ALL IT TAKES IS FAITH AND TRUST.

                                                                             Peter Pan

 Hey, whatcha think of this gorgeous day?  Dan and Lon are getting some of Dan's stuff organized, and  Jenna, Alec, and Delaney came out, so Cate and Abby and all are going to ride the 4-wheeler.  I made a big pot of chicken and noodles and then baked a cake. I was VERY careful when putting my head near the open oven door while it was going.  As Jenna said, we don't want to call my wig "Roast-schelle".

I'm going to see if Jenna and her bunch want to stay for supper  We could grill steaks and burgers out on the deck. Alec, Abby, and I aren't big steak eaters. In fact the kids would probably prefer chicken patties. It doesn't make any difference to me.  Cardboard tasting food is cardboard tasting food.

Dad called me about 12:30 and said his stomach was hurting and that he was dying. He had asked someone to send in a nurse but no one had showed up. I tried calling The Club, but didn't get anyone at the desk. Dad wouldn't answer his phone when I tried calling him back to see if anyone had come to him.
Finally got through, and thenurse thought it was because he had not eaten breakfast or lunch, except for applesauce and a brownie.  Too much sugar in an empty stomach.  Everything turned out fine, but I was ready to dash to town to check on him.

I have been going through some of Mother's old scrapbooks. Now, all you young people who think you know how to scrapbook, take a lesson from my ma.  She has newspaper clippings about things for the last fifty/sixty years. If anything happened to anybody in this community, she put the news in her scrapbooks. Sister Karen is the family ancestral- records person and she is going to flip when she sees what a treasure some of these books are. I found the newspaper article  about our uncle Wayne Fare who was killed in Korea in 1950, the day before his 19th birthday. I also found a letter from him to my grandmother, dated May 1949. stating that he had exactly one year of overseas duty and then he would be on a ship headed for home. Unfortunately, he must have had to stay longer than May 1950, because he was killed September 9th, 1950. How sad.   It is amazing how many stories were kept safe in Mother's big, thick memory scrapbooks for us to see today.                   

 I'll bet 50% of you reading this are mentioned in some story or notice. Seriously. So, you modern day scrap bookers, think twice about your fancy lay-outs,. Mother pasted her clippings close together on each page, so it was a joy to scan numerous stories, spotting pictures of old friends and neighbors, and remembering how important some of that news was at the time.

Well, enjoy this wonderful day. No telling, you might do something newsworthy and  get a newspaper clipping about you put into someone's book.

                                                                        GOD BLESS YOU ALL

SPEAK THE TRUTH - EVEN IF YOUR VOICE SHAKES.




Well, from the number of hits on yesterday's post, I see we have a lot of people looking for something scary to look at . LOL  Bless your hearts for being interested.

Dad called me at 7:30 this morning. He said he had been up since 5:00, and had been thinking about all the things he needs to get done so he NEEDS OUT OF THAT PLACE! When he mentioned again that there are only old people there, I asked him how old he was. His answer was 55. That explains a lot. He doesn't remember that he is 87. Oh, boy. I told him that I'm 61 and then he laughed nervously, like he just realized that it isn't possible for him to be so young.

He did mention that his feet are no long a bluish color and they feel better, and that he is sleeping much better. He still says he's not eating their food, but he has them bring him a tray to his room because he doesn't want to go to the dining area because (all together now) there are only OLD people there. So he must be eating something. Actually, he was getting so big around the middle, he may feel better getting some of that weight off, I just don't want him to starve. He had one of the aides take him to the Beauty/Barber shop that they have there, and Cathy, the hairdresser cut his hair. That should make him feel better, when he looks better. That 's a good sign that he is aware of his appearance.

When I talked to him last evening, I asked him if he had talked to his sister Kate. He hadn't so I gave him her number. I hope he called and had a nice chat, since they have always been close siblings.

My Daniel is coming today to get some more of his things to take back to Sleepy Eye. Everything seems to be going well for him but he misses the girls terribly.

I am feeling really good, and am getting some housework done finally. It feels so great to be able to use my arms without stitches pulling every time I raise my arms. Second-to-the-last chemo is next Wednesday, so that will set me back for a few days, so I want to get things done now (kinda sounds like Dad, right?). The only side-effects I had after the last treatment was the sharp, brittle finger and toe nails, and of course, the dizziness. I can deal with that stuff - piece o'cake, 

                                                                             GOD BLESS YOU ALL

IT IS NOT NEEDFUL FOR OUR DREAMS TO BE VERY GRAND NOR VERY BIG.   IT IS ONLY NEEDFUL FOR OUR DREAMS TO BE VERY SHINY.

                                                                         C. Joybell

Okay, here's a selfy of me with a couple of pink ribbons, and then a few selfies of me and Roschelle. I had some people mention that since I chopped off most of the length of my hair, they were disappointed that I might not print the ribbon picture.   So for you sick tickets that wanted to see a near-bald women, knock yourselves out.   :)                        

 I was home alone and I can't believe how hard it was to tie those stinking ribbons by myself. When you are doing it in front of a mirror, it is really a challenge. Look at your own discretion. The first picture is rather graphic. I could only get about four ribbons to hang in there for the pictures. When there are only like ten hairs in each bundle, it makes kinda slim pickings for a decent ponytail. Whatever. For those who read this blog and don't really know me, I hope you are not too surprised at how I actually look. SURPRISE!!!

Meet Roschelle.  She's had a rough week, with all the windy weather.  Wind is really tought on a wig, let me tell you.

Jeeze, these pictures sure turned out huge - they show every wrinkle line!!

                                           GOD BLESS YOU ALL

PURTY IS AS PURTY DOES


NOTE; I MESSED UP DOING AN EDIT ON THIS POST - IT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED 03-31-14



Things have started coming unraveled with my "Dad" situation and I am going to be really busy for the next few days. Hope to have a good report to share with you in a few days.

Just wanted to announce (or warn) that the time has come for the hair  to go. If I can get my darling daughter to assist me, I would like to do a final "hair-do" session. Perhaps you remember an early post about "the bald eagle flying high" and Jen's and my ideas on how to doll up my head when hair was beginning to grow back after chemo was completely done.  Well, I thought maybe we would try the pink ribbon effect on the going-out period. Yup, if I can get enough guts to actually tie my wispy remaining hairs into some teeny tiny ponytails and put some pink ribbon around them and then have Jenna take a picture, it may bring a smile to your face(or an extreme look of utter horror - whichever). I am so sick of stray strands of hair all over this house. It's everywhere.  Whenever I clean the lint catcher on the dryer, it has several hairs in it. I've had enough of that.

I am telling you this ahead of time to protect those of you who have queasy stomachs when it comes to seeing something disturbing that we may air on this blog. As soon as I can get the time to do this, I'll try to work up the nerve to post a picture. By telling you now, you will have time to prepare for the unveiling, or make plans to shield your eyes from the event that may by unspeakably . . .  scary.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to give what little faithful sprouts I have left, a fond farewell, a gentle send-off, and a loving thank you for staying as long as they did. Au voir, ma cheri!

Remember - purty is as purty does . . . but fugly can be interesting, too.      kiddin'   :) I'm such a smartass.
. 

                                                                                GOD BLESS YOU ALL

AT THE TIMBELINE WHERE THE STORMS STRIKE WITH THE MOST FURY, THE STURDIEST TREES ARE FOUND.

                                                      Maya Angelou
NEXT POST - MEET ROSCHELLE AND SEE A NEAR-BALD WOMAN WITH PINK RIBBONS!!!!\


Where shall I begin? You know, when you are watching a movie and a woman takes a pair of scissors and, out of;   A. rage  B. desperation  or C. necessity  starts to randomly whack away big clumps of her hair? Of course she ends up with a gorgeous nice hairdo. Right. Sure. Only in the movies, folks.   Well, picture that on a much minor scale and that's what I did last night. I wish I had thought it out a little better before I began. I got the hair clippers and decided to cut all the long raggedy stuff off to about an inch in length. I couldn't work the razor very well (all it seemed to do was thin the hair out rather than cut it off at that length), so I got the scissors and cut it short. Hey, it didn't look half bad except for the fact that I had just made it even THINNER looking! Oy Vey!!!  So -  picture actress Michelle Williams with her pixie haircut - only much older, and whiter-haired, and much less hair thickness - oh, and a completely different face, and there you have it    ME!

Betty C. was right. My hair may come in a different color!  After getting it cut short in back, I noticed a very dark area.  I have a spot about the size of a silver dollar right at the nape of my neck, that is pure black.  When I was born, Mother said I was so chubby with squinty eyes and a full head of jet black hair, that Dad nicknamed me Ming Toy (my apologies to any persons of Asian heritage, but that was the type of  mind frame at that time). I guess you can call me Spot now. Lordy, I hope I don't get a variety of colored splotches all over my head. I would look like a color sampler. Whatever.

Alec and I did some running after school yesterday, before going to therapy. We dropped some things off at The Club for Dad, and later, around 5 o'clock, Dad called my cell and chatted rather normally. He hates the food there (he is used to eating three greasy calorie packed meals a day at Burger King or Hardees). I think he may be in withdrawal from that.  After he had griped about being locked up and about the food and the "old" people there, I asked him if he wanted me to bring him some fast food and drop it off since he had told me that he wasn't going to eat the dinner they were serving. But get this, he said "Nah, don't worry about doing that."  HUH?

Here he had an opportunity to get me to The Club AND bring him his crappy food, and he said NO. Go figure. Guess he just wanted something to complain about. I had included a package of his chocolate -marshmallow cookies with the stuff I had left there and they brought it in as we were talking. That really seemed to cheer him up.

Well, guess I will go find something to eat, myself. Since everything tastes like lard or cardboard, I'm not really thrilled at the thought, but my stomach is growling so I'll figure something out.  :)

                                                                                GOD BLESS YOU ALL

REMEMBER,   NEXT POST WILL SHOW ME WITH PINK RIBBONS  PLUS - YOU GET TO MEET ROSCHELLE! DON'T MISS IT!

NOTE: SORRY , BUT AS FAR AS AN INSPIRATION QUOTE TODAY - - -  WELL,   I GOT NOTHING.

Nope, not hairdo pics yet, but when life stops racing along so fast, I'll get'er done. I really truly tried to make time for some special little photo ops, but I had the girls this weekend, and while Alec had his swim meet, Cate was at the other end of Kennedy High School doing something for AP (advanced classes), and then went immediately to Washington High School for some other function. Abby and I went on the search for some things for Dad, so when everyone got done with what they had to do, Mike, Jenna, Alec, and Cate went to the Tic Tock for lunch, while Ab and I stopped at Dairy Queen for a bite. When I got home, the others had finished picking up all the limbs and sticks in my yard. I was kinda worried about getting that done before the grass really started to grow up.

Okay. . . . Dad is NOT a happy camper at the Club. I appears that he feels as if we have abandoned him. We would go visit him, if he wouldn't try and con us into letting him leave with us. It sounds like he had a rough week-end, trying to analyze exactly what is going on. If he would only realize that he is in a bright, cheery, safe atmosphere with friendly people, good food, a spacious lovely room, and lots of activities and freedom to roam about the building. He called sister Judy and informed her that us kids are now ALL disinherited. Big deal. He also wanted my phone number. Judy played the "cancer card" and told him not to be yelling and rude with me since I have been going through chemo treatments. Whoo hoo, I guess my past health issues are keeping me  from getting grouched at.

Dad did call me this afternoon when I was at brother Ken's house. He said that all those "old" people want to do is walk around. I told him to  start talking to some of the pretty ladies. He told me the only pretty ladies there were the ones who worked there. All the rest were nothing but old people - like old people in their 80's. For some reason Dad doesn't seem to understand that he is the same age as the rest of the "Club" residents. Dad is going to be 88. Hmmmmmm     I don't think he is going to find a young chickie there to date.

I am feeling all right, health-wise, but just a little tired with all the running around. (Sisters, Brother, and Daughter,   DO NOT jump down my throat about that last statement). I am just so used to napping a lot, that getting back into the swing of things and having Dad issues, it's different dealing with a little faster pace that usual.

NOTE:  JUST SOME MISC. COMMENTS.

Tomorrow brother Ken & sis-in-law Jill are getting a new grandson, Emerson Damon Paul. Good luck, Andrew and Delta on your second son.

Sounds like niece Tina is getting through her ordeal from surgery in her usual fashion,  just toughing it out. Thinking of you !

Sister Sandy is making a recovery from the illnesses she was suffering. Antibiotics are our friends, right, San?

Friend Betty C. made a comment that Dad may be having trouble remembering who I am exactly because of  Roschelle, the wig, because it is a similar hair style to what Mother wore, and he is confused to whom I really am.  Could be. (Speaking of Roschelle, I had to wash her and let her air-dry. Since it was taking quite a while to get her dry, I thought I would speed it up by setting her out on the deck, since it was such a nice morning. Later, I realized that she was probably in danger out there since we have neighborhood dogs that run around. I went out and snatched her up and brought her inside. I would have had a fit if I had seen a few hundred dollars of the finest synthetic hair around being mauled by Rex, the Rotweiller!!!!) 

Thanks, Sandi F., for sticking with me every step of the way, lately. How's it feel to be one of my crutches? Thanks!  :)

FYI, I wish all of you could have a daughter such as mine. What a gem. I don't know how I could get through so many things lately without Jenna.   Smoochies and hugs.

And lastly, it was not too long ago that sister Sandy and I commented on the fact that for once, our lives seemed to be somewhat drama-free. We should have kept our big mouths shut. Drama is now coming out our ears. 

                                                                                    GOD BLESS YOU ALL

A TEAR IS MADE OF 1 % WATER AND 99 % FEELINGS.

NOTE:  THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS THE LAST FEW DAYS SO BEAR WITH ME PLEASE. SIGH


Just how many of you out there were crossing your fingers for my dad???? So far, it is working!  THANKS!

Thursday I took Dad to Wal-Mart to get some more cotton pants, and then we went to the retirement center for lunch with the Administrator. Dad was edgy but handled himself like a gentleman. He enjoyed being there and he really liked his room, but when he saw photos that I had snagged from his house, sitting around the room, he gave me a funny look and said, "Weren't those pictures at my house? Maybe I had better call the cops!" Sigh.  We had the new bed made up and the dresser filled with all new underwear and socks, hankies and T-shirts. My nephew Rob, had bought a whole bunch of stuff - everything needed for the huge bathroom. Lots of white fluffly towels, hand towels, and wash clothes, TP, tissues, combs, razors, shave cream, deodorant, bar soap, body wash, you name it, he got it!!! Then he put everything in a big clothes basket, along with a gorgeous throw that Sis Sandy had crocheted. I put the throw over the back of the recliner and it sure looks good. When Dad and I were in his room, he went into the bathroom and just stood looking at all the neat stuff in there. I had found a bright yellow wood shelving unit at my house (garage sale find), and Lon hung it on the wall and we had put a lot of Rob's supplies on it so everything looked very organized and cheery.

Things went pretty well until about 2:30 when he decided it was time to go home. One of the nurses quietly told me that she wanted to do a diversion and get me out of the room and have me leave. I had told her I could stay longer, but she was feeling that this was an opportune time to separate. So I supposedly went to the office, but actually just left.

The next morning I got a call from "The Club"  (that is what I am going to call it since "the home" doesn't sound as nice). It was Dad, telling me that it wasn't very nice of me to leave him. I told him that after I went to the office, they asked me to go home and he was okay with that. The day was going pretty well for him until later, when the "Sundowner" effect began. Some of these folks get anxious and scared when the sun starts to go down. It sounds like he really gave those folks a piece of his mind.

Friday morning I went to the Ghosh Center and had a blood test, and things look super,. They are alittle puzzled that I have had very little side effects from this "preventative" round of chemo, since it is usually harder and harsher on the body. Except for an increase in hair loss and some annoying dizziness, I have been okay. Friday afternoon I went and bought some more pants, shirts, suspenders, and an electric razor (I guess they are afraid someone might cut somebody with those disposable kind of shavers) and ran them over to the club. When I got there, Ben (one of the employees) asked me if I had heard Dad. Evidently he was just on the other side of the security doors, waiting for a ride home. And telling everyone very loudly how he was getting the heck out of there and going home.   Jeeze . . . poor guy. He wouldn't even go to the dining room for supper, because he wanted to wait by the door for one of his kids that he had been calling, to come take him home.,

He has left some messages on our cell phones. He told sister Judy to come get him pronto, or else he was cutting her out of the will. Hilarious!  However, when he  left messages for me, he seemed anxious to have me come and get him, but was not loud or bossy or angry sounding. Today I found out why he is being so kind to me.

He doesn't recognize me. Since I have been wearing the wig, he doesn't realize who I am. He told Aunt Kate that some lady from Toddville has been taking him places and that she bought him shoes and clothes, and he would probably marry her so he could have someone to drive him around since he lost his license.  wow - what do you say about something like that.  How sad.

On a very happy note, Mr. Alec participated in the Special Olympics Swimming Meet at Kennedy High School today. There were three boys in his event. Al's event was the 25 yard floaty event where the kids can use a noodle or floatation device.  Lane #1 boy took off like a rocket and immediately swam about 1/3 of the length of the pool and then stopped to rest. Alec was in Lane #3 and he started off at a nice pace and just kept on going.  Lane #5 boy was doing the back stroke (I think) and was having a little trouble getting going. We were all cheering our Al on and after he got about half way  he noticed and heard us going nuts for him, and he kinda stopped and gave us such a smile. Jenna was hollering, "Don't stop! Keep going!" He got back to business just as Lane #1 got into high gear and quickly swam another 1/3 of the pool length. Lane #5 was trying so hard and was finally making some good progress, but Al was  still in the lead. We were so excited that he might actually win. What fun! Then Lane #1 geared up again and at the last minute, swam to the finish ahead of Alec. But when Alec touch the wall, he was so proud and happy and really liked that everyone there was cheering for him like crazy. I had to leave before they awarded the ribbons but Jenna called me later and said that they gave Alec a First Place Ribbon because he had kept on going, and Lane #1 boy had held onto the ropes to rest. I think perhaps he got a First Place Ribbon, too. I sure hope so anyway.

A year or so ago, Alec got on this kick that he wanted  a trophy. Finally Jenna ordered a "loving cup" type trophy and had it inscribed     ALEC OLIPHANT - FUTURE PIXAR ILLUSTRATOR 2012   or something like that.  But just think, now he has  really and truly earned  an award for a job well done.

For you strange people who are  waiting for pictures of braids and tufts of hair tied up with pink ribbons, we are still working on that. Perhaps tomorrow we might have something wonderfully odd to show all you sick tickets that are waiting on us silly people to go through with it.  :)  We'll see.

It might not hurt if you keep crossing your fingers for a little longer until Dad settles down a bit. See . . .  I have no qualms about begging for prayers and favors from all you guys. For some reason, your help always seems to work.

                                                                    GOD BLESS YOU ALL

LAUGHING IS GOOD EXERCISE. IT'S LIKE JOGGING ON THE INSIDE.




I was talking with Jenna last night about new hair-dos for me and we may have come upon a permanent (or semi-permanent) solution to my hair loss. Magic markers!

Why not? She suggested that we could do the wavy swirls on the sides like the girls in the 'hood do. Just think, I can make any kind of pattern I want in any color I want. I've never been a redhead. I wonder if Crayola Crayon Magic Markers come in a natural looking red - not the fire engine red. that might be a bit showy. A nice smooth punky look would be in Smurf Blue. I've seen markers come in a "turd" brown color that could be used for general purpose days.  And if I want to look like I'm wearing my natural color, I could combine Sunflower Yellow with some liquid White-Out for that "streaked" look.

I may just start a new fad.

The other day I posted a silly comment about one of my sister having some health problem, but then deleted it because it was a little graphic. I talked to sister Sa . . . uh, I mean one of my sisters that I will not name, and found out that she had been to the doctor and has several major health issues. No wonder she was feeling horrible. On top of most of the serious stuff, she has kidney stones.  OUCH!!

Tomorrow is the day that our dad will be entering a wonderful care center. None of us know just exactly how things will roll, but PLEASE . . .  everyone -  think good thoughts for us. Prayers . . . hope for good ju-ju, . . . even crossing of fingers might help. We are gonna need every bit of good luck we can muster up.

A few chemo after-effects have been occurring. The most annoying one is the dizziness. The forgetfulness is coming in second place. Sis-in-law Jill and I were out buying stuff for Dad the other day, and it must have looked like she was with a drunk. I was a little unstable, but then I was suddenly exhausted, so we called it a day. I'm sure she was pooped, too, since she gets up a 3:30 AM for work, and had already had worked a full day.

Everyone in the family has pitched in and we have accomplished so much getting stuff around for Dad's "new adventure". Everyone had some  kind of a job and it has worked out pretty smoothly.  It may be that we will have the essentials in his room by tomorrow, and then can complete stock him up with the rest of the stuff that will be needed, when he gets there. It's a little tricky, since we want to take his nice dresser for him, and we certainly can't do that ahead of time.

So. Everybody ready?  CROSS THOSE FINGERS!

And once again,   DEAR GOD, HELP.  WOW.  THANKS!

                                                                                            GOD BLESS YOU ALL