Dear Debra:

Hello! It is after 5:30 Tuesday. In about two hours we will have our “Phone session”. As you know I am looking forward to it and I just hope I can stay awake for it. I tried to wake up at 4:30 but turned over and went back to sleep until 6. So my plans to start laundry were a wash (you know I had to do that). So when I got home after a while I started at least one load.



Today went really well. No huge problems and got most everything done by 2. I was able to work on re-address mail. The piles are still big but not overwhelming. I was able to work on them this morning and then again late in the afternoon.



We had a visit from our co-worker Denise and her step-son. She took some time off for their visit and so she wanted to show him and his girlfriend where she works. The step-son and girlfriend live in FL. Apparently they took a trip to NY and it was Denise’s first trip and she along with the rest of the world fell in love with the city.



I was able to catch an earlier bus than I usually get. However, I get the feeling this guy thinks he is in the Indy 500 for buses. I have half a mind to call the bus company and complain. I did call late last week when there was a discrepancy in the schedule pole out by Kelly’s restaurant on Temple Street.



As you know I was getting rather frustrated this afternoon with Mom’s criticisms or comments about everything we discussed. Ranging from the new window installed to the head count of the upcoming picnic. After we chatted this evening I ran down and I shared with her what you had told me about “being in the moment”. She even reinforced that’s how one of the doctors says I should do it. She even suggested that perhaps if I get the room cleaned enough that someone can come in and help organize it. She accepted that it doesn’t have to be the all at one time.



The rest of the night went well. I have been watching TV and surfing the web. I am heading to bed soon once the dryer is done with the clothes I have in it. Well I am going to close out for now…



Thank you again for the session. I came away with some good tips.

Dear Debra

I am so sorry about the confusion tonight. I thought we had said Monday. I even wrote down Monday. Well that’s okay. I am looking forward to the call tomorrow.



I am pretty tired and apparently crankier than I realized. Many things are annoying me. Let’s start with how my day started.



I woke up early and did some web surfing. Checked emails and tried to get rid of stuff. Emails never seem to stop. Before leaving I woke up Mom to tell her about the continuous invasion of flies. I also wanted to know when my Nephew was coming to put the window in. She didn’t know.



Despite the great sleep I was pretty tired for most of the morning. I kept nodding off on the bus and at the desk. I managed to eat anything and drink anything that would kick start me awake. It didn’t really happen until after lunch.



Even though I was tired I managed to get most everything done. I just have the postage tallies and the readdress mail to do. I am managing that pretty well but daily more gets added as I keep sending stuff out.











I managed to stay off the web unless it was work related or break time. AT lunch time I took a walk up towards your office to get the bus pass for the next month. I went and got lunch for G and myself at Vito’s Deli. I was back a little after 12:30.



We are planning on having a birthday lunch for AC on Wednesday. I was like the first one to put in for the collection. I figured since I had it I would do it now instead of later.



When I got home this evening Mom was just cooking dinner. She had done some heavy duty cleaning trying to figure out where the flies are coming from. Still no luck they still keep coming.



At one point I told her that we were going to have a phone session. Do you know what the first thing out of her mouth was? I hope you are not making this a normal practice! Uh no! WTF? First of all it’s not her business. Second of all of course we are going to continue seeing each other. I explained to her. I also gave her an almost snotty answer later about the time we had the session when I was recovering from the blood clot. She wasn’t being curing. She was being judgmental and critical. She did say it was nice of you to do this on your vacation. Um should I tell her it was your idea?









Mom tells me that Jim and the kids will be here some time Saturday afternoon. Later she tells me she wants my room cleaned. This irritated me a lot. So Now I am planning on getting up at dawn every day until Saturday to make sure the room is in order.



Some Dumb-ass is blaming the last two motor cycle accidents on the motorcycle riders. She was accusing them of being reckless and stupid. The thread was on a friends Facebook wall and another friend (acquaintance I haven’t seen in a while) also read this person the riot act.



So you see why I am going to bed now? It is to save me and the world some aggravation.



See ya tomorrow.

Dear Debra

It is after 3 in the afternoon and I am so frustrated it is not funny. This is not how I started my day. I slept later than I wanted to but still had gotten to do the things I wanted.



First thing that frustrated me to no end. I found out the “natives” were restless while I was away. The newest edition of the Recreation staff named Shelly (lovely woman too) told me what happened that two of the residents got abusive over a chair. I knew who they were (they both play bingo). So I shared with Shelly my experiences with both of them. I told her that I would no longer tolerate that kind of behavior from either of them. One doesn’t do it often (he pushes buttons at times but the other one forget it) I told her from now on if I have to speak to anyone three times they will be ejected from the bingo games. I made sure the entire room heard the rules. Ms Irene was still bossy and was rude once. She kept quiet the whole time.



There was a woman named Mrs. P. She couldn’t really hear and she doesn’t normally play. She apparently had been in the hospital and now has to wear a mask, and everyone needs to be three feet away (and she has to be isolated). At one point she started to travel. I went to tell an aide and the bitch was obnoxious. I explained that she is going to be traveling and she has a mask. I can’t be running after her. “Oh so you are exclude her from bingo?” I almost went off on the bitch. I looked at her and told her no I am telling you like it is. I had to make sure people were not sitting at the same table and it was stressful every time she took the mask off. I had to help her put it back on a few times. When I asked another aide if she could do me a favor she replied rudely. Another aide ended up doing it. Why is it okay to drop patients who either have no interest or can’t do an activity in anyway shape or form? I just let her sit there when I realized she wasn’t really following that entire time.



The third and final time was after I left my sister’s home. I headed over to Costco. I was going to see if there were propane tanks there. Apparently





The traffic light on the main road was out. To me it was total chaos. No one was letting anyone in or out to the Costco. The wait was long. Coming out of there was worse. When I Thought people were stopping I came out a Pick Up truck came barreling down on me. The arrogant SOB sounded his horn at me. He had an obligation to stop and allow me out! . So I thought I called both the Orange Police and the Milford Police to complain about that light. It’s not a priority. When I told Mom about the light later (She couldn’t hear me or understand) she told me that drivers on the main road get priority. That’s just absolute bullshit.



So I came home aggravated because of the traffic and no propane tank. I didn’t nor do I want to go out for the rest of the day. Actually there is no chance of that as it is now nearly 4:30.



I come to find out that Mom is now following me on Twitter. No I really mean she is following me. She doesn’t understand how it all works and I just don’t have the energy to explain it.



We had waffles for dinner. Neither of us knew what we wanted and so it was on my suggestion of pancakes that it went to waffles. They were good. Mom usually makes the mix from scratch but she tried Trader Joe’s Pancake Mix. I liked it. I ate a lot of it too 



It’s now a couple of hours later. The sun is setting in the west and the clouds are mixture of white and grey. The weather service is predicting some more rain for the area. We did get a brief shower earlier but I am hoping for more. Our grass is need of it and so are the plants.



Well I am going to close this out for now. I am preparing for influx of rude emails and a fight on one of the forums it was a discussion about what we would like to see in Season ten of NCIS. I was number 149 and you can read the rest of it. I usually have no qualms with ‘Bellswater” but in this instance I feel she is being obnoxious. I really am getting tired of the fandom.



Take care,



Kate



PS. I am looking forward to our phone session tomorrow night.

Dear Debra Saying Good Night

Dear Debra:




Well it looks like the storm has passed for the moment but more is on the way. That’s okay I will be asleep soon and like I have always told you I love a rainy Weekend night. There is something different about it. I suspect this rain has cancelled the rest of Woodmont Day and the lobster bake that’s being held in town today. I noticed my neighbor across the street returning from Doolittle Park with many of their friends.



I did manage to do some things since my last letter to you. I checked out Facebook, moved some emails around, and watched TV. My aunt and Uncle who until this week lived in Chantilly VA for nearly all of my life and the lives of their children moved to Austin Texas to be with my cousin Judy and her family. They arrived safely yesterday according to Judy’s Facebook page entry. Now I have more wonderful reasons to return to Austin.



It looks like I will be chaperoning some of the girls in the girls club during the Milford Relay for Life event in September. Telka is going to be attending a wedding of a very dear old friend and can’t be there. I am a little nervous about it because I have never really chaperoned before. We will be working with the Girl Scout troop selling and giving out the luminaries for the presentation that night. It will be for only a few hours but I hope Roberta will be there to assist.



Tomorrow might be another long day for me. My intentions are to get up early to start my day. I want to get the laundry started before I leave for church. The earliest mass I could go to is either 7:30 or 8:30. After that I am doing bingo and then seeing Liz. I told Mom I would pick up the new tank of propane gas at Costco before coming home.



Oh damn! Tomorrow night is the concert Dave and I are supposed to go to. I was thinking the country music one was but Dave was out of town and said he would be until either today or tomorrow. I just sent him a message reminding him of the event. I can’t believe I have been mixing up dates.



I guess it’s a sign of old age! 







Well its time for me to say good night. I will chat with you later…





Kate

DEar Debra

Dear Debra:




It is now late in the day and there is a sun shower going on here. There is a flash flood warning for Fairfield and New Haven County until 5 tonight. That’s okay because I don’t plan on going out too much for the rest of the afternoon.



My morning went very well. The blood work didn’t take long and a short time after that I was on the picket line at West River. Apparently before I arrived there apparently was an altercation. Some couple was driving by and verbally abusing the striking workers. As one of the picketers was heading to family member’s home the couple was harassing him. The police arrived to get more information. Some time later I left to do the canvassing.



It was nearly 11 when I arrived at M&T’s office. Most of the people who were walking and canvassing had started at 10. I was still willing to do the walking. So the first route was here in Woodmont. That is until I mentioned the fact that it was Woodmont day and most if not all of the borough would be at the “party”. So I got the Gulf Street area that included the surrounding streets. The homes there were beautiful. Some very old and some that looked new (aka renovated). I even got a chance to visit with extended family. The parents were away but I had an opportunity to discuss politics and unions with them. I pretty much held my own I am proud to say. (Now I don’t know if I was informative or looked like an idiot.).



After I finished the lists (there was one or two I couldn’t find) I went back to the office turned in my list and had lunch. It was Tamale with hot sauce from hell (that’s the name of the brand). Mike & Tess were there along with Mom and another woman. Mom had been there since I left to canvass. She opted to write out post cards to friends and family (something I wasn’t comfortable with). The conversations during lunch ranged from campaigns to opinions on unions. It was all very interesting but I wanted to come home.



It was starting to rain when I left there and since I have been home it has poured twice. There are flash flood warnings all over the state until five or six o’clock tonight. The Governor has opened the State Emergency Operations Center because of the storms. Many places in the last few storms this week had damage (tree limbs basically)



Mom came home from Mike & Tessa’s place by three and relaxed until it was time to go to church. She will be back some time after 5. We will figure out what dinner will be then.











Until that time I am going to surf the web and do some paper work. I have a lot of emails that I need to clear out so I am going to try and do that. Have a great afternoon.





Take care,







Kate

Dear Debra

Good Morning! It is early Saturday morning and I hope to leave soon for the Quest Diagnostics for that test that Dr. Lu asked me to get before my next appointment on Wednesday. The place I plan on going is here in Milford and is open right now. I am just not fast enough right now.


Depending on how long the wait and the blood test takes I am going to the picket line for a little while. I would like to be there a couple of hours but it also depends on the weather. It is overcast right now and I would prefer not to be in the rain.

After that I am going to do some canvassing, door knocking for Senator Chris Murphy. He is running for Congress this election. I am going to offer to walk around and help out. Unless they say “we need you to drive not walk”. I may do that for another couple of hours.

Mom wants me to get a new tank or a tank of propane gas for the grill. The one we have now is really low. I am going to perhaps Costco to buy one.


I am thinking after all tat is done I would do some chores. I have some laundry waiting to be done and stuff to iron in the other room. I don’t think I have anything else to do today. So the afternoon will be good.

Mom just got up for the day. Her plans include doing the Chris Murphy door-knocking but she will be addressing post cards. We will be doing it at our Friends office in town. I am not sure what else she is planning. I have a feeling she is going to be doing cleaning. As if she hasn’t done enough of it this week.


Oh here is the latest critter update-plenty of rabbits but not one woodchuck. We are done with them-uh I hope. Mom says every time we say there are no more they show up. Time w ill tell. These things start to hibernate in October.



Well its time for me to move along now so I will close out for now. Have a great day and I will write again.



Take care,



Me.

Dear Debra

Happy Friday! I hope you are enjoying your time away and the weather is cooperating. The sun is out right now and it’s around 80 plus degrees but it is supposed to change for the weekend. Some activities that were scheduled for this week were postponed for another date.



Yesterday started off fine it was totally different after lunch. Actually the enclosed Thankful Thursday list explains it briefly. Today was better. G and I discussed the final outcome of my decision to not pursue the matter this time. I have been advised by everyone to document anything and everything. G was not upset that I decided to not pursue (that is one of the reasons I really respect her) the matter.



Today I ran into ST (EX-Dir) and she said hello to me and how am I. As you know what I was thinking afterward and what I actually said was two totally different things. I returned the greeting and thanked her. I was a little nervous because it was like a minute or two before my actual break and I was heading down for breakfast. Of course I mentioned it to G and the others and they said not to worry. It felt good that I have the support of my team and co-workers.



The union steward was also wise in asking me to think about the situation before I made any decisions. It is clear that many feel that “ST is losing her mind with all the stress and overwhelming things that are happening (bringing in more departments under our billing and umbrella). This knowledge tempered my anger towards her to feeling compassion and understanding. G also said we should not let her just attack and harass.



Anyway, you can probably imagine how the rest of the day was spent. Did my work, stayed off the internet unless it was work related or break time.



Anyway, I was thrilled that I was getting out of the office but I was feeling better than yesterday.



I talked with Sis via text message yesterday. I knew she had knee surgery and I expected she would be resting and I didn’t want to bother her. One of the text messages was the news that her young grandson Mike Jr fell from a roof on Wednesday and broke a wrist, arm and nearly damaged his kidney or liver. They were all pretty frightened.



Rich hasn’t been back since Wednesday. He was supposed to install the window yesterday. Mom is a littler perturbed that it is still being made a huge project. She didn’t want to argue that she didn’t want it white (and have to have it painted). The saga continues.



I had every intention of going to a concert tonight but I had forgotten that Dave was still going to be out of town until Saturday. I am pretty tired and I have lots to do tomorrow so it’s pretty clear I am going to bed soon.



Okay maybe sooner than later. I hope you are enjoying yourself and I hope you enjoy these letters once you get them.



Take care



Me

Dear Debra early morning letter

Dear Debra:



I was going to write this before I went to bed but I was exhausted. I can’t believe after writing the earlier letter that I forgot to post it to a couple of other blogs. I fixed that little mistake before starting this letter.



The rest of my day went okay. I did have a couple of minor incidences that bothered me. The first incident we were talking about celebrities (Sherman Hemsley and Chad Everett) dying. I was trying to tell a story relating to Chad Everett. I was rudely dismissed by my supervisor whom I have a lot of respect for. She and the others kept interrupting me and asking ‘who cares about Robert Reed?”. I just ended up not telling them the story. I told a few people what occurred. One who had witnessed the incident and a few others who didn’t. Oh and if I hear one more “let it roll off your back” I was going to scream.



The other was “S” being agitated because there was mail in the mail slots for the teams. She wanted me to deliver to them. When I did deliver people questioned why I was bringing it to them. I told them S was concerned. Oh I would have done it. I felt like saying you go and tell her that ‘k’?



When I got home Mom just was baking a peach cake. We had some later on in the evening. She also was cooking dinner Grilled Pork chops, potatoes, and some squash dish that was excellent. While she was cooking that I sent out the minutes from the District meeting we had.



When mom saw them the first thing she said was “We didn’t have a meeting on the July 4th. I could not believe she was actually saying that to me. I told her to read it again. She continued to tell me what it said. I was getting annoyed. I went up to her and pointed it out. She was embarrassed. She should have been. She is so bloody quick to criticize for anything. At least she liked the minutes.



Yesterday Mom and I received invitations to my great Nephew’s (Mike Jr) engagement party. The event is taking place in September at the Anthony's Lake Club in Danbury. That’s almost a month after his sister’s baby shower.



I am hoping today is rather quiet. We are certainly in the middle of month end and that would explain some actions and behavior of people at work. I do have to go to the bank for the weekly lotto contribution and the collection for the woman I mentioned yesterday.







Tonight is the DTC and that I hope is a short one I know I am going to be tired. I have already been up this morning since 5:30. I wanted the garbage out before I left and I still need to get ready for work and pay bills.



Well the bills will have to wait I need to get ready for work. I hope you are enjoying your day and I will write again soon.



Take care,





Me

Thankful Thursday for July 26, 2012

1. A Home I love.


2. My family warts and all.

3. A Job I love and co-workers I have fun with.

4. Pay day today.

5. Being able to show support to fellow unions who continue fighting for a fair and decent contract.

6. For rain we had earlier in the week

7. Fairly quiet weekend

8. A supportive supervisor

9. That I was able to be with family who suffered a loss last week.





Despite the flaws my family has we have always come together when something has happened. This week has been no different. While we were able to celebrate my nieces run in Pirates of Penzance we also said goodbye to a young man who died on his birthday. My cousin’s grandson was killed in a motor vehicle vs. motorcycle accident ten days ago, He had just turned earlier in the month.



this coming weekend I will be on the picket line with the Local 1199 SEIU workers from the Nursing home I volunteer at. The issues that continue this strike is the insurance and pay. The company is making false promises and continues to negotiate in bad faith. I am expecting rain again.



This past week we have had much needed rain and thunderstorms. The temperatures were in the 70’s and 80’s but the humidity wasn’t as bad. This weekend is supposed to be nice.



I am glad that this week was fairly quiet. Last weekend did the chores. This week not so much it looks like Saturday will be the day.



I would love to say work is going well and over all it is but it seems as if one of the Administrative staff is now on a campaign of harassment. Two days ago she complained to my manager who in turn complained to my supervisor that I was getting food when it wasn’t my break. I was with two others. She was right that day I did go to get some breakfast at a time that wasn’t my official break. Well she continued to complain today in email to my supervisor. Happily my team and supervisor and I suspect my manager is supportive of me.



I was very upset for the afternoon. A couple of people made jokes about delivering the mail. I was talking to another woman and she told me I should go to the Ex Director and talk with her. Uh hello stupid? What part of “I am very disappointed with ST did you not understand??” I had to reiterate at least twice not to say anything to the woman.



I am seriously considering taking the advice of my supervisor. She has spoken to a union representative. The Ex Director is now accusing me of goofing off and constantly breaking rules. Seriously? Then how the hell does the mail get done? Since I have been back from my time out for being sick I have been doing the mail. A month ago before our iPP person was about finish the assignment she helped me get organized. I am really hurt by the Ex Director’s actions. I have always thought I could trust her and come to her. Well no more.



I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday. I plan on going to a concert tomorrow night and well I have already told you my plans for the rest of the weekend.

dear Debra

                                                                   July 25, 2012

Dear Debra:

Today is going much better than yesterday.  Despite the fact I went to bed around midnight and stayed in bed until 6 this morning.  I managed to get out of the house at a fairly decent hour (but I felt not in time for the bus) so I drove in.  I was hoping to get to Quest Diagnostics to get the blood work Dr. Lu asked me to do before our next appointment in August but their hours start at 8.  I am really hungry right now.  I did have coffee but that’s it.  I am going at lunch time.

Mom got sick during the night.  I believe it was the cream sauce that we had in our Chicken noodle Casserole.  She also had a nose bleed this morning.  I am not sure if I should be concerned about that.  She has been having those coughing fits at night.  They were like the ones I had a while back do you remember? 

This morning she is doing a site visit I believe with the Area Agency on Aging.  Then she is going to visit a friend who is having hip surgery this morning.  I think she said she was going to clean for the rest of the day.

Oh man I just got a flyer announcing that a co-worker was in a car accident this week.  There is a collection for her and the deadline is August 3.  This girl is really funny and nice.  I have always liked her.

                                                                   

I talked with Sis this morning.  She was getting ready for her one-day knee surgery.  It is scheduled for tomorrow.  She will be home tomorrow afternoon.  She sounded tired on the phone..  Either that or she was/is pissed at me for something.  I asked her if she told Mom yet and she said yes but she thinks Mom forgot what day the surgery is on.  We talked briefly about Rich’s trip to Ireland next October.  She had some things to do so we had to hang up.

I am so hungry right now.  I have decided ot get the blood work done tomorrow.  I have a headache too.  I have had coffee and two candy bars to eat.  I ordered an Italian Cheeseburger.

Well my kunch is beckoning so I am going to close out.

Take care,

Me

                                                                  

Dear Debra

It is almost 8:30 at night and I should be working on the minutes from last week’s 4th District meeting but I just don’t feel like it. It has been a long day for me and I am rather tired.



I woke up at my regular 5:30 and did some writing. I finally write a long over due post in my NCIS blogs. Some of it was old stuff and some stuff that probably should have remained unsaid and unwritten but it was welling up in me because of recent activity on the forums. I finished it up this evening and posted it to all three of my NCIS blogs.



It was nearly 7 when I left for the bus. It was certainly warm and was glad I didn’t bring a jacket. The ride into new Haven was uneventful. I noticed I had a different bus driver than the young girl (whom I was overly fond of anyway) I usually have. The bus was full of riders today. I have no idea why. Some of the riders were people whom I have ridden with since I started up again. Some new people I probably won’t see again (at least for a while).


When I got to work it was nearly 8. I got started on work right after I chatted for a bit. Around 9 a couple of co-workers and I went to get breakfast. When we came back to the floor our executive Director saw us and she wasn’t happy. WE noticed it too. No sooner did we get back to our desks that our Manager came and talked with our supervisor. I got a personal touch from Sue. She came to me as I was eating and working on the bad addresses. She basically said I shouldn’t be getting food/breakfast when it isn’t my break and she didn’t appreciate being yelled at first thing in the morning.

As Susan left Gayle reached the door way of my cave. She smiled and said you are always getting into trouble. I told her of the one way conversation that occurred moments before she arrived. Gayle suggested that it would b e a good idea that from now on I get my breakfast and coffee before I come to work. That it would be alright if I am five minutes late. She also had to talk to the other two that were caught. That was a feasible solution to me.

Being the kind of person I was I told a few people what had transpired. They all said that Sally needs to learn not to scream at people and that Susan needs to talk to certain people (like the Diva) about walking around and staring out windows. At he risk of repeating myself I have been very disappointed in Sally the EX Dir. Over the last several months (


Actually I think it’s been longer than that) she has been riding me. Always reporting me or commenting to Gayle (when Gayle is making requests for help) that I am spending too much time talking or sharing too much info while she is busy. I thought she really was taking an interest in her workers. Well from now on no more. Others I have talked to about this feel that Administration is taking on too many additional departments for billing. They are way under pressure and we agreed that this happened once before and it was damning.

My goal was to stay out of Susan’s way. Every time I did some thing she was there. I don’t think she saw me but damn it was annoying. I managed to get the daily stuff done by 2. I spent the next hour and half working on readdress mail. I made a dent in it but I expect more to come in and make that a memory.

When I left for the day it was very warm. I went to the bus stop with the intention of taking what ever bus came that would take me to Milford. The only one I thought to take was the one I have been taking on a regular basis. Did you know those tandem buses are two miles long? Of all days I decided sit in the back of the bus. I had a flash back to the day a truck plowed into a bus and took out the back of the bus. Luckily that didn’t happen. The bus was pretty empty of passengers. It was rather unusual for a Tuesday.

When I got home I knew the new window was not in. Mom had waited most of the day. Rich came around 5:30 and they had long discussion about the window. H e also wanted to make sure she understood that he wasn’t blowing her off that he has been working long hours, and dealing with a lot of health issues. Apparently he has been diagnosed with Lupus as well as MS. He has had MS for a while but also other issues. He is really excited that he is going a vacation in October. He is going to Ireland, Scotland to attend the World Cup Soccer Qualifications. He will be gone nearly a month.
Please forgive me but I am really multi-tasking tonight. I am writing the minutes up from the 4th District meeting and trying to write you and its taking a long time.

I had a lovely chat with Brother #2 today during lunch. We talked about our health (mine mostly), his plans to get a part time tutoring job in Allentown. He says they are at the Learning Centers (like Sylvan) there seems to be quite a number of them around the city.

We also talked about the works of JRR Tolkien and of course CS Lewis. I told him I was reading the books and he really encouraged me to read the others again as well. I would like to do that.


Well Debra, it is getting late and I am starting to get really tired and I have to finish the minutes before I go so I am closing out for now. Enjoy your day!



Take care,



Me.

Dear Debra

Dear Debra:




It is 9 at night and my long day has come to an end. The rest of the work day went pretty well. The sun came out and I got most if not all of the daily stuff done. I do have to do the postage tallies and the readdress mail (always have to do that actually) but I can do that when I first get there until the lockbox comes to me.



The sun stayed out for the entire ride to the doctor’s office. I had a moment of shear panic when I couldn’t find the street for the doctor’s office. It is on this street but the sign at the beginning of the street that you see from Cherry Street was gone. I went by it twice and had to circle around and try again. I thought for sure I was hallucinating it all. I eventually got there and safely. I had to wait to sign in and then I was able to get the blood test (the results were good) it means I don’t have to go for another two weeks to check it but keep at the same dosage as this past week. I was on my way home by 5.



I came home freshened up and read some emails before leaving for my cousin’s services. While I was there my nephew Rich came over to drop off the new kitchen window he promised mom. Apparently she called him again. He promised to come back tomorrow and install it with help. We managed to chat for a little bit and then I had to leave.



The services were at the West Haven Funeral Home across from the green. Mom was already there and so I sat with her. I paid my respects to Michael and then of course to the rest of his family. There were many friends, colleagues, classmates, co-workers from the nursing home he has been working for (the same one I volunteer at). Apparently the day of his accident he was on his way home. I feel terrible because he has been there all the while (the nursing home) and I didn’t even go to say hi. Around 7 the Deacon of their church and a mutual friend of all of ours came and said the funeral. It was a traditional funeral mass. There were the prayers and readings and “the homily” but that was it.



There is a fundraiser soon that’s in his name.( http://www.giveforward.com/inlovingmemoryormichaelfinch - his grandmother says there will be a picnic as well. Mom and I will be contributing to this fundraiser.



I had received a phone call from Brother #2 tonight (we have been playing phone tag since yesterday. He sounded like he just got up. I told him where I was heading (just into the funeral home) and we made plans to talk tomorrow.



Sis was supposed to come tonight but she didn’t show. I really hope she decided not to come because of Mom. If you remember she has been defending Rich’s actions about the window. She needs to stay out of it actually but I don’t think she would appreciate that coming from me.



After the services I came home. I stopped at the garage that fixes my car and told them my breaks are squeaking and arranged to have them look at it. It will be later in the week. They are booked up until then.



When I got home from the garage Mom was getting dinner ready. She left the funeral home shortly after I did and made it home before me. She had made chicken noodle casserole and still had to be cooked. We didn’t get to eat until probably 8. It’s been a long time since we ate that late. It was good.



My key board is really annoying me so I stopped typing for a bit and have since fixed it (it’s really messy underneath the button). I am really going to have to clean it some time. At least it is not sticking.



Okay its time for me to go to bed. Have a great night.



Kate

Dear Debra

Dear Debra:

I had a great time yesterday being with my family watching my niece perform here at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts (JORG) at the Storrs Campus UCONN.  I never realized just how big the campus was!  It is a huge city within itself.  I guess it is not unlike Yale University.  The ride up was lovely.  The ride back was “ok”.  We got a little lost and tempers flared but it was resolved.  We had dinner at the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center right there.  I asked the waiter who served us if it gets crazy on game nights and his response was “Oh yeah”.   The food was good.

Mom and I got home by 8 and we did our own things.  I answered emails from friends and the various email lists I belong to.  I also sent out emails to cousins who might want to know about our cousin that was killed last week.  I had one response from a cousin.  I was getting tired so I think I went to bed about 10. 

Today is the wake/funeral for the cousin and I also have to get my INR level checked.  Then I am rushing over to the wake and funeral.  It will be a long night for sure. 

I haven’t even done the minutes from the 4^th District or even Saturday’s Woman’s Club board meeting (even though there were 0only three of us).  I don’t think I will be able to work on them tonight anyway.  I have no idea what time we are getting home and if there will be a gathering after the funeral.

We had some rain this morning.  It was funny because when I left the house it was sunny.  When I looked out the window at work it was dark and ominous.  Now the skies of cleared a little but it was still raining.  Janet told me it was supposed to rain all day.  Great!  I didn’t bring my rain gear.

The second Round of mail just arrived and I haven’t finished lockbox.  I better close out and get this done.  I will chat with you later…

me

Dear Debra

Dear Debra

Dear Debra:




It is early Sunday morning and I haven’t been out of bed long. I am trying to get ready for church right now but I have a tiny headache. I have taken something for it but it hasn’t kicked in yet. I got it last night sometime after the meeting.



Mom came home after 5 and we had dinner. IT was cheeseburgers from the grill. Mom wanted to make creamed chicken but the bags holding the frozen chicken broth leaked all over the counter. So I suggested the hamburgers. It was a great choice as I was getting rather tired of grilled poultry.



For the next two hours we had dinner and I watched TV and got ready for the meeting. Getting ready for the meeting included getting into a bathing suit in case we went swimming. That never happened.



M&R picked me up just before 8 and then we dropped M off and then went over to Telka’s. We were out on the poolside until it got dark. Then we went in and finished the meeting. As we discussed things for the club we also discussed life in Milford. We didn’t finish until 10. I was tired by the time I got home and I had the headache.



When I got home Mom was lying in bed dozing. I thought she was reading. After I told her we needed her cole slaw for August 4th. I got online for a bit and then I got ready for bed.



The reason we need the cole slaw for August 4th it is the day of our club picnic. It will be celebrating the girls who graduated this year as well as another successful year for the club.



Telka emailed me very early this morning to thank me for the birthday card (its her birthday today) and she told me of an article about the other Milford woman’s club and lo and behold several ex members of our club was there. There is more to this story that I can’t get into right now but I will.





I have to go to church and hten afterwards head up to Mansfield CT, where Diane is performing in Pirates of penzence.



Take care,



me

Dear Debra

Dear Debra:




It is now after noon and I am multi-tasking. I am finishing up the laundry, updating my address books, and my calendars with acquaintances addresses, and birthdates (apparently you can do this through Microsoft outlook). Some might feel this is intrusive and invasive but if I ever need them this is the best way to do it. Besides some of these people are classmates and friends and it’s the whole reconnecting with them that I enjoy.



I spent some time with my neighbor Sylvia. I was delivering left over newspapers to our neighbors and I got to see godson Pup Pup (that’s right it’s a 6 year old Yorkshire terrier). We talked about her garden she was expanding, and my cousin’s accident. It would seem Sylvia’s friend saw it and saw his body on the ground.



Mom talked with Brother #2 today. Everything is fine. He says that his daughter K, is working in a doughnut shop. When I asked which one she said the only good one. (If you are wondering that would be Dunkin.) I thought she was going to camp. She is but I guess the job is after that. I can’t believe she is working already. I wonder if she is going to keep the job during school. Mom did say he doesn’t get to see them a lot because of their “schedule”.



Okay I took a break from the computer and got a call from Telka, she wants to get together tonight and go over plans for the wedding we are hosting. She also wants to go over the rest of our summer activities as well. It looks like we are going to meet at 8 pm. Roberta offered to pick me up and we will go together. I have missed Telka.

Telka went to a conference I believe in LV. After the conference she toured LV and saw Aretha Franklin and Jersey Boys and loved them both. I am sure we will hear more about it tonight. There are times I don’t call her enough unless it’s about the club. I should no want to call more often. The same goes for Roberta and Jolyn.



We just got a call from an old friend who lives out in Utah and Arizona. She tried to send an email to Mom and it bounced back to her. So she wanted to see if things were all right. I suspect she was trying to reply to an email that only had a link. We all got one and Liz thought she may have been hacked. I don’t even know if Mom was aware of it or not. Anyway, I talked with Carla and told her what was going on in my life. She was very pleased to hear that I have been pet sitting. She essentially got me started on pet sitting.



Well it is now getting to be after 4:30 and I forgot to get some clothes out of the dryer. I will need to wear some of them if I am going to Telka’s. I will write some more before leaving for the theater tomorrow.



Take care,



Me

Another Letter to Debra

Dear Debra:




It is nearly 8 in the morning and I have been out of bed a short time. Enough time to start the laundry and have a cup of coffee, and get some emails read.



It is a beautiful sunny morning. It was a cool 65 degrees but it’s expected to get into the 70’s. The percentages regarding the humidity confuse me. I don’t know if 65% is bad, good, or horrible. Does that mean its going to rain?



Mom is in her office on the computer. She has ordered tickets for tomorrow’s performance but had difficulties with it. I don’t know how to do that because I rarely if ever order tickets on line. She is going to call the box office later and see what the problem is. I asked her what she was planning on doing and she basically said grocery shopping and her ironing. That will also include what ever comes up. She doesn’t have real solid plans I guess. But neither do I.



I just got another batch of emails from the Lupus support email group I have been a part of for a while now. I just read the emails but never participate in the discussions. I was going to jump into one about doctor’s appointments and swollen feet (it struck a cord with me) but decide it would be best not to. Ah may be later. I actually have to wash the compression stockings. I didn’t wear them yesterday but neither did I wash them either (insert the “eeeewwww” face here).



I was just talking to Mom about Mr. Woodchuck # 5 and it would seem “it” hasn’t shown its furry little whiskers in days. He hasn’t even been in the garage either. Neighbor Don filled up the wholes in and out of the garage on Thursday and there hasn’t been any indication they were in there. May be he is gone? I hope!



Well I have some paper work to do and files to update so I am going to sign off for now. Have a great morning!



Me.

Dear Debra

Dear Debra:




























Friday was just not the best day for me. I over slept that morning; left my ID holder with my license, and work ID and a CC at home. I spilled not only my breakfast but my lunch on my shirt. I was a walking mess. I was exhausted by the time I left the office. I was spoiling for a fight with a driver in front of me. He just cut me off at the Union Avenue and Church Street South intersection. When I caught up with him at the bottom of Church Street South and Sargent Drive I took more pictures and he came to my car demanding to know what I was doing. I didn’t open the window I just looked at him and said having you arrested. What he did was reckless especially in the rain. I had no idea he was going to do that. He didn’t pursue it but I wasn’t going to back down.





















Despite my late start of the day (I did manage to get to work on time. I drove in to work and nearly clipped a co-workers car when she performed “right turn on red” with me nearly on top of her.





















I can only chalk this up to the news I received Thursday. My family is hurting at the loss of Mike F. He was just turning 21 the day of the accident. His mother has not had it easy even before this. I know Renee the grandmother is heart broken and I am too.





















I sent a message request to the lists I belong to and have been getting responses. It is comforting to get them even from strangers. The messages are Mostly from the journaling lists. They are always known to be supportive of their members.





















Mom spent the day at her reunion. She got home shortly after I did. She was telling me they took a tour of the old school and what they did with it. It is now Senior Apartments. There was more of the tour but Mom was growing weary and came home. She isn’t going to have dinner but I am going to make something for myself.





















Right now in between writing this letter and surfing the web I am also doing some work for the Woman’s club and making arrangements for Sunday. I had to call one of the girls but she can’t make it. I sent messages to Nicole (former Co President of the Girls Club) asking her if she or her sister Jacqueline could help me out. I haven’t heard from her yet. I had posted a message to the Club’s Facebook page (the link may not work) but haven’t heard from anyone.





















My intention for tonight was to get laundry done before the night is out. That may not happen. I am so tired I just might get one load done. The rest will be done tomorrow.





















Mom and I received a birthday party invitation from my Niece Cheryl for her son Bryan’s 19th Birthday. It is going to be on the 11th of August. Unfortunately I have a conflict for that. It is the same day we are hosting a Wedding for a club member. I am betting Mom will go ahead of me and I will go there later. I will think more about it when the date gets closer.





















Everyone has been talking about the Colorado movie theater shooting. It was half hour away from my friend Miriam and her husband Ben. They live in Broomfield Colorado. I called her parents to see if they have heard from them but they were not home at that moment. It is awful and sad. This guy was supposedly “laid back and kept to himself”. Why did he do this? What kinds of signs could have been echoed? Was he getting help? My Thoughts and prayers go to the people of Aurora and the State of Colorado.





















I am going to eat some dinner and then relax. Have a great night.





















Me.

DEar Debra

Dear Debra:




It is after 9:30 Friday. The house over all is quiet except for the sound of the ceiling fan on low speed and the radio station I am listening to online. I have no idea how long that will last. The speed from the ISP can vary to the point it garbles videos, and audio programs. The ceiling fan is the only one on tonight as the humidity is definitely gone. Mom went to bed around 9. She had been exhausted from her day. I was planning on heading there myself but it looks like I will be up a while.



I have a confession to make. The previous letter you should be getting dated for Saturday is really today’s. I was trying to anticipate what I was going to write about and on what day. It is obvious it didn’t work. May be it did I don’t know. The blog entries looked a little “odd” when I looked at them.



I was trying to catch up on some of the other blogs I follow and on some others around the country and perhaps the world that I don’t follow. It helps to get me to sleep. I haven’t come across any from Colorado yet. I probably won’t. I always find stuff that shows videos such as this one mixed with text that holds their views or stuff I am just not so interested in. Yet I make a concerted effort to read it anyway.



Speaking of reading I haven’t read from the Magician’s nephew at all today. I probably would fall asleep to it if I tried. Before the 4th District meeting started last night we were talking about books and I found out that the Chronicles was about Religious Faith. Apparently C.S Lewis converted to Catholicism. The discussions reminded me of the kinds of discussions we would have in High School English. Analyzing not only the writing but the visual cues it was providing. If I get my chores done early tomorrow I will more from it.



Lately I have been thinking about doing things in and around Milford. I recently discovered the Milford Chamber of Commerce provides a list of activities going on in Milford. I haven’t done the walking tours but I think its time I did that. I bet most towns and cities have these kinds of directories. I find it rather interesting. I am beginning to want to do these things instead of just hanging around the house. I would love to take in festivals and fairs (not the rides as much) but just watching everything like that. You wonder how other towns and cities announce their activities for the city.



I may have to search the different sites and see what is available. I guess I can do that some other time than now. I should be heading to bed now.



I was watching TV for a bit. I actually was channel surfing. There is a lot of news programs featuring the Aurora shooting spree. They are getting eye witness accounts. The more I hear the more I just want to shut it off. I know we need to know what’s going on but these people are standing there with injuries. They need to recuperate! Why would you make them relive it?



I just don’t understand it. Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t read blogs about it. The blogs I probably would find are the ones from the various news outlets “reporting on it”.



Okay I need to go to bed now. I will write you another letter probably during the weekend.



Have a great one



Me.

Dear Debra

Dear Debra:




Yesterday was my “Thankful Thursday post for the journal lists and I have enclosed it for your viewing. I have been making a point for the last month or so to make sure I participate in this every week. My list rarely makes it to 10 but this week it did. As you can see I even write about each of the items. Some of them are put together. I have to confess I start to write the list and full entry the night before and then post it to the blogs when I get up. I also send it to the journaling lists at the same time.



Work is going well. We had a birthday breakfast for one of my co-workers. We usually order breakfast from a place in town called “Corner Deli”. You may have heard of it. I don’t know where it is exactly but they do make a great breakfast. I had to borrow money from Mom for it. I don’t like doing that but I wasn’t prepared to go to the bank today. I will tomorrow so I can participate in the lotto pool. The same pool we have not won anything on in the entire time I have joined (that was almost a month ago).



Today will be three weeks since my co-worker PW and I cleaned out and organized my office. I have managed to keep it organized and cleaned since then. I still get complimented on it from various people. I am hoping to continue to keep it cleaned for anything that comes along.



You remember when I told you on Wednesday that I was not sure if my brother was going to come up to see the play? Well it looks like he won’t be coming either. I checked with Mom on Thursday and she said he wasn’t coming. I could have sworn she told me he was that morning (Thursday).



It looks like Mom invited my sister and BIL to the show on Sunday. I had suggested (and I suspect by the conversation Mom and I had the other day) to Mom that she invite her. I see that she (Sister) had to decline because of prior commitments.



Last night we found out that we lost a family member on Mom’s side. He was the 21 year old grandson of my second cousin. It happened in West Haven. He was on a motorcycle and the car hit him. He was a really nice guy.



Well that’s all the news I have for you today. I hope you will be enjoying your vacation and hope the weather doesn’t dampen your plans.



Take care,



Me

Dear Debra

Dear Debra:




Friday was just not the best day for me. I over slept that morning; left my ID holder with my license, and work ID and a CC at home. I spilled not only my breakfast but my lunch on my shirt. I was a walking mess. I was exhausted by the time I left the office. I was spoiling for a fight with a driver in front of me. He just cut me off at the Union Avenue and Church Street South intersection. When I caught up with him at the bottom of Church Street South and Sargent Drive I took more pictures and he came to my car demanding to know what I was doing. I didn’t open the window I just looked at him and said having you arrested. What he did was reckless especially in the rain. I had no idea he was going to do that. He didn’t pursue it but I wasn’t going to back down.



Despite my late start of the day (I did manage to get to work on time. I drove in to work and nearly clipped a co-workers car when she performed “right turn on red” with me nearly on top of her.



I can only chalk this up to the news I received Thursday. My family is hurting at the loss of Mike F. He was just turning 21 the day of the accident. His mother has not had it easy even before this. I know Renee the grandmother is heart broken and I am too.



I sent a message request to the lists I belong to and have been getting responses. It is comforting to get them even from strangers. The messages are Mostly from the journaling lists. They are always known to be supportive of their members.



Mom spent the day at her reunion. She got home shortly after I did. She was telling me they took a tour of the old school and what they did with it. It is now Senior Apartments. There was more of the tour but Mom was growing weary and came home. She isn’t going to have dinner but I am going to make something for myself.



Right now in between writing this letter and surfing the web I am also doing some work for the Woman’s club and making arrangements for Sunday. I had to call one of the girls but she can’t make it. I sent messages to Nicole (former Co President of the Girls Club) asking her if she or her sister Jacqueline could help me out. I haven’t heard from her yet. I had posted a message to the Club’s Facebook page (the link may not work) but haven’t heard from anyone.



My intention for tonight was to get laundry done before the night is out. That may not happen. I am so tired I just might get one load done. The rest will be done tomorrow.



Mom and I received a birthday party invitation from my Niece Cheryl for her son Bryan’s 19th Birthday. It is going to be on the 11th of August. Unfortunately I have a conflict for that. It is the same day we are hosting a Wedding for a club member. I am betting Mom will go ahead of me and I will go there later. I will think more about it when the date gets closer.



Everyone has been talking about the Colorado movie theater shooting. It was half hour away from my friend Miriam and her husband Ben. They live in Broomfield Colorado. I called her parents to see if they have heard from them but they were not home at that moment. It is awful and sad. This guy was supposedly “laid back and kept to himself”. Why did he do this? What kinds of signs could have been echoed? Was he getting help? My Thoughts and prayers go to the people of Aurora and the State of Colorado.



I am going to eat some dinner and then relax. Have a great night.



Me.

Thankful Thursday for July 19, 2012

Today I am thankful for:




1. A Home I love.

2. My family warts and all.

3. A Job I love and co-workers I have fun with.

4. Pay day today.

5. Being able to show support to fellow unions who continue fighting for a fair and decent contract.

6. Looking forward to another entertaining weekend.

7. The fans to keep cool with during the mini heat wave.

8. Friends and neighbors who returned safely from vacations.

9. The rain that followed the mini-heat wave.

10. Receiving more replies then usual for tonight’s meeting.





Despite the oppressive heat we have had fans on almost constantly. We have had also at times a cool breeze come through. There is an obvious difference you can feel when coming from a city like New Haven and coming to Milford along the shore.



The storms have helped but have made problems for some. For example earlier this week a lightening bolt hit an Osprey Nest about half mile west from my house killing the chick and leaving the residents in darkness for a good part of the morning.



Mom was featured earlier this week with her HS classmates in the register. They will be celebrating their 68th Class reunion tomorrow (Friday). There are only six available. Here is an article about it. If it doesn’t work let me know and I will get you another link for it.



On Sunday we are going to see my niece perform at the CT Rep Theater up in Storrs Connecticut at UConn. She is performing in Pirates of Penzance and Sunday is the final performance. Apparently she and the show have been receiving great reviews.



During the week we (Mom and me) had an opportunity to talk with my Brother in PA. We were hoping he and his kids would come up for the performance but the kids are away at residential camp and will be there for a few weeks. They are planning on coming up another time. I just don’t know when. Recently I friended the girls on Facebook but I haven’t had a response from them. I have mixed feelings about this.



Things at work are going well for me. Tomorrow will be three weeks that I have managed to keep my office neat and organized. However my team mates are getting hassled by other team leaders about work procedures. Procedures they know well and good. Today is pay day. No sooner do we get paid that it goes to all the necessary aspects of life.



The team leader doesn’t come to our supervisor and offer solutions but criticism constantly. I can tell you I am glad I don’t post cash or do follow up. I just don’t like it when others attack my team when I know they do their job and they do it to the best of their ability.



Today is pay day. No sooner do we get paid that it goes to all the necessary aspects of life.



Several of my co-workers, Friends, neighbors and family all returned to their homes and jobs this week after being off on vacation. Some stayed home and went on Day trips and others like my friend Mardi went exploring the most beautiful places in our country.



The strike at all the HealthBridge Nursing Facilities will be entering their third week tomorrow. I was unable to walk with them last weekend but did provide them with some coffee Sunday. I hope to walk with them in solidarity on Saturday. I hope the administration and Company come to their senses and do what is right by these people.



I was pleasantly surprised to receive more replies than usual for tonight’s District meeting. There were 14 responses all together (yet 24 members). There were four unable to attend responses. Two would “try to make it”. Seven will definitely attend.



Okay I need to get ready for work and get the rest of the garbage out so I will see you soon.

Dear Debra:




It is now several hours since our last face to face session. I already miss you. The afternoon went by without incident. I made a concerted effort to stay away from Diva. It was rather easy as she had the rest of the afternoon off but I get the feeling she knows that everyone and I do mean EVERYONE dislikes her. Well probably not everyone I can probably and safely say there are others who just shake their heads and ignore her.



The work volume was pretty good. I was able to finish it before leaving the office. I do have the readdress mail. That seems to be never ending and grows a little each day. However, it will never grow to the point in which it makes me anxious, crazy again. I have made several promises to get help if it does. I have to admit when ever I come to our sessions my whole schedule goes south. Its not that I am blaming you it’s just something I recognize. It’s an observation more than anything.



I know I probably told you that I had plans to keep working on my room tonight but as U expected I am now tired. It is far too hot and it’s been a fairly long day so I probably will put it off until Friday.



The rain storm that was predicted for this afternoon did come. It stopped just as I was heading to the bus stop and then started up when I got home. I was glad because I didn’t have my rain jacket.



When I got home I found Mom making a cake for tomorrow nights district meeting. She needed to run to the store before she went out to the opera with her Opera Buddy Stella. She told me how her day went and it sounded like fun. She did a site visit for Area Agency on Aging over on Sylvan Avenue. She was impressed with it.



I recently picked up CS Lewis’s Book “The Magician’s Nephew” Book 1 of the Chronicles of Narnia. I have gone through two and a half chapters already and find it very interesting. Its funny I never knew that was the first book of the Series. I always thought “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” was the first book. That’s probably because My English Teach in High School jumped to that one.



We are still figuring out a way to catch the latest Woodchuck. It apparently walked into the trap we have out back but not far enough to spring the door and it turned around and came out again. Mom was thinking about putting peanut butter out again and I reminded her that the first time we did that every freaking critter ate it and got trapped in the trap.



Earlier this week I contacted a member of the pen pal groups I moderate and asked if she was interested in the envelope of Friendship Books I have and she said yes. So I will be sending them to Canada this week. I think she lives in St Johnsbury. I have been trying to rid of them now for a while. When circumstances change I will get new Friendship books. When I start up again I plan on having a blog about it.





Well it is getting to be dinner time and I am hungry. I will close out for now. Have a great day and be safe in this weather.



Me

It's gonna be hot

It is not even 7 am yet and the temperatures are in high 70’s low 80’s. I am not going out except for bus rides or fire drills. They better not have one today. I have had no indication that they will either way but let’s hope they don’t.




We have a staff meeting today. I am not sure what it’s about but it will be interesting. It is after lunch. That will leave me an hour to finish the mail. I hope I have enough time.



Tonight will be quiet as well. I will be either on the computer or watching TV or sitting in front of the fans.



I did hear that we might get some rain. It would be nice…



So would be getting to the bus on Time. See you later,

How Cool!

There is an article on Mom’s class reunion in this morning’s Register. It was also on line and there are some stupid ass remarks that have absolutely nothing to do with the article. I know Mom saw it and that must have been hurtful. I was first made aware of it by one of the 4th District members this morning when she responded to the email I sent out last night. Mom sent the article out to the boys. I have “shared” it on Facebook. A couple o f people already liked the link.




Work was fine for the most part. Diva was annoying me without out even trying. She was very loud and getting on everyone’s nerves. People on the outside were annoying me. For example this morning I was at the intersection in front of the building. The light was turning yellow I didn’t go. There was a car in front of me but the light was turning yellow. The woman in behind me got annoyed and blew her horn. I looked at her and just said no. She gave me dirty looks. I said some stuff to her that she could read but not hear.



I have been getting more email replies from the 4th District members who don’t usually answer or I haven’t heard from the first time I sent out the email. I made three lists: Attending; Not attending: Will try. So far 11 are accounted for. It will be interesting to see who actually shows up on Thursday.



I got my INR level checked today. I am very disappointed in the results. It was done twice to be sure and it came out 1.1. I have to take 15 mg’s of the Warfarin for two days and back to 10 for the rest of the week.



Mom kept busy all day. She worked more on the cellar and has decided to use the left over paint to paint on the porch. I have offered to help when she does do it. She has a couple of bags ready to go out in September for bulk pick up. She made pot roast for dinner and it was delicious.



The storm last night caused some problems for area residents. Lightening struck an Osprey nest at the five corners intersection. It caused a fire and killed the baby Osprey and left residents with no power. The traffic lights were working and they had to use portable stop signs. They were working when I came through their tonight.



Mom says the kids are not going to be able to come up next weekend because they are on vacation. Jim is going to try and come up but I am not absolutely sure on that. I don’t want to pester Mom about that either.



I am going to watch TV for a while before going to bed.



Have a great night.

We may be going

Mom was telling me yesterday that she talked with Brother #1 and is making plans to see the finale of Pirates of Penzance at Connecticut Repertory Theatre next Sunday. She just called Brother #2 and he called back and they are making tentative plans. They had only a moment to chat as he was going out for the afternoon.




This will mean I will have to straighten or clean this room up for the girls. It sounds like they could come Friday and we see the show on Saturday.



I was able to show Mom how to access her voice mail from Optonline.net. I will have to write down step by step instructions for her to follow because she will not be able to remember them.



Mom has been cleaning out the cellar today. Twice I shut the light off while she was down there. She yelled once the second time she didn’t say anything. She thinks the smell came from wet rugs. They have been washed and are hanging on the line until it rains later.



It has been a couple of hours now. I have been watching the NCIS Marathon on USA. I also took a ride over to M&R’s for my hat. When I got there I found that R went for a ride. Apparently she and M had a fight and he told her to get it out of her system. I have never seen them fight like this. When I told Mom she said the heat does that…Personally I think they both are strong willed. I told M that it’s like Mom and Me. It will be fine soon.



I just hear the first rumble of the impending thunderstorm. As much as I love a rainy Saturday night I love Rainy Sunday nights as well. If I have no real plans I love rainy weekends because I do nothing but get on the computer and or watch TV.



I suggested to Mom that we have spaghetti for dinner tonight. She made tomato sauce last night. I told her I would help as well. She is thinking about it while she continues to clean down in the cellar.



It now sounds like she is downstairs in the kitchen going to see if she needs anything…talk to you later.

It's time

It’s time for me to say good night. I fell asleep through a couple of the NCIS marathon episodes and they were episodes I liked. Besides if I go to sleep soon I will get my 8 hours sleep in.




It is raining again. It stopped for a short time around 6:30 or 7. It cooled things off a little and I hope it will continue to do so tomorrow.



I sent out an email reminder to the 4th District for our meeting on Thursday. A few more people answered. One I knew would be answer and one I was surprised when she said “she might try”. I have tweaked the agenda for that meeting. I have decided that in the future I will set up the meeting through the calendar program and invite the others and then get their responses that way. It would totally be a more organized way.



This week is fairly quiet until the end of the week. I have my INR checked tomorrow after work. I have a staff meeting on Tuesday. I think we have it at our regular time. It is usually a forty five to hour long meeting before lunch. WE don’t know at this point whether or not the Allentown Branch will be able to come up for the play.



Okay I need to go…see you in the morning.

I woke up early

I woke up early this morning and did a bathroom run when I noticed something in the trap (yes it has been there abut a week now) so I went down and looked at through some binoculars and saw that it was a opossum. I decided I wasn’t going to do it. That is until I saw it become agitated. I got my sneakers on and went out and found a small opossum. It didn’t go into its protection mode (playing dead it just looked at me). I talked with it and opened the door and it ran for the bushes and to the marsh. I went to look up about opossums and found out “they play opossum” only as last resort they would rather run and or be left alone.




Since I have been up I printed up my previous entry, surfed the web, and made coffee. I think I am going to look at Jessica’s Baby Shower registry and see where the IL Monticello is located. We haven’t sent our RSVP yet and pretty much don’t have to until next month. It looks like a nice place. It was renovated recently. The pictures look lovely but I will see for myself. I couldn’t find the Babies R Us Registry but I did see the one for Target. I will ask Sis about the Babies R Us Registry later.



Oh Crap! I just realized I didn’t take any of the meds for last night!!! I have to remember to do it tonight. I get my INR checked tomorrow. I am hoping the level is high enough so I don’t have to go back for another two weeks. Well I will find out tomorrow.



I just found my Volunteer badge for the nursing home. Yay me! Natalie won’t have to make or get a new one for me. She will be there later on this morning. I believe they actually start at 8 anyway during the strike.



It Sounds like Mom is getting up. She will have coffee and see if the paper is here. It isn’t though. I told her about the possum. Now I am just going to let her wake up.



It looks like it will be cloudy and raining at some point today. That’s okay. I am not going to be doing much for the rest of the day. I was just looking at this map and there is some rain in Yonkers.



Oh no.. I just found Watership Down Book in my cabinet here and for a moment thought I never returned the book. There is no “Milford Library Card thing on it so may be It isn’t but I got really nervous.



Okay its time for me to get ready for bingo and church. Have a great morning…

Don't think i am getting much sleep.

I have been home nearly forty five minutes from M&R house from the BBQ and game night. WE had fun. We ate and talked and then started playing around 7. There were ten of us and a variety of food. Everyone loved Mom’s cole slaw and I told her so when I got home. Unfortunately I woke her up to tell her that. I am not sure what that will be like in 8 hours. WE haven’t picked the date for the next game night. Roberta and I have a couple of things coming up in the middle of the month.




I have had a lot of soda and stuff that now I won’t be able to sleep for a while. I have been surfing the web since I got home. Actually I am feeling sleepy…so I think I am going to give it a try. I have the alarm set for 8 am.



Alright my eyes are getting droopy.

Didn't go to the picket line

I woke up early and saw that it was raining but that wasn’t the reason I decided not to go. I had woken with a headache and decided to stay home. As I write this it is gone but now I am into my chores. I am not sure if I will get to the picket line or not. I don’t want to over do it and not be able to enjoy the game and potluck tonight.




I am trying to clear out some emails again. It is an ongoing process. There are a lot I want to keep and of course there are those I shouldn’t keep. In my bid to keep organized though I probably will document the emails for certain files.



I am also looking around at the things that I need to still toss or organize in my room. It is beginning to get a little over whelming again.



According to Cousin Lee’s post his mother did very well in surgery and will be fine. A number of cousins and friends are sending well wishes and congratulation posts.



The heat is already rising. It is like 82 degrees and it is not even ten yet. It was probably a good thing I didn’t go out there so early.



Mom went shopping this morning and then will be cleaning out the cellar. There is a bad smell down there that is offending her. She thinks it may be a dead animal but I told her when I go down I don’t see anything. If anything it would be a mouse no other animal can get down there as far as I can see.



I chatted with Jillian and Nicole from the club and of course my favorite JLH Soccer Guy Ryan via Facebook late yesterday. They are doing well. All of them have been busy and enjoying their summer before college.



I spent some time with Sylvia. She was out in the yard. We chatted about her gardens and her yard and some of the plants that belonged to her late Mother. It was like Mom was keeping watch over the gardens. Sylvia was so excited that some of her vegetables were going to be growing and able to have. We even ventured into the sewer project. She also made some comments about the city. I just said not going there. We also talked about the critters in our yard and the trees and stuff.



I called Liz a bit ago while checking the laundry. She is expecting Nelson 3 in a bit and will be spending the afternoon with him. I am going over around 3 to visit with them. She was telling me how her week went. She had to have her windshield replaced because the nick became a crack and so that was done yesterday. She did say she may get overwhelmed (not in those words exactly but..) with everything so she was without verbalizing it to be patient with her and him.



I got a flyer for the New Haven Open at Yale. It used to be called a lot of different names because of different sponsors. Anyway for two weeks in August the top seed (?) tennis players come to play here. There is music and food and of course the matches. Dave and I have been to it once I think. We met two soap opera stars (the husband and wife team James & Kassie DaPaiva).



Well Mom is home and I still have some stuff to do before late afternoon.



How is your weekend going?

Well I survived Friday the 13th

Well I survived Friday the 13th. I had my session with Debra this morning and discovered that we have one more session before she leaves for her vacation on the 20th. We will decide the best dates for phone sessions. We talked about the past week (even though the weekend was starting to get fuzzy). I told her about the incident on Tuesday.




I picked up my Coumadin and a few extras at break time. I guess I was still hungry from lunch. It was cereal. I also had cheese and crackers from Adams.



It was a little humid this afternoon even though it was partly cloudy. I am expecting the sky to open up and pour. According to the weather site a stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Cloudy skies, Low 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.



I was quite surprised to find the J-Bus crowded. It made the ride a little more enjoyable. I wonder why it wasn’t as full as other Fridays.



When I got home Mom and just finished making the cole slaw for tomorrow nights buffet. She also had visits from IT guy at New Standard institute and cleared out her computer. Sis and her grand kids stopped by. I have no idea if she said anything about knee or surgery.



Dave picked me up around 6. We chatted with mom. I had to remind him to talk at Mom and to speak up. A short time later we headed to the restaurant.



It wasn’t very crowded or loud. We started off with chips and salsa and then I had Buffalo wings (really hot/spicy and temp). I then had the Steak and cheese Quesadilla. We didn’t have dessert.



We caught up with our lives and at times I got annoyed with Dave when he would ask certain questions that I felt he wasn’t paying attention to. I just let him know I need to finish my sentence.



When we finished we went to the movies and saw Spiderman it was $11.50 for get this: 15 minutes of advertisements and promos for things such as TV shows, some advertisements and you can tell it had a feel it was from TV. Then there were promos (six of them-Dave counted them) the movie it self was good. Some of it was predictable but it was a slight variation of how things went down for Peter Parker.



It is after 11 now. Mom was asleep in bed and I am going there now…

It's Friday the 13th.

Yes that’s right today is Friday the 13^th.  Like I said here in 2011 I am not usually superstitious but trying to get out of the house wasn’t easy.  I had dropped papers and was walking through the door without unlocking it (before you ask it was a screen door and the lock is weird).  I was late leaving the house and was afraid I would miss the bus.  I didn’t miss it but it was close. 

The office is unusually quiet for a Friday.   My teammates are here for the most part (the ones in the same suite as I).  I have heard and seen an occasional co-worker in the halls but that’s it.

I have been trying to gain access to my credit union but they are not open and I don’t have my old password.  I am going to try again on line to access it all.  I want to start transferring my accounts from the bank I have to the Credit Union because the bank charges like $10 when the account is under $1000.  I was running into some problems so I can’t do it right now.

In about an hour and half I am meeting with Debra.  I have the previous entries that I have written with me to give to her.  This will be the last office session for the month.  We will have at least two phone sessions during the time she is away and I will have letters to her.  Oh word of caution?  I will be writing the entries for the next month as letters.  I am fully aware that they may sound personal but they won’t it will be a blog entry like it has in the past.

I have talked with Mom this morning.  She hadn’t been up long.  She will be making the Cole slaw salad for tomorrow night’s Game night BBQ.  I offered several times to go and get the ingredients but she likes to look at them herself.  I guess I don’t blame her.

I have to remember to pick up my Coumadin before I leave New Haven.  I had the last of them last night and I need them for the weekend.  I don’t want to have to come all the way back here to pick them up.

Okay the second round of mail just arrived.  I will talk with you all either late tonight or tomorrow…

I am wiped

Hey everyone its nearly seven and I am pretty much wiped out. I got to the office by 8 and chatted with the girls. Of course we had diva listening into the conversations which pissed a few of us off. So we moved the conversation to DK’s cubicle. We finished the conversation and then I got started working. I had to deliver a massive box of reports to a co-worker. The lockbox was very low volume and the post office mail wasn’t bad either. I was done by 2 with it all. I spent the last two hours working on readdress mail and straightening up the office. JanetN gave me a ride home so I was home earlier than expected.


I took an early morning walk to the bank today and noticed some women in hand made costumes. They were sending out flyers to promote a Vacation Bible Camp in West Haven for kids. I took the information to maybe pass on but thought better of it because not so sure the parents would appreciate it. May be another time would be better.
I talked with Sis this morning. She had company so we couldn’t talk long. I told her the result of some of the blood work. I told her I would take the test for the syndrome Antiphospholipid at the end of the month.

I tried to call Mom a couple of times but she was in and out all day with meetings and doctors appointments. When I got home she was making dinner. We wouldn’t be eating well until 6. It was worth the wait. She grilled chicken from a Recipe from Mario Batali. I don’t know where she got it the link is to his webpage. She also had rice that was delicious and we had corn from Costco. She made a peach pie that is very different then our normal pies. The top is a ring. I am looking forward to trying it.

Mom says her cardiologist/heart doctor says she is great. That’s good to know. I am not sure if she would tell me otherwise but I am glad this is the case this time. Now she is just on her computer and will get into her pajamas. I was in mine by 5.

The DMV sent me my license renewal application and it arrived today. I have to show up in person to get it done. I think I can still get it done at the AAA Auto/travel services. I would rather not go to a DMV office but this place instead.

My Aunt in NJ is going to have surgery tomorrow. My cousin was asking for prayers and good thoughts from all of his Facebook friends. I made sure I sent some and he just called and thanked me.

I have been getting responses to the RSVP for next week’s 4th District meeting. One thought the meeting was tonight. I knew I should not have sent the reminder out last night. I am not sure if I should send another one out over the weekend. I printed up an agenda for Chairman Phil to use and for me that night. He sent a thank you email and said he would add as the meeting gets closer. I have to update the list later.

I have a few things to do before going to bed so I will see you all tomorrow. I am going out tomorrow so I have to write early in the morning before going off to work.

Thankful Thursday July 12

Today I am thankful for:




1. A Home I love.

2. My family warts and all.

3. A Job I love and co-workers I have fun with.

4. Finally getting the compression stocking earlier this week.

5. Finally lowered my Anemia numbers.

6. Pay day today.

7. Being able to show support to fellow unions who are fighting for a fair and decent contract.

8. Looking forward to a fairly quiet weekend-again.

9. The weather cooling off a bit.





I am still trying to organize my desk in my room. It was far too hot last weekend and far too late during the week to do it. I admit I did work on it a little on Saturday. Unfortunately emptying out one section has now cluttered the top of the desk. It is an unending circle.



The home is looking great. The kitchen windows have finally been ordered and will be installed sometime soon. Thus ending what could have been a serious breach in family relations. The yard was done last weekend and looks great.



My Nephew and Mom resolved an issue that could have seriously ruptured relationships in the family. He was supposed to order and install windows. It was taking much longer than Mom wanted. His mother felt Mom needed to be more patient. As I said in my blog I agree with Mom they could have been done sooner than this.



Earlier this week I made a point and got the compression stockings the Doctor prescribed for my leg. They were expensive and it took some time to be seen by the RN. A co-worker had suggested I go to a place much closer to the office but I totally forgot. Something I had been doing a lot of in the last few days.



Yesterday I went to the Hematologist and had my blood work done. I thought to find out if I Have Antiphospholipid syndrome. Sis has it and I still have to read more about it. But that won’t be for a more weeks but I did get some good news: My Anemia levels are down considerably. I still have to take iron pills (and I want to).



This weekend I will be back on the picket lines with the nurses, nurse’s aids, and the others who are striking for a fair contract at the nursing home I volunteer at. So far the director of Recreation has not said anything about me being out there. Saturday night is Mexican Train night. We are having pot luck BBQ.



The temperatures although were hot were not oppressive as last week. It’s been in the 80’s during the day and in the 70’s at night. It has been much better sleeping at night.



Yes its pay day. What more needs to be said. I have a few bills that need to be taken care of but overall I am very pleased how things are going right now.



Okay its time for me to get ready for work. I will see you all later.