good about the nurse he saw this morning. She prescribed a medication and asked him to monitor his blood pressure twice a day and then see her in two weeks. She didn't want the drug to lower it too far!</p><p>We picked up the prescription and Jim took his first pill at noon. Tonight at 9 pm we got out the monitor. Sadly, the batteries were dead. Happily, we had more in the closet. The numbers tonight were great! What a relief! How wonderful to see that drugs work and work so well! We are so relieved and grateful.</p><p>----------Two weeks follow-up--All good. He needs to check b/p two or three times a week and see nurse again in three months. </p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175860800102843929.post-4045591104642942442023-09-01T10:08:00.002-07:002023-09-03T15:36:43.813-07:00This is Enough<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtubGJhwWn9y_x-RJTFqPjKUHjvK6BZxfs2nqN3ukqH1LaWj1zoukciI202IjwFrqJtV3tVqLF7lBzfIYIU-MOC3ddwpqYVDGHmJsu6Cj3_3x9AilikHWt9xgYt3xSTp4gNpOgWeAOprTLS-QRxCOGrcn5xDwZJfO2-ozzVSDk6DOkzA4ADXbbLj-vBM/s4032/IMG_8052.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtubGJhwWn9y_x-RJTFqPjKUHjvK6BZxfs2nqN3ukqH1LaWj1zoukciI202IjwFrqJtV3tVqLF7lBzfIYIU-MOC3ddwpqYVDGHmJsu6Cj3_3x9AilikHWt9xgYt3xSTp4gNpOgWeAOprTLS-QRxCOGrcn5xDwZJfO2-ozzVSDk6DOkzA4ADXbbLj-vBM/w159-h119/IMG_8052.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>"This is Enough" has been my mantra lately. When we were in St. Pete Beach last January, I sat on the deck looking out at the bay and told myself, "This is enough." I didn't need to go on a long walk or a swim and we didn't have a car half of the time. It was enough to look out at the beauty around me and meditate with thankfulness.<p></p><p>Laura writes about the value of setting 100 goals. I don't have 100 goals. I don't have a bucket list and this week I read a piece in the Washington Post in which someone's father set a "chuck-it list" instead of a "bucket list" and was relieved to do so. There are no places I really want to see other than visiting our children and grandchildren in their homes. I have no desire to travel overseas again or even to fly anywhere in the US. We do plan to go to Florida again in January so we will endure Newark Airport one more time at least.</p><p>It makes me somewhat sad to think of all the times I explored NYC by myself--the adrenaline I felt stepping out of Penn Station into the crowds on the sidewalk. Thanks to a few falls and other incidents, I would not dare do it alone again. Jim and I might make a trip there together but we have no immediate plans. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxm-Dl4Enqz-W1cQRcccZY3IpB04xL-TPfvUBdgFqu9_eFI-wD0TRN5kcwBmTrdcqBAoZz_AdReLa3cJFOSHVUjnz1tsznVKsZjMgmAuIJuDZ4Bf4Ev8dF1cnq089EEl6UAJ902zI-9wamze-htTY_R3wb4S1w5h_Y5TKLmTaWuuS-kSRpgenXEo3HAIc/s4032/IMG_8385.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2115" data-original-width="4032" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxm-Dl4Enqz-W1cQRcccZY3IpB04xL-TPfvUBdgFqu9_eFI-wD0TRN5kcwBmTrdcqBAoZz_AdReLa3cJFOSHVUjnz1tsznVKsZjMgmAuIJuDZ4Bf4Ev8dF1cnq089EEl6UAJ902zI-9wamze-htTY_R3wb4S1w5h_Y5TKLmTaWuuS-kSRpgenXEo3HAIc/w208-h109/IMG_8385.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>We are offering our bikes as a give-away to students coming into town. I insisted on bringing them here when we moved but we have not used them and now I feel too uneasy about doing so--getting off and on and keeping my balance. It's a regret but not a big loss!<p></p><p>"It is enough" to do the household chores, to do Spelling Bee and the NYT crossword puzzle daily with Jim, to watch the Mets or the Phillies from our couch, to find good books to read, to email friends and hear from them in response, to visit our children and grandchildren, and to blog when I am inspired to do so!</p>Mary VKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02138977145242197343noreply@blogger.com1