Arrival in Indiana

Left Wisconsin on Tuesday afternoon.  Had a great visit with my friend from the 3rd grade.  We were talking and we have known each other for 45 years.  Made both of us feel really old. 

Went to Mantiwoc Wisconsin and took the ferry across Lake Michigan.  The water looked like glass.  Was brown in color when we left the dock, green a little further out in the lake but then it turned to a beautiful dark blue turquoise color.  It was a very calm crossing.  The last time that we were on the boat, it rained and we were told the horror stories of the storms that tend to ravage the crossing.  Everyone was told to come out of the staterooms, come into the main dining area and flip the tables and chairs and sit on them.  I am glad that I wasn't on that crossing.  It would have made me rethink the whole driving through Chicago traffic. 

Got to Ludington and stayed the night at a Days Inn.  Had a very restful sleep and then proceeded to travel the lakeshore down to Indiana.  I know that this part of Michigan gets the most lake effect snows during the winter and spring but it is beautiful this time of year.  The trees are all lush and green.  I really wouldn't want to be driving in the winter up there tho.  I think that it would tend to be hazardous.

Got to Indiana and came directly to my old house.  My son and his family live there.  It was the first time that I had seen my granddaughter since her great grandfather's funeral in March of 2011.  She has gotten so tall and she looks so much like my son.  She has a squeaky little voice and I love it.  My husband John would have been taken with her.  She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger.  And he is a very protective father.

Well time for me to dash and get some work done.  Michael is still motivating but ever so slowly.  We can't get back to KC soon enough for me.  Although my daughter will be graduating from college at the end of this month, if his appointment could be sooner, we would be gone.  I want him to be able to walk and not be in pain all the time.  I can only pray that we get this done in time to prevent major damage. 

Here are a few photos from my home in Wisconsin.  I missed the trees..

Update on the travelers

Looking at the stats, it doesn't seem like anyone is looking at this.  Oh well, it helps me keep a diary of things that happen and my thoughts. 

Went to lunch on Wednesday with an old friend from college days.  He hasn't changed much.. just got older.. just like me.   Had a great visit and made plans to visit with him again on Monday while we are in Green Bay.  He and Michael got along famously as they have the same outlook on life and government.

Stayed at home today while my sister took my mom to the doctor.  Mom is due to have her cast off today and she is way past ready.  We had to stay home as Michael was having medicine delivered to the house and we had to sign for it.

My nephews are going to be coming up for a visit tomorrow after their judo class.  I was hoping that they could stay until later in the day as we would have had a campfire and roasted marshmallows and had smores and hot dogs but they have other plans.  They are 7 and 5.  Cute as buttons, ornery as all get out.  Will see about getting the pool set up tomorrow morning and get it ready for them to play in the next time that they are up. 

Sunday is the annual church picnic.  We will go to mass at 10:30 am and then walk around for a short time.  I don't think that Michael will be up for an all day at the church grounds so we will get out booyah and go back to the house so he can relax and I can pack. 

Headed out on Monday for Green Bay to visit with my friend from the 3rd grade.  Thinking back about how we met 45 years ago.  WOW.. I am feeling really old now.  We talk about old times over a glass of wine and a dip in the hot tub. 

Then on Tuesday, we are going to go to Manitiwoc WI and catch the SS Badger to take the ferry across the lake.  The car, Michael and I can ride over for 199.00.  Normally it would cost over 250.00 but I think that I will pay the price to go across rather than trying to tackle the traffic in Chicago.  It is hard enough driving his truck let alone drive it though traffic where people don't give a crap about their driving habits. 

Will write again after I get to Indiana.  Take care and God Bless..

Happy Fathers's Day

Friday night fish fry was great.  The Barn Tavern in Lena, WI is one of the great places in NE Wisconsin to get good fish.  They have great potato salad also.  The atmosphere is great.. Their slogan " Come, sit and drink where the cows used to stink".  The bar is an old barn that was converted into a bar/restaurant. 

Saturday was a down day for us.  Just sitting and relaxing. 

Today it is steaks on the grill to celebrate Father's Day.  My father has passed and so has Michael's but we will still celebrate in the spirit of the day.

Took some photos and I hope to edit this post later and add some of them. 

Take care and God Bless.

A Day in the North Woods

Got to Stiles, Wisconsin yesterday around 9PM.  We were too tired to blog last night.  Spent most if not all the day driving yesterday.

Michael's birthday was yesterday and we got a cake and ice cream.  He enjoyed the day (even tho he was in pain) and had a great meal for his special day. 

Kept close to the house today and will be going out for the famous fish dinner at the Barn Tavern tomorrow night.  The best walleye in town.  Great lake perch also. 

Will be taking photos tomorrow so I will post some here tomorrow.

Take care and God Bless.

Market Day

Spent the morning at the farmers market.  The tomatoes here in KS have rippened early and they are a wonderful crop this year.  However, the green peppers are a month out yet (that's what the farmer that I talked to had said) and by then the tomatoes have passed.. so WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE SALSA CROP THIS YEAR?? 

My sister and my friends came over for supper last night and we had a great fellowship.  Lasagna, rosemary garlic bread, homemade pickled beets, and coleslaw.  I know it isn't the spread that I usually put out but there were only 5 of us. 

Michael is still in pain from the mylogram and is having problems with his legs.  However, we are still headed to Wisconsin in the morning to visit family.  Afterall, who knows when I will see them all again?  I will do most of the driving and we will have to stop every couple of hours so that he can get out and move around.  Luckily, I-35 goes up to Minnesota and we can just cross Wisconsin and be there.  Only a 12 hour trip but it will still take us 2 days to do. 

My mom is going in for surgery tomorrow on her other hand for carpel tunnel repair.  Say a prayer for her if you are a praying person.  Thank you.

Take care and God Bless.

Laid Back Friday

After babysitting the grandkids, we took the day off.  Just stayed at the apartment.  Getting ready to head off to Wisconsin to see my mom, family and friends.  Since the VA won't have any appointments for Michael, we are going to leave the Wichita area for a few weeks to see my family.  Haven't seen them since my dad's funeral.

Will keep in touch through this blog and maybe I will be able to take some photos and learn how to post them with the writings. 

Take care and God Bless.

Movie Night

Took a couple of the grandkids to the Starlight Drive Inn last night for a movie night.  Had the normal sodas and popcorn and candy.  We stationed ourselves outside next to the truck while the boys made a makeshift bed/sitting area in the bed of the truck.  Michael has a tool chest in the back of the truck so they propped themselves on it and it made a great chair for watching the movies.  We saw Men in Black III and Dark Shadows.  Men in Black III was great.. Dark Shadows was different.  It was ok but I am glad that I saw it and that it is over with... no need to purchase that one for the DVD collection that I have.

No biopsy today for Michael.  The machine was up but they are trying to "catch up" on the appointments that were cancelled.  Michael actually got to talk with the doctor and he wants more blood tests before he does the biopsy.  They scheduled it for July the 27th. 

Found out that my daughter graduates on July 21st from Ball State University.  She has gone for the past five years.  She has done a wonderful job and will graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metal Sculpture.  I think that we will be able to watch her walk and accept her diploma.  She promised her dad that she would walk to accept it so who am I to not be there to watch her accomplish that.  She graduated in 2006 and had a 6th grade reading level and the comprehension was worse but she made it through her classes.  I am so proud of her.  The governments program "No child left behind" really didn't work for her.  They left her behind long before she reached high school. 


Ava Mae (my granddaughter) will be two in July and her mom asked if I could make the cupcakes for her party.  Told her that I would.. The theme is Bubble Guppies... It is a cartoon on Nickelodeon.  Watched the program on Thursday and OMG it is so out there.. but she loves it.  So we will go along with that.  Her dad told Michael that he couldn't get her a pony for her birthday... He was real adamate about that. 

Hope all is well down in Terlingua... haven't heard from anybody for awhile other than John Wells (www.thefieldlab.blogspot.com). 

Take care and God Bless...

Cloudy day in Wichita

Early morning.  Michael slept well last night.  We have been helping out his daughter in law by watching the grandsons so that she can go to work.  They have been delightful.  They love their grandpa so much and are so concerned about him.  It is wonderful to watch their interaction.  Can't wait to go to Indiana to see my granddaughter.  The last time I saw her, she was  7 months old.  She will be the big 2 the first part of July.  Her mom and dad are doing a good job with her and I am getting regular photos.  She is getting too cute.  I asked Grandpa Michael when he thought that he was going to have to go help her dad by sitting on the porch with the shotgun.. he said soon.  

I will figure out how to post photos on this sometime soon.  One thing at a time.

Going to take the boys to the Drive In tonight.  Guess I will spend the afternoon napping so I can stay awake for both movies.  Men in Black III and Dark Shadows.  Should be interesting.  Haven't been to a drive in for years. 

Take care and God Bless.

Beginning Of a Long Process

I am starting this blog to let the persons who are interested know what is going on with us on our trip.  We left the Terlingua area on the 13th of March and it was an eventful trip to Ft. Stockton.  The first night that we were gone, bad storms came through the area.  Lots of hail and from what I hear from the people back home, there was a tornado in Terlingua.  Lots of damage.   

Michael did well on the trip.  He did most of the driving.   Arrived in Wichita Kansas.  It was like I never left.  God, how I missed the trees. I remember this city from when I lived here and was stationed here in the military at McConnell AFB. 

For the first week, we stayed at the Value Place in Wichita.  I have to say that the place is about the cheapest place to stay as far as the extended stay hotels in the area.  The personnel are personable and pleasant. 

Michael had an appointment on the 16th of May for a nerve induction.  They are testing him, trying to find out how much damage has been done since his last surgery.  He is losing function in his left leg and is having a harder time, day by day, walking. 

The nerve induction test was done and we are in communication with the Bob Dole VA center daily to find out when his next test is.  We have to jump through all these hoops before the VA will do his spinal surgery.

So, between the nerve induction test and the colonoscopy which is scheduled for the 5th, we are going to look for an apartment.  Looked in the yellow pages, the newspaper and also Craigslist for local information.  Found an apartment on the NW side of town near the highway at a price that we can afford.  Not the Ritz (no where near close) but it will do for the time we are here waiting for the VA to procede with all of their tests.


  So, yesterday, June 5th, he had his colonoscopy.  The doc came out and said that everything went well.  He had a polyp and they sent it off for testing but everything looked good.
Today, June 6th, he had his mylogram.  His appointment was at 9:15am and it was 11:25 before they took him in to have the procedure done.  He was getting to be a bit on edge as they made him take a couple of the medications that he is on, out of the daily dose for a couple of days.  Guess that it interfered with the testing process.

He was in recovery by 12:10 and he was allowed to leave by 2:15pm.  Another long day at the VA.  He has to stay flat for a complete 24 hours to allow the puncture to heal up.   Right now he is sleeping soundly.  He hasn't really had any sleep in about 3 days due to this test today.  I hope that he has a great and restful night.  He is snoring.. I know I won't.