SATURDAY STUFF

It would not seem like Saturday without Jan.  She came after picking  up a few things for me.  We had lunch and decided to go to Dollar Tree in Maywood. Dollar Tree seems to be going down in Madison.  We got into so much traffic that even Jan was frustrated.  Home again after getting really tired.  I really think the heat got to me. 

This morning (Sunday) after a thunder storm last night, it was pleasant enough to have coffee on the balcony. Only 76 degrees.  But soon the sun hit me and I got ready to move inside, but not before enjoying some quiet time.  It was good.    came in to check E-Mail.  and Jan had sent pictures of her sweet grandchildren.  Way to start the day.  By the way, I have no idea why my script changed.  But I like it.

Betty Boop

ALAN JACKSON

Maybe you don't know, but while I like many different kinds of music, I especially like certain kinds of country,  Not all of it by no means.  Jan gave me an  Alan Jackson CD a while ago.  Titled PRECIOUS MEMORIES.  Never play it when you are melancholy.  It is an album of old, old hymns.  One he closes with, I have never heard.  I WANT TO STROLL OVER HEAVEN WITH YOU.  I take it that it  means with a loved one.  Well I guess I was in for good cry, since I haven't had one lately.  It is strange how it hits you so sudden.  I wasn't expecting it.  But it felt good,  as I pictured Truman and me walking together again.  Now I am the first to say I do not know what Heaven will be like.  But like most humans, we picture only what we know and that is not a lot.  I do know I will love it but can't wait to see it .  Of course I had a little talk with myself and decided to do something for someone in need.  A dear friend, really from long ago. that I connected with again here, had a stroke.  I have been meaning to visit her.  I do hate visiting in Siena where Truman was.  But I did what I could and made her a small vase of 6 paper tissue flowers in pastel colors.  It was pretty.  She knew me and was happy to see me.  I felt better.

Betty Boop

FIRST DAY

Up early, two scrambled eggs, o. j. wheat toast and coffee.  Off to something new at 9:00 A, M.  For one hour my therapist put me through the paces that I need to get to walking better.  I really enjoyed it and it felt good to know I was doing something good for my body and mind as well.  I think she knows her stuff and I am willing to try real hard to get the most benefit from it. 

I wore shorts to the session because I knew she was working on my knee.  Now, around here I have seen very few people in shorts.  Crazy?  I know of no rule that says you can or can't.  But I broke mine out along with my Ellis T shirt and waltzed (?) down the hall.  Got a few looks but nobody offered a comment.  I brought it up a few times and some said I had the legs for it.  O boy that set real good.  I guess that is not so bad for an 89er. 

Betty Boop

NEW ADVENTURE

You know, I always have to have something going on to do with my health.  I just got back from the Rehabiliation   Service (as they like to call it) here at St. Catherine's.  My Dr, said I need to be evaluated for balance and so forth.  I have been evaluated for an hour.  My how interesting !!  I got a pretty good report on most things.  She thinks it is more my old knee replacement problem more than anything else.  I suspected that.  My other foot problem seems to be solved.  I am set up for 10 sessions with therapy and then another evaluation  The fact that I can't bend my knee enough seems to be causing my unbalance more than anything.  O. K.  Here I go two times a week starting Thursday at 9 A. M. on rehab.  Something new to talk about, no matter if it is not clever or witty, it is what is going on with me now.

Betty Boop 

MONDAY so far

Monday is usually my busy day.  I have been to exercise class and then to the Physical Therapy dep. with my prescription from Dr. Campbell.  I go for my first visit tomorrow.  A new adventure.  Hope they can help me walk better.  I will give it my all and that is what I always do.  Having lunch instead of dinner tonight with my buddies.  Then to Choir practice and if I still have energy enough--to Church service.  I am sure you are all interested in my activities.  I hope I don't bore you.  It helps me to tell somebody about my day.  I love all my bloggers.  Kind of like a visit. 

Something of interest:  One of our resident retired priest was in coffee this morning,  He is leaving for Ireland today.  He has lived here 50 years, but he goes home every year for a visit with his family.  How nice. Wish I could go back to Ireland.  We had so many places we wanted to go that we did not get to repeat many place.  But I am glad for all our trips.

Betty Boop

GOOD MORNIG

Yes it is a good morning.  Hot Hot Hot. But I will stay in today.  I have had to be on the go a lot this week and am glad for a free day.  I started with breakfast in the Cyber.  I do love that.  I was good and did not get pancakes.  I told Jan since I had occupied her last two days, she should not come to visit today.  She was glad because she gets to clean her house. Ha!  Have fun.  My latest visit to a Dr. was good.  Good reports from test.  I just need to get the foot and legs moving better.  For  that --physical therapy.  Thankfully I can get it here, as St. Dominic's has a good department here and My Dr, said my insurance will cover it.  Something new for me.  No wait I did have therapy after knee surgery a long time ago.  It is nice that I don't have to go someplace else to get it.  Another plus for St. Catherine's   Well shampoo and doing laundry are filling the day so far.  I am sure I will find something else to do.  Jan was surprised that I am keeping up with the election news.  I watched the Republican convention and plan to watch the Democrat one next week.  Don't see much I like -  but what can I do??

Betty Boop

RUNNING LATE

I have neglected my deadline for submit to Villager.  I wrote this in 5 minutes and sent it off.  Hope it makes the cut  Anyway, maybe you will enjoy it. 

 

JUST PLAIN LAZY

 

As I was walking down the street,

My uneasy conscious I did meet.

It said,"You are really running late.

Your VILLAGER submit can not wait."

 

Believe me, I have really tried.

My creativity is on the slide.

Think I will just slump under a tree.

The DOG DAYS of SUMMER" have gotten to me.

 

By Dot Ellis

 

What do you think of this?

 

Betty Boop

 

 

MY ADVENTURE!!!!

It was good to go with Amy on a trip to the Muslim Museum with her church circle.  I have been out of the Circle for a few years since I have been here at St. Catherine's.  It was a treat and though it tired me more than I expected, I enjoyed being with old friends.  We had lunch At Aladdin"s .  Very appropriate !!.  The tour was well given but a little long.  We were late to eat and though I enjoyed it all very much, it took a real toll on me.  Guess I don't know my own strength yet.  Any way, my sweet daughter is a treasure and will have many stars in her crown,  I will see to that. 

Betty Boop

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Saturday was a treat for me,  Jan and Tommy had lunch with me. I always like to show off my kids.  Have you ever been to Charming Charlie's?  I am sure most have.  I have lost half of my ear rings .  Well just one of each.  I thought about starting a trend.  Wearing just one or two different ones.  No?  I backed from that idea too.  That store is overwhelming.  I found zero.  Nothing I wanted. 

Sunday:  Last night I was up a lot with urinary  track infection .  This morning I have started treatment and still am sick.  It seems my 89th year has been full of miseries.  Can't get back on track--have lost the way I guess.  I hate to complain so I will just say--BETTER TOMORROW.

Betty Boop

A SHOPPING WE WILL GO

My personal shopper picked me up at 10:30 and off we went.  Usually a personal shopper goes on her own and brings back items to choose from.  But not this one.  She takes you with her and helps pick and find and hand you items and hangs up discarded ones and runs with the clerk to find a better size or color.  Whew!!  What a job she has.  The excitement rises as dozens of pretty tops and bottoms too are brought for you to  try on and discard and decide the ones you want. Late sales are so much fun as you "save" lots of money.  Of course you spend a lot too.  That has never been easy for me.  But I must say. when you bring home five new pair of pants and six tops--well I am learning to go with the flow.  I don't shop as much as I used to and my clothes are getting out of style and old, so I guess I am due a do- over now and then.  Now I must take a deep breathe and purge my closets.  Again not easy for me.  I bet I have items 10 or more years old.  "Good old friends"  I call them.  We topped it off with lunch at Chick Of course -Fil-La. My personal shopper was Amy and you can't have her.  She is good and is all mine (And besides, I spent many an hour standing outside a changing room,, handing and hanging up when she was a teenager.)  We had some times to remember.

Betty Boop

BUSY GOOD DAY

Day started early as Jan picked me up at 8:30 (A. M.) and off to the ENT Doctor.  Good report.  Off to the Farmers Market at the fairground.  We were disappointed with only two vendors.  So we went to the Old farmers market on Woodrow Wilson.  Only two there too, but things were better looking.  Bought one ear of corn, two tomatoes, 6 pods of okra, one cucumber, and two yellow squash.  How funny, when I used to buy much more.  I had a good dinner last night.  I hope you all know how to cook corn in the microwave.  So easy

We then went to the Christian Book store for birthday cards.  They have such nice ones and I use a lot of them.  Off to Crazy Cats to lunch.  Enjoyed it.  Back here for Jan to take care of a few things for me.  We had a big book sale at the Library here.  We looked at that and then she departed on her way and I made my way to the bed!  Made it fine without the boot.  Thanks for that and thanks for Jan. 

Betty Boop. 

UPDATE ON DOG DAYS

Mr . Google says:  The Dog Days of Summer are defined as the period from July 3-
August 11. (Old Farmers Almanac).  The Dog Star, Sirius rises in conjunction with the Sun.  The star Sirius gets it's name from being the brightest star in the Constellation Canis Major which is Latin for Greatest Dog.  There is much more, but you get the idea? 
Betty Boop

OH THE THINGS I SEE

I go on the balcony a lot.  Even though it is hot.  Just to get the feel of being outside.
I get to see a lot of things that interest me.  Just this morning I saw on my side of the Lake a group of half grown Igrets.  Twelve in all.  What a pretty sight.  I usually only see one grown one and sometime two.  I guess I made a noise, even though I tried to be quite and watch, because they suddenly all flew away to the other side of the lake except for one.  He looked around and decided to fly too.  I loved what I saw this morning.

I went to breakfast in the Cyber.  I usually do on Saturday.  I got the Cyber Special and it was way more than I usually eat.  Two over light eggs, three bacons, grits, wheat toast and coffee.  Oh boy. it was good.  I am usually the first to be served but before I could finish eating the place was full.  Warden, a friend who works in the Library and does the board outside for the library each month, had coffee with me.  She wants me to do a poem for August.  We agreed on THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER.  I am writing a poem about dog days.  Have you heard that saying?  She says, she is getting so much feedback from her board and gave me credit for my poems I give her.  She is a sweet person and a good friend.      I think I will ask Mr. Google about the dog days of summer.

Betty Boop

HELLO DARL'IN

Those of you who are early country music fans may remember Conway Twitty ?
He made many hearts throb with his songs.  One was Hello Darling.  I don't know why I thought of that song as I stepped into the Wal-Mart yesterday.  The song goes--it's been a long long time.  It has been  since I went on my own and drove my car there.
I felt free.  My Doctor said she was throwing away my boot and did not want to see me for three months.  Yeah!!  I am so grateful to be back in my shoes, even with an insert.  That is no big deal.  Well back to WalMart.  It took me 2 hours to get back home.  I went up and down every isle and at a slow pace.  Turns out THAT was a mistake.  I was so tired when I got back (safe) till I made a hot dog to celebrate, ate it and fell on my bed.  I  slept for an hour.  I will do better next time.  As Conway sang-It's been a long long time.

Betty Boop


 

BYE BYE BOOT

I was beginning to think I would never say that.  My boot was beginning to " grow" on me.  Yesterday after a successful root canal, I got a good report on my foot.  No more boot.  Just insert in my shoes.  No more visits for 3 months.  I feel free after 7 or more weeks  of struggling with this simple little foot.  Turns out feet are not simple at all.  After all they have to bear a lot of weight and support your whole body.  Any way----I feel free and out of a cage.  I really had a busy day.  And so did Amy.  What would I do without her?  I would be in more trouble than I seem to stay in.  O I  will begin to drive again too. Great!!
Now on to exercise class and fun with, next to my family, the best bunch of folks I know. 

Betty Boop

FUN FUN FUN

Really the root canal went well.  It was not as bad as I thought it would be.  Just took a while.  Of course my check book suffered more than I did.  You do what you have to do.  I am glad I could afford it.  Thank you Truman.

Now Amy will come back this afternoon and we will go to my Foot Dr,  This has been a long drawn out affair.  Hope I get to see the end of it soon too.  Made an appointment with my ear Dr.  for next week.  Still having a little trouble there.  The my regular Dr. for my A1C blood test for the end of month.  I keep these Dr's going this month

Well I think cream of tomato soup sounds good. Always connect that with some medical problem.  Then a nap and get ready for the next round. 

Betty Boop

HOME OF THE FREE ?

I had my breakfast tea on the balcony.  It was early and before the sun rose very high.  Not too hot.  I was treated to a sight.  As you may know the Canada geese have made themselves a nuisance and have been aggressively annoyed to try to make them move on.  The humane ways.  It seemed for a while they were gone.  I saw at least a dozen this morning strolling on the croquet court.  What they were finding to peck at on artificial grass I don't know.  Maybe bugs?  Talk about free?  They are for sure brave.  I hear them honking now as they fly away.  Something scared them I guess.  I can't help but feel for them.  I miss their presence on the Lake.  What a way to start the 4th.  I intend to partake of the feast at noon with my "buddies"  that I loosely call my girls.  Will tell you about it later.  Hope everyone has a good celebration today.  We are free to do so.  Thank you Lord.

Betty Boop

DON"T WORRY------BE HAPPY

Words from a song of the 80's by Bobby McFerrin.  Don't remember him as I bet he was a one time " famer," but I do remember the song.  Everyone was singing it.  One of the lines goes: In every life we have trouble, when we worry we make it double,  Don't worry, be happy.  Now that sounds easy, but it is not.  But it is true that worry can double if you don't control it.  So I am taking my trouble easy and trying not to worry so much.  Tuesday is ROOT CANAL" day.  I have had one before and it was not pleasant, but I hope this one goes better.  It has been a while and they do improve these kind of things in time. 

I am staying in today and missing Church.  Communion Sunday and that means a lot to me.  I just don't feel up to it today.  I am not real good company when I am alone, but I will try to make it and feel better tomorrow and then on Tuesday too.

Betty Boop

LOOK MOM=== I DO HAVE A PROBLEM

Yes, the Dentist did not find cavities but something worse.  I knew something was not right when this little spot at the root of a tooth was filling up and draining.  I have been so wrapped up in the foot thing that I ignored my problem.  So I need a root canal and as soon as possible.  Of course there is the weekend and a holiday to boot.  I go  to an Endodontics on Tuesday at 8:15.  That was the first time I could get an appointment.  In the meantime I am being filled with Amoxicillin.  I have felt no pain but she thought I might over the weekend and holiday and to ward off more infection.   I can really get into trouble and not even try. 

Since my Dentist is down on North State, Amy and I went to Piccidilly on the way home for lunch  We think they make the best calves liver and onions in town.  It was very good today.  Not to mention the turnip greens and fried okra (they did not have boiled okra today.)  What this root canal it is going to cost is what worries me.  I have no dental insurance.  So I guess someone will be going to Europe or something great and it wont be me.

Betty Boop 

CHOIR

I guess we have the best in the City of Madison.  Everyone seemed to think so yesterday as we did our patriotic program honoring our Vets.  I love singing those songs.  We had a full house and Jan and Amy came too.  I go to the dentist this morning.  Pray for me.  While I take good care and go to dentist twice a year, there can still be problems.  Maybe it will be o. k. but you never know what is lurking.  That I have learned.  O. K. ==one day at a time.

Betty Boop