TM has heart!!!!!

 

Yep, I must guard the laundry room; it's my job!

 

 

   The above photo is a few years old, but 'The Dawg' is still as cute today! He most definitely is our spoiled fur child. TM and I have had him in our lives since 2002 and he rules us...lol!

 

 

   TM had another nuclear stress test last week and we got the results yesterday. He is scheduled for another heart catheterization Tuesday. We pray it shows no major blockages, but if so at least one(s) that can be stented. TM has been a real trooper the last two and a half years; heart attack and two stents in November 2012, triple bypass in November 2014,and a third stent in January 2015. We know others have worse health problems and we look on the positive side. However, I must confess my emotions hit at the doctor's office yesterday and I cried as he discussed the test results and TM's options.

 

 

   As TM's oldest son's wedding is July 25th [church next door to us and reception on our lawn], TM was thinking about holding off with any procedures right now. We discussed this privately and with my persuasion he decided to go ahead with the cath. We will go from there when we get those results!

 

 

   We both have been working our butts off getting our lawn and house ready for the wedding/reception and the kids/grandkids. Both of us are enjoying the results and are looking forward to seeing the family as we have not been with them in two years!

 

 

   Hey, we are hoping to be able to head south this winter; cross your fingers for us, please and

 

 

Remember to Scatter Kindness!

My Momma , Lela Mae

 

My Momma and some of her great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren...

 

 

 

  A lot has happened since my last entry. First and foremost, my sweet hard-working Momma passed away March 4, 2015. By golly, she hung on to see her 90th birthday February 26th. We had an open house planned but she had another heart attack February 15th and went to the hospital - even though there was nothing they could do as she had decided a resounding NO to any invasive procedures. Her body started shutting down as her heart weakened and several more heart attacks occurred. I have 6 siblings and we took turns being at her bedside 24/7. We did have birthday cake on her big day, and Momma did enjoy a piece of cake. We called hospice on March 3rd and the decision was made to take her back to her residential room in the nursing home. Mom had gone there in October and loved her room. Also, the nursing home is practically in the backyard of my parents' house {Dad passed in 2005}. One of my sisters and I stayed with Momma when we got her to her room the afternoon of the 3rd. All siblings had met with hospice and were instructed on her meds, etc. After everyone else had gone home, Connie, Momma, and I settled in but things went downhill quickly. Momma rested until around 9 P.M. and then became very restless with severe abdominal pain [organs shutting down] - NOT heart pain! As I tended the best I could to Momma, Connie was on the phone with hospice and we administered meds as instructed. Finally, around 11:30 I called the other siblings and told them they should get back to the nursing home. Momma passed away around 12:30 A.M. with several of us at her side. So sad to lose her but glad she is not suffering. Lela Mae, we love and miss you, MOMMA!

 

  On a happier note, we are getting our home/lawn ready for a wedding and reception July 25th! TM's oldest son is getting married in the church next door, and the reception will be on our front lawn. TM and I call Katie our daughter-in-law already, and she and Eric have two sons, so we are excited for them. We'll have both sons' families here for the week from Florida plus other family members will stay in B&B's and area motels as they travel in from Alabama, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, and South Carolina. TM's sons' late mother was raised in our small town as was TM - they were in the same class - and her family is all here in the same town or surrounding area, including her mother. We expect 70 - 80 people for the wedding and reception; it will be fun! I definitely need to post some photos of our hard 'landscaping' work. TM tires easily but takes his rest breaks frequently. Do we both ever feel our old bones and muscles complain...HA!

 

  It is darned cool around here lately for this time of the year. We even turned our furnace back on and have used our electric blanket the last couple of nights. How nutty is that? Oh well, in a few days we'll complain about the humidity and mosquitoes!!!!! The rain has sure helped my flowers and plants take off.

 

  I look out at poor neglected Jazzy [our 5th wheel] and think....a few more months old girl and we will head south for the winter...to be continued...

 

 

Remember to Scatter Kindness!!   (and some love,,,)



 

 

I am sure two cats on the hat are better than one...

 

Don't ask me what my title means; I don't have an answer!!! Just thought the photo is cute!

 

I have not posted as there has been nothing, nada happening in my first winter as a retiree that would be of any interest to my few readers! But of interest to me is that my hubby TM is alive and well after a stunning diagnosis and triple bypass [including the "Widow Maker" artery] in November. That forced us both to sit back and reflect - plus change our winter plans and TM's retirement plans. A lot of 'Nurse Good Body' {ha; I wish} on my part and more healing on TM's part. Then in January the leg vein bypass collapsed and he had a stent put in. But all is on the up and up again...he is back to cardio rehab and recovery!

 

As I read through your blogs and live vicariously through your travels and photos, I much appreciate all of you who take the time to share your daily, weekly, monthly, or whenever you get a signal adventures/misadventures. Your personalities shine through and I connect via your words -- that is the magic of the written word no matter its medium. Blogging is just another way to communicate, and you do it well!

 

In case some of you are getting too much warmth and sunshine, just box it up and send it to west-central Illinois please. Heck, send it COD and I'll be happy to pay the shipping costs! Or at least keep sharing those photos of your enjoyment of those rays of Vitamin D.

 

Remember to scatter kindness...



Nuclear TM...will he glow???? Homer did!

 

 

What a long time since my last blog. As usual, nothing unusual happening worth writing about. We have had a busy summer with a little remodeling of our downstairs bath = UGH! I did what I could and TM worked after he got home from his job...weekends, too! It is almost done.

 

TM needs to have a torn meniscus repaired but needs to have a nuclear stress test done first. That is scheduled for October 27th - his 66th birthday...what a celebration. Hey, maybe TM will glow like Homer Simpson! Just kidding, honey.

 

Well, my usual summer of not working (teacher) has come and gone; now I am understanding I am indeed retired. I LOVE not getting up at 4:30 AM anymore!!!!! That is the best part so far. I am such a meanie, I enjoy sitting on our front porch drinking coffee and waving as the school bus goes by...lol! Do I miss being in the classroom? NOT!!!! :)

 

TM and I plan on being in FL with Jazzy December 15th. We are spending a few weeks at Cedar Key RV Resort as we like the rural aspect and being close to the Gulf. I am stoked for our first 'retired' winter! I really want to experience Quartzite at least one time; so we may sashay to AZ -- who knows! Safe travels to all.

 

Til we meet on the road, remember...

 

scatter kindness!

I can "slowly" get used to this retired lifestyle...

 

 

My it has been quite a while since I last posted. I've really had nothing too exciting to blog about BUT... Friday was my last day!!!!! Yippee --- I am retired now! However, retiring from teaching with the summer a usual 'downtime', I won't feel retired until mid-August  when school resumes.

 

TM retires in October, and we have reservations our first winter in Florida to be able to visit the grandkids. The following winter we plan to check out Arizona. I am excited just because!

 

I have been reading a lot of your blogs daily; I live the RV lifestyle vicariously through many. Thank you to those who blog daily or at least weekly. Yes, your posts are interesting and educational in so many ways.

 

I am going to go get my 89 year old mother tomorrow so she can stay with us for a while. She deserves a bit of spoiling, I think! I am glad to be able to spend the time with her; I feel blessed.

 

Welcome back, Mike and Pat! We missed you in Blogland!!!!!

 

Remember to scatter kindness!

 



Road Ahead

 

 

I am encouraged, as the time draws closer, that our road ahead will lead to more opportunities for both TM and I to have more peaceful minds!!

 

I have approximately 4 months 3 days to my retirement...YEAH! Of course, that depends on any snow days factored in. However, I am on the downhill run and IT FEELS GREAT!!!!!! TM is still adamant he is working up to his 66th birthday on October 27th. We shall see.

 

We are keeping our home for now. That is unless someone pulls in our drive and just has to have it...sure. As stated in the previous post -- just a tad up in the air with our plans. For one, as a retiree of a state pension in IL [scary enough already...politics - ugh!], my insurance would be higher for me anytime I reside, albeit temporarily, outside of IL by a bit over $200.00 a month. I am not complaining - just stating a fact for us to take into consideration. This is just one more 'thing' to add to our stew pot of planning.

 

TM and I are living through your blogs vicariously and enjoy all the helpful information you so willingly share. We know we can pull one of our bikes on a swivel wheel trailer as Rene and Jeanette do. OMG -- can I go back to riding behind TM again???? I would pull his ears off probably. I have been riding my Dyna in front of him and his Wide Glide way too many years, me thinks...hmmmmm!

 

Whether you are in AZ, CA, TX, NM, LA, GA, FL, or Mexico, we read your blogs as often as we can and can not wait to cross paths with you! What a life!!!!!!

 

Till next time....remember to Scatter Kindness!

 



Is there a steel building "home" in my future?

 

 

Do you think you could live in a steel building? TM and I have been hashing and rehashing this concept for several years. It's not that we don't think we could; it's where and when! I have researched different structures and amassed interior and exterior photos, prices, and ideas [including Mike and Pat McFall's pics]. I'd be as snug as a bug in a rug.

 

We both like the above pic and concept. TM and I would put a small 2BR apartment in front and use the back as a garage/workshop/storage area. Again - where and when???? This would be a homebase for summer months and a place to call home that doesn't "roll" -- lol.

 

As we have moved our retirement up to 2014, we have more rehashing to do. For the first year or so, we'll keep our house and travel in "Jazzy" as we wish. Then we'll feel ready to either stay put or downsize and move on. As so many of you say, our plans are set in jello -- or something like that!

 

TM and I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving. It was just the two of us as TM is recuperating from hernia surgery. He is sore but getting stronger every day. Life is good!

 

Remember to scatter kindness...