Enfin . . . des légumes . . .

It has finally come to pass at the very end of July we shall eat yellow squash from the garden. Wow, I don't think we've ever waited this long for at least a little something from our garden. This has been a grueling year for gardening. I'll also go out right before supper and pick a few small cukes to add to our plain meal of P&D's Pop famous squash and onions with our very own Salisbury Steak. I shall have to break down again and buy some native tomatoes from Nash's Stand on Route 12 towards Danielson. I don't think any of our tomatoes are going to ripen this year an odd confounding irregularity. But what the heck we can still buy good tomatoes and pretend they are home grown. The last ones were excellent.

Got itchy to be out and about yesterday so I called younger brother and his wife to see if I could pay them a visit. Even though it was before nine in the morning she said yes and I was off like a shot. Their property is beautiful and I enjoyed the company. I drove over the back roads just for the pleasure of summertime vistas, the only thing that is not yet taxed in Connecticut. A couple of evenings ago we met middle child and Kiddo for ice cream at Buttonwoods in Preston. That was another great pick-me-up. Today we may take a leisurely ride to the outskirts of Sturbridge, MA to Hog Heaven for plane parts and then lunch at Java Jive in Woodstock. It's going to be a brutally humid day so driving around will be pleasant.

Holy cow . . .

I could never have believed that going to Mass would be a chore but it was a sad experience today. I haven't been to Mass since the beginning of June at All Hallows. But our bishop in his glory and might has sent our Polish priest to New Jersey, I believe, and turned All Hallows into a farmed out church. The poor priest from St. John's in Plainfield is now in charge of Plainfield, Canterbury, Wauregan and Moosup. It is ridiculous. There is only one Sunday Mass at All Hallows' and it is at 7:30 am. Not my hour of the day for certain so I decided I'd go to Plainfield for their only Sunday Mass at 10:30 am. Oh my, it is a homely church and the music is homelier still. Not even sure that can be possible. That bishop better come up with a priest for All Hallows' or I'm sure there may be many people from Moosup crying at church Sunday mornings. There was no redeeming quality at Mass today. I tried to find one and I came up with all the nice new babies there were in church until the Mom in front of me decided to nurse her child who wasn't even crying to be nursed! I'm not a prude; I believe in nursing babies but I still believe that it is more comfortable for Mom and baby to sit quietly in a rocking chair at home than nurse in public. There is no need to nurse in public unless a Mom wishes to do so. I'm not sure how relaxed Mom and baby can be nursing in a church, store or at a sporting event. I would think the poor baby would get a belly ache! So much for my modernity. It doesn't exist. I actually decided to try going to Mass because my list of appropriate things to do from Dr. Hagberg's Office said I was okay to go to church services this week. Phew, I almost wish I wasn't trying so hard to be a good do bee!

Good beginnings . . .

Yup, finally was able to stop all extra pills yesterday and slept much better last night. What a boon to be down to one less pill than I have taken for about three years. Another hurray for me and the medical profession. I've just finished walking for 25 minutes on the top part of the driveway, including the crazy patio area. I'm trying to work up to 30 minutes but it's eluding me for now. I invited P&D's Pop to breakfast at Lizzy B's this morning even though the poor man had already eaten breakfast! But I was in the mood to go see Linda and he was amenable. We had a good breakfast and a really nice visit with Linda. I'd been trying to see her about once a month but failed to do so. I'm going to try again to go at least one Friday every month. She is such a trooper running her businesses pretty much on her own. She's tough and I admire her - I guess it's the old Italian work ethic which her parents instilled in her. At least she no longer works nights in the emergency room in Warwick! Now she just works both businesses all day long! She owns the plaza in Oneco on Route 14 going into Rhode Island and she has her breakfast place and also the convenience store which she runs herself. There is also a bar and pizza place which she rents - busy woman just a few years younger than I. Helps me to focus on what I should be capable of!

P&D's Pop is now off to the field in Brooklyn to fly and mow. I'm just hanging out but later this afternoon I'll go get Kiddo from his summer rec program and bring him back home for the night. Maybe tomorrow we'll go to see the RC Warbirds in Woodstock before we take him home. The weather is absolutely perfect this week - just like September!

Smiling . . .

"Blue skies, smiling at me nothin' but blue skies do I see. Never saw the sun shining so bright; never saw days going so right." Not sure if I've got the words right but it has been a very good day. The sky is blue, the sun is bright, the air is dry and a bit crisp - wow. Couldn't ask for anything more. I picked up Kiddo yesterday around noon and he was with us until about noon today. We had a nice day with him. He was excellent company and even when I took my daily hour rest he just sat in Grampa's chair and played a game. Sweet. He beat me at a new card game but I got him at cribbage this morning. He's enjoyed playing with my Panasonic Lumix camera and has done a good job with absolutely no instruction. Nice to be a kid and have no fear. Such confidence is a sign of youth but I hope he can hold on to it as he grows up. It's a good trait.

Backus Cardiac Rehab called yesterday and I've got my first date on the last Monday in August at 9 am for the start of my 12 weeks of improving my physical self. I'm not ready yet but I feel certain I will be in another month. Still managing to get pissy upon occasion but am under control. I must remember that I'm not a patient person by nature and so I must cultivate that virtue. Tough work to be sure! But I'm going to get there. I insist.

Will be having spaghetti for supper tonight. Still nothing to eat from the garden. What a mess that is. The weeds have pretty much overgrown everything but the plants are beautiful dark green and gorgeous with no fruit or vegetables. I think we over fertilized. Even the weeds are gorgeous.

Having one of those days . . .

I guess I'm lucky that this is the first down day I've had. Really feeling ticked off because I am quite limited in what I can do comfortably. P&D's Pop came shopping with me at Big Y and I'm telling you it was one hell of a chore even with him doing all of the lifting, carrying, paying and driving. So I'm crying because I can't shop! Now that's ridicule. Well, I'll blame it on the Summer weather which has finally arrived in full heat and humidity. Too hot to go walk in the driveway and I have no patience for walking in the house today. It's a good thing P&D's Pop is home with me because I'm not sure I could weather this storm alone. Getting a bit tired of the process but don't really have any choice in the matter. I do remember taking over a year to get better when I was about 45 and I did it because there was no choice so I'll do it again and this time it won't take so long.  But, I tell you, the chest hurts and annoys me big time when I let it get to me. So I've got to stop being a pain in the dérrière to myself and get moving on with life. I do know I'm improving every day but I keep expecting it to go faster and it's just going it's normal, routine course. Damn - what a pain in the ass.

Tasks completed . . .

I had given myself two tasks to complete today and I can say I've done well. While P&D's Pop was mowing and flying  I went to CVS in Plainfield to pick up a prescription and even though I had to go into the store because the pick-up line was outrageous outside I accomplished my feat. Then I was off to Killingly Commons to Petco to get 500 mealworms for our poor suffering bluebird Dad. P&D's Pop had told me exactly where to go in the store and it was perfect. On the way home I stopped at the Dunkin Donuts on Route 12 and got myself a large decaf iced coffee with cream and sugar and a croissant. Holy shitski, life is good.

Had a surprise visit from Thompson niece and her husband yesterday afternoon. That was a really nice pick me up. They made us laugh when they described their golf outing in Brooklyn where she drove the cart while he played. They didn't stay very long as they were on their way to the Moosup SnacShack for a lobster roll or two. Imagine coming to Moosup because of lobster rolls? We are making a name for ourselves besides drug central of eastern Connecticut.

 Just got up from my almost daily snooze and had mouth watering visions of eating the last quarter of the sweet, juicy cantaloupe for snack. Well that went awry - P&D's Pop had beaten me to it. I guess we'll have to get another one soon. I still crave it. We haven't cooked in a month because friends and middle child and husband have kept us in great food. Well today we have to break down so we'll get a Friday grinder. Yesterday, after I got back from my Primary Care visit in Uncasville we went to lunch at Danny's Depot. Their real roast turkey special was salubrious.

Draggin' butt today . . oh well . . .

I think the humid weather is getting to me; feeling torpid and dull. But . . . I did win a game of cribbage this morning. My cousine from Moosup came for a short time and we got in one game; that's about my max concentration! It was a close game but I managed to pull out the win. We were having lousy hands. She had two hands where she came up empty. The best hand the entire game was my sixteen; that was it. We didn't make any more dates but if I want to play she told me to call even if it's last minute and she'll try to come over. I'm not in the mood for too much driving yet.

P&D's Pop brought me to the eye doctor's yesterday because my eyes have been messed up lately. Well I guess major surgery can make cataracts get bad fast! My right eye will have to have the cataract removed but I'll wait until I see Dr. Foley in mid August to find out when that will be feasible. It may take six months, qui sait? I didn't get new glasses because that would be a waste. I'll just hold off until I can get it taken care of.

Not much going on today. Think I'll try a bit of very slow exercising and maybe try to get a photo of the flowering tree my cousin gave me years ago and the deer have finally left alone!

Pretty neat . . .

Well, this has been pretty fantastique. I actually went downstairs this morning. Doesn't seem like much but I consider it a great accomplishment. The Doctors said I shouldn't walk on hills but I can do stairs as long as I don't pull myself up using the bannister. I've already been upstairs for shits  and giggles and so today I tackled the basement. I had a couple of cards to mail out so I had the perfect excuse to use the basement door and not walk down the hill. You know what? The basement really looks good. P&D's Pop has a nice bright workshop/hangar down there. I'm afraid he'll still have to do the washes as most of them weigh over ten pounds and I would be fearful of going down or up those narrow cement stairs with any kind of package what so ever. But it feels good to know I can get all over the house, slowly, but I can do it.

We went shopping at Big Y this morning and although I am pooped it went pretty well. I just find what we need and P&D's Pop puts it in the carriage, pushes the cart to the checkout and then it all goes in the trunk and he also has to take it in the house. Once it's in the house I can unpack it myself and put it away; so I am a little useful!

Younger brother and his wife dropped off some home made chicken soup and fresh blueberries yesterday, late afternoon. They stayed for a nice visit before going on their way to Bald Hill to celebrate 44 years of wedded bliss. Now, that is very cool. Think I'll take a rest in an hour or so. Feeling pretty damned good.

17 days . . . Incroyable . . .

Unbelievable that as of yesterday I had gone 17 days without the comforting motion of my garage swing but yesterday I conquered my trepidation and luxuriated, basked in its comfort. It was a superior moment. I also managed to get photos of our flowers and the day before I actually caught a Bluebird taking a bath in the stagnant water inside the Tamarak stump. What a great day

Made two Doctors smile this week when I told them I believe I will be 62 years old by the time I finish getting over this wild and wooly surgery. They were both very happy as am I. P&D's Pop told Dr. Foley that he would now be married to a younger woman and Dr. Foley said, "There's nothing wrong with that!" What a witty bunch. But I'm happy we're doing so well.

I decided to try my wings today and drove to the Credit Union to get the tax payment then went to the Town Hall to pay the taxes. I did fine but found out it was too much. Now I know that the mind is willing but the body is most certainly not ready. Both doctors said it takes 10 to 12 weeks to get back to normal so I've got to remember that I was discharged from the hospital two weeks ago and they count the days from discharge.

Danny's Depot Diner is now open in Central Village. They haven't even advertised yet and they're doing fine.We had breakfast there yesterday and it was very good. P&D's Pop brought them some rhubarb from the garden today; I was too pooped to tag along. I think I learned a good lesson this morning. I've got plenty of time to strengthen up and I must take it all.

Wow, Fourth of July present . . .

I am so impressed and happy. Puppies and Dante's Pop has completed the installation of the garage door opener/closer. I will keep one control in the car and one in the house just to keep it simple and easy. I'm not driving yet and at this point in time I'm not interested in driving nor do I have permission from the doctor. Besides still not being near to snuff I'm not sure the pills are conducive to being on the road nor is my physical comfort. Definitely need some time. But I am getting better every day and I believe I actually slept for two hours in a row last night and got up at 6:45am - progress noted.

Had a very good and happy visit with middle child and grandson yesterday. They brought me a black and white milkshake which tasted salubrious.Kiddo also did a few odd jobs for me and ate raspberries right from the bushes. Can't believe he'll be 11 years old in about a month. It seems that he will be losing quite a few kids from his class at Sacred Heart for a number of reasons. Looks like he'll be down to about 15 kids. I know he'll miss his best friend whose Mom was a para-professional at Sacred Heart and found out after school closed for the summer that she was being put on very limited hours for next year. She can't make ends meet that way so her two boys will go to Cutler Middle School. A couple of the kids are leaving for the Saint Bernard Middle School. Mais c'est la vie, n'est-ce pas? I told him the kids would still be his friends and with fewer students in sixth grade they should be able to get a lot more interesting studies in depth. Here's hoping I'm right. I despise the way this foolish, ego-maniac bishop runs the Catholic schools in our diocese. What a useless man we have at the helm. I wish they would give us a nice new Polish bishop direct from Poland. They're pretty savvy yet old fashioned about kids' upbringing, at least from my observations which are admittedly limited. Middle child looks and sounds wonderful. The new old job seems really interesting and she'll be doing some traveling - starting out with a four day trip to Louisiana! Perhaps she and big brother will get a chance to get together. That would be exciting.

P&D's Pop is trying to get some flying in before the rain. He had a bad crash a couple of days ago and can't save the plane but the engine is okay so I think there will be some  building in the basement hangar this Winter!

Pain . . .

If you imagine a human shape drawn out on graph paper in proper proportions and then imagine the mid section from the navel to the neck burning, not flames but a metal burn and on this section of the graph the technician has added all possible interstices and you may get a feel for the pain at every point, especially noticeable when a body is in a prone position. On rising, walking, standing and sitting the pain is greatly reduced and almost forgettable especially if there are beautiful birds to be seen out jet setting between the feeders and trees. You know and appreciate that you are still a precious human being that the Lord has favored, why? who knows but He has, and that's perfect for moi.

Without P&D's Pop I could never be on the recovery road as I am. I don't even feel sorry for myself just grateful that the nurses and doctors in my life have been so astute in helping me grow up. It's a wild journey and though arduous, torturous and painful it's a Wow ride. Life is full of changes, love and good people. I am thankful. I am thankful for P&D's Pop and the three children we share and all they have brought into our lives. Je vous remercie, mon doux Seigneur.

No longer a garage door opener . . .

It's so odd to know that soon, when I get permission to drive again, I will have an automatic garage door opener. P&D's Pop ordered one from Amazon and did some preliminary work getting ready for the installation. I suggested he put one in for his door too but he is declining to do so which doesn't surprise me, naturellement. I don't think I would be able to open one of those doors for a very long time. Not sure when I'll get permission to drive but it will be helpful not to have to wait for P&D's Pop to do all of the work. The visiting nurse will come this afternoon to check out how I'm doing. I think she will be well pleased. Oneco friend dropped by yesterday with a basket of African Violets. So thoughtful and appreciated. P&D's Pop has already gone shopping at Big Y this morning. He's getting good at this stuff! We've been watching Fraiser in the evenings - laughing is good for what ails you.

Mentholated pain . .

Well I'm beginning to feel a bit more like my old self every day.  Underwent a pretty important medical procedure almost two weeks ago. It was a life altering affair. I believe that when I am pretty much recovered and on to a three day a week regimen of exercise I shall feels as if I am no longer 72 years old but 62. I already feel pretty enthusiastic, tired, hurting but doing fine. The doctors and their teams are so incredibly perfect in their jobs. I can't fathom where some super intelligent, hard working people can accomplish so much in the medical field. You really do have to thank the Lord of heaven and earth for creating human beings with such magnificent capabilities.