2019

Sunday, November 3, 2019

We thought an investor was coming to look at the house yesterday and it turned out to be a couple that the investor knew. The woman was pregnant which makes me think they are looking for a house before the baby is born. I guess I have to get used to this once the house gets listed. Oh, and have I mentioned how stressed I am about not feeling ready?

Michael, Bern, and I went to the Spalding House yesterday. I have the same reaction every time I walk through its galleries and gardens. It's a simply amazing place with spectacular views of Honolulu and Diamond Head. The museum is part of the Honolulu Museum of Art and is sadly closing at the end of the year.

Friday night, Michael and I went to First Friday in downtown Honolulu. After dinner at Murphy's, we stopped at three galleries before heading to the Hawaii State Art Museum. The first stop was the Downtown Art Center which is fairly new and had some nice work by local artists. I think their goal is to be a community space but I am not sure how one goes about exhibiting there. From there, we went to the Peggy Hopper Gallery. This is probably an uninformed description of her artwork but her paintings have a distinctive look and are mostly of peaceful looking Hawaiian women. She also paints landscapes and it made me smile to see a few cat paintings on display as well. Then it was on to the Louis Pohl Gallery where I ran into Elaine who lives down the street from us in Niu Valley. She is a friendly women who is hard not to like that brims with energy. I find her connection to Honolulu's art scene interesting. It turns out that she makes beaded jewelry and is involved in an organization that creates friendship bracelets and other jewelry out of donated beads to support the Downtown Art Center. And yes, I bought a friendship bracelet. The quotes on the paperwork with the bracelet included an old favorite, "life is art" with the addition that "being creative is not a hobby, it is a way of life." Words to create by... Our final stop was the Hawaii State Art Museum. There is a new exhibit on display in the main gallery called In Hawai'i. It had far fewer pieces than the prior exhibit and more open space. Michael described it well when he said it allowed the artwork to "breathe." All in all, a nice night out.

Bern leaves tomorrow night and I don't have a good sense of whether or not this has been a good visit for him. I would have liked to have talked to him more about life matters but he's a night owl and it's sometimes hard to get in sync with him. Also house sale issues have been a huge distraction. Sigh...

Friday, November 1, 2019

The realtor's client that we were expecting yesterday rescheduled to Saturday. Michael has become manic about the yard. The house for now is what it is. We have removed a lot of clutter and started cleaning in preparation for the listing photos next week. There isn't a lot more we can do, however, until Bern leaves on Monday. I would have preferred to have had time to paint the hall and finish painting the bathroom before photos are taken but am now just hoping to paint before the first open house. The realtor keeps assuring us the house looks fine but...

Bern and I went to San Souci beach today so he could take a dip in the ocean. He reported that it was sandier and easier on his feet than Magic Island, which we had gone to earlier in the week. But it was also far more crowded with families, kids, and tourists. A little kid playing with a stick pelted quite a bit of sand on me and I was relieved when his mother finally noticed and asked him to stop. Bern took the bus to Bishop Museum yesterday to finish his archival research and seems satisfied with the work he got done. I also have a clearer understanding about his interest in old postcards and old volcanic photos and how they relate to the book he is creating. I like the concept of incorporating the historical elements they provide with his photos and am looking forward to seeing his finished book.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The stress of selling our house is already a thing. Michael and I meet with the realtor and one of his clients on Thursday. I admittedly didn't think we were going to start this process so soon and I find myself trying to delay the posting a little to give me more time to prepare not only the house but also my mind. I suspect this timing is also a bit awkward for Bern as he's going to have to pack up a bit so we can put the room he is using back in order prior to Thursday's appointment.

Bern made it to Bishop Museum this afternoon and plans to return on Thursday. It sounds like the time he spent in the museum's archives was worthwhile so I am glad he finally got an opportunity to go. He also expressed an interest in going in the ocean so yesterday we went to Magic Island for a few hours. Shade was at premium and we suddenly found a group of City and County rescue trainees sharing the space under the tree where we were sitting. If he wants to go for another swim, I think we may try San Souci next.

Monday, October 28, 2019

After a weekend at home (except for a few store runs for groceries, etc.), I am trying to come up with some things we can do this week. It's my understanding Bern wants to go to the Bishop Museum Tuesday and Thursday to visit their library and archives. And he's shown an interest in the comic book store in Kaimuki in the past so that might be an option. What to do... What to do...

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Mr Robot is back. It's the 4th and final season and three episodes in, I am already hooked but confused. Enough so that I am rewatching the episodes that have aired so far in hopes I can figure it out.

I'm afraid I am not a very exciting host for Bern. He arrived Thursday night and so far we've gone to Costco and Longs. We also went to Jose's in Kaimuki last night for dinner, which turned out to be surprisingly good. Today Michael has been doing yard work and I have been doing housework. This is what happens when there isn't a designated activity director.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

We signed with a realtor on Monday, This move becomes more of a reality day by day.

Michael and I enjoyed a few hours this morning paddling around Maunalua Bay. There is something restorative about being out in the water with its breathtaking views of Niu Valley, Diamond Head and the Portlock/Koko Head area. Michael grew up surfing here and when i was younger I spent hours sitting out on the pier that was once there. Just one more thing that it will be hard to say goodbye to.

Bern arrives tonight and it's hot, hot, hot. I am used to it but I am predicting a sweat fest in my brother's future. Fortunately, there is a chance that the trade winds will be back this weekend. I gave into a craving and made a chocolate cake today that I am hoping he and Michael will help me eat. I should mention that as soon as it cooled, I ate a slice. Don't judge me.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Yesterday, Michael and I visited Michael's Aunt Wanda in Kailua. Michael wanted to let her know in person about our decision to sell our Honolulu home and move to Ann Arbor. Of course, the reaction was why on earth would anyone want to move back to Michigan. To which I mentally responded, why not. But she seemed to understand that we wanted to be closer to Sean, Rose, and other family. Afterwards, we went to Target for a few items and then stopped at Buzz's for pupus and drinks. The family one table over recommended a drink called Dee's Nuts I would like to try next time we are there.

This morning we continued our Windward adventures and went to Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kaneohe to transfer Michael's burial sites to the Millers, a couple I walk with most mornings. They treated us to lunch at a restaurant called Cafe Kaila in Kaimuki. The service and food was really good and I'd definitely consider going back.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Michael and I met with a realtor today and he talked to us about the pros and cons of selling to an investor vs. an individual. Something to think about.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Auwe, I wore a pair of cheap $1 flip flops to the beach today and ended up with a big blister on the bottom of the second toe on my right food. I hope it doesn't make walking tomorrow morning too painful.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Today turned out to be a good day for errands. This morning, Michael and I went grocery shopping and then to the vet's office to pick up Kali's prescription cat food. At noon, I dropped the car off at the Aina Haina Union 76 for a safety check, took care of my banking, and then headed to the library for my afternoon volunteer shift. I should mention that all of these businesses are conveniently located in the same shopping plaza.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Short stature may be linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes according to a recent study. Shorties have higher levels of fat in their livers, a contributing factor to developing this disease. And then to add even more insult, longer legs are linked to a lower risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Shoot me now.

Michael and I headed to Queen's this morning for a few hours of sun and beach chair time. A year ago we also headed to Queen's and got a $35 ticket because we thought we didn't need to feed the parking meter on Discoverer's Day. I dutifully put quarters in the meter this year but we did luck out because the prior parking space occupant left us two hours. What a discovery!

Sunday, October 13, 2019

It's been said that eyes are the windows to the soul. I believe that's why I respond the way I do to photos of people who are looking directly into the camera. I have photos of myself and a few of my sisters when we were younger that seem to capture something beyond our outer image and it's all in our eyes. Reflections of love, innocence, pain, loss, happiness...

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Early mornings are a bit cooler but days continue to be hot and muggy. It felt like the trades were returning late yesterday afternoon but there is only a slight breeze in the air today. I am wearing my usual ensemble - a tank top and baggy shorts. No fashion statements at this house.

Donna called me yesterday and we chatted a little about her experience in Washington DC. She and Aimee have been on such an incredible journey. I am hoping they eventually write about what they did, who they met, how they felt, etc. Michael and I have been trying to figure who would play who if a made for TV movie was produced.

I've told both the library folks I volunteer with and the neighbors I walk with about our upcoming move. I find it difficult to articulate why when asked.

Friday, October 11, 2019

World Mental Health Day was observed yesterday and Sean posted this.

Last year I started going to therapy after being diagnosed with cancer. I spent most of my adult life not having much anxiety or panic attacks. Going to therapy and meds has been great and super helped make the last year easier. Side note: I’ve been in remission for months, I’m doing really good.

I feel a mother's pain reading Sean's words but am incredibly grateful that he is alive and well. I hope time will make coping with his anxiety easier for him. I have to admit I hesitated to share this because of privacy issues but given I copied it from Sean's Twitter feed I believe it's okay.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

I find myself wishing I had a moment to moment account of Donna, Aimee, and Elizabeth's amazing journey to DC. I not only want to hear what they did and experienced but also who they met and what their impressions and emotions were throughout the days that they were there. What was it like to be in the presence of the Supreme Court? To hear supporters chanting your name or we love you? And so much more. A tall order, yes, but the storyteller and sister in me feels it's important to record this so future generations of our family know about this bit of our history.

Monday, October 7, 2019

After more than a month's absence, Michael and I headed to Queen's this morning. My days of casually heading to the beach will come to an end when we sell our house and move and it's led to a subtle shift in my mind set. But life is full of surprises. You never know what the future will bring. This upcoming move is evidence of that.

My sister Donna, her spouse Aimee, and daughter Elizabeth are in Washington DC. An LBGTQ case Aimee is a pivotal figure in is being heard by the Supreme Court tomorrow. Donna has been texting family on and off all day. Aimee has been interviewed by most of the major networks and toured the Capitol today. Exciting and exhausting days for them. I am hoping in the end for a positive outcome but no matter what happens, I think Aimee, with Donna's support, is making a difference in this sometimes unfair country we live in.

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Much to my surprise, Michael suggested Maile's Thai Bistro for dinner last night. And I think he might have actually liked it. Admittedly what we ordered wasn't hard core Thai food despite the use of the word Thai in their names - Thai Salad, Crispy Wonton, Thai Short Ribs, and Thai Fried Rice. And we have enough leftovers for another meal at home.

I got a shingles shot yesterday at Costco and so far have experienced no side effects other than a sore arm. I am feeling lucky as I've heard that others have experienced extreme arm pain and flu-like symptoms.

Butch is experiencing the same issue I've had with what counts as exercise on his Apple Watch. Frustrated Apple Watch wearers unite! We need to launch a campaign to get Apple to change their evil ways and count our exercise efforts as exercise.

By the way, speaking of Butch. I am eternally grateful to him for all he's done for Michael and me. He looked at prospective houses for us and provided support to me through the closing process. Post closing, he continued to assist me with various chores related to the house. Saying thank you just doesn't seem like enough but I am very appreciative.

Friday, October 4, 2019

I left what I've referred to as my alternate universe yesterday and slept in my bed with Michael and Kali last night listening to the sound of rain and trade winds. It's a sharp contrast to the five quiet solitary nights I spent in the empty house on Lillian. I missed Michael and Kali, my things not so much. As my eyes look around this house and our beautiful yard, however, as painful as it will be to leave it behind next year, I believe we will find a similar happiness and comfort in our new home.

Michael was extremely busy in my absence painting, patching, and doing tons of yard clean-up and maintenance. In some ways not having me here allowed him to focus. He says he rarely left the house. I am his distraction, however, and I have returned. Picture my wry smile right now.

Kali was a bit timid when I walked into the house yesterday afternoon but by evening she was relaxed enough to keep me company while I unpacked and sorted through all the mail that accumulated in my absence. And this morning, she is purring away next to me as I work on the computer. Michael is hopefully catching up on some of the sleep he missed due to her early morning attention seeking antics. Apparently I am her distraction as well...

More later, I am off for a walk.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

I am back at Butch and April's house for the night. I leave to return to Hawaii early tomorrow morning. I enjoyed spending time at our new house this past week. I thought spending nights alone in an empty house would be scary but discovered that I slept comfortably and felt safe. But it will be good to be back in Hawaii tomorrow and see Michael again.

Butch, April, Celina, and I went to Carsons tonight. I ate and drank so much I feel like I am going to burst. Celina is currently working for Hantz Financial Services on Victors Way in Ann Arbor. She's engaged and seems to enjoy her job. I am happy for her.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

This morning I cleaned both the oven and the microwave. This afternoon, Butch, April, and I went to Ikea so I could return a duvet cover that I purchased last week that turned out to the wrong size. I ended up buying a dish strainer and a few floor mats. It's too easy to spend money there.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

I spent this morning exploring walking distances to various places. The Washtenaw County Recreation Center is approximately 1.5 miles away, which is very doable when the weather is nice. On the walk back to the house, I stopped at Ace Hardware and had additional house keys made and then walked to Arborland. I took a second walk later to the strip mall on Carpenter Road. I also dropped by the Ann Arbor Cat Clinic and was relieved to see that they sell Kali's brand of cat food. I love that there are so many places within walking distance of the house.

In other news, the mailman (Richard) knocked on the door to introduce himself. He's quite the talker. He shared a little neighborhood gossip including a story about a neighbor that was recently murdered by a homeless person that he had invited into his home. Something tells me there are not many secrets on this street. I also met the neighbor two houses down. I think he told me his name is Scott. He had on a MSU shirt and shared that he moved here from East Lansing. Neighbors seem friendly so far.

Donna came out to see the house this afternoon. Butch also dropped by and we had a nice time chatting. Butch mentioned that we need to get together more often. I concur...

Friday, September 27, 2019

I spent my first day in the new house yesterday. I washed dishes that had been stored in Butch's basement for the past five years. Ditto on bedding. And the oven and refrigerator need a good cleaning - something I plan to tackle over the next few days. Butch brought his tools over and reassembled a futon couch left by the former owner for which I am very grateful as I never would have figured out what part goes where on my own. I am planning to sleep there tonight. Butch also brought a TV over with the hope that if I buy an indoor antenna I may be able to watch TV. I went for a short walk through the neighborhood up to Washtenaw Avenue and browsed through the Dollar store. I also walked through Sylvan Park and ended up on a gravel pathway which turned out to be Burton Road. Fortunately there was a path from the road to Terhune Pioneer Memorial Park, which is right down the street from the new house. And yes, I did reference Google Maps on my phone to make sure I was headed in the correct direction.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The house closing this morning went smoothly. Butch and I dropped by the new house prior to closing for a final walk-thru and I got an earful about heat tape, spigots, and water valves - a conversation I think Michael would have appreciated more than me. Despite the house now officially belonging to Michael and me, the sellers are still packing up their belongings. I am hoping, however, to start moving items to the new house tomorrow.

Butch, April, and I went to Ikea this evening. I bought a few items but mostly walked around looking at everything and imagining how it might fit in our new house. This alternate universe I have been visiting is becoming real.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Michael and I close on the Lillian house tomorrow. I hopefully have all the necessary paperwork and have done what I need to do pre-closing. I've been a bit stressed because the title company the sellers are using wasn't responsive yesterday and I was concerned that the funds Michael wired didn't reach them. I finally got word this morning, however, and all is well. Deep breathes...

When I was a in Chicago this weekend, I noticed Sean's childhood books were in the guest room/office bookcase. These are books I read to him dozens of times years ago. I opened each one and thumbed through their very familiar pages and found myself both smiling and tearing up a little. I was filled with many fond memories of reading to Sean night after night side by side snuggled in his little bed. A few of my favorite passages:

Then and there Fletcher knew it was time to hatch. He pushed and stretched and with a rising howl he fairly exploded out of the egg. The crowd screamed and moved back. Fletcher shook himself and the mud flew. Feeling that something was expected of him, he turned to Alexandra. "Peep!" he croaked. (How Fletcher Was Hatched - Wende and Harry Devlin)

“We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?” asked Piglet. “Even longer,” Pooh answered.” (Winnie the Pooh - A. A. Milne)

Monday, September 23, 2019

My original return date to Honolulu was yesterday and there are parts of me that wish I was on my way back. I miss Michael. I miss my old routines and sleeping in my own bed. And yes, I even miss that lovable furry pest (Kali) that lives with us.

I took the train to Chicago last Thursday and returned to Ypsilanti yesterday evening. As always, it was nice spending a few days with Sean and Rose. Friday morning I walked from their house in Roscoe Village to Lake Michigan and was treated to an early morning vista of muted pastel skies reflecting on the lake. There is something restorative and calming about water. And it made me think of Michael and how much I would have loved sharing that moment with him. And although admittedly there is a difference, my thoughts went to similar early morning views of Maunalua Bay and that meditative feeling you get gazing at the ocean.

Friday evening, I tagged along to Sean's office dinner at a Japanese restaurant called Izakaya Mita. They served small plates of what they described as Japanese soul food along with sake and fancy cocktails. There is a tiny chance that Michael, who normally avoids Japanese restaurants, might have liked this one. I am pretty sure, however, he would have viewed the small plates more as appetizers than a meal.

Saturday, we went to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum which is geared more towards children than adults but I found the exhibits interesting and enjoyed watching the butterflies in their small greenhouse. I remember taking Sean there years ago with Butch and April. Afterwards I got my plate lunch fix at Aloha Eats and thought how great it would be to have one in Ann Arbor. Saturday evening we went to see the movie The Goldfinch, which I enjoyed very much. It was one of the few times I knew absolutely nothing about the storyline or what the reviewers were saying. So all and all a nice weekend in Chicago with two people I love very much.

The train trip back to Ann Arbor was on-time and pretty uneventful. It was nice to see Butch waiting for me at the Amtrak Station and we stopped at Leo's Coney Island on the way to his house for sandwiches and mini Greek salads. Comfort food...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

I walked to Lillie Park this morning. Along the roadway I saw brown cattails, bright yellow goldenrod, and fields of cornstalks. Summer is waning here and there are signs of autumn coming. You see touches of yellow, orange, and red leaves among the green. A very midwest morning.

I find myself feeling nervous about next week's closing.

Monday, September 16, 2019

I took care of homeowner's insurance this morning. I liked that the agent assisting me had already researched the house we are purchasing and had most of the policy info filled out prior to my arrival at his office. Next up is making sure money is where it needs to be for the closing.

I dropped by Internet2 today to say hello. Unfortunately the events team was doing a site visit today and were out of the office but I enjoyed seeing and chatting with those that were on site. The office looks pretty much the same but it was nice to see that there are far more businesses in the building than there were when I2 relocated there five years ago.

I've enjoyed going out with Butch and April as they run errands, etc. There are changes and new development in both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti but it is all still very familiar.

Yesterday, April and I went to Mattheia Botanical Gardens and I found the plants and water features in both the observatory and gardens calming. I took a lot of close-up photos of the patterns and colors in the leaves, cacti, and flowers. Nature is amazing.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

I walked down Textile Road this morning to the Pittsfield Preserve Park. Despite the busy stretch on Michigan Avenue it is a pretty nice walk. This afternoon, Butch, April, and I went to Elizabeth and Eric's house warming party in Westland. I knew Eric's family years ago when he was quite young. Sean was friends with his older brother. I had hoped his parents would be there as it would have been nice to get reacquainted with them. It's a small world.

I made Amtrak reservations for a weekend visit to Chicago. I thought it would be nice to spend a few days with Sean and Rose before heading back to Honolulu. It will also give Butch and April a few days to themselves.

I have quite a few things to do this week in preparation for next week's house closing including money transfers, purchasing homeowners insurance, and transferring utilities to Michael's and my name. I am hoping all these items go smoothly. Deep breaths...

Friday, September 13, 2019

Hey, it's Friday the 13th. The full moon tonight is a harvest Micromoon, which means the moon is at its farthest point from earth. This is an interesting phenomenon I read about on the internet.

I went to the fitness center at Washtenaw Community College with Butch this morning. It's really impressive and well worth their high annual fee. I can see why Butch likes it. In addition to state of the art cardio and strength training equipment, they also have an indoor track, a pool, and a refreshment area. After his workout, Butch was kind enough to stop at Planet Fitness and the Washtenaw County Recreation Center so I could check them out too. I didn't like the vibe at Planet Fitness. The music was super loud and not to my taste. I think it would give me headache. The Washtenaw County Recreation Center is showing its age but otherwise pretty much the same as it was years ago when I was a member. Of the three this is where I will probably end up.

It looks like southeast Michigan is in for some nasty weather this evening. Hold onto your hats...

Thursday, September 12, 2019

The weather has been cool and rainy and I can't seem to warm up. I am glad that I packed my flannel shirt but regret not also stuffing a sweatshirt into my bag. Particular since I own three hoodies that rarely see any action in Hawaii.

Butch dropped Joe at the airport early this morning. We left the house shortly before 4am because Joe was hoping to get to the airport early enough to get in a three mile walk in the terminal before his flight. That's what I call dedication. I ventured out for a walk myself this morning but ended up retreating into the basement to ride the bike instead due to rain. One benefit I suppose is that my Apple watch counts my minutes on the bike as exercise, which is not always true when I walk.

Butch and I ran a few errands today that included a trip to Discount Tire to get a leaking tire repaired followed by grocery shopping at Meijer's. Seeing the food cost here is a sobering reminder of the high cost of food in Hawaii.

Michael called this morning. He mentioned that once Kali realized he was home, she hasn't left his side and has been purring non-stop. Apparently Kali hid from Leslie when she came over to feed her so she's had no human contact for a week. I like that Kali doesn't hold a grudge like some other cats that have lived with us. She seems to love unconditionally.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Michael left this morning and should be somewhere over the Pacific by now. This trip has been somewhat surreal for both of us with Honolulu and Ann Arbor occupying parallel universes. I wonder how Michael will feel being back in Hawaii.

Joe leaves to return to Pittsboro early tomorrow morning (as in he wants to leave at 4am). Per custom, we went to Cottage Inn for dinner tonight and scarfed down a deep dish Spicy Mediterranean pizza. This was followed by a stop at Dairy Queen. The diet starts tomorrow.

So a few days of goodbyes, which are never easy.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Sadly, Michael leaves tomorrow to return to Honolulu. I am sad to see him go and will miss him. But I am hopeful that I may be able to visit with other family members over the next few weeks before I also head home.

Last night's dinner at the Olive Garden was nice. It was good to be able to spend time with Celina and her fiancé Michael. They seem happy and as much as I hated hearing this when I was young, they are a cute couple. They are planning a small wedding next Fall. I am wishing them both the best.

Today Butch, Joe, Michael, and I headed into Ann Arbor and visited the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. The campus is even more impressive than it was when I lived here five years ago. There are a lot of new buildings and the architecture is striking. Go blue!

Monday, September 9, 2019

Busy, busy, busy...

Michael and I met with the house inspector on Friday which culminated in an extensive 66 page report of findings. Fortunately there were no deal breakers. We also had a sewer inspection done. It was good to finally tour the house. I feel like we will be comfortable living there. It has more space than any other place we have ever lived and the yard is a manageable size. Sean and Rose arrived late Friday afternoon and we went to Mac's Acadian Seafood Shack for dinner along with Butch, April, and Joe. As always, just seeing them was a truly feel good moment.

On Saturday, Butch and April hosted a barbecue at their house. It was a nice opportunity to visit with family, many of which I hadn't seen in a long time. We lucked out on the weather with the temps being comfortable enough for us to spend the day outside. Joe set up a tripod and took group photos. It would have been nice if Bern and Kathy had been able to be there.

Sunday morning Sean and Rose joined us for breakfast at the Northside Grill. Michael got a very warm welcome from his old co-workers plus our meal was comped. It can't get much better than that. Sean and Rose returned to Chicago following breakfast. It's always sad to see them leave.

This morning, Michael and I visited the bank to open an account while Joe and Butch walked around Briarwood. We also went to REI and Pier One. I would like to report that I actually found clothing at REI that fit. Small miracles really do happen. And then it was back to the Northside Grill for lunch. Fortunately Jim was there and once again our meal was comped. Jim seemed genuinely happy to see Michael and sat with us talking away for most our meal. Tonight we are going to Brighton to have dinner with Celina and her fiancé Michael. More good times that involve food...

Thursday, September 4, 2019

I guess I shouldn't have been so cocky about getting TSA Pre-check. There were only a few people in line and I was randomly selected for a pat down. Teach me!

We arrived in Detroit this morning and I am now at Butch and April's house. This afternoon I went to the hair salon I'd gone to for several years before moving to Honolulu and as always Paul gave me an excellent haircut. I also went to Sam's Club with Butch, April, Michael, and Joe after dinner to buy supplies for Saturday's barbecue and plan to pick up more items at Meijer's tomorrow. It feels strange (in a good way) to be back.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

I just checked in for our flights tomorrow and am feeling guilty that I got TSA Pre-check and Michael did not. I would go through the other line with him but frankly I hate having to take my computer out of my bag and fumbling with the plastic bins. Sorry, Michael...

Monday, September 2, 2019

Happy Birthday, Dad! I just got a chuckle looking at a Facebook post from one of our cousins. She wished John Pedit a Happy Birthday not realizing it's our deceased father's account not my brother's (who's name is also John). I wonder if there is a way to delete dad's FB account? By the way, dinner tonight was Chinese food with a diet coke.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Tomorrow would have been Dad's 91st birthday. I feel like I should eat Chinese food for dinner and toast him with a diet coke. September is also both Rose's and my birthday month. I'm a little sad that I'll be celebrating my birthday in Michigan without Michael but we went to Roy's Friday night so I am counting that as my birthday meal.

Michael is already packed for Wednesday's flights. In contrast, I have clothes in piles all over my floor. I did, however, go through my underwear drawer and narrowed my selection to the ones that weren't all stretched out. I call that progress.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Michael and I leave for Michigan next week. In addition to the change in scenery, I am looking forward to spending time with family. It looks like I need to pack for two seasons as temps are in the 50s at night and the 70s during the day. I usually overpack so I am going to try to curb my impulse to do so this trip. Butch and April do have a washer and a dryer after all. This is a short trip for Michael as he didn't want to leave Kali for a long time period (which made me smile).

The temperatures have consistently been in the 90's the last few weeks and the house often feels like an oven. I could swear the ceiling fan in the living room was circulating warm air earlier this week. A few people I've talked to when I am out for my morning walks have mentioned that they have been going to work early for the a/c, which made me laugh because I used to do that when we lived in Michigan. All I know is that I have been taking a lot of cold showers lately to cool off.

We packed up our dinner and ate at Kawaikui Beach Park yesterday. It was nice being by the water but I could have done without the flies. It seems like there are also a lot of flies when I walk in the morning - mostly if I stop for some reason. The tradewinds have been somewhat weak lately so I suspect that's a contributing factor.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Life is about taking leaps of faith. When Michael and I moved back to Hawaii we thought this would be our forever home. And the last five years have been incredible. I love living here. The beauty of the ocean and mountains takes my breath away. And the nearly perfect weather is unparalleled. But life takes interesting twists and we discovered after some soul searching that proximity to loved ones trumps location. I am not sure what the future will bring but I am optimistic that we will be able to make a go of it where ever we end up.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Michael and I enjoyed a nice dinner at Chuck's Cellar last night. We shared a grilled cajun opakapaka (Hawaiian pink snapper) and a baked potato with a salad and bread. There was quite a line-up of Japanese tourists waiting when we arrived, which is typical but still surprises me a little. There is a 15% off coupon for Chuck's in one of those discount books hotels offer their guests but other than that Leslie says they do not market directly to tourists.

My doctor's appointment on Thursday went fairly well. Ferritin levels and iron absorption, however, are still low so June's surgery did not solve my anemia issue. In addition to starting an iron supplement, the doctor asked me to contact the gastro doctor to schedule another endoscopy to look for a possible source of blood loss. The one I had last spring was incomplete because the scope was unable to view my stomach. What I find interesting is that despite being anemic, I do not feel like my energy level is low and I feel fine.

And I have another "pet" peeve to share related to dog owners that seems to think it is okay to use our trash can for their poop bags. Really? It's gross and rude.

Monday, August 19, 2019

As much as I love my Apple watch I continue to dislike how what counts as exercise is calculated. I walk the same distance four days a week at approximately the same pace and after 90 minutes of walking I get credit for anywhere from 3 minutes to 40 minutes of exercise. It defies logic.

And since I am griping already, we just had a plumber quote us $1050 ($350 per job) to replace a toilet flapper, install a new kitchen faucet we had purchased, and replace the shut off valves for the washer. We paid their $50 service fee and said no thanks. Michael is livid, of course. In some ways, however, it is so outrageous, it is laughable. Of course we are back to square one with Michael muttering something about going to the hardware store and doing the faucet and the toilet himself. His exact words. "I'll show you fuckers." (Update: Michael replaced the flapper in five minutes for the whopping cost of an $8.37 part. He also installed the kitchen faucet in under two hours. We just saved $650. He's the man!)

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Our latest house search news isn't good. Michael and I decided to take a pass on the house in our old neighborhood - the cost of the house plus the cost of work needed was more than we wanted to invest at this time. Butch looked at a more recently built home for us on Saturday that was move-in ready but it's really close to US23 and the expressway noise is noticeable (per the recordings he made). I would need to stand outside the house myself for about 20 minutes to assess how much of a problem it might be before committing. I am however grateful that Butch has kindly given his time to go to open houses and meet with our realtor to look at homes on our behalf. His photos, videos, and verbal feedback has been really helpful.

I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday. It's a regular check-up to go over bloodwork results. Most of my numbers are in the normal range but disappointingly my ferritin level is still low. The good news is that it is slightly higher than it was but I suspect the doctor will suggest I start taking iron supplements again, which cause side effects I do not like.

The heat continues here and what little trades are evident haven't brought a lot of relief. But it is typical weather for this time of year and I am reminded how sweltering it was when Joe visited us in August a few years ago.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Our house saga continues. The latest house targeted is around the corner from our old house on Chesterfield. The price is higher than what we had budgeted for and it needs some work but we loved our old neighborhood and that counts for a lot. That said, we are finding it frustrating trying to purchase a home long distance.

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Someone else was already in the process of making an offer on the house when Butch looked at it for us on Friday and it was accepted. I am disappointed because this was a house I could see myself living in. And I feel especially badly for Michael because he's invested his heart and soul in this house search.

We had breakfast this morning with Leslie at the Outrigger Canoe Club. I have to say watching surfers and swimmers enjoying the sunny weather and beautiful ocean while I enjoyed the breakfast buffet was a pretty nice way to start the day. It was, good to catch up with Leslie. She, as always, seems to have a lot on her plate (no breakfast pun intended).

Friday, August 9, 2019

Michael and I both have very sunburned faces after spending the day at Waimanalo Bay yesterday. I am usually pretty conscientious about applying sunscreen when I go in the water, not so much when I don't. Rookie mistake, lesson learned.

Butch checked out another house for us today. Michael and I have a big decision to make over the next few days. It's not an easy one...

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Images of countless lunches with Mom at Big Boys, Leons, or a Coney Island are flitting through my head like an old time movie. I am thankful for my memories. One thousand, eight hundred, twenty six days later, I still miss her.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Another hot humid day but there seemed to be a slight breeze at Kuhio Beach much to my relief. With public schools back in session this week, I was surprised by the number of kids at the beach today. And off leash dogs, despite the signs saying no animals allowed. Along the same train of thought, I am seeing more and more signs going up in front of stores saying no animals allowed unless they are service animals but people continue to bring their pets in often pushing them around in shopping carts. Where does this mentality come from? I just don't get it. Of course, I also live with an an animal that would be absolutely terrified if I decided to take her shopping with me.

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

At 4am this morning I woke to the sound of my phone pinging me, which is okay because I had to pee anyway. I tried to ignore a big cockroach in the bathroom because I didn't have my flip flops on and no other weapon was in sight. And I discovered when I returned to bed that Kali had claimed my pillow. So here I am reading email and text messages and catching up on social media. I've learned that Butch is hoping to dispose of a saw blade with a potentially racist painting on it (folk art?), Rosamund is going on a business trip to Atlanta, and a lot of Facebook friends seem to be celebrating birthdays this month. Just another morning before dawn at the Dove house.

Sunday, August 4, 2019

I've been thinking a lot about how much we disappoint (dare I say fail) the people we love the most. Not intentionally. It's mostly all the thoughts and feelings that we keep to ourselves because we are uncomfortable or do not know how to voice them. I am guilty and I am sorry.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

It's one of those hot humid days that makes me wish I was cooling off in a swimming pool. And I am aware of the absurdity of these words. After all the ocean is only a fifteen minute walk from our house. Admittedly, the ocean's proximity is something I think about often and sometimes feel regretful about not taking advantage of.

Michael is busy with the never ending yard work that comes with living on a lot with a lot of trees and other greenery. I am doing laundry. I also did a little meal prep for later but mostly I am being lazy. Kali is sleeping under the loveseat in my room being lazy like me.

It looks like the effects of Erick have been pretty minimal on Oahu and I anticipate that to be true of Flossie as well. So we dodged a proverbial bullet on the first two potential hurricanes of the season.

Michael and I had dinner at Murphy's in downtown Honolulu last night. The intent was to stop in at the galleries and the State Art Museum that stay open late as part of the First Friday Art Walk. But we ended up with a doggie bag full of ribs so decided to head home after dinner instead rather than pitch our leftovers. A case of ribs trumping art apparently.

I am looking forward to our Ann Arbor trip in September. Some places feel like home. Both Honolulu and Ann Arbor feel that way to me.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

I returned to 24 Hour Fitness this morning and did pretty well considering I haven't worked out since June 15th. I only needed to lower the weight or number of reps on a few of the machines. I parked fairly close to the space where I fell and hit my head two weeks ago and as I suspected there are several small hard shelled fruits on the ground in addition to uneven asphalt.

It amuses me that I have a few regulars at the library when I work my shift on Tuesdays. It was surprisingly busy today, which I prefer. It makes the time go by faster plus it's always good to make money to support the library.

We have two hurricanes heading our way. Erick is currently tracking south of the islands but we are expecting rain downpours, wind, and high surf. Flossie could be more problematic so fingers are crossed. In any event we have some turbulent weather in our future.

I booked flights to Michigan this morning. Michael and I will be arriving on September 5th. I am looking forward to not only spending some time with family but also visiting our old stomping grounds. Ann Arbor, watch out, we are coming...

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Michael and I had a relaxing meal last night at Chuck's Cellar. It's been a long time since we've seen Leslie so it was also nice to be able to catch up a little with her. She is considering a move to the mainland (possibly Vegas). I would imagine, however, she would not relocate unless her daughter and grandchildren were also in a position to move. The saga continues...

For myself, I feel a sense of normalcy returning. Here's to hoping my surgery and head injury are officially old news.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

I had an appointment this morning with the doctor who did my surgery and I no longer have any dietary restrictions. I started my food orgy by taking advantage of all the food samples at Costco followed by a meal of brisket, coleslaw, baked beans, and Texas tea at Tex808 in Hawaii Kai. And I enjoyed every bite.

Unfortunately, however, it turned out to be a terrible day for Michael. We were unable to start our car on Monday after spending a couple of hours at Queen's Beach. We called for road service and the car immediately started after a jump. We drove to a service station in Aina Haina on our way home and they said our battery tested as normal so Michael decided to chance it being a fluke. But today the car would not start again after my doctor's appointment. His office is in an office building adjacent to Queen's Medical Center in downtown Honolulu. Once again we ended up calling for road service. After a long wait, the same young man that came to our assistance on Monday showed up and got the car started. Long story short, we drove to Windward Honda in Kaneohe low on gas and high on stress and had the battery replaced. Fingers are crossed that this will resolve the problem and that there isn't something else causing the issue. As a precaution we purchased a portable jump starter at Costco.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

I like to blame Kali for waking me up at 3am when the fact is that when she perches on me I am already awake. She is aware of changes in my breathing or body position and knows I am no longer asleep. And all to often lately I am awake because my brain has gone to a dark place and I am haunted by thoughts of my mortality. I remember Michael’s fear when he was in his fifties that because both his father and grandfather died fairly young of heart issues that he too would follow in their footsteps. His father died at age 55. That’s me now. I worry about having a stroke or heart attack like my mother. And it’s all because of serendipity – when medical procedures for one condition disclose another condition that you are unaware of. Except these are not desirable conditions.

And so I worry. I am not ready to die or be impaired mentally or physically. I fear Michael will make a decision he will forever regret if something happens to me. I fear I won’t see my family again. I fear I’ll never hold a future grandchild in my arms. I fear for a future I may not like. This is what I think about at 3am in the morning. Fortunately I am able to shake these feelings off during the light of day but they are always there in the back recesses of my mind. And I remind myself that both of my parents lived into their eighties so there is hope.

Monday, July 22, 2019

The last six weeks have included surgery plus recovery, a fall on my face that resulted in lacerations and an ongoing headache, a restricted diet, and chronic constipation. And it's the constipation that's currently causing me the most angst. I feel like I am at war with my intestines. I am hoping when I return to a more normal diet this issue gets resolved because it's caused a lot of discomfort.

Michael and I have been putting off house projects for various reasons and realize we need to get back to it. I see a lot of painting in our future. I'll probably start on interior walls in August. Michael wants to paint the exterior of the house (maybe hire someone?). And after much consideration, we may repaint the floors vs. putting in flooring of some kind. We need to get the house tented for termites as well as I am seeing a lot of droppings when I clean. Fun, fun, fun...

Saturday, July 20, 2019

I am really impressed by Island Urgent Care. They called me Tuesday night to check on how I was doing and give me my CT scan results, which fortunately did not indicate a brain bleed. On Thursday, I returned to Urgent Care to get my wound looked at. Yesterday my phone rang at about 5pm and it was Urgent Care calling to check on me and see if I had any questions. I've said this before, but my primary care physician has never called to check up on me.

Celina and her boyfriend Mike are engaged. He proposed to her a few nights ago. I am really happy for her. Another chapter in her life begins...

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

I decided to give the fitness center a try this morning. It turned out to be a big mistake as I unfortunately tripped in the parking lot and the right side of my face smacked into the asphalt. There are two lacerations by my eye and bruising (and lots of blood everywhere when it happened). I went to Urgent Care where they irrigated and washed out the wound and closed it with dermabond and steristrips. They then sent me to a radiology center for a CT scan to make sure I don't have a brain bleed. I haven't heard anything so I am hoping no news is good news. I go back to the clinic in a few days to get my wound reassessed. Michael is supposed to watch me for the next 24 hours for "unusual" behavior. My take on all this is that I am the clumsiest person in the family. Big, big sigh...

Monday, July 15, 2019

Sometimes a disappointing event provides clarity. Michael and I have been considering a move back to the mainland within the next few years and thought North Carolina an excellent option with its somewhat temperate climate, the Smokey Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean, and of course my brother Joe. The house next door to Joe in Pittsboro became available and we were seriously considering making an offer on it. And then Michael spotted a house for sale in Ann Arbor late Saturday that he instantly felt a connection to. So much so that we immediately made an offer on Sunday. Our offer was rejected and while I tend to be more pragmatic about these kind of events, Michael was truly disheartened. But this experience made us both realize how much we love Ann Arbor despite the long winters. I don't know what is in our future, maybe Ann Arbor or maybe somewhere else but for now we will continue to enjoy our lives in Honolulu.

Friday, July 12, 2019

Celina's birthday is today. I remember when she was born and traveling to Chicago to see her for the first time. I rely on Butch these days for updates about how she is doing. I just hope she is happy...

I received a "get-well" box today from Sean and Rose that contained a few food items, a novel, and a little cat cap that I am certain Kali will not willingly allow us to put on her cute little cat head (lol). I've also received get well cards from Kathy and Donna and a small dove mobile from Jackie (Rose's mom). I am really touched by everyone's thoughtfulness and feel lucky to have such kind family members.

Michael and I went out to dinner tonight for the first time since my surgery. After a three week hiatus it was nice. Potato soup for me and a rib eye for Michael. It looks like our Friday night date nights are back.

Thursday, July 11, 2019

The hospital bills have started to arrive and I gasped at the cost of my surgery and one night hospital stay which totaled $33,642.69. Add to this the cost of the endoscopy, X-rays, EKG, and pre-surgery exams and the bills total $40,880.00 so far. Keeping in mind this does not include the cost of office visits related to the surgery and I anticipate more bills will arrive over the next few weeks. I am grateful that I have insurance. I have paid just under $1,000 so far. HMSA and Medicare, thank you for paying the rest.

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

My follow-up appointment with my surgeon this morning went well. My incisions have healed and I can start the process of easing the surgical tape off. He also gave me the okay to begin eating more food items including overcooked veggies, soft fruits like mango or canned peaches/pears, flaky fish, shrimp, and orange juice. He also mentioned that ground meat items like burgers are fine - I just need to remove the bun. So of course, Michael and I stopped at McDonalds after grocery shopping at Target and I ate a bun-less cheeseburger. I return to the doctor in two weeks and hope at that time all dietary restrictions will be removed. I rather miss carbs like bread, crackers, pasta and rice.

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Today is Sean's 40th birthday, which is considered by some as the entry into middle age. Thus the over the hill references, black balloons, etc. Nowadays however, I have heard that 60 is the new 40. And besides I am not ready to be the mother of a middle-aged son (she says with a senior citizen middle aged smile). Anyway, here's to Sean on his 40th birthday. I couldn't be prouder or love him more.

Friday, July 5, 2019

Michael took me for a drive yesterday to the Windward side with stops at a few places along the way. The first was Waimanalo Bay Beach Park. I was disappointed to see the parts of Sherwood Forest that have been razed so far to make way for athletic fields. I love this beautiful beach and the fact that it was hidden by the forest added to its allure for me. It's unfortunate that our mayor seems to be in the pocket of developers. Our next stop was He'eia State Park, which has sweeping views of both Kaneohe Bay and an adjacent ancient fish pond. From there we continued on to Kualoa Beach Park with its iconic view of Mokoli'i Island (known as Chinaman's Hat). We aren't normally out this way unless we are driving visitors around the island and it's usually rainy so yesterday's beautiful sunny day was a treat. We headed back at this point but did make one last stop at the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe. Lots of spectacular views of the mountain cliffs and lush tropical vegetation. So all in all a great day out.

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Happy Independence Day! It's just another beautiful day in Hawaii for Michael and me. No fireworks or family barbecues to go to (not that I would be able to eat barbecue food anyway). We ventured to the beach for a few hours yesterday morning and people had already started staking out space for July 4th activities and to watch the fireworks tonight. There were lots of pop-up tents, tables, chairs, portable barbecues, and coolers along the shoreline. Camping overnight is normally prohibited but the city allowed a maximum of two people per site to stay overnight to safeguard their set-ups. I think for many local families it's a holiday tradition. Perhaps I need to find something blue to add to my red jello and white cool whip concoction.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Strawberry jello and Cool Whip, I think I love you...

Monday, July 1, 2019

Big outing today to Target and McDonalds. I am not sure if it's just a Hawaii thing but it is difficult to find a variety of flavors of single serve sugar-free pudding or jello cups. I couldn't find anything at Foodland. Safeway only has sugar free chocolate pudding cups and sugar-free strawberry jello. Target has sugar-free chocolate pudding only, no sugar-free jello. I recall both Meijer's and Kroger (in Michigan) having a lot more flavor options. It's not really a big deal but I'd love to know why. No demand here? I did find boxes of sugar-free strawberry jello so plan to make my own.

And by the way all the incisions from last week's surgery are crazy itchy.

Saturday, June 29, 2019

I am feeling restless. I actually considered going to Costco or Target today just to walk in air conditioned comfort while amusing myself looking at merchandise.

I spoke to Bern today - he was bitten in the face by a dog recently and a few issues have cropped up that have him concerned enough to go to urgent care. I try to be careful with the dogs in the neighborhood when I am walking. Most dog owners seem to be pretty responsible about controlling their animals but there are a few unleashed animals that have caught me off guard more than once. I think some pet owners don't take into account that just because their animal acts a certain way around them that behavior doesn't necessarily translate to others, especially strangers. Anyway, I am hoping Bern get his injuries looked at.

Friday, June 28, 2019

I'd like to share something profound today but nothing comes to mind. I am pretty much staying the course in a somewhat limbo state while I allow time to do its healing. But I am not always a patient person when it comes to myself. I accept the diet and physical limitations put on me but I don't like them. Most of the fog from the general anesthesia has lifted and my head feels clearer but I fatigue easily. I find myself drowsy after walking, for example. I feel like I need something to focus on that's not me.

Thursday, June 27, 2019

I remember trying cream of wheat when I was younger and not liking it. I tried some today and I would go as far to say I really dislike it. I think I will stick with my grits, thank you very much. I'm still not moving quickly and tire easily but am also not experiencing as much pain today. I may forego the Tylenol and see how I feel.

I've been watching the Handmaid's Tale and this season has been pretty gripping. I also find the staging of the scenes and the photography pretty dramatic. The last episode I watched took place in Washington DC and seeing the Washington Monument turned into a huge cross was eerie. I am admittedly hooked.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head... All at 3:00 am and it was more like I dragged my body out of bed by using the dresser for support. Kali is hanging out with me. We are like two wounded little birds nesting on the couch. She is still limping around, which is hard to watch. As for me, Monday's surgery went fine. The surgeon told me the bottom of my stomach had made it's way into my chest space so it took some maneuvering to get everything back where it should be. They made the hole in the diaphragm smaller using mesh and the top of my stomach was wrapped around the bottom of my esophagus to anchor my stomach in place and make it harder for it to move back into my chest space. This is the non-medical term explanation, accuracy not guaranteed. I am still feeling the effects of the general anesthesia - some lethargy and a dull headache. And I am feeling pain from the surgery. The doctor prescribed oxycontin which I prefer not to take so I am hoping Tylenol will do the trick. No lifting for 4 weeks but walking is encouraged. Unfortunately it's been raining non-stop for the past 24 hours with no end in sight which make it unlikely I'll be able to walk outside today and the hallway in the house is pretty short so I may need to get creative. My diet is also limited for the next 4-5 weeks to soft foods like scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, sherbet, jello, etc. No meat or fish unless its ground. No bread, crackers, rice, or pasta. Nothing acidic or carbonated. I'll muddle my way through - it's what we do.

Monday, June 24, 2019

I need to check-in at the hospital around 5:15am which is about 90 minutes from now. I decided to get up early as I couldn't sleep and had planned to wash my hair and shower at 4am anyway.

I mentioned yesterday that Kali seemed lethargic. After watching her walk, she has a pronounced limp due to what I am assuming is pain in her left side back leg. I have no idea how she injured it. Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do over the next few days other than hope it improves on its own. Poor kitty...

Sunday, June 23, 2019

My surgery is less than 24 hours from now. I treated myself to peanut butter on toasted bread this morning because both items are on the "do not eat after surgery" list and I was craving comfort food. Putting my life in the hands of strangers and knowing there are risks makes me a bit apprehensive. I had a brief how to pay bills online tutorial with Michael this morning as a just in case but the reality is he should know about the house financials anyway.

I am also a little concerned about Kali. She hasn't been eating a lot these past few days and seems lethargic. I am hoping it is heat related. She is sleeping on a folded quilt right now in front of the fan. I think of her as Michael's cat and he absolutely adores her but I've got a huge soft spot for her as well. She is often a big pest at 3am but afternoons and evenings you couldn't ask for a better couch buddy. We just had a staring contest and I blinked first...

Saturday, June 22, 2019

While I am enjoying a stay at home Saturday catching up on a few house chores and laundry, Michael has spent several hours doing yard work, back patio cleaning, and much, much more. Given how hot it is today I am amazed that he is still at it. I really should tackle the bathroom before Monday's surgery however...

Friday, June 21, 2019

Life likes to keep us on our toes. I ended up having to have emergency dental work done today. It turned out the dentist was able to do the procedure without anesthetics but I appreciated that he contacted my surgeon first to make sure it was okay just in case. So $250.00 later...

Thursday, June 20, 2019

I'm on a mission to finish ripping a handful of DVDs. I am currently working on Twin Peaks Season Two which has 29 episodes so it's going to take some time. Next is The Civil War (Ken Burns) which has six discs. The initial goal was to eventually be DVD and CD free but Michael and I are finding it's really hard to give up favorites or some of the old classics so we will be hanging on to those for the time being.

Butch and April are celebrating their 32nd wedding anniversary today, which in my book is worth a Winnie the Pooh quote. Love is taking a few steps backward maybe even more… to give way to the happiness of the person you love.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

I am feeling a little proud of myself. I followed the directions at the How to Geek site to install Homebrew and libdvdcss and have successfully used Handbrake to rip two encrypted DVDs. Does this make me a pseudo-geek?

Michael and I went through our CD and DVD collection and donated quite a few to the Friends of the Aina Haina Library for their July media sale. I am one of the volunteers at the library and I've noticed that a lot of people are doing the same. Fortunately there is still a market for used CD's and DVDs. And a fair amount of people (mostly men) are looking for vinyl.

Monday, June 17, 2019

My preoperative evaluation was this morning. I have mild aortic stenosis that did not show up on the echo I had four years ago. The cardiologist said it shouldn't be an issue, however, and cleared me for surgery. Six more days...

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Michael and I had dinner at Roys Hawaii Kai last night to celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary. Our waitress asked what our secret is and I told her to lower her expectations, which got a good laugh from nearby tables. In an effort to not overeat, we ordered a salad, appetizers, and a desert. After 3 weeks of Lean Cuisine dinners, it was a nice treat despite the little voice saying "stop eating, Sugar." Surgery is nine days away.

Joe called us today after going to an open house on our behalf at the home next door to him. Michael and I thought that our move back to Hawaii would be the last chapter in our lives but we now find ourselves seriously considering moving back to the mainland in 3-4 years to be closer to family. We have no desire to deal with long winters and the more temperate temperatures in North Carolina are appealing. But it will be extremely hard for Michael to give up not only his family home, but also the beautiful valley he grew up in, the ocean and mountains, surfing, and the year-round warm temps. So we shall see...

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

My appointment with the surgeon went well. He has assured me the cuts he will be making should miss the area that has the mesh. He also said that if it should be necessary to penetrate the mesh, it will not need to be replaced. I also need to reduce calorie intake even more going forward. It turns out this has more to do with stomach size and how soft my liver is than weight loss - although weight loss is the measurement of success. The smaller the stomach, the easier it will be to move. And because my liver will also need to be moved to do all this maneuvering, he said the more pliable it is, the better. Also because the lung on my right side has been crowded, he asked me to do breathing exercises to make the lung expand into the area vacated by my herniated stomach. So a lot of moving parts. And he is aware I am planning on a dinner out Friday night to celebrate my anniversary. He just cautioned me to limit my food intake.

I think my Apple watch decided I need to step up my game - it recorded only one exercise minute for my 4 mile walk this morning.

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

My brother Joe pointed out that 6,000 miles are nearly 25% of the circumference of the earth. This put the distance in perspective for me. Meanwhile, I am going to keep on trekking...

I spoke to Butch today - we compared our Apple watch activity and weight loss efforts (and fails). We've been auto- sharing our activity, which is kind of fun. He also let me know that Jupiter is visible right now using binoculars so if I remember, I may take a look tonight. It would be helpful, however, to know which way I should be looking. Hopefully I can find an article online to help with that.

Michael and I finished watching the last Hanna episode last night. Another good show that I am hoping has a second season. I am still hooked on the Handmaiden's Tale and am looking forward to a new episode tomorrow.

My surgery date is getting closer - only 13 more days. I have an appointment with the surgeon tomorrow and a preoperative evaluation on Monday. I must admit I am feeling a bit apprehensive.

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Yesterday I topped 6,000 miles on the Nike Running app I use to track my walks. It's funny how something like this feels like an achievement. Maybe some day I will be celebrating walking 10,000 miles. And to think it all began with one step.

A long message was left on my phone by Marlene from the Cabella's store in Michigan asking Rick if he has the fire arms key that is missing. I hope it turns up. If she calls again, I may answer my phone just because this is more interesting than most of the wrong number calls I get.

Today is laundry day for me. I love the feeling and smell of clean sheets.

Thursday, June 6, 2019

You know what scares me the most about my upcoming surgery? That the surgeon will need to make an incision or incisions where my hernia repair mesh is located and I will need to have another surgery to replace the mesh. There, I've said it...

We are experiencing another hot humid day today. I woke up to thunder at about 3:30-4:00am this morning and we did get some rain but it was short-lived. I would have preferred a good soaking as the yard and plants really need water.

Still no call back from North Carolina Unclaimed Property and at this point I don't expect one. I may try contacting them again. I ordered a copy of my marriage certificate just in case when I discovered I didn't seem to have one in my files.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

A neighbor just dropped off a bag of mountain apples from the tree in her yard. I am looking forward to trying one later.

Butch finally purchased an Apple watch and we are sharing our activity info. I am curious to see how much exercise credit he gets for his walks because it drives me a little crazy that I can walk for 90 minutes and only get credit for 15. That said, I hope he ends up liking his watch as much as I do mine.

A few months ago, I submitted a claim to the North Carolina Unclaimed Property department after Joe alerted me that he found my name in their data base. I received a denial yesterday because my supporting documents did not prove I am also Cecelia Pedit. I called them this morning to find out what I need to send them as proof and ended up leaving a message. I rather wish I had mentioned the six hour time difference as I am now imagining my phone ringing at 3am. Of course given that Kali was harassing me at 3:30am this morning, I may be awake anyway.

Saturday, June 1, 2019

I am feeling lethargic and unmotivated today. On the plus side I did go to 24 Hour Fitness this morning but slogged through a 9.83 mile bike ride. I meant to ride ten miles but the bikes are set up so that you can only ride for a little more than an hour before they time out. I also did laundry and changed the linens on our bed. So I am not a complete sloth but...

My walking friend called the police as soon as she got home after I spoke with her yesterday morning. She said that it wasn't until she talked to me that she realized she had been scammed for sure so I am glad that we ran into each other when we did. She also visited her bank, put a freeze on her credit cards, and went to the Apple store to have her computer checked out. She is pretty pragmatic about the money she loss. Interestingly, she mentioned that the manager at CVS warned her when she was purchasing the gift cards that it sounded like a scam but she went through with the transaction anyway. She called me three times yesterday to relay all this to me. It still surprises me a little that when the fake tech guy requested she buy gift cards she complied.

I went through the hundreds of photos I've taken since 2015 (the year I returned to Honolulu) and tried to select a few that I thought were a cut above the rest. Michael has been encouraging me to have one printed on metal. It's something to think about.

Friday, May 31, 2019

One of my morning walking friends fell for an Apple Support scam. She received an automated call showing Apple's logo that warned her to return the call because of a data breach. She called the number provided and was assisted by a man with a foreign accent (she thought from India) who had her sign on to her computer. In the process she gave him access. I am not sure of the details but he convinced her to purchase $1,500 in Best Buy gift cards and provide him with the numbers. He even gave her the closest locations of retailers in the area that sold gift cards. He advised her not to use her phone or use her computer to sign on to the internet until he called her back at 9:30am the next morning. I should mention she prefaced her conversation with me this morning with the words, "I am not supposed to tell anyone this." I told her I was sure she had been scammed and that she should contact the police. She rushed home I hope to do so but this whole situation left me feeling angry and distressed. This woman is an intelligent 78 years old retired school teacher. I have concerns that in addition to losing $1,500 she potentially could lose much more because she provided them access to her computer.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

A few random snippets...

Michael went surfing Monday morning and when I asked how it was he raised his hand above his head and said it was too big. All I could think about was his running joke with Joe, "that's what he (or she) said."

Butch messaged me yesterday that if you check out the aerial view of his house on Google maps you can see Michael's old tub in his yard.

I saw a black garbage bag this morning by the curb with a note on it that said "dead animal." It smelled pretty putrid and I suspect with the sun beating down on it for hours, the smell will only intensify. I wondered if it was their pet. The city must have a pick-up program. Imagine if you could do that with dead people.

It amuses me that Elizabeth is dating and now lives with one of Sean's neighborhood friend's younger brother. I remember him as a young tyke. I wonder how they met.

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

It occurred to me this morning that when I left Michigan in January 2015 to move to Hawaii that in the month I was here before Dad's death I never once sent him a note or card or tried to call him. And it disappoints me that I didn't take the time to do so. I said my goodbyes with the knowledge that I would never see him again and left it at that. This is a reminder to myself to try to be more thoughtful of others.

Monday, May 27, 2019

I survived week one of Project Lose Ten Plus Pounds and have lost five pounds so far. My efforts paid off.

It's been a lazy Memorial Day weekend for me and Kali so far. Watching Michael do yard work is exhausting. I am trying to motivate myself to start painting again. I'd like to finish the bathroom walls so we can hang a new mirror above the sink. I also have this notion of using the hallway as a gallery of sorts for Sean's posters and some photos I'd like to display. It's the only wall space left in the house but it definitely needs a fresh coat of paint first.

Speaking of artwork, Bern sent me (and my sibs) one of his beautiful lava images, which was much appreciated. Fortunately it fits perfectly above a bookshelf in my lady den. On the shelf under Bern's photograph I arranged a painted tile Cat created, a few wooden Alaskan puzzle animals I purchased online from a craftsman in Wasilla, a Mt. St. Helens volcanic ash glass globe Butch and April gave me, and a small Brazilian figure piece I got from Joann's collection of items she purchased on her travels. An eclectic collection that seem to be working well together.

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Michael and I finished watching Fleabag last night. It's definitely one of the best shows produced and I am sorry to see it end. We are also completely hooked on Killing Eve. Michael admits he has the hots for Sandra Oh, which I find amusing.

This morning, my stomach hurt and I felt a little off. I ended up eating a bowl of grits and having hot filling food seemed to do the trick. I suspect I haven't been eating enough. I'm committed to sticking to it though in the short term so I'll be ready for surgery next month. We went to the supermarket today and I felt like an alcoholic in a liquor store. By the way, kudos to Michael for shopping and preparing his own dinners while I feast on Lean Cuisine entrees.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Nanu died seventeen years ago today - I believe in the same room I am sitting in right now. I am not feeling her spirit hovering over me but she is in my thoughts. I've said this before, she was a complicated and sometimes secretive woman. It took her a long time to accept that I might be good enough for her son and I am okay with that because in the end she did tell me she loved me, in her own way of course.

Michael and I binge watched four episodes of Fleabag last night. I agree with this review that says the show "beautifully captures the tangled vulnerability of sisterhood, with an eye toward its tensions." I am looking forward to watching the remaining two episodes tonight.

Project Lose Ten Plus Pounds is boring and I veered a little off course yesterday by eating 2/3 of a McDonalds cheeseburger and one french fry but it was psychologically worth it. I am finding it harder to drink the protein shakes this go round however. It's a forced effort. I drank one most mornings for nearly a year in 2013 and don't remember feeling this way.

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Yesterday's doctor's appointment with my PCP did not suck. Dare I say she is kind of growing on me? What does suck though is I'm taking more meds. I've added ferrous sulfate twice a day for anemia and an additional metformin tablet for blood sugar control. The doctor convinced me that having these issues under control would benefit my recovery from surgery in June. She expressed concern, however, about the pre-surgery diet plan proposed by the surgeon. He told me to eat a Lean Cuisine entree for dinner and she feels they contain too much sodium. Fortunately, his regime is just a short-term quick weight loss strategy. And what I eat is going to go to hell anyway post surgery when I am restricted to soft food for 3 weeks. At any rate alcohol is mostly off limits for the next few months, which fortunately isn't a big deal for me.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

I found an easy to understand description of the issue and upcoming surgery I am having:

A paraesophageal hernia occurs when more than 1/3 of the stomach has slipped (moved) into the chest. The stomach pushes up through the opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle layer between the belly and chest. When this happens, the stomach can move around and may even twist on itself. This may cause chest pain, reflux, stomach pain, make it hard to swallow, and cause shortness of breath. When you start having symptoms surgery is recommended.

Most paraesophageal hernias can be repaired laparoscopically (with about 5 very small incisions) through the abdomen. During surgery the stomach is moved back into its correct position. The enlarged hole in the diaphragm is made smaller. This is so the stomach cannot slip back up into the chest space. In some cases, the top of the stomach (fundus) is wrapped around the bottom of the esophagus to anchor the stomach in place. This makes it even harder for the stomach to move back up into the chest space. This is called fundoplication.

Monday, May 20, 2019

It's day one of Project Lose Ten Plus Pounds. I consumed my first shake about an hour ago and it's only 9:15 am so I am guessing giving a progress report is a bit premature. Butch jump started his diet program yesterday. I realize he has different loss goals than me but in the end we both want the same thing.

Saturday, May 18, 2019

We have been getting some much needed rain these past few days. I ended up going to the fitness center yesterday morning after getting caught in the rain at the beginning of my walk. Last night Michael and I went to Chuck's Cellar for dinner. It's nice to occasionally eat at a place where everyone knows your name. I get that this is because Leslie works there but it is still nice. On the way home we checked out the view of the ocean and full moon on Diamond Head Road. It never gets old.

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Surgery is scheduled on June 24th. It's suddenly become real. I need to lose ten pounds before the procedure and Butch is going to diet along with me. I just purchased HMR shake powder through Amazon and plan to start my new eating regimen Monday morning. I need to lose weight anyway but this is not exactly the incentive I envisioned to do so. Talk about a kick in the proverbial behind.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

I had a good Mother's Day. Michael pampered me by taking me to McDonalds for breakfast and making dinner, which was delicious by the way. I also received a phone call from Sean and feel lucky to have these two pretty great guys in my life.

There were the usual Mother's Day postings by family members on Facebook. One made me pause for a moment. Jerry posted a photo of the bench that used to be on our parent's front porch. It was hard not to flashback to all the hours I spent sitting on that bench with Mom when I visited. A few of my siblings also talked about regrets in regards to Mom and I am still thinking about what if any regrets I have. Something I'll figure out eventually. Simply put, I really miss her.

Yesterday we spent a few hours at Queen's. The surf has been pretty big lately and it's mesmerizing to watch the waves breaking. Michael and I went to the North Shore a few years ago when the surf was really huge and I'll never forget the feeling I got watching massive waves pounding the shore at Waimea Bay. All you could hear was the roar of the water. And I learned the definition of awe.

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Today, Michael and I took Kali to the vet. I wanted to get her checked out and also get recommendations for cat food suitable for her sensitive digestive system. The vet's office wanted to run all kinds of tests totaling about $900. We said no thanks and left after paying for her exam, a flea treatment, and a bag of cat food. I kind of felt like we were being guilted into doing more.

Jay, a neighbor that in the past has shared plants with me, had a Mother's Day plant sale today. I came home with three tillandsia mounted on driftwood, a baby ponytail palm, and a small succulent. At $20, I thought I made out pretty well.

It's interesting to me that I have a past history of sorts in Niu Valley. I lived with Michael's family from 1970-1972 while I was in college. I was a tad surprised today when Jay mentioned that when he was a young teen he remembers Michael and me riding bicycles in the valley. We then reminisced about the good old days when the pier was still in existence and before the houses were built on Hawaii Loa Ridge. Good old days, indeed.

Thursday, May 9, 2019

I am looking at the hospital bill for my endoscopy and noticed they charged by the minute for the procedure, the anesthesia, and the recovery room. I guess it makes sense but it's the first time I've ever noticed it on a bill. I was also surprised that Fentanyl only cost $8.00. It was the least expensive item on the bill, which before insurance totaled $5,391.31. By the way, I received a separate bill from the gastro doctor that performed the procedure, which before insurance totaled $502.00. I can't even begin to imagine what the cost of surgery will be.

It's been a slow week here so far. I volunteered at the library on Tuesday. Yesterday, Michael and I went to Ross to buy stuff we didn't need and Foodland to buy stuff we did need. I am not sure yet what today will bring but there is always house and yard work to do. The days of our lives...

Monday, May 6, 2019

Despite me answering the phone and advising the elderly woman in Ogden, Utah that she is not calling the correct number for her son, she continues to call and leave long messages on my phone. I finally blocked her phone number this morning but it was with a heavy heart.

Yesterday I made tacos and rice for dinner and the house smells like a Mexican restaurant. And as usual, we have lots of leftovers so tonight will probably be a variation of last night's meal. I am thinking about making nachos.

Michael and I headed to the beach this morning and ended up only staying an hour because it clouded up and became a little too cool for bathing suit attire. I think Michael and I are getting wimpy in our old age.

Thursday, May 2, 2019

I sent a message to the gastro doctor to ask about the pathology results from the biopsies she took during my endoscopy and also to get clarification on what happens when I eat or drink. Her response - Your biopsies were benign without significant findings. Food goes from your esophagus into your stomach, but the bottom portion of your stomach turns back up into your chest area. I would love to know how this happened.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Sean and Rose celebrated their first wedding anniversary a few days ago. I look at my son and the woman he has chosen to spend his life with and can't help but think that the amount of support and kindness they have shown each other this past year bodes well for their future together. I haven't spoken to them but I hope that they had a chance to celebrate.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

My visit to the gastro doctor yesterday left me feeling conflicted about having surgery. My doctor, of course, is advocating for it. I have a consult with a surgeon on the 16th and what I'd like is an honest assessment of the risks of not having the surgery vs. the risks of the surgery itself. Does that make sense? So I am limbo for a few more weeks waiting for my appointment. When I spoke to Bern yesterday, he pointed out one of the benefits of surgery is that my quality of life could improve, which is a pretty big consideration.

Saturday, April 26, 2019

Michael and I went on a little adventure today. We originally were going to the Hawaii Book and Music Festival but discovered after we parked that we were a week early. Which explains why we found parking so easily. We then went to the Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden, which we had not visited before The park was pleasant but I wished that there had been more plants and that the ones they did have were labeled. From there we went to the Honolulu Museum of Art - Spalding House. I was impressed with their Recent Acquisitions exhibit. And as always, their grounds are spectacular.

Friday, April 26, 2019

The upper GI series went as well as can be expected. Of note to me is that barium doesn't necessarily clear your system quickly as barium from the procedure I had on the 15th showed up on the baseline image they took today. I also discovered when I got home that there was a hole in the underwear I had on.

Thursday, April 25, 2019 Things are moving a little too fast for me. I am scheduled for an upper GI series tomorrow and I received a call today about scheduling an appointment for a pre-consult with a surgeon. I haven't even spoken to the doctor yet about why surgery is needed or about the results of the barium swallow and endoscopy. I suspect she talked to me about some of this following my endoscopy on Tuesday but I don't remember anything because of the anesthesiology. Fortunately, I have an appointment with her on Monday. On one hand I appreciate how responsive and efficient this doctor is but I have to admit I am a little freaked out at the same time.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Yesterday's endoscopy results have me feeling really uneasy. The procedure revealed a large paraesophageal hernia (which may be causing my anemia) and biopsies were taken from the proximal and distal esophagus for histology to assess for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). A google search of EoE gave this description: EoE is a chronic, allergic inflammatory disease of the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach). It occurs when a type of white blood cell, the eosinophil, accumulates in the esophagus and persists despite acid-blocking medicine. From the doctor's post procedure summary, it looks like an upper GI series and surgery may be in my future. I have a follow-up appointment with the gastro doctor on Monday and hopefully she'll have the pathology results and next steps will be determined. Meanwhile, I have this terrible sense of foreboding that what lies ahead is not going to be easy.

Monday, April 22, 2019

Rose posted this today. We got the results of Sean's latest PET scan, he is officially in remission! There are some things they want to keep an eye on over the next few weeks, but yeah: in remission. Hearing the doctor say that was simultaneously anticlimactic and an incredibly, unbelievably emotional and relieved feeling. We can't express enough thanks for how amazing everyone has been -- beyond amazing -- and are looking forward to seeing you! Right now we're sitting on the couch but we'll get up at some point.

To say Michael and I are relieved is an understatement. I realize Sean's future will consist of many more scans and oncology visits but this is a good start.

Sunday, April 21, 2019

The ice bin is full of ice. It's like a belated April Fool's day joke. Or an Easter miracle. I would also like to add that the water filter light just turned yellow which indicates it needs to be changed soon. Coincidence or is it connected?

I am rarely conflicted on whether to get involved when someone leaves a message on my phone that was meant for someone else. Normally I delete the message and don't give it another thought. This weekend, however, an elderly woman in Utah left two messages for her son in which she reminisced about past Easters and asked him to call her. Using her phone number, I determined she was in a nursing home in Ogden, Utah. I contacted the nursing home and left them a message requesting they let her know she has been calling the wrong number. She called again this morning, however, and recognizing the number I answered. I spoke to her for a few minutes and she is going to recheck her son's number. With all the phone scams though it's getting harder to determine what's legit these days.

Saturday, April 20, 2019

So after a 2-3 month hiatus, the ice maker has suddenly started making ice again. This could just be a 24 hour thing but one does have to wonder.

I downloaded the Mueller report with the intention of scanning through it but it seems like too much effort. Especially when the news seems to be reporting on its more interesting disclosures. I recorded the Clinton hearings years ago and to my credit I did watch a lot of it so perhaps in an idle moment I'll take a look at the Mueller report as well. There is no doubt that Trump is a liar but it appears he is smart enough to not lie under oath.

Friday, April 19, 2019

The results of my barium swallow test: The esophageal mucosal fold pattern is normal. No strictures nor ulcers.The esophageal motility is normal. No gastroesophageal reflux was elicited during the exam. Small hiatal hernia elicited upon Valsalva.

No surprises as I already knew about the hiatal hernia. But I suppose it's good to know everything else is normal. I have an EGD on Tuesday.

I did some more plant repotting and grooming this morning. Each pot is like a mini-creation. It was nice to get a little dirt under my fingernails.

Also, I'd like to report that the ice maker randomly made ice this morning. It's a mystery.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

I'm the man! I took the car in for an oil change, a new air filter, and new front tires.

I am also on a bit of a roll repotting plants. Some of my succulents had gotten leggy so I pared them back and repotted the cut off portions in their own pots. I am using 5" clay pots to give the new cuttings space to grow. I am also trying hard not to go overboard. As much as I love plants, I don't want hundreds of pots cluttering the lanai and yard.

The library I volunteer at reopened last week and a picture of me assisting someone was in the Star Advertiser (newspaper). It was surprising how many neighbors saw the photo and mentioned it when I was out walking. My fifteen minutes of fame...

Monday, April 15, 2019

This morning I had a barium swallow test at Queen's Hospital. It included a series of X-rays of me swallowing things: a barium pill, some crystals to expand my upper GI tract, a thick chalky barium drink, and finally a thinner barium drink. It sounds pretty awful but it really wasn't that bad. Plus it really helped that both the Xray technicians and doctor had a great sense of humor so I felt at ease. I suspect that they may not find anything abnormal as I was able to swallow everything but you never know.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

My uncle Charles died this morning. I do not have any details as to cause, etc. but Donna and Aimee drove to Fayetteville yesterday in hopes of seeing him one last time before he died. Charles married Aimee's mother after the death of her father and she has two half sisters. I do not know what their relationship is like but hopefully they are all pulling together as they grieve the loss of their father. I believe Charle's death leaves only one surviving uncle - Max. All of my father's siblings preceded him in death. It's a sobering reminder that with that generation of family gone, ours is next. Some day Sean may be saying I only have one aunt or uncle left.

On that somber note, the one good thing that may come out of Donna and Aimee going to North Carolina is that Donna will finally have an opportunity to visit Mom's gravesite. I hope it brings her as much peace as it's brought me.

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

I hope Donna doesn't mind me sharing this but she mentioned that it has been three years since her cancer diagnosis and she has a follow-up procedure next week. My one wish for her is the same one I have for Sean - that they are both told they are cancer-free. My heart, however, goes out to them that this ongoing uncertainty is a part of their lives. Life is already often troubling and difficult and the emotional toll of having to constantly worry about this health issue adds a layer that no one should have to deal with. And while I suppose one can eventually learn how to manage the fear, I do not know how one can get over the fear of cancer reoccurring. On that note, I give both Sean and Donna a lot of credit for their stoicism and grace under fire.

Monday, April 8, 2019

I spoke to Sean yesterday and his anxiety level is high. He has two procedures this week to re-check for cancer and a follow-up appointment with his oncologist next week. His new reality as a cancer survivor. As a parent, I can only offer my support and continue to be hopeful. But it is heartbreaking.

Sunday, April 7, 2019

My life is going to get busier again. The library I volunteer at is reopening on Tuesday, April 9, after being closed for nearly a year to repair flood damage from last April's torrential rain (that also impacted our house). The library looks brighter and more modern - it has new flooring, shelves, and computers. The bathrooms were also remodeled to make them ADA compliant. I worked for four hours yesterday stocking shelves, etc. in preparation for the grand reopening. It was nice seeing the library staff and the Friends of Aina Haina Library volunteers I work with again. I also have a few medical procedures scheduled this month so busy, busy, busy...

Friday, April 5, 2019

I decided to tackle yard work today. Other than potting plants, I've been negligent in doing my share of raking and clean-up lately (aka a Catholic guilt trip). I also discovered more succulent babies and decided to put together a dish garden. One of the men working on the house across the street complimented our yard which is always nice to hear. He used the word organic, however, and I'm not sure what he meant.

I believe we are heading downtown tonight for the First Friday Art Walk so we will probably go to Murphy's. I am looking forward to dinner and drinks. Oh yeah, and art... :)

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Michael spotted his friend Peter at the beach today. Peter used to live across the street from him when he was growing up. In the process of catching up on family members, Sean's cancer experience came up. And I found it hard to talk about it. And I am finding it hard to articulate my feelings in writing as well. Maybe some day.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

I am feeling a bit badly for Celina right now. She picked Butch and April up from the airport Monday morning and the car stalled in the left turn lane as she was making the turn onto Textile road. When Butch checked under the hood, the radiator had burst and the engine had overheated. Fortunately they were within walking distance of their house but this turned out to be one of those scenarios that went from bad to worse. While Celina was waiting for the tow truck, someone plowed into her car and drove off. I am not sure what Celina is doing to get herself to work but Butch is pretty certain her car is toast and she will need to replace it. Something also tells me that this incident probably nullified any vacation buzz Butch and April were feeling after spending a week in Hawaii. And life goes on...

On a more cheerful note, I was taking stock of the many potted plants I have and love that many are "orphans" - plants that neighbors have given me. And I like to think that these kind people giving me cuttings/plants from their yards do so because they know I will be a good foster mother. Plants I have acquired this week alone include several spider plants, some ornamental chives, and a small bozu. And this morning while I was out on my walk, I was offered some hearts and flowers and some mother's tongue. My Ann Arbor yard was also full of "orphans" so this is nothing new for me but it makes me feel optimistic that there are generous plant lovers everywhere. I must have flowers, always, and always. (Claude Monet) Happy gardening...

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Sean and Rose returned from Mexico yesterday. They were in Puerto Vallarta for a friend's wedding. If the photos they posted are any indication, it looks like they were in a really beautiful area. Unfortunately they both came home sick with what I am assuming is something related to what they ate or drank.

Michael and I have returned to our usual routine. Yesterday we spent a few hours at the beach. Laundry is caught up and we grocery shopped today. I slow cooked pork yesterday and shredded it for tonight's dinner. Michael mentioned he preferred quesadillas over tacos because tacos require some assembly. Who knew having to put lettuce, tomatoes, and onions on a taco was so much work.

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Butch and April left a few hours ago for the airport. They've cleared TSA and are now waiting for their flight to depart. It was hard to see them go but I am optimistic that there will be more opportunities to see them and other family members in the future. That said, however, it surprises me a little that all four of my brothers have headed my way and not one sister. Sigh...

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Butch and April leave for home tomorrow morning and I will be sad to see them go. After breakfast at Zippies, we spent a few hours at Ala Moana Beach Park today. It was relaxing soaking in the sun and watching the boats in the harbor. This evening, we opted for drinks and appetizers in lieu of dinner on the lanai at Roy's Hawaii Kai. And with a view of the sun setting behind Diamond Head, it was pretty close to perfect for a last night in Hawaii. I will miss these two when they leave tomorrow...

Friday, March 29, 2019

Butch, April, and I toured Iolani Palace yesterday morning. As always I find Queen Liliʻuokalani's imprisonment and abdication a very troubling part of Hawaiian history. The room she was imprisoned in has a beautiful quilt on display that Liliʻuokalani and her companions pieced together while she was under house arrest. I am looking forward to reading a small book that Butch was kind enough to purchase for me that has photographs and descriptions of the panels on the quilt. We did not go to Foster Gardens but did make it to Kaka'ako to look at the street art. We also made a stop at Kahala Mall so April could find a gift for Celina.

Today we had lunch with Leslie, Chelsea, and Levi at the Outrigger Canoe Club. It's hard to beat good food and drinks with family on the Outrigger's lanai overlooking the beach. Following lunch, we visited the Kaka'ako Waterfront Park. I remember the beauty of this park years ago before it was overrun by a homeless encampment. The encampment was eventually cleared out but despite efforts to restore the park, restrooms and landscaping show the destructive effects of having several hundred people living there. Fortunately, the beautiful ocean views were not affected.

In other news, Sean and Rose are in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a friend's wedding. They have been sharing photos of their adventures on Instagram and it looks like they are enjoying warm sunny weather and having a good time. I am glad that they were able to get away.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

I am thoroughly enjoying having Butch and April here but the week seems to be flying by too quickly. Tuesday we all spent some much needed down time at Queen's enjoying the sun and ocean. I made char sui pork chops and rice for dinner. Yesterday we headed to Waimanalo Bay and as always my breath catches a little as I take in the spectacular views of the ocean along the way. It was just clear enough to see the outlines of the outer islands. Butch got in some boogie boarding at Waimanalo Bay while the rest of us relaxed in the shade provided by the iron trees along the beach. A pretty idyllic setting. Last night we went to the Side Street Inn in Kapahulu to eat some local fare that included Pupukea Farmer's Blend salad, fried rice, spicy garlic chicken, pan-fried island pork chops, Kim Chee and Kalbi Korean short ribs. This veritable feast was followed by Liliko'i creme brûlée and fried pound cake. Needless to say we were all stuffed and have enough leftovers for dinner tonight. This morning we woke up to another beautiful day. We plan to head to downtown Honolulu to tour the Iolani Palace and possibly visit Foster Gardens. I also thought they might enjoy walking through Kaka'ako to view the street art. So a pretty full schedule...

Monday, March 25, 2019

I am not a proponent of the saying that everything happens for a reason or happens due to God's will. I look at Sean's life lately and he's had a run of negative things impact him, cancer being the biggest. And then last night his car was broken into and several items were stolen including the cash from his sales at C2E2. There is no "reason" behind this theft other than the greed and maliciousness of the scumbags that broke his car window and helped themselves. And I am angry. Angry that someone I love spent today getting his car window repaired, replacing stolen medication, and dealing with all the details that follow a theft. Sean called me this afternoon and he sounds like he is handling the aftermath well, which is somewhat reassuring, but I still find what happened unsettling.

In happier news, Butch and April arrived last night. Today's activities included grocery shopping, touring the Koko Crater Botanical Garden, and dinner at Chuck's Cellar. All and all a good day...

Sunday, March 24, 2019

The Pedits are on the last leg of their journey to Hawaii. I have an image of them sipping tropical drinks and eating macadamia nuts. It will be nice to see them. I have to laugh, however. I had just put clean sheets, etc on the bed in the guest room only to find Kali on the bed making barf sounds a few minutes later. Kali's way of saying welcome, I guess. Fortunately she did not barf but the door to the room is now closed.

Saturday, March 23, 2019

I decided to get some of my house chores out of the way before family arrives so am doing laundry and cleaning house. I've been putting off house cleaning for a few weeks and am amazed at all the cobwebs and spider webs I am finding under furniture and in corners. My apologies to any little spiders that have been chased out of their webs or inadvertently sucked into the vacuum cleaner. And an observation - our new washer is a front loader and it takes forever to do a load of laundry unless you put it on the short cycle. Not that it's a big deal...

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Visual metaphors are dancing in my head...

Kali wandered around aimlessly last night after I moved her kitty litter box out of Michael's office aka the "guest" room. She's adapted before when we've had to move it but like us, as she ages, she's more resistant to change. So I empathize with her kitty angst.

I only have one more PT session remaining and am still feeling discomfort when I move my left arm back. The therapist says I have shoulder impingement due to tendonitis. This has been going on for about since six months. I'm going to continue the stretching exercises in hopes that eventually whatever is going on heals but it is irksome. Fortunately it doesn't seem to be hindering my activities.

I am looking forward to Butch and April's visit. They arrive Sunday evening. Yay!

Monday, March 18, 2019

I'm back in business. I did a load of laundry this afternoon. Who knew washing towels could be so satisfying?

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Michael and I returned home from San Francisco yesterday. We had a wonderful mini-vacation enjoying the museums and other sights and sounds the City by the Bay had to offer. We arrived at SFO late Tuesday night and much to my relief Michael took care of transportation to the hotel by ordering a ride through Uber. Wednesday, we explored Fisherman's Wharf, the SF Maritime National Historic Park (where I collected a few stamps for my National Park passport booklet), and Fort Mason. Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge were visible in the Bay. We headed to the de Young Museum on Thursday (via Uber, again courtesy of Michael) to see both the Monet and Gauguin exhibitions. It's mind boggling to see their artwork. Also the de Young, which is located in Golden Gate Park, is in an impressive contemporary building with equally impressive landscaping. A really spectacular setting. On Friday, we walked from the hotel to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I loved walking through the old neighborhoods and looking at all the businesses on the way. There's a mix of ethnic restaurants, old hippy looking shops selling vintage posters, bakeries, bookshops, and more. And SFMOMA was incredible. Their collection is huge with artwork from several artists I admire or am familiar with like Hopper, Rothko, O'Keefe, Calder, and Close - just to name a few. Michael's main interest in going to SFMOMA was to see the Wayne Thiebaud exhibit and he expressed it well when he said seeing his artwork was humbling. So all and all, an excellent trip. And we lucked out because the weather was beautiful as well.

So it's back to reality. We went grocery shopping today and tomorrow if all goes well, we will take delivery of a new washer/dryer. Much to my amusement, Michael washed a load of clothes today and hung them out to dry claiming he was doing it "old-school." And Kali seems absolutely delighted to have us home.

Monday, March 11, 2019

I went to a gastro doctor this morning. She wants me to get another colonoscopy, an endoscopy, and an esophagram - pretty much the same procedures I had less than two years ago with her predecessor. We settled for the endoscopy and esophagram for now. The colonoscopy is still on the table, however, depending on the results of the other two procedures. Interestingly, she asked if I had low iron levels prior to the colonoscopy in 2017, which is an unknown. But it makes me wonder if she thinks there is a possible connection. I wish I had asked when I was at her office. I have to admit I find my ongoing anemia a mystery.

Michael and I leave for San Francisco for a few days tomorrow. We haven't planned a trip like this in years - normally our trips involve visiting family. We are looking forward to seeing the Monet and Gauguin exhibits at the de Young Museum on Thursday and the Thiebaud exhibit at the San Francisco Art Museum on Friday. So we will definitely be getting an art fix. And yes, I am taking my comfy shoes.

Friday, March 8, 2019

The dryer decided to retire today. We are leaving for San Francisco on Tuesday so the timing is a bit inconvenient. A Murphy's Law moment... I had planned to do a few loads per day over the weekend in preparation for leaving but ended up washing a few loads of essentials this morning and then taking the wet clothes, towels, etc. to the laundromat to dry.

I also discovered buying appliances when you live on an island interesting. Michael and I were considering a couple of different brands/models and part of the decision process turned out to be what "might" be in stock. I say "might" because the computer showing an item is in stock doesn't guarantee that it really is. So we take delivery on March 18 if our new washer/dryer is in stock or sometime in April if we have to wait for the next shipment to arrive.

My burn seems to finally be healing. It's still pretty ugly but much of the redness is gone. Yay...

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

I think (or want to think) that my burn is starting to heal. It's still red and raw looking but maybe to a lesser degree? But I don't know what is normal after six days. Or if it's still infected. What a conundrum...

It continues to be coolish here (sixties to mid-seventies). Great for sleeping, not so great for sun-bathing. Realizing that living in a warm climate has made me a wimp, I am pretending that I am getting conditioned for the much cooler weather in the forecast for San Francisco next week. I definitely plan to wear layers.

I spoke to Sean yesterday and he mentioned that temps had dipped below zero in Chicago. I guess the old proverb that March is in like a lion and out like a lamb runs true. His recuperation from the radiation treatments is progressing. His skin is back to normal but he continues to have some ear and throat issues. A round of antibiotics cleared up some of the excess fluid in his ear but not all and he is still experiencing some buzzing. And his throat continues to hurt on and off. He and Rose will be in Mexico later this month to attend a wedding for their friends, Audrey and Warren. They are part of a group of their friends that created the Chicago Cookbook Club, which meets once a month for dinner. They select a cookbook each month and each couple then prepares a dish from the chosen theme. Love this great idea!

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Leslie celebrated her 60th birthday today at Painting With A Twist. Picture eighteen women and a few kids, brushes in hand, painting a tree. And despite my good intentions, I just marginally followed the instructor's directions with the finished canvas suggesting that I should probably not take up painting as a hobby.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

The burn saga continues. The antibiotic I am taking makes my urine bright orange. Its freaky. Also, I believe the antibiotic is causing me to feel a bit off. Cooking smells makes me nauseous and I am super tired. But that could be my chronic anemia talking, something that I still do not understand. Welcome to my pity party. Indulge me. I think I need a hug.

Friday, March 1, 2019

I decided to go to Urgent Care this afternoon after soaking my arm for 15 minutes in an effort to get the nonstick pad on my burn to give up its death grip. It turned out that the burn was more severe than I thought. I was thinking it was a first degree burn and it turned out it was second degree. The doctor also thought it looked infected. He prescribed antibiotics - not an easy task because of my allergic reaction to most antibiotics. This all makes me feel exhausted. (Unhappy face)

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Despite buying expensive advanced non-stick pads with petrolatum emulsion to prevent sticking, changing the dressing on my red and raw burn involves running water over the dressing to remove the damn pad that's stuck. And I'm not sure what the solution is.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Kali seems to really enjoy playing with her cat toys. I am watching her bat around a blue mouse right now. I finally wised up and now keep her cat toys in this little cat shelter/bed we bought her that she never showed any interest in. She now regularly pokes her paw in it to retrieve her toys. Pretty cute.

I burnt the underside of my upper left arm on the oven door yesterday and it's looking red and raw. You can actually see the upper layer of skin along the edges of the burn. After a few online searches, I think as long as I keep it clean and lightly covered it should heal eventually without a visit to Urgent Care. But at the first sign of infection or if it doesn't lose the red raw look over the next few days, I will probably pay them a visit. I am off to Longs shortly to get some non-stick pads to cover it.

I am looking forward to Butch and April's visit in late March. Michael and I are are also taking a short trip to San Francisco in March to see the Monet show at the de Young Museum. So we have a busy month coming up.

Monday, February 25, 2019

Looking at the photo of Sean and Rose at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument makes me tear up a little. Mostly because the past five months have been such a stressful time for them. And there is nothing better than a road trip to fully get away. Not the kind of road trip with marathon driving to get from point A to point B, but the kind where you stop to see the sights along the way. And for all the complaining about traveling with dad when I was young, he did make stops along the way. And I experienced things I would have otherwise missed. Like fireflies on a starry Kansas night. It's one reason I like traveling by car with Butch. Even on the drive between Ypsilanti and Chicago, he regularly stops at Warren Dunes to look at Lake Michigan. So seeing the photos Sean and Rose posted on social media of their adventures in New Mexico made me happy and yes, made me tear up a little. I dearly love these two wonderful people.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Our soap thief apparently also likes Dial soap as the bar Michael left by the sink a few days ago was missing this morning. I can't help but wonder if we have inadvertently taught this critter to look for it on his nightly rounds.

Friday, February 22, 2019

I went to my first PT appointment today for an assessment. I decided to go to OrthoSport because they are located in Niu Valley and I can walk there. The therapist believes I have soft tissue damage. It isn't clear if this is related to my fall in September but it's the likely cause. I wish I had addressed this sooner. Sigh...

Thursday, February 21, 2019

We have a bit of a mystery going on at our house. Every time Michael puts out a bar of lava soap at the utility sink on our back lanai, it disappears within a few days. I am guessing maybe a big rat? I wish we had a surveillance camera.

I hate wishing my big brother a happy birthday and in the next breath saying something about today being the 4th anniversary of dad's death. I am not sure how Bern feels about this coincidence but will admit to being glad that dad didn't die on my birthday. Just saying...

By the way, Happy Birthday wishes to Bern...

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

I learned something new today about agave plants. Last year, Michael rescued a large potted agave that someone was throwing away. A few weeks ago, the plant sent up a stalk that resembles a huge asparagus spear. It is now about 4-5 feet tall. I did a little research today and apparently the stalk will eventually flower and the "mother" plant will die. This makes me a little sad but I find this whole process fascinating. And I am hopeful that I am able to propagate more plants from offshoots from the base of the agave or seeds from the stalk once it flowers. Nature is amazing.

In other news, today's sunshine was a welcome reprieve from all the rain we have been experiencing. We spent a few hours at Queen's today and the sun felt wonderful. It was certainly the warmest I have felt in weeks.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

I woke up to more rain this morning and it just keeps coming down. WTH! I guess it's time for a gloom and doom biblical reference. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground. (God sounds a little spiteful if you ask me.)

Monday, February 18, 2019

We finally got a sunny clear day. And I did some much needed yard work - I raked and picked up the leaves and little branches that littered the part of our yard that faces Halemaumau. I committed to filling one of the green bins and barely made a dent in the yard. I then witnessed my husband dangerously hanging onto a branch off the roof of his studio with a chain saw removing larger branches from a tree bordering the property line with our next door neighbor. Too scary to watch because of concerns over his safety. Stubborn old man... But on the plus side the view of the beautiful mountains in the back of Niu Valley grows with each branch that's removed.

Bern and I had a nice chat via FaceTime on Saturday. I spoke to him briefly again today and unfortunately he sounded pretty congested and tired. He believes he has a cold.

Michael and I had brunch with Leslie yesterday at the Outrigger Canoe Club. I ordered the breakfast buffet and after going back for seconds was grateful that my pants were stretchy. It's such a treat to eat out on the club's lanai with its sweeping views of both the ocean and the Waikiki skyline. Leslie is making progress on getting her new place decorated. It was nice spending time with her and I am hopeful that being on her own for the first time in years turns out to be a turning point for her.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Another windy, rainy day and it rained most of the night. I used to like the sound of the rain hitting the roof and dripping off the eaves but after last year's flood it makes me nervous when it goes on for hours. I have to fight the urge to continuously check to see how much water is pooling in the street and in our yard. Needless to say, I did not sleep much last night. It also did not help that Kali successfully captured and killed a gecko at 4am this morning and played with it by tossing it in the air and scooting its poor dead body all over the room.

I did not walk yesterday because of the weather but did manage to get four miles in this morning. It drizzled a bit while I was out but no heavy downpours. Just being outside and breathing fresh air felt good.

I spent the day yesterday going through some of the plastic storage bins in my closet. My conclusion is that if I scanned items like old school records, report cards, old essays, etc. and pitched the originals I'd eliminate at least one bin full, maybe more. I also want to get rid of Dad's old postcards but am hoping a family member might like them. And I have boxes and binders of negatives and duplicate photos that I wish I could take the leap and dispose of. The words, "just do it" are like a mantra in my head.

Happy Valentine wishes...

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Birthday wishes to my wonderful husband Michael (and also to my sister Tricia). Not sure yet what our dinner plans are tonight but I am sure it will involve alcohol and meat. Someone was grilling teriyaki beef at the beach today and it really smelled good. Rose contacted me on Sunday and asked me to go Tamura's in Kaimuki to pick up a bottle of Monkey 47 gin that she had on hold. I gave him that along with a birdhouse and a small chocolate cake this morning. Michael was touched that Sean and Rose remembered his birthday and I am pretty sure he is far more interested in the gin than the birdhouse or cake.

Monday, February 11, 2019

Birthday wishes to my brother Butch!

We had some wild weather this past weekend. Lots of wind, rain and big surf. Fortunately damage at our house was minimal. All the palms that were in big pots blew over and some falling fronds from bigger palms did some damage to some of the succulents they fell on. There are also a lot of small tree branches and leaves scattered throughout the yard. And a few of the shade sails we have blew down.

The mystery of my missing jacket was solved this morning and is a lesson on memory and aging. I took a lightweight jacket to dinner Friday night and couldn't find it yesterday morning. After looking high and low, I concluded I might possibly have left it at the restaurant. Then as often happens, this morning I recalled giving Michael something to put in the car Friday night after dinner. We had decided to pick up a few items at a Safeway that shared the parking lot with the restaurant. Michael was going to the car to get shopping bags and I handed him my jacket. I found it this morning on the floor of the car behind his seat. Granted this is not a very interesting story but I do find it interesting how the mind works. It took nearly 24 hours for my subconscious to retrieve this sequence of events so I could make the connection. Just saying...

I went to get placed on the wait list for a shingles shot today at Longs only to discover there were over 600 people already on the list. I knew there was a shortage but WTH!

Friday, February 8, 2019

Construction volume across the street has been especially loud this week as they prepare to pave the driveway. Lots of heavy equipment noises. I'll be glad when this phase is over. It bothers me that most days this past year I have been unable to sit in my yard and enjoy moments of sunny bliss because of the racket and lack of privacy. I find myself spending more and more time inside the house. The only plus is that Kali seems to like having someone to pal around with.

Michael ordered a photo book from Motif that looks pretty similar to the photo books I used to order from Apple. It gives me some food for thought (which by the way is a funny saying when you think about it). I was actually pretty happy with Shutterfly until the pages in the book I ordered warped. What to do...

By the way, the book Michael created was of his artwork this past year or so and I must say it is nicely photographed and laid out. It did make me think about how things have evolved over the years to our current digital age. Instead of photos stuck between the pages of his sketchbook, Michael is now able to create a professional looking record of his artwork.

I am not sure what's on today's agenda. Maybe the beach to escape the noise.

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

I went to my primary care doctor yesterday and found myself asking who is this imposter and where is my real doctor. I believe this may be the first time she actually didn't rush me out of the exam room. Bloodwork results show that my hemoglobin, ferritin and iron levels are still too low. I am either losing blood somewhere or my cells are not absorbing iron. I suspect it's possible determining the root cause may prove to be difficult. I dropped off a stool sample this morning so maybe that will show something. By the way, collecting the sample didn't go as illustrated in the instructions. A story for another day...

Monday, February 4, 2019

Michael and I had dinner last night with Leslie at Verbano Italiano Ristorante in Kaimuki. It was the first time I ate there and I'd go back. The food was good and it had a cozy atmosphere. It was also just nice to be able to visit with Leslie and catch up. She is in her own place now (in Kaimuki) and is busy furnishing and decorating it to reflect her taste. It also sounds like she has Joann's business under control. She mentioned, however, that Marc has purchased four cars that need work with his newfound wealth. A bit ironical as he currently doesn't have a driver's license but on the plus side he is really good with mechanical tasks. And not that it is any of my business but I do hope he is able to hold onto his inheritance and not get taken advantage of.

I spoke to Sean briefly yesterday. He sounds much better but is still experiencing mouth sores when he eats certain foods. Additionally, he mentioned the bothersome ringing in his right ear continues. I am hoping in time these radiation related issues resolve themselves. And I continue to give him a lot of credit for maintaining a positive attitude these past 5-6 months. I am not sure I would be as gracious.

Our bathroom looks pretty good with the new shelves and towel hooks. We decided to add an additional shelf and bought one today at Target. We are thinking about painting an "accent" wall in the living room next. And I bought white paint to repaint the hallway. Busy, busy, busy...

After a windy, rainy last week it is a relief to see the sun today. I am hoping tomorrow is nice as it's been awhile since Michael and I have gone to the beach. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow but it's an early appointment so it shouldn't interfere with our day. And we got our grocery shopping out of the way today while we were at Target. All is well.

Saturday, February 2, 2109

I am not sure why this came to mind today but I remember when we used to say that Michael's sister, Joann, would outlive us all. She might have been the Betty White of the family if she had not gotten cancer.

I painted one wall of the bathroom but now there is talk of painting another - Michael wants to paint the door wall. I would do it but even with a ladder I am unable to reach the top of the wall to do the edging. I do have to say however, that a fresh coat of paint really brightens up a room.

I am a little disappointed with my Shutterfly book. After all my positive comments, I picked up the book yesterday and noticed that the pages are warping. I put it under two heavy books hoping it would flatten out but no dice. We have had a lot of rain lately but none of my other books seem to be having an issue with the humidity so I am not sure what the problem is. Do I complain to Shutterfly? Or just suck it up...

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

We have had coolish, rainy, windy weather this past week which in NO WAY compares to the frigid cold and snowy weather the Midwest is experiencing. I am hoping friends and family are staying warm.

When it's too cool for the beach, however, the Doves go shopping. On Monday, we went to Home Depot and purchased a new yard tool and a Rubbermaid storage bin for my gardening stuff. We also stopped at Creative Furniture and bought new covers for our futon couch and ottoman. Today we bought a new TV at Costco (and I have to admit being surprised at how much the cost of TVs has dropped over the years). All of these items are things we've talked about purchasing and just never got around to doing so. In a way, it's nice to cross them off our list.

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Birthday wishes to my sister Donna today. After the rough year so many family members have endured, making the 365 day journey around the sun is definitely something to celebrate.

Sean called today and as always it was nice to see hear his voice. He is resting and taking care of himself but a lot of the issues he is having sound really uncomfortable. He has developed oral thrush and is also dealing with excessive mucous. His skin is really sensitive in a few areas from the radiation and he is having an issue with fluid in his right ear that has led to tinnitus, which I imagine must be annoying. I recognize that over time he'll improve but I feel badly that he is in this situation.

And by the way, I received the 2018 photo book I created in Shutterfly yesterday and was very pleased with the quality.

Saturday, January 26, 2019

My cousin, Roland Pate, died yesterday from cancer complications. His brother, Mike, posted that his cancer was related to Agent Orange exposure in Viet Nam. He had his thyroid removed in November but the surgeon was unable to remove the cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes. This all cuts a little too close to Sean's recent cancer ordeal and I find myself grateful that Sean's cancer had not spread. I didn't know Roland well. I remember him as a teenager when our family visited North Carolina in the early sixties. He and his brothers took me with them to pick tobacco in the fields next to my grandparent's house. I believe he was three years older than me. The last time I saw him was when we buried Mom at Camp Ground in 2014. He told me then how much he appreciated the letters I used to send him when he was serving in Viet Nam, something I forgot doing. But I recall that I used to write to a couple of guys serving over there when I was in my teens and it's logical he was one of them. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Michael and I decided to name our house the Birdhouse. Michael is always on the lookout for birdhouses when we are shopping and we have a few on display along the pathway to our side entrance. Much to my amusement, this week he purchased ceramic birds to go with his birdhouses. I kind of like that we have a theme going but can't help but wonder if this is a retiree thing. I guess as long as he doesn't get too cutesy we should be OK.

Monday, January 22, 2019

I've been trying to get more information on places I lived as a child and Bern sent me a couple of Google images of one of the areas we lived in Fayetteville in the early 1950's. It was the house Mom referred to as the cinder block house. I have very vague memories of a small creek and railroad tracks behind the house we lived in. Grandma and grandpa's farm was on the other side of the tracks within walking distance. Bern remembered crossing the creek on a plank of wood. At one point he was in contact with our cousin, Michael Pate, who provided these descriptions:

Your Mom and Dad lived in a small white block house on the Cliffdale just across the railroad tracks from the big old red house that had these huge oaks around it. I think there may have been a small stream between the block house and the lower side of the RR tracks. If you remember a train, it was this one! There were also several country stores nearby on the Skibo Rd X with Cliffdale. There were fields everywhere so . . .

You must be talking about the little white block house. It was the house that your parents lived in when they were first married.

And yes it was down the little hill from the big old red house with all the oaks. The chicken pens were behind that and there was a little dirt road that went straight back to one of the several barns on the property. The dairy was about 250 yards left of the barn and to the right were fields upon fields all the way to Skibo Rd and the X roads w/ Cliffdale. There was about three block houses on the that side (rt side heading into Fayetteville) and several across the road that were on a dirt bank so they were higher than yours! The houses were there for years and years and only about 25 years ago were they completely torn down! Memories from the dusty recesses of my mind!!

I appreciate Bern sending me this information. I was too young to remember much but what he sent has allowed me to create an image of sorts in my mind. I wish I had done all this earlier when Mom was still alive because I have a lot of questions that will more than likely go unanswered. It got me wondering, for example, if my grandparents still lived in the same house when our family visited them in the early sixties. I remember the tobacco and cotton fields, the chicken coop, the barn, and tobacco drying sheds from that trip. It would probably be worthwhile to ask Mike Pate - as I recall I went out into the tobacco fields with him and his brothers when we visited so I suspect he knows the answer to my question about our grandparents house. It's hard to recreate what isn't there anymore...

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Michael and I headed to Kawaikui Beach Park this evening to watch and photograph the lunar eclipse. Skies were clear and Michael got some really terrific photos. Unfortunately, his camera battery died midway through the eclipse, which was disappointing. But all and all it was a really nice night - perfect weather and company. (Except for maybe the group that was barbecuing behind us and smoking weed.)

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Rose's post today on Facebook about Sean:

Sean finished radiation treatment yesterday! He'll still be in rough shape for the next couple of weeks, then should start to feel better. He'll get a scan to see if there is cancer remaining sometime in the next few months.

Also we met with a genetics counselor. They don't think the cancer is genetic, but getting tested lets you know if you have a predisposition for other cancers, and anything else. We should get the results of that in the next few weeks.

THANK YOU everyone for rides, beef stew, and all the ways you've helped. I don't use blessed too often, but we did something right along the line to have such amazing friends. Hoping for a lot of boring test results, and looking forward to Sean normalizing.