Earl the Pearl

I never thought he would do it, but since Troy has a tattoo and Gordon has one and is contemplating another he wanted to better them and boy did he. The next step is the gym to get bulked up and do something about his sagging body bag, pierce his ear and maybe even his tongue. Then he can really strut. I am sooo proud.

On another note...I am thinking of Sarah and looking forward to some pictures. Please give her a hug for me.

Time for bed again. Love you sisters.

Be OK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sQz5w5JEmc&feature=related

We can all appreciate this one.

Here kitty kitty...

Yep, we got a cat!

I even picked him out myself. I know you must be in shock right now Liz. I found him on craigslit, his name is Zeus he's about 1 year old neutered and declawed. I do kinda like him. Randy wanted to get another cat so I did some research and came up with Zeus.

Not a whole lot else going on here. Everyone is doing good.

Love ya's!

Yikes! A snake

It is HOT and HUMID. When it is 75 degrees at 6:00 a.m. you know you are in for a hot one. The humidity must be off the chart. I just got back from my walk and turned the a/c 5 degrees cooler and ripped off my t-shirt, shorts and shoes and socks. I know you don't like ugly mental pictures so early in the morning, but I am sitting here in my underwear with perspiration running down my whole body.



Well, enough of that description and on to the snake. I especially wanted to remember to tell you about the snake because I know how you love snakes, Lizzie. I was walking along lost in the story I am listening to on my iPod and happened to look down and nearly stepped on a small copperhead snake. I generally walk fast, but when I saw the snake, I hopped over it and I believe I REALLY walked fast. It was part way on the road and part in the grass. I am not terrified by snakes, but I do steer clear of them when I see them. On my way back I was very vigilant in the area I had seen the snake, but I saw a car had run over it when it got slithered further in the road.

Hope you all have a great day. Love you my little sisters.

Man Dog

I use this picture (which I enlarged and put on a stick to use as a mask) to scare my cube partner, Paula. Freaks her out every time!

Sarah just called and she is spasing out about the wedding. Everything is going ok but she says she can't sleep for continually waking up worrying about getting this or that accomplished. Now she has Aiden with her until the wedding - he talks nonstop so, for his protection, I'll probably have him spend the night with me Saturday and Sunday nights. Everything is really coming together and I think it will be a very nice affair - kind of low keyed sort of thing. I went shopping with Paul's mom yesterday for the food for the reception. She used to do catering so she is coordinating a lot of stuff. I'm suppose to help her on Friday get stuff made - potato salad, veggie trays, etc. It will be good when it's all said and done though.

Talk to you all later.

I Love Love Love Summer Tomatoes

We had our first sandwich size tomato today - Boxcar Willie.

Egg sandwich with tomato on wheat bread. It was so darn yummy I can't stand my good fortune.

Computers and their components

Can you hear me screaming all the way up there in Ohio???? I get so frustrated when things don't work like I think they should and I can't figure them out. Oh, I know, it is me, but I guess "me" frustrates me by being so thick headed. I have spent over half an hour trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with the printer. Now I can hear the ice cream in the freezer whispering "come here, I will make you feel better with my sweet cool soothing homemade vanilla taste". I will not give in. My belly is resting on my cottage cheese thighs as I sit here screaming.

Dan, Dan the Handy Man

We're working on the deck today! WOW, has this been a project - and a long, long way to go. I promise to chat more later - Dan the Handy Man awaits my arrival!

Stand By Your Man

Especially when he fixes steak for brunch on Sunday morning. Disregard the message on the shirt. He is a sweetie. lol

We had steak, green beans, peppers and potatoes from the garden, corn from the neighbor, cantelope from the farm market. I am glad I got small steaks, I could hardly finish it.

To justify all those calories, I am going out to do battle with the weeds.

Searcher's New Glasses

Do you like these or my big eyes better? Dan actually was wearing these glasses when we met 8 years ago!

Rainy Saturday

Hello Sisters,

Here is a picture of me in my new glasses. Seems like I had a pair something like this in the 60's. I am not quite sure if I really like them or not, but they were so expensive I better like them. I was just looking at my eyebrows Diane, and they do not match - never have. I was just born that way. Can't you just imagine what I will do with them in another 10 years?

Ok, ok, I am not going to get on this age thing again. Seems that I do entirely too much whining about it, but you will see in a few weeks just how much I have aged since last visit. Maybe I will dye my hair that dark maroon looking red before the class reunion. I wonder what other people will be doing to get ready for this milestone reunion. I was going to lose 10 lbs, but that never happened.

Earl and I went to Lowe's today looking at vanities for the bathroom. What a chore it seems to come to some sort of agreement on what we need, blah, blah, blah. I would just like to pick it out, have a plumber come and install it and an electrician to put in new lights and a painter to do the painting, but......Earl has agreed on the electrician, but he is going to do the other work. Oh happy days are coming.

We have had a couple days of storms. I guess you have too, though haven't you? It has been so hot and humid you can almost see the grass and weeds growing.

I really have nothing newsy to talk about. Guess you could tell when I start talking about the weather.

Gordon has been telling me about a tattoo he has been designing as a tribute to me. He has to be joking. I hope.

I have been playing a little more golf lately or you could say I have been whacking at the little white ball. I am truly terrible, but it is fun.

We just had an electrical storm and the computer shut down and I thought I lost this, but alas , I found it. Not really much to lose though.

I did look at flicker. You girls are so good about putting things on flicker. I love seeing the pictures.

If this picture of me shows up anywhere besides here you will pay dearly. Ya hear.

I am waiting for the next installment from Barb of our story and I will post it when she sends it. I know you are all on the edge of your seats.

Love you.

The Cool Just Ran Out Of Me

When I downloaded this picture, I realized I have finally become our mother. I can't count the many times I rounded the corner into Mom's room to find her sitting there all smling with her pretty eyebrows that she had just drawn on.

Beet Farmers

Our house smells devine. We are pickling and canning beets today.

Good News via Excessive Blather

Warning: After typing this post, I realized I was merely downloading or brainstorming with myself. It is not intended to cause extreme weariness. Skip this one if you are at work or about to drive a car or operate heavy machinery. Maybe you should just skip it anyway. lol

I have been given another reprieve. The scans were stable. The thyroid biopsy was negative for cancer. I am happy, yet there is a small nagging squeaky voice in the back of my mind challenging me as to what I am going to do with this information. My previous posts and comments got me to wondering if I have not been too passive.

You would think that a person in my situation would not be so passive about my health. You would think that I would raise the gauntlet and make my mark in the sand and dare cancer to cross it. In my own manner, I have. I do not openly declare war with my enemies. I am passive aggressive.

I really do not live in La La Land, and I don't wear rose colored glasses. And I certainly don't have the most positive and wonderful attitude that people seem to think that I have. I am an optimist, for sure. At times I wish I could raise my fist and curse cancer and then become obsessed with its obliteration. I wish I could wage a terrible war against it. Cancer cells are like snipers that don't play fair. You think you are healthy and immortal because you have to be. It catches you off guard and makes you realize just how vulnerable you are. If middle age doesn't diminish you, cancer will take a stab at it.

Well, I have this trait that I don't know how to describe and I don't know how to analyze it, but for the most part I think it is good. It might cause me to miss some important issues and make some bad judgment calls, but I may not know it because by then I have moved on.

I have often thought that I am missing a chunk of my brain, or perhaps I fell on the part of my brain that causes worry and fretting. When presented with an important bit of information that must be dealt with, I immediately process it into something I can do something about, or something beyond my control. It has to be pressing information with a pretty definite deadline for me to truly kick in and make these decisions. Otherwise they get put on the back burner and more important things move to the top. That could mean that Bob's birthday dinner might be more important than a thyroid biopsy or something like that. Eventually everything important moves to the top so I know I will deal with it when I have to.

I think what I am trying to say to myself in this post is that it is time to move my gripe with cancer to the top of the list. I know there is plenty I can do to improve my health and there are things I can do to tune up my immune system. It will be a challenge since the good scan results could make me complacent and mellow in the short run. However, I am in it for the long run.

If you read all of this, you are a saint.

Well, I guess I will resign to the fact that I AM SEARCHER!

This is a test

from the anonymous searcher.

Busy Sunday

Well, I came in this evening to see that there was alot of activity going on with my sisters today! WOW! I have been outside all day tending to yard work and then enjoying a small campfire with Randy.





Loved the photos from Bob's B-day! Those little girlies are sooo cute! Oh and Bobby too! I too am impressed with your attitude towards life and and all that goes on with you Diane. You are the most down to earth and anti-drama person I have ever known.





I was about to post some pics of Sarah's shower when I looked at Flickr and seen your photos Liz. I have alot of the same ones. Almost thought I'd already posted! I do have some different ones and will post them soon. Here is one of my favorite pics...





... ain't she cute!


The shower was a real nice turn-out. Paul has a great family, I'm very happy for Sarah, I think this will be a very big change in her life.

You are a good mommy Lori. I probably would not have had the patience to hand applique all of that. I have been wanting to go to St. Mary's Homecoming for a long time. Maybe I can talk Randy into going.

We have taken a couple weeks off from playing and have been working around the house. We will be going camping on the Mohican next weekend though with my friends Jim & Linda. They camped out on the 4th of July with us this year and brought their canoe. Well, they had only canoed twice before and they capsized when we all went out on the water. I thought they were just farting around, Randy and I just laughed and laughed then I seen the look on Linda's face half laughing and half terror. We felt really bad. They got stuck in muddy stinky muck which was almost impossible to get out of. Jim was under the canoe for a few minutes and their dog was hanging on to Linda for his life. A nice man named "Bob Barker" helped them to shore while Randy towed the canoe with his kayak and I went back where they capsized to retrieve some of their belongings. Thank god we had a portable shower because the campground didn't and whew did they stink! I guess they had an issue with who is in contol of the canoe. The person in front rowing or the person in the rear. That was their downfall. The next weekend Linda called and let me know that they just bought 2 kayaks. Hopefully this will be a nice outing as we will be kayaking down the Mohican River.

Well enough of my nonsense... signing out til next time.

I love you sisters!

(you too Searcher)

Lazy Sunday

Hello Sisters,

This is a picture from my iPhone I took of the hand appliqued quilt panel I did for Bobbie's Christmas quilt. It took a month to cut all those little pieces and turn them and do the embroidery and add the embellishments. Since "they", meaning Bobbie and Troy, sent me the rest of the instructions and fabric I guess they mean for me to do ALL of them. I worked diligently on completing this one, but I am not in such a big hurry to do the next 11. Troy probably sent it to me so he didn't have to help Bobbie do it.


It certainly is good to see some posts from you Diane and Searcher. LOL. I had gotten an email alert that Searcher had added a comment and I thought "who the hell has busted into our private blog?" I like the name. I may have to refer to you as the Searcher for awhile. Know what I mean.....?


The weather is hot, muggy, gloomy with occasional rain. Aren't you happy for that weather update? Well, the weather has contributed to my laziness today. About the only thing I have done is cook breakfast, clean up the kitchen and plop myself on the couch and watch golf with Earl. I suppose I could still accomplish things if I wanted, but...... I am not even in the mood to be doing this. Am I depressed? Lacking sleep? Or just plain old? Well, I didn't sleep well last night and I might be depressed about being old. Why have I been dwelling on this so much lately - the old part? Help me out sisters. Psychoanalyze my condition, but be gentle about it. I don't want to turn into a bitter, fat old lady that says mean things to people, kicks dogs, has regrets and lets herself go.

The pictures of the shower were great, even though I only knew a few of those people. I wish I could have been there so I could have met them and got the story on all of them. You know me. I think I should have been an investigative reporter. Maybe in my next life.


I will be coming to Ohio in about three and a half weeks for my 50TH CLASS reunion. I told you I was old. Anyway, I am planning on coming Wednesday, June 12th and staying until Monday or Tuesday - 17th or 18th. Barb Rowe will pick me up at Diane's on Friday for the reunion and I will spend the night with Barb and Tim and then Saturday our class will go to Mass in the afternoon and the festival in the evening. Maybe all of you could come to St. Mary's Festival on Saturday evening. Barb said so far over half of our graduates are coming. It should be fun. I hope they all look as old as me. LOL


Diane, you have the best attitude about your illness and things that are going on inside your body. No fuss, no muss seems to be your attitude. I am so proud of you as I am of Liz and Susie.

Glad to hear your leg is getting better Lizzie. Is it all scabby? Post another picture so we can see the progress of your healing.


This is it for me right now. I have to iron my kitchen servant costume as I am volunteering tomorrow. Do you think they ironed their clothes?

Love you sisters

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Another post from Neb. Your lucky day!!

I saw the pics of Sarah's shower on Flickr. Looks like a lot of fun. The church is beautiful and so is Sarah's dress.

Hmm, I wonder why it says you are the Searcher?? Are you really Lizzie?

I didn't realize there were thyroid issues in the family. I have undocumented long term and short term memory issues though. I do remember now that one of Mom's medications was synthroid or something like that.

I also honestly didn't think to get anxious or wonder what was going on. I guess since it took two months to get in to see Dr. Sipos, I forgot about it. I so live in the moment, kind of like a chicken. I didn't worry about it at all really. There are so many things that show up on my scans that Dr. Mrozek says people "my age" are running around with and don't even know about it.

I just don't think about things that are going on with my body much. If I have pain, I deal with that. If Dr. Mrozek isn't worried about something, then I sure the heck am not going to.
Anyway, it is good that she is into my survival and does her due diligence to check out the things that throw up a red flag to her because I am more inclined to deal with the things that hurt, but might be insignificant to my overall mortality. A few months ago I did fret over the fact that my fingernails were kind of lifting and causing me discomfort and hanging me up when I wanted to pry things or dig weeds or sew. I worked around all of that and they are all better now, but in the whole scheme of things, it was a minor side effect of chemo and not not life threatening. I guess I see the little picture - like my backyard, not the whole world crisis.

Again, I ramble.

I am NOT the Searcher!

I forgot to sign in for the last comment I made and, after doing a bunch of crap to get it to post, they call me the SEARCHER. I am not the Searcher - never have been - never will be! Just wanted to clear that up.

Oh Happy Day

Once again, I wrote a lovely long post and then lost it after I previewed it and tried to go back in the browser. Don't ever do that.


I am really tired and loopy and I don't have much to say but I wanted to be the first to post in ten days. If someone posts before me, I am going to be really mad. You can be more witty and interesting, but I want to be first. Tomorrow I will probably get up and read this and wonder what the heck was I thinking!



We had Bob's birthday dinner today with Ben, ChrissyA., Pandora, Winter, Jimmy and Chrissy, Ally and Maddy. Angie and Duane will come tomorrow. Sometimes we have to spread things out around here.

Don't know what kind of face Bob was making here.

Bob asked me to take a picture of him and the granddaughters to update his "World's Best Grandpa" picture frame. I took a bunch and could not get everyone looking forward at the same time. These are a few of the outtakes. Actually they were all outtakes but I posted three on Flickr that I have to choose from. Photography is not my strong point. I know I am stating the obvious, but I want you to know that I know it too. lol

Bob would not let us wash Maddy's face because that is the way she looks most of the time, even a few minutes after her bath. What can I say?

Anyway, enough of that. The scans I had three months ago showed some "nodules" on my thyroid. Dr. Mrozek referred me to a thyroid specialist, Dr. Sipos. I saw her yesterday and she did an ultrasound and needle biopsy on two nodules that were questionable. She said there is no indication to her that they are cancerous, but she wanted to do the biopsy to rule that possibility out. She is inclined to believe that they are benign nodules brought on as a result of the radiation therapy I had ten years ago. She said it is about the right time frame for that. Oh, and also I got the "women getting to be your age" speel. She is going to call me in a couple weeks when the lab results come in.

I also had bone scans and CT scans yesterday. It was a most delightful day for me. Well, really it was a beautiful day outside and I had a pleasant evening with the birthday boy, so I will stick with calling it a delightful day. I will get those results Monday when I see Dr. Mrozek. I will keep you posted on the results. I guess that is what sisters do, eh?

Enough about me. What about you guys? What is new and exciting? How's your scabby shin, Lizzie?

Sorry I missed Sarah's shower. Please email me her address so I can send her a gift card.

I better get to bed. Pandora and Winter are spending the night. I will have them all week, and we have lots of activities planned.

Love you all!

The Art of Ignoring

For myself I have High Hopes of NOT being ignored and if I have become expert in the art of ignoring I must apologize because I would not intentionally disregard, snub, refuse to acknowledge or brush aside any one of my dear sisters. You do understand that - DON'T YOU???

It is probably my ig-nor-ance that has brought middle sister to inquire as to why her older and 2 younger sisters are ignoring her. Perhaps she isn't being ignored. Does she have any inkling of just how many thoughts are thought of her? Goodness, if each time a thought of her would initiate a phone call or e-mail she would have to send out another e-mail to say STOP IT. Where is the middle ground here for the middle sister? If no one answers these questions I will begin wondering why everyone is ignoring me!

Like everyone else my days have been full of lots of different activities. I am too lazy at the moment to tell you all the very important things I have been doing. Besides it is late and I am going to try to add to this silly story Barb and I are sending back and forth. Barb has added a screwy descriptive part to my thinking and I am so tempted to change some of the wording, but that would be rude so I will just add something to it and send it on. I will share the next installment soon if you would like to read our nonsense.

In the meantime let's keep in touch. From my point of view ignorance isn't really bliss.

Love you girls

Where are you Sisters???

Lizzie and Gordo - hanging out at the local pub!!

Well, I know Susie is camping somewhere in the wilderness and probably doesn't have any kind of coverage - cell or whatever.

We had a pretty wild and busy weekend. Dan's daughter and son-in-law were here for more than a week. That was fun but nice that they've gone home.

On Sunday we went to the HeyHey and I got to hang out with Gordon for a while - picture attached! We did something Saturday but can't remember what!

My injuries are getting somewhat better. The scrape/sore on my shin became infected - cellulistis, they say, so I'm on antibiotics. Should heal some time pretty soon - I hope.

My friend, Jackie, is having trouble with sores in her mouth and on her lips - fever blister kind of things. She looks terrible but her attitude is still good. Poor thing.

I rented the condo to a really nice young couple! Yeah for me.

Sarah's bridal shower is July 18. I have mixed feelings about inviting people to a shower and then in a couple of weeks inviting them to a wedding. But I was outnumbered.

I know I've been in a whiney, complaining and very negative lately - for that I apologize - hope it hasn't been uncomfortable for any of you listening to me complain. Boy, my life could be a whole lot worse so I need to put on my big girl panties and deal with whatever life throws this way.

I wish we could hang out a bit this weekend - just us girls - and do a lot a giggling and silliness. Can we?!

I love you girls!