2026

May 24, 2026

The search bar on the Safari start page I normally use disappeared and I was amused at the irony that I couldn't search for how to restore the bar. Fortunately, I also use Chrome and was able to look up the fix. 

I've had a busy morning. I made Michael breakfast and cleaned the kitchen. I vacuumed the kitchen and bathroom floors. I scrubbed both upstair toilet bowls. And a new hook was added to the airplant frame in the kitchen. And I then headed outside, where two plants were repotted, birds and squirrels were fed, two bird houses were hung or rehung, and the side porch was swept in preparation for a new door mat.  Most of this outside activity was a result of purchases made yesterday at Menards. Despite my earlier declaration that I was not going to buy any more plants. And I am pleased that I have room for one more small pot on the back porch. It's an addiction.

I leave shortly with Kathy for Canton to attend Elizabeth's aka Lucky's 6th birthday party. I am looking forward to seeing what this year's theme is. Last year, she had a Barbie birthday cake. My only wish is that the weather was better for an outdoor event. It is rainy and cool. 

May 23, 2026

Forestbrooke Pool opened today for the summer. To a cool rainy day. I've been told that the pool water is warmer than the air temps, which may explain the kids in the pool when we drove by earlier. I am still debating renewing my membership as I did not use the pool that much last summer.

Michael bought a kit to convert one of his paddleboards for use as a scull. He tried it out yesterday at Gallup Park and determined some adjustments are needed. He revealed later that what he really wants is an outrigger canoe. While I acknowledge cost is always a factor, there is a part of me that believes that sometimes just buying what you really want makes sense. But I am sure Michael has done a lot of research and I respect his decisions.

The Pedit family reunion is causing me some angst. Worst case scenario is that only descendents of John and Ethelyn Pedit show up. I also worry that conflicts between family members may impact personal decisions to attend, which will disppoint me  greatly as I like to think we are better than that. Nevertheless, I am putting my big girl panties on and forging ahead.  Joe used to remind me that no good deed goes unpunished.

I just received a phone call from my friend Sharon, who was my neighbor and walking buddy in Niu Valley She plans to pick us up from the airport and said she would pick up a few groceries for us.  I am feeling pretty lucky right now to have someone like her looking out for me. And just hearing her local accent made me smile. Aloha...

May 20, 2026

Porter occasionally asks Sean or Rose to share photos of her doing things. Today it was a photo of her holding clover blossoms she had picked for me. And I marvel that she randomly thinks of me, as I don't see her regularly. And I am very touched by her thoughtfulness.

I spoke to Leslie a few days ago to confirm Marc's get-together is still happening on June 7. There is a possibility she may be able to pick up Sean, Rose, and Porter from the airport Saturday night. Which would make life a little easier for them.

Michael's coaching responsibilities have ended. I sense he's trying to adjust to his new found freedom.  I've seen him go through highs and lows this past year. I believe that it is gratifying for him to know that he still has "it" and that he is well respected by both the coaching staff and the crew members he interacts with.  But I've seen him also feeling down on himself at times. He doesn't have the stamina he once had as a younger man. And that is hard to admit to oneself. Of course, this is all my take based on what I have witnessed, and I may have this all wrong.

"Nothing is inherently and invincibly young except spirit. And spirit can enter a human being perhaps better in the quiet of old age and dwell there more undisturbed than in the turmoil of adventure." - George Santayana 

May 17, 2026

Our childhood was spent tiptoing around a person who was supposed to be caring for us. I wish I had been a different person back then. Someone who wasn't so easily intimidated.

Today's temps were perfect for lovers of tank top and shorts, like me.  Michael and I went to English Gardens this morning and came home with some herbs and a few annuals. All are repotted. I made a decsion to pot most plants this year rather than plant in the ground.  And I spent some time reading and listening to the birds.

“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” 
― Francis of Assisi 

May 16, 2026

Being a mother  is hard. My son is 46 years old and I still worry about him every single day. He is a confident, talented, independent man who takes care of his own child, and yet I still worry. Because I know that being an adult is also hard. 

In three weeks, I will be on an airplane heading west over the Pacific to a small island chain that I once called home. Sean, Rose, and Porter will be joining Michael and me.  Porter told me to bring her Moana doll, who resides in her Ann Arbor bedroom. Moana plays music and I am hoping that the button that starts her singing over and over doesn't get depressed midflight. Something to think about while packing. Being a grandmother is oddly amusing at times. I am not sure if Porter, at age five, understands the concept of cousins but she will have an opportunity to meet her Hawaii family on this trip. In particular, I am thinking of Leslie, Courtney, and Carol. Leslie always remembers her at Christmas. I am not sure Porter will make the connection.

It is supposed to be warm today. I am still waiting.

May 15, 2026

I just returned home after accompanying Kathy and Milo to the Blue Pearl Neurology Clinic in Farmington. Much to Kathy's relief, the neurologist felt that Milo's weakness in his back leg was minor and that no treatment or ongoing medications were necessary. The vet said to just let Milo be a dog. So run, Milo, run...

Despite temps being in the 60's, it doesn't feel all that warm outside. Skies are gray and cloudy.  I am trying to psych myself to venture out to repot a few plants.

I have a beach theme going on our fireplace mantle. In addition to my three swimmer sculptural pieces,  there is a small Saugatuck Oval Beach poster, Porter's Bluey beach lego set, a small surf shack, and a few vintage cars. You can't help but smile when you look at it. I am not sure why, but I seem to like miniature sizes of objects. Also on display in our family room are two miniature rooms I built from kits - a greenhouse and a Japanese wine bar. Both are complete with working lights and miniature furniture, books, plants, pots, artwork, etc.  Additionally, I am finally displaying my pen knife collection, of which some may be nearly a century old. Many were given to me by Dad and a few have stories attached to them.  Dad's military badges are also on display. And I have a small fake tree on which I've hung small ceramic ornaments that I've picked up on my travels. I decided a long time ago that instead of storing objects I love in the closet, to put them out where I can see and enjoy them.  And all this is in addition to the several pottery pieces, books, and artwork that grace the living spaces in our home. 

And I want to be this person. “I don’t know, there’s something about you. Say there’s an hourglass: the sand’s about to run out. Someone like you can always be counted on to turn the thing over.”  - Haruki Murakami

May 12, 2026

My energy level lately seems lower than normal. I have these spurts of activity and then find myself struggling to stay awake when I sit down. Admittedly I am not a great sleeper and I worry that I am not eating enough protein. Sigh...

After more than a month, ABC is suddenly available again on Xfinity.  Apparently the contract dispute with E.W. Scripps has been resolved. I found it interesting that Xfinity never provided notification regarding ABC's disappearance and later reappearance.

Cool weather persisits but at least overnight temps are above freezing. And warmer weather is predicted this weekend. I may move additional plants outdoors tomorrow. My annual spring plant migration in progress.

My Kindle is misbehaving. It will not wake-up and pushing the reset button produces no results. I am trying a few of the troubleshooting tips I found on-line. Fortunately,  I have the Kindle app on my iPad so am still able to access my content. It's tempting to replace my Kindle with a newer model.

“it is strange how sisters can be saviors or strangers & sometimes a bit of both.” ― Amanda Lovelace

May 11, 2026

I just finished watching the Count of Monte Cristo on Masterpiece. My favorite quote, which was at the series end, was "While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself."  

There is another frost alert tonight. Hopefully the annuals I planted this weekend and the few tropicals we moved outside will not suffer from our impatience. I must admit our family room is more open feeling without the plants. 

Butch, April, and Joe are headed to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this weekend. I thought long and hard about joining them. And would have if I wasn't going to Hawaii in early June. I just returned from a trip to Chicago and the thought of another trip as I prepare for the Hawaii trip caused me some anxiety. I have regrets as I love road trips and love the Smoky Mountains even more, but must admit feeling a sense of relief once I made a decision. I wish them a wonderful trip and envy worthy viewing of the fireflies. And am looking forward to seeing Joe's photos.

"I see it all perfectly; there are two possible situations - one can either do this or that. My honest opinion and my friendly advice is this: do it or do not do it - you will regret both."  - Soren Kierkegaard

May 10, 2026

It's Mother's Day. A day that  I always felt was about my mother, not me. Yes, I am a mother, but these days I am more a grammy than a mom. And I have much to be thankful for. Porter is very precious to me. And is also the only person on this planet that seems as genuinely happy to be with me as I am with her. 

Kathy brought me a Lenten Rose yesterday and I was very touched by her thoughtfulness. In the process of looking for a nice quote about Lenten Roses, I discovered that most were very religious. To paraphrase, its blooming lines up with the sacred Lenten season when the Church slows down, reflects, and prepares the heart for resurrection. It doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. It doesn’t wait for warmth. It blooms in the cold.  Amen

I could see the moon early this morning through the bedroom window. Something I haven't noticed before.A waning crescent of light just before sunrise. "The moon that, as a crescent, shaved slivers from the soul--or, as a new moon, silently bathed the earth in its own loneliness." — Haruki Murakami

May 7, 2026

Kathy and I returned from Chicago today. We enjoyed the Jake Shimabukuro concert on Tuesday night. And I, of course, appreciated the opportunity tp spend time with Porter, Rose, and Sean. Monday night we ate dinner at Super Dawg Drive In, which is north of Portage Park on Milwaulkee Ave. I had my heart set on a one of their famous beef dogs, but Porter asked me to eat the same thing as her, so I settled for a grilled cheese.  What's a granny to do?  

Tuesday morning, we went to Chase Bank to get our estate docs notarized and witnessed. Sean and Rose's neighbors, Jess and Joe met us there to act as witnesses for them.  Afterwards, Sean, Kathy, and I ate breakfast at Eggsperience. Then Sean was off to work. Meanwhile, Kathy and I visited the National Veterans Art Museum, which we discovered was within walking distance of their house.  The museum displays art produced by veterans from the Vietnam War and other wars and conflicts. I found the artwork and artifacts very touching - I am guessing not only because dad was in the military, but also because I was a young college student during the Viet Nam era and had a lot of empathy for the men being drafted into a war they didn't support.  

Tuesday evening was the Jake Shimabukuro concert. I believe because Sean sensed Kathy was a bit anxious about the drive to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, he chaffeured us there and picked us up when the concert was over.  What a nice guy...    By the way, the concert was awesome. There were times that Jake's hands were moving so quickly on the strings of his uke, that they were a blur.

Wednesday morning, after walking Porter to her school, Kathy and I headed to Grand Rapids, MI to go to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. We spent a pleasant afternoon walking through their greenhouses and outdoor gardens, which have an impressive outdoor sculpture collection, including many works from renowned artists like Calder, Degas,  Miro, Moore, Nevelson, Oldenburg, Rickey, Rodin, Smith, and many more. 

We spent the night at the Embassy Suites before returning to Ann Arbor Thursday morning. Our room had a view of the Grand River, which was nice. A big thanks to Kathy for driving and providing the hotel room. She is a great travel companion, by the way!  Also many thanks to Sean and Rose. I am certain we disrupted Porter's routine, along with their work schedules. But nevertheless, It was nice seeing them.

It is good, however, to be home. I unpacked and did a load of laundry, And am looking forward to relaxing and watching a few TV shows tonight.

April 30, 2026

Happy National Military Brat's Day!  I am proud to be the daughter of a career army man. I've always joked that I served my country as well for 18 years.

Looking forward to summer. The rainy cold days we are having are getting tiresome. We are about to have some nights of potentially freezing temps.  I've moved the two potted plants I put outdoors inside as a result. This morning, I bundled up and managed to finally spread two bags of mulch on one of my planting areas, but still have another three bags to go.  

Kathy and I head to Chicago on Monday. Tuesday night, we are going to see Jake Shimabukuro in concert at the North Shore Center in Skokie. I've been fortunate to see him in person a few times while living in Hawaii and once in Chicago with Michael. I believe Kathy will enjoy his performance. He sure can play a ukulele.

Kathy and Milo came by this afternoon. Milo made himself at home. He immediately found the chew toy we keep here and got comfy on the couch with me. He didn't seem to be aware when Kathy left for about 20 minutes to pick up take-out Chinese food. Which is a good thing because he can get pretty anxious.

Saturday night is Aimee's Celebration of Life event in Ferndale. We have no idea how many people may attend, but I respect Donna's efforts to honor Aimee's memory. Tricia, Kathy, Elizabeth, and I have been trying to support Donna with this event.  And it has me thinking about how often siblings and other family members have stepped up when one of us is in need. For me, Butch and more recently Kathy have offered me a lot of support. And I hope I have done and/or do the same for them in the future. It also makes me appreciate how much a simple thank you means.

April 28, 2026

Kathy and I took advantage of Cinemax's discount Tuesday matinee prices and went to see Michael this afternoon.  I was never a big Michael Jackson fan but have to admit his onstage dance moves and musical talent were incredible. And I enjoyed the movie. Jaafar Jackson deserves an Oscar.

Canada changed their citizenship laws so that anyone who is a descendent of a Canadian citizen may apply for citizenship. In my case, both of my great grandparents, John Baptiste Amyotte and Sophia J Pampineau, were born in Canada and migrated to Michigan as adults. I am seriously considering pursuing this although it doesn't particularly benefit me. I plan to ask Sean if he has any interest, as he is young enough that it could potentially benefit him in the future. I think...

It turns out the "loom" I purchased at the Forestbrooke garage sale is actually for flat knitting, which doesn't interest me. I wish I could find a place that has a weaving class in Ann Arbor, because I think weaving is something I might enjoy. 

I cleaned out part of the planting bed in our front yard and moved two hostas that were behind the garage into the space.  Michael helped me lug home mulch on Sunday, So spreading mulch is next on my gardening agenda. “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ― Margaret Atwood, Bluebeard's Egg

April 25, 2026

I looked over last night to see Michael crying during an episode of Shrinking.  Harrison Ford and Jason Segel can have that effect, I guess. Excellent series, by the way.

My front porch squirrel finally managed to knock my front porch bird feeder down. I had been generously feeding him in hopes it would keep him from going after the feeder. Which I realize was a fool's mission on my part. Michael moved the bird feeder to a spot in the back yard. And I feel lees incentivized to feed the squirrel. Like he fucked up for being a squirrel, whose one goal in life is to eat and survive. So now I feed the cute little chipmunks that live under the front porch. Who is being petty now?

Speaking of yard denizens, the house sparrows have moved back into their seasonal home. I believe this is their third year raising their families in this location. Their sense of ownership amuses me. Surprisingly, Michael and I realized a few of them wintered over this past year when one of us bumped into their house and one flew out.

We went to the Forestbrooke pool yard sale fundraiser this morning. I bought a few craft items, which included a plastic child's loom and a small birdhouse kit that is geared toward a child's building level. I've been wanting to try my hand at weaving and have a lot of yarn, so it seemed like a good match. I also picked up a small checkers/chess game set and a child's baseball mitt.  Just another example of how one man's junk becomes another man's treasure. But also recycling at its best.

Cool rainy day...   Bah...

April 23, 2026

Michael sometimes forgets how much he has to offer.  I was listening to him when he came home from crew practice tonight, and he expressed a satisfaction and enthusiasm for working with young men and women that I haven't heard in a long time. He built an extremely successful team when he was the head coach at Pioneer High School. And that legacy continues with the work he is doing with Skyline's crew. I am proud of him for his dedication and hard work.

I am loving the warmer temps we have been enjoying the past few days. But cooler weather is coming. And the cycle continues.

April 21, 2026

I took advantage of the warmer temps today to clean out a few planting areas.  And my apologies to any ground-nesting bees that may have still been hibernating in leaf litter. I completely filled our yard waste bin. Spring clean-up is always a bit of a chore. In the process I uncovered a lot of pesky weeds that seem to grow in even the most dire conditions. So I now have weeding in my future. I also have some bulbs I need to get in the ground. Like I said, spring clean up is a chore. 

Milo seems to be adjusting to life with Kathy. She is a good momma to him. He is settling down, is much calmer in the car, and seems to understand directives Kathy gives him. He also seems to like visiting my house when he and Kathy are cruising around the neighborhood. There are now treats at my house and a water bowl. Not bad for someone who says she is not a dog person. Meow.

I think my new blood pressure meds may be causing foot cramps. Unsure what the correlation is.

April 16, 2026

Rambling thoughts about death...   It's inevitable and most days I accept that. And if not for Porter, I'd go quietly in the night. But there are times, I feel afraid and wish time would stop. I don't believe in heaven and hell. But I do like to think that we all leave traces of ourselves. That we are imprinted somewhere in the people that once loved us. I used to think that I left a little of myself in each place I have lived in my lifetime, but I have come to realize it's the opposite. Each place I have lived has left a little of itself within me. I will leave this earth with no great accomplishments other than the love I have had for my family.

And a few words about my greatest loves, aka my immediate family...

Michael, my very creative husband, who doesn't always express his feelings, resulting in my insecurities sometimes getting the best of me, has been at my side since 1968. But there is something deep and binding in our love for each other. An unspoken understanding. We are just there for each other - two now aging flower children that met and knew pretty quickly, that despite coming from very different backgrounds, there was a reason to build a life together.  And here we are.

I've felt not just Sean's caring over the years, but also his respect for me, And that matters. Because I have a lot of respect for him too. He is a wonderful father to Porter. His empathy and compassion fill my heart. It was a privilege to watch him grow into the man he is today. And as an adult, but also my child, it was difficult watching him face cancer. But I also experienced the joy of his marriage to his wonderful wife, Rose and later the birth of his daughter, Porter.

And then there is Porter. Porter's capacity to make me smile has been one of the greatest joys of my life. And like I did with Sean, I hope to have the privilege of watching her grow to adulthood. And I also hope that despite living in different cities, that I will be a part of her life. I feel a connection to her that I can't explain.  There is an easy acceptance. And she has started telling me that she loves me, and coming from a five-year-old, that means a lot. Because, you know what, I love her too. Lots and lots.

The End

April 15, 2026

1:31am CRITICAL Imminent Threat Alert: Take shelter now...  Phone and sirens blaring. I was up for an hour with my blanket and pillow watching the weather tracking on TV. The combination of strong winds and rain resulted in the rain hitting our windows head on. News today suggested a tornado may have touched down in Ann Arbor. There is a lot of storm damage including several downed trees and branches, a few light poles and the roof at Veteran's Park ice center. Also, Michael mentioned that Skyline's boats were damaged when the rack they were strapped on toppled.  Michael and I survived. Our house is fine. Whew.

I have been to four stores looking for Nature Valley Pecan Crunchy Granola Bars.  Hopefully, not a sign that this product is joining Cinnamon Tictacs, which disappeared several years ago. In better news, Target's Easter candy is 70% off. Pastel Kit Kats, anyone?

It rained on and off today. "Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.  The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk. The rain makes running pools in the gutter.  The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night.  And I love the rain." - Langston Hughes

April 13, 2026

Temps hit the 80's today. I was beginning to think being warm was just some fantasy I had fabricated.

My doctor's appointment this morning was okay. AiC, blood pressure, and kidney function are stable. I have been prescribed a new blood pressure medication because the one I have been taking causes me to get up every two hours to pee. B12, and ferrous sulfate have also been added to my drug list. And life goes on. I sometimes wonder how many "good" years I have left. I am at a stage in my life where I say things like, "I just want to make it to Porter's high school graduation."  Thirteen more years. It seems reasonable until I do the math. I would be 88.

"Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day." — W. Earl Hall

April 12, 2026

I spent a few hours outside today and enjoyed the feeling of the sun on my skin. One could argue that I should have learned my lesson about the dangers of sun exposure, given I had a cancerous lesion removed a few years ago. But alas, when the sun beckons, I answer.

I had hoped to clean out my planting area in the front yard but ran out of space in the yard waste bin before finishing. Weather permitting,  perhaps I'll be able to finish after the trash pick-up on Tuesday. I noticed some weeding is needed as well.  And I'd like to put fresh mulch down.  I also bought some liatris bulds that need planting.

My long awaited doctor's appointment is tomorrow. I made a list of concerns. My prediction is I will be shopping for B12 supplements in the near future.

April 7, 2026

I had bloodwork done today. Low ferritin, low B12. Anemic? Pre-anemic?  And I can't help but wonder about how the drugs I am currently taking may be effecting me. Benefits vs. risks. Medicine is a gamble. I have a doctor's appointment next week. I am interested in what my doctor will say vs. the Internet (Dr. Google).

Another cold day...

April 6, 2026

I am mystified when something just disappears. I can't find my back brush, which normally hangs on the towel rack in our hall bathroom. Better than a Houdini act.

I think my pikake plant is toast - literally. The leaves are dry and shriveled. I took drastic measures and just cut it down to its trunk and some stems - no leaves. Live or die, time will tell. It's a shame it survived several months wintering over in the house if this turns out to be its end. I believe I am done with fussy tropical plants.  

Another cool day but the sun did peek out on and off through out the day. And I have a nice cluster of cheerful daffodils in bloom in the front yard. Dare I hope?

"I wandered lonely as a cloud, that floats on high o'er vales and hills. When all at once I saw a crowd.  A host of golden daffodils beside the lake, beneath the trees fluttering and dancing in the breeze." -William Wordsworth

April 5, 2026

Happy Easter y'all.  I ate a mini Heath bar this morning and pretended the wrapper said Health. It seemed to work as I felt better after eating it.  I wish the weather was warmer for all the families participating in outdoor Easter activities. I remember Mom dressing us up for Easter Sunday mass. And how she used to wear duster coats, white gloves, and fancy hats with little veils on Easter. And how Dad used to hide our Easter baskets. And this Easter tradition has transcended generations - I too hid Sean's Easter basket, Sean related a story to me today about how one year he had to look for sections of a Transformer that were hidden in various places in the house. Sounds a little like child abuse. And Porter told me this morning that the Easter Bunny hid her basket. And when I told her I also hid a basket for her upstairs, she headed straight to the guest room closet,  reasoning that the guest room was where I was sleeping so ergo - the closet was the obvious place. Smart kid.  These ramblings are brought to you by Grammy.

 "All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!"  – Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts

April 4, 2026

I had a dream in which Michael and I stopped at a visitor center while traveling through a mountainy area. While washing my hands, I looked in the restroom mirror and there was an image of a blond teenage boy in a white uniform reflected - I turned around, he was not there. I consulted a site that interprets dreams and I may be going through an existential crisis. But I was happy to dream I was traveling and in the mountains.

Yesterday morning, Kathy and I met Donna and Elizabeth at Affirmations in Ferndale to check out the space for their May Celebration of Life event for Aimee.  Elizabeth and Tricia are in charge of food selection and prep, so it was good to see they may have access to a kitchen area. There is a screen at one end of the room that I should be able to use for the slide show I prepared. Sean lent me his projector and I did a trial run at his house - helpful in that I know how to connect it to my laptop. Invitations have been printed and Donna has been purchasing needed paper products.  Progress...

Last night, Butch and April joined Michael and me for dinner at Knights. I had a very nice time. It was good catching up. And yes, I see Butch often at the rec center but it's not the same as sharing a meal with him and April.

"The rain began again. It fell heavily, easily, with no meaning or intention but the fulfilment of its own nature, which was to fall and fall."  Helen Garner. Yes, it is a rainy day and I can see the water pooling in our neighbor's backyard.

April 1, 2026

Looks like Mother Nature is into April Fool's pranks - it was damn cold today. I felt sorry for Michael as he coached riverside for six hours today. 

As I lay in the dentist's chair this afternoon getting my teeth cleaned, I started thinking about Porter's vocabulary. Rose wants her to use the proper names for body parts, but it still catches me off guard when I hear her use the word vagina, for example. I am not sure when I first heard that word but it wasn't when I was just a few years old. She also seems to be familiar with the use of 6-7. 

I stopped by to visit Kathy on my way home from the dentist. It didin't take Milo long to get attached to her. Watching her with him, gives me a sense of what kind of mother she might have been. Attentive and not someone who would let their child cry it out.  Milo apparently doesn't like riding in the back seat by himself and whimpers. The problem with him being in the front passenger seat is he wants to be by Kathy in the driver's seat. We talked today about taking Milo with us while we run errands tomorrow as a trial run for future road trips. Guess who may sit in the back seat with him. Fortunately, I don't mind but it is amusing.

March 31, 2026

"I have traveled too far to answer to my old name."  I saw this post on someone's social media account and the words resonate with me.  I realize they are likely a metaphor for transformative life experiences. But that's the point, I believe. 

I spoke to Porter via Facetime last night and she was on the edge. Birthdays are stressful. Especially when they are full of unfulfilled expectations.

Lately, I feel like I should be doing something more meaningful than my routine activities. Do I lack purpose?  Is this entire post about a lack of intent in my daily life?

March 30, 2026

Happiest of birthday wishes to Porter, who turns five today.  I love you very much. Hope you had a nice day today.

An update on the adventures of Milo. Today's consultation with a vet surgeon revealed that Milo may not have a torn ligament afterall. After reviewing Milo's xrays and an extensive examination of his leg's mobility, his opinion is that Milo's issue is neurological not a torn ligament. He suggested Kathy either consult with a neurologist or just wait about a month to see if Milo heals on his own.  No long walks or strenuous activity for awhile. By the way, I rode along with them in the car, and Milo calmy nestled next to me in the back seat, which made driving a little less stressful for Kathy.

Joe caught a few omissions on the family tree I created for the reunion, more specifically two first spouses. After consulting with Bern and Tricia, Stephanie's name will appear, Barry's will not. I am also working on a Made in Michigan theme and the number of Michigan made products is impressive. It's been fun thinking about menu items that fit this theme.

With March temps yoyoing, it was nice to have a sunny warm day today. "To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring." George Santayana

March 26, 2026

I glanced up this morning at my ceiling fan and was reminded of the kindness of the neighbor that installed it for me. There are good people in this world, and I feel lucky that several of my neighbors fall in the good people category.

Kathy's adventures with Milo have taken an "unfortunate twist." He tore a ligament in his leg a few days ago. Kathy took him to the vet and Milo needs surgery. She made an appointment with a surgeon to evaluate him on Monday. I have been recruited to keep him calm in the car.

I was reading an article about someone who moved several times as a child and he mentioned that each relocation gave him an opportunity to reinvent himself. And I get that. When we moved to Hawaii, I changed the part in my hair (a symbolic gesture?) and made a promise to myself to not be afraid to try new things and to be more open to people. I was sixteen years old. This new yet still old me skinny dipped with the neighbor girls the first week I was there - something I couldn't imagine doing prior to the move. And I even joined the girl's track team at Kalani - a bold move in that I can't say I was particularly athletic or into team sports. And here I am, sixty years later, still game to try new things.

I was a bit disppointed with today's weather. Temps were a little higher, but alas it was not sunny.

“Nostalgia in reverse, the longing for yet another strange land, grew especially strong in spring.” ― Vladimir Nabokov, Mary

March 23, 2026

Michael and I went to Portage Park on Friday for Porter's 5th birthday party, which took place on Saturday. Her actual birth date is at the end of March. We returned home yesterday. Rose's mother Jackie also travelled to Chicago for Porter's birthday. She arrived last Wednesday and planned to return home today - so a longer visit, which had to be nice for Rose and Porter. For Porter, I imagine having two grammies and a grandpa visiting at the same time had to be overwhelming at times. I've realized, for example, that Jackie and I have very different grandparenting styles. I believe I am more laid back and certainly not as much of a stckler on schedules or enforcing manners as I might have been as a mother. Jackie also makes an effort to do crafts with Porter while she is here. I am okay just hanging out with Porter without much conversation going on. Fortunately, Porter seems content just being with Michael and/or me coloring and doing puzzles on my iPad while we all jointly complain about all the ads that keep popping up at inopportune times.  And it amuses me when she says it's time to turn the iPad off and then on and wait for the Apple icon to reappear in hopes it will clear the ads away. There is nothing like a good reboot.

Sean and Rose reserved space for Porter's party at a nearby YMCA (they are members). The reservation included help with set up and a bounce house. Rose invited her classmates, family friends and parents. And the kids seemed to have a great time using the bounce house and running around the gym.  Rose made confetti cupcakes on Friday night, that were decorated by Porter Saturday morning. Pizza, juice boxes, flavored water drinks, tangerines, chips, amd pretzels kept both big people and little people's tummies full. 

I should mention that Porter had a cold this weekend and her upper lip was chapped and sore from nasal drip and tissue over-use. I was relieved that she felt well enough to enjoy her party, because last year she was also ill and had no energy to even be around other people.  Spring break started today for her so hopefully she will get the rest she needs to recuperate. Meanwhile in Ann Arbor, I am hoping my immune system is strong enough for me not to succumb to all the germs she shared with me.  But I do not regret a second of the time I got to spend with her. 

I met Kathy's new furry friend Milo this morning. He is a high energy cocker spaniel, that Michael immediately named Joe Cocker, when he visited us today. I think Milo is going to be a life changer for Kathy.

Dare I mention it's snowing.

March 18, 2026

Called my old neighbor Sharon this afternoon. I believe she is planning activties for  our trip to Honolulu in June, despite my protestations

Still cold. Amen.

March 17, 2026 

This morning's sun crested the horizon like a pale eye opening slowly, casting wan golden light across the horizon. It looked deceptively peaceful after the last few nights of gale like winds. This morning's air was so cold it seemed to ring a bell with each breath.  This is a mix of my words and words from a book I was reading about Lake Superior. And also a reaction to the pale sun this morning, just visible through a mantle of gray sky and clouds.

Butch and I joined Kathy for dinner at her house - an Irish dinner of corned beef, potatoes, and carrots,  to which I added an asian cabbage dish. It's always nice to get together and share a meal.

“May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.” — Irish Blessing

March 16, 2026

I have concluded there are words I will probably never use in casual conversation like hypophrenia or lexicon. Apparently my lexicon of words is limited by my feelings of hyprophenia.

Today is one of those days that I would like to turn the heat up and wrap myself in a warm blanket. Wind, blowing snow, and cold - a trifecta of winter weather. The anticipated wind chill temp tomorrow morning is 2 degrees. I'll repeat this, winter is not done with us yet. And I am tired.

March 15, 2026

I've talked to both Ellen and Cat this past week and  they have decided to attend  the reunion. I believe it will be nice, especially for Cat, to finally meet the next generation (second cousins?) of our growing family. And with Bern also heading back to Ann Arbor, Cat can spend some time with her father.

Also reunion related, I haven't tested it yet but I set up an album in Google Photos. If I am understanding how this site works, if I send the link to the album to someone, he or she can join and should be able to add photos to the album. I plan to test this theory this week.

Michael and I are headed to Chicago on Friday to celebrate Porter's 5th birthday. We haven't seen Rose, Sean, and Porter since Christmas, so it has been awhile. Rose's Mom Jackie is also visiting, so they will have a full house. I try to step back when she is there as Jackie doesn't normally have as many opportunities to be with them as Michael and I.

It looks like another blustery day.  "It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."   -Charles Dickens

Pi Day - March 14, 2026

And to all the gaslighters out there, this quote sums up how it feels. It’s a shame that you passed the blame. It’s a shame that I took the blame, and gave it power, and carried it everywhere, and let it drive me around like the rat from Ratatouille.

"Love is like pi—natural, irrational, and very important" (Lisa Hoffman) 

March 13, 2026

The past few days have been spent on airline sites looking for flights - the Chicago Doves (MDW-HNL) and Bern (ANC-DTW). It's incredibly stressful researching flights for other people. But dates, times, and seats have been selected and tickets are purchased. It's a relief to check this task off my list. As I am sure Kathy will agree. Also a big thanks to her for her work on the Honolulu flights. She is a lifesaver.

It's a blustery day. And it led to me re-reading Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day.  An excerpt from the song from the film of the same name is below.  Happy Windsday, y'all.

Hum dum dum ditty dum, hum dum dee.

Oh, the wind is lashing lustily, and the trees are thrashing trustily,  and the leaves are rustling gustily

It seems that it may turn out to be, feels that it will undoubtedly, looks like a rather blustery day.

Well, I know today is Winds-Day, and this is how I know

It is always on a Winds-Day, that the winds begin to blow

March 11, 2026

It was a dark and storny night. I woke up at about 1:30am to the sounds of thunder, rain, and lightning flashes. And as today progressed, temps dropped about 20 degrees. And the wind looks brisk - our pink flamingo's wings are spinning rapidly.

Michael is back to coaching 3 days a week (Tues-Thurs). I noticed as he left today for practice, he was looking pretty spiffy. Skyline cap, jacket, and warm-up pants.  I do love a man in uniform.

Kathy and I picked up dinner from Satchel's BBQ tonight. I discovered that while I enjoyed their brisket, I am not a fan of their potato salad. Would I eat there again? Sure...

I spoke to Ellen today. Recovery from knee surgery is progressing slowly. She has started PT, however, and believes she will be cleared to drive in a few weeks. I also confirmed that it is likely Cat will not be attending the family reunion. I'm disappointed but respect her decision.

“It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents, except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.”― Edward Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford

March 9, 2026

I was at Home Depot today with Kathy. One of the store employees approached me and asked if I found everything I was looking for. I replied no, I needed help. He walked away. Me - Uh?  In contrast, earlier at Lowes, an employee named Wetzel, saw us looking at cute planters and insisted on showing us these cute miniature Lowes buckets in the paint deprtment. We noticed his vest indicated  he was a vet, and we ended up having a nice chat with him about his time in the service and what it was like for us to grow up as army brats. What a contrast in customer service.

It was close to 70 degrees today. I sat outside for an hour in my shorts and embraced the sun and the warmth on my bare skin. It's been about five months since we have had a day as warm as today. I also did a little raking in a few flowerbeds. Tulips and daffodils have popped through the soil and are 4-5 inches tall. I am feeling hopeful. Spring will officially be here in eleven days.

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

March 7, 2026

I'm one small inconvenience away from using cryptic emo lyrics.

Rainy today but temps were in the mid 60's so I am not complaining. There is a lot of water pooled along our fence line. And when I walked to Kathy's house for a short visit, many sidewalks were underwater. I was also amused to see neighborhood kids in shorts and tees. 

Michael has been ill this past week with some respiratory issues. I felt sorry for him this morning as he tried to deal with congestion that developed overnight. So far, I haven't caught whatever he has. Fingers crossed...

Spring forward happens early tomorrow morning. Where does the missing hour go?

“You hang me up, unfinished, with the better part of me no longer mine” (Constant Headache, Joyce Manor)

March 6, 2026

I've allowed something rather minor to bother me. Words do matter. 

I decided to return the button maker. Kathy gave it a try today and got a similar result - pieces are not sealing together the way they should. I feel funny returning it because I used some of the materials to make the "defective" buttons, but it is of no value to me if it doesn't work correctly.  Plan B may be to order enamel pins for the reunion but cost is a concern.

Today's fog reminded me of mornings in Bremerhaven.  "The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on." - Carl Sandburg

March 5, 2026

I welcomed Bella into my home today. She is a sleek blue air fryer from Target. Her controls are more complicated than our old one. I left the instructions on the counter. Verdict on use to be delivered later.

I ordered a button maker and the first button I made was a huge fail.  I also found the set up instructions unclear so that might be the problem. Back to the drawing board. I may need a ten-year-old to assist me.

It's raining - an improvement over snow, I suppose. 

“Yes, I deserve a spring–I owe nobody nothing.” ― Virginia Woolf, A Writer's Diary

March 3, 2026

Day three without our air fryer. I'll never forget the moment that I realized that despite your temperature being set at 400 degrees, after running 5 minutes, your contents were stone cold. Just like the temperature outside. It's been difficult without you, my dear air fryer. I have had to resort to using the oven and microwave. You were picked up this morning by the city trash collectors. May you rest in peace in your burial site, even though your disposal was probably not environmentally correct. Amen.

Just a few thoughts about acknowleging the efforts of others or expressing gratitude. It seems to be lacking in the Pedit family. I am not sure if is due to feelings of entitlement,  an unawareness of the time, effort, and/or money someone has expended, rudeness, or something else. I've hosted several events at my house, for example, without a peep from most family members. It's a good thing I have low expectations. And by the way, A big thanks to all who have helped with set-up, clean-up, or contributed in some way for any of my endeavors.  I am lucky to have a couple of brothers that have let me tag along on road trips and a sister that Michael refers to as my Uber driver.

Two of Michael's family members, Leslie and Courtney, celebrate birthdays today.  Happy birthday wishes...

“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"..."It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

March 1, 2026

Michael is not one for grand gestures. But there have been moments that felt grand. In 1968, Michael showed up at my high school graduation at the Waikiki Shell, gardenias from his family's yard in hand. I was surprised that he was there. My heart beat a little faster. And when he asked me if I wanted to do something afterwards, I wanted badly to say yes, but didn't know if my parents had plans with me. Ironically, they went out to dinner without me. A missed opportunity to fall in love. I snuck out with Gail Chung later and went to the Rainbow Drive-in.  Last week, Michael showed up to the Strength and Balance class I have been taking at the rec center. While I wasn't surprised, as we had talked about it, my heart beat a little faster when he entered the room.  My feelings are still strong. Too late to fall in love, I fell a long time ago.

It snowed again last night. Winter is hanging on.

“You think winter will never end, and then, when you don’t expect it, when you have almost forgotten it, warmth comes and a different light.”
― Wendell Berry, Hannah Coulter

February 28, 2026

Kathy and I visited the Westgate library this afternoon for a beading event. I had hoped to pick up direction sheets for beading projects, but the only directions available were for braiding cords. Key chain anyone? Kathy and I did, however, score some beads and clasps.

I finished the knitted scarf and crocheted hat I was working on today - just in time for warmer temps. I will save them for next winter. And I will also be happy to make hats and/or scarves for anyone who'd like one.

I got a good laugh today as I was watching the squirrels in our backyard fight over who gets to sit in one of our bird shelters.

"Music comes from an icicle as it melts, to live again as spring water." Henry Williamson

February 26, 2026

I passed on my Porter birthday gift thoughts to Sean and Rose, and received this response from Rose, "We’ll get back to you!" I feel like a kid that just asked my parents for permission to do something.

I don't often express my political outrage on this blog but I've come to realize I live in a country that is anti-vax, anti-women's rights, and is governed by an authoritarian classless oligarch. Who, by the way, does not believe the law applies to him, and who is not only decorating the White House to look like a guady Chinese restaurant, but also renaming buildings. Additionally, this country's Republican congress is so fearful of being on the wrong side of Trump, that they are not doing the job they were elected to do. And this country, I used to pledge my allegiance to, refuses to expose rich and powerful men who have committed atrocoities on women and children.

The end of February is near, the cold continues. Although, I have heard temps are supposed to rise briefly tomorrow.

"Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come." Robert H. Schuller

February 24, 2026

As Porter's birthday gets closer, I find myself unsure what to gift her. Apparently she currently likes Hello Kitty and KPop Demon Hunters, but after looking at what's availabIe at Target and Amazon, I find myself wondering if there are specific items related to these two brands she might actually want. And then despite her not showing any interest in soccer, to my knowledge,  I found myself considering that maybe a soccer ball and goal net might be fun. It seems like this would be an easier process if I was around her on a regular basis.  Sigh...

Last night, I went to a class at the library to learn how to crochet flowers. Apparently, it amuses me to sit in a room with several men and women crocheting. I crocheted two flowers. And I have one more crocheting session at the Senior Center on Friday. The beanie I have been crocheting is starting to look more like a beret. 

And it was very cold this morning. I find it exhausting.

“Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.”― Katherine May, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

February 23, 2026

More snow. My world is white again. And I saw a skunk this morning whose fur was mostly white on top. I sense a theme.

If you ask Kathy about the Olympics, she will say she doesn't know anything about the athletes or competition. But will then ask you, but "did you see the dog?"  A wolfhound dog made its way onto the cross-country ski track during the race much to the surprise of everyone, including its owners. 

I found myself thinking about Kali this morning. I don't know how many households she lived in for the first eight years of her life. Perhaps each counts as one of her nine lives. I only know that we were privileged to have her in our lives her last ten years. I like that we were her forever home and she was certainly well loved. And then one day in September she faded away. 

“Slush is frozen over. People say that winter lasts forever, but it’s because they obsess over the thermometer. North in the mountains, the maple syrup is trickling. Brave geese punch through the thin ice left on the lake. Underground, pale seeds roll over in their sleep. Starting to get restless. Starting to dream green.”
― Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

February 21, 2026

Kathy and I participated in a cognitive brain research study at EMU this morning. The toughest part for me was a memory test, in which I was asked to repeat back a series of six numbers backwards multiple times. Our brain waves were measured using EEG for a portion of the testing. After 90 minutes of different tests, Kathy and I each walked out with $50 and sticky stiff hair from the EEG cap.

It's still cold...

“A cold wind was blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

February 20, 2026

We have a photo screen in out family room with images of Porter from infancy to present. I glance at it often and am surprised at how frequently I see young Sean in Porter. Especially when Porter's hair is shorter.

Michael is becoming a Frasier's Pub fan. It was crowded when we arrived - people were cheering on the USA Hockey team at the Olympics. It was hard not to feel energized when the bar broke out chanting, USA, USA, each time they scored. So yes, the bar is loud, but it does have a decent vibe.

Fake Spring has been replaced with cold windy weather. Winter is not done with us yet.

“In the Midwest… winter is an exercise in waiting — for relief, for a bird to sing, for the first purple crocus to push up through the snow.”
― Michelle Obama, Becoming

February 19. 2026

Except for a few patches here and there, all snow in our yard has melted. The combination of the melted snow and today's rain showers has resulted in a fair amount of water pooling along our fence line. Additionally, the neighbor behind and below us now has a small pond in their backyard. I am glad to be on higher ground.

in the past dozen years, I have lost weight. One undesirable result is excess skin in my inner thigh area. I fould myself scrunching up my face when working out in leggings this morning, while facing the mirror in the Strength and Balance class I am taking, that my thighs were jiggling. Not a look I aspire to.  

“I heard a bird sing in the dark of December. A magical thing. And sweet to remember. We are nearer to Spring than we were in September. I heard a bird sing in the dark of December.” ― Oliver Herford

February 18. 2026

My phone spent some time away from me including an overnight sleepover at Krogers. Just after noon yeaterday, I apparently left my phone at the self check-out area of the Arborland Krogers. I did not notice it was AWOL until 11pm last night, when I went to charge it before going to bed. Fortunately, I was able to track its location to Kroger and was able to shut down some of its functionality. But I did not sleep well. Two thoughts came out of this experience. With our dependence on phones, I am surprised I didn't realize it was missing for nine plus hours.  And secondly, I hate that I found myself  castigating myself for being careless. Instead I should be applauding myself for all the times I haven't left my phone at a business. But, in truth I still feel like a dork.

“Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.” — Yoko Ono

February 17, 2026

I saw this posting on social media and it resonates with me. Because I've been told more than once that I am being overly sensitive.

Yes, I took it personally. Because I could've never done the equivalent to you.

People always say "don't take it personally" like that's supposed to make the hurt disappear. But when someone does something to you that you would never do to them? It hits differently. Because it reveals a fundamental imbalance in how you both value each other.

You would've never betrayed them like that. You would've never disrespected them, lied to them, or put them in that position. Because that's just not how you move. Your loyalty, your integrity, your standards wouldn't allow it.

So when they did it to you? Yeah, it's personal. It showed you exactly where you stood with them. It showed you that the care you thought was mutual was actually one-sided.

Yes, I took it personally. Because I could've never done the equivalent to you.

You're allowed to be hurt when someone treats you in ways you'd never treat them. That's not weakness or oversensitivity. That's having self-respect and expecting the same level of respect in return.

Don't let anyone make you feel wrong for caring when they clearly didn't.

February 16, 2026

Michael and I met with an attorney this morning to update our estate paperwork. The attorney gave us a few things to think about. My ultimate goal is to take care of Sean and by extension Porter. Hopefully, we both have another 15-20 years.

Kathy, Butch, April, Michael, and I went to Karl's Cabin yesterday for dinner. Like our server at Real Seafood, this one was also inattentive, more so perhaps. Michael has conceded that perhaps female servers may be better. I did, however, enjoy my potato & cheese pierogi and kielbasa.  It's not something I eat often, so it was a bit of a treat. I believe it's time for the February birthday month to be officially over for the local birthday folks. Bern's birthday is next week. I feel badly that he is all alone. But I also have to remind myself that it is by his choice.

“So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending!” — J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Hobbit"

February 14, 2026

Happy Valentine's Day. If I could type little pink and red hearts, I would.

Our white landscape persists. Snow has covered the ground for weeks, with the growing piles on the sides of the driveways and sidewalks resembling short canyon walls.. A brief fake Spring was predicted this weekend - temps rose to 48 degrees today. Not much snow melted, because it was just a brief interlude, but it does give one hope. Can real Spring be that far behind? 

Kathy hosted a get-together this evening for sibs and spouses to celebrate February birthdays for Michael, Butch, and Tricia. Pizza, salad, cake, ice cream, and drinks. A simple pleasant evening. It was nice to have a smaller group. I also realized from my siblings' music picks and talk about what concerts they have attended, that I am from an older generation. 

I crocheted a small little red hat pin today and plan to make more. Melt the ICE...

“Let a slight snow come and cover the earth, and the tracks of men will how little the woods and fields are frequented.” — Henry David Thoreau

February 12, 2026

Happy Birthday Doveman. Michael decided he wanted to go to Real Seafood for his birthday dinner. Our waiter was only soso - forgot items and was a bit inattentive, but we had a pleasant evening. It was nice to get out. Another year on the books. Michael is hoping for another 15 years.

Porter loves the valentine Pop Pop made for her. When you open it there are arms that open and it says "I love you this much."  Rose sent a video of her opening and closing it repeatedly with a note that said it was a big hit. And then Sean, Rose, and Porter called to wish him a Happy Birthday in real time. And her valentine from Pop Pop magically appeared. Sometimes, life is really good.

“The sky, tired of light, has given everything to the snow.” — Robert Walser

February 11, 2026

Michael's colonoscopy went well. A great relief for him as the doctor indicated this should be his last.  And much to my amusement, the waiting area was a bit of a stitch and bitch session of women crocheting and knitting red ICE protest hats. I got a new hat pattern from a woman from Alpena and also learned that prople are crocheting and knitting small red hat pins - something  I plan to do. Resistance is a thing even if it is symbolic.

Sean has agreed to help me create a design for a reunion T-shirt. I am toying with the idea of having it say "Blame it on our Pedit Roots" just for fun.

“The hollowness was in his arms and the world was snowing.” — William Goldman, “The Princess Bride”

February 10, 2026

There were moments today that I was ready to throw in the towel planning the family reunion. Butch seems to think I need to do a better job of selling the event to family. And it hit me that other than Kathy, maybe I'm the only one that believes a reunion is a worthy idea. And I shouldn't expect support, financial or otherwise. And yet, I've forged ahead. At Butch's suggestion and a quick tour of Kensington Park today, I reserved one of the Park's pavillions. So the date is set for July 18-19. 

Michael is prepping for tomorrow morning's colonoscopy. I feel badly for him. It's such an unpleasant experience.

I FaceTimed with Porter briefly and she showed me the valentine she made for Grammy (me).  She is such a sweetie. Apparently she is a KPop Demon Hunter fan, which made me laugh because at Butch's birthday celebration, I was introduced to KPop by Fiona and Paul. I guess the music is popular.

“I am a book of snow, a spacious hand, an open meadow, a circle that waits, I belong to the earth and its winter.” — Pablo Neruda

February 8, 2026

Kathy and I went to a Fiber Arts event at the Ann Arbor Downtown library today. Artisans (is that the right word?) had their work on display for sale.  There are a lot of talented people among us and I felt humbled. Several were also selling yarn - with many skeins averaging about $30. A bit rich for me.  I was intrigued, however, by a few weavers that were working on portable looms at their tables. I believe weaving might be something I'd enjoy. One row at a time. 

I am still working on my "Melt the Ice'" cap. I encountered a big section of tangled yarn and after struggling with it for a few hours with only minor success, finally cut out the knotted part.

“Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people’s legs like house cats. It was magical, this snow globe world.” ― Sarah Addison Allen, ing "The Sugar Queen"

February 7, 2026

Our world is still white. And there is an eeriness looking out in the night sky at the reflections of the streetlights on the white surfaces. I tire of the cold.

There was a small simple birthday gathering at Butch and April's house this evening - Butch, April, Mike, Celina, Paul, Fiona, Kathy, Sugar, Mike, Faith, and Jen. Celina made chili and rice. Butch and April provided veggies, dip, and sourdough bread. Kathy and I brought the birthday cake, vegan cupcakes, and ice cream. Paul gave me a lesson on who the KPop Demon Hunters are, and I wondered if Porter watches this show. Happy early birthday, Butch.

And I have decided to poll family on what resources they may have that might be usable for a family reunion. Items like pop-up tents, folding chairs, and folding tables. 

“In the bleak mid-winter, Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone.” — Christina Rossetti, “In the Bleak Midwinter”

February 6, 2026

Hello winter, my tiring friend. This morning the roads were a snowy slippery mess. Kathy drove like a champ. 

I had my fiber arts class this morning at the senior center. Six seniors showed up to crochet beanies. One of the women, however, asked the instructor if we could crochet "Melt the ICE" protest hats instead. While I was interested, I did find myself wondering if the political nature of this request put the instructor in an awkward position. In the 1940s, Norwegions made and wore red hats as a form of visual protest against the Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made the hats illegal and it was punishable by law to make, wear, or distribute them. And in today's current political unrest, modern day knitters and crocheters feel it is appropriate to revisit the design as a visual protest against ICE. The instructor handled this diplomatically. She will proceed with instructions on her original crochet project, but will also provide assitance to anyone trying to create a "Melt the ICE" hat.

I heard from Byrne today. I had sent him a follow-up reunion related message, in which I mentioned the last time I had seen him was on a road trip to Bay City. His mother had asked him to drive me. And I told him remembering how incredibly kind he was to me. He took the time to introduce Bob Dylan's music to me before we left. We visited a record store in East Lansing, where he Introduced me to a few of his friends. And for a moment, I found someone treating me like I wasn't just some little kid.  I've jokingly said it was the summer I turned pretty.  I wish I could persuade him to attend the reunion, but I get distance is a factor.

“What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen.” — William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 97”

February 4, 2026

Haircut today. I feel tidier. And I laughed that my hairdresser Paul was trying to apply hair spray as I walked out of the salon. He knows I'm not a fan.

Kathy and I bought tickets to see Jake Shimabukuro in concert in Skokie in May. Not exactly a girls gone wild night, but it should be fun. We picked seats in the first row of the balcony. Easier viewing for us shorties.

I have received most of my tax docs and may try to e-file soon. It's a task I'd like to finalize sooner rather than later. Time to pay the piper, although I am hoping for a refund.

"The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches.”  - E.E. Cummings

February 3, 2026

I woke up at about 4am this morning to pee. I returned to bed in hopes of falling back to sleep, but my brain had other ideas. My thoughts turned to the slight pain in my gut. It's been there for a few weeks - an empty hollow feeling. Like I am hungry, And will I ever be warm again? I realize my arms are wrapped around me like a straight jacket. And I can't help but wonder if I used Michael's body heat as a blanket, would I finally feel warm. And less empty. 

So much white. Still...

February 2, 2026. Happy Groundhog's Day!

Porter told me that she loved me very much last night when we were Facetiming. If I could produce tears, I would have cried. She is also planning to paint my fingernails blue the next time I visit. This is what love looks like.

I have no idea what the groundhog saw or didn't see today, but I am expecting 6 more weeks of winter. We live in frickin' Michigan, after all. I have seen an uptick in birds flitting in the bushes in the backyard, however, so perhaps they know something I don't. 

So after 56 years of Friday night date nights, we experimented with an early Sunday dinner date this past weekend. I've roughly calculated (taking into account vacations, etc.) that I have planned, prepped, cooked, and cleaned up more than 2600 Sunday dinners over the past 54 years, so this was a departure. The jury is still out on what we will do going forward, but we did have a nice dinner at Knight's Downtown yesterday.

Our snow covered landscape identifies as winter.

February 1, 2026

Kathy and I went to the Masonic Temple last night to watch Shannon (aka #144 Tortuous Intent) compete in a roller derby game between the D Funk Allstars and the Devil's Night Dames. Shannon skates for the Devil's Night Dames. The final score was 200 to 149. Shannon mentioned after the game that her team has not won a game this season. Ouch!  But we had fun. Jerry, Marilyn, and Joel were also at the game. And I believe Darrell was there in an official capacity.

Also, kudos to Kathy for her cool composure while driving. The Red Wings game ended and traffic was diverted on our chosen route. So the route to find parking was challenging. We only drove around one barricade. Shhh, don't tell.

Cold weather continues, but we have enjoyed a few blue sky sunny days, which have lifted my spirits. Today is the first day of February, which gives me hope. I have no doubt that the groundhog will see his shadow tomorrow, but six more weeks of winter is better than some of the alternatives.

In America, paying due deference to the creature's importance is our national mythology, it is left to the ground-hog to decide the day, and so the fate of the season. He is supposed to come out of his hole on that day, and take a look at the world. If it is a bright day, he will see his shadow on the ground, and, taking fright at it, will run back into his home and stay there. A fresh attack of winter will set in, and he will be justified in the steps he has taken. If it is cloudy, he will cast no shadow, take no fright, and gives us no further attack of winter. ~Hartford Courant, 1877

January 28, 2026

Sometimes my dreams leave me wondering why I go where I go in my sleeping life. Last night's dreams had Tricia staying with me. I walked into the bedroom she was using to retrieve something and found a photo of me with Paul McCartney and John Lennon on a city street. I looked about 15 and had a short shaggy haircut. And I woke up with the song She's a Rainbow buzzing in my head. Which ironically is a Rolling Stone's song, not the Beatles. My short analysis is that Kathy and I have been talking about Tricia's upcoming birthday. I received a message from Byrne in response to the reunion inquiries in which he remembers 15-16 year-old me. Not sure about the short hair, but Xfinity is running an ad featuring the She's a Rainbow music. A jumbo of unrelated events developed into a dream.

I have received responses to my Pedit reunion inquiries from most of the McShanes, and Jolie and Byrne Pedit, who both sounded very iffy. No word yet from Holly or Andrea. Bern's kids have the furthest to travel, so I am not surprised. Kathy has had contact with Carolyn, but no feedback yet from Cyndy or Arden. Linda Ellis and Lawrence McShane are both deceased.  As are Arden's wife Helen and Cyndy's husband Dan. One benefit of trying to contact people you haven't seen in 50-60 years is that I have managed to get an updated list of most email addresses.  I am leaning toward announcing a date and accepting that many will not be able to attend due to travel or health issues. The reality is we and our first cousins are 60-80 plus years old at this point.

I looked up at the sun this morning and it looked like a pale ball in a sea of gray. I wish I had taken a photo.

January 26, 2026

Ann Arbor schools are closed again today. And with a negative 15 degrees feels-like temp anticipated tomorrow morning, school closings may repeat. The rec building is also closed today as clean-up continues from last week's flooding. Kathy and I headed to Briarwood to join the mall walkers this morning. We also checked out the sales at Macy's.

I google-chatted with a former coworker today. I consider her a friend. Interestingly, she is also a Trumper. It was good to catch up. She currently lives in Orqueoc, MI - which I believe is close to Cheboygan. I'd like to visit her someday. 

I looked outside. It is still winter.

January 25, 2026

“Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago.” — Christina Rossetti, “In the Bleak Midwinter”

January 23, 2026

Over the years, I've received warnings from co-workers and family for my use or consumption of the following:  statins, GLP-1s, bread, and diet soda.  I can't say that I have done extensive research on the dangers associated with any of these, but it's my understanding that statins are associated with side effects like muscle pain, but also possible cognitive issues. Unknown long-term health effects seem to be the culprit for GLP-1s.  Diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners, which I guess are supposedly bad for you.  And bread adds extra carbs. I'll take my chances. And please do not send me articles supporting your position - I can do my own research. In the end, it's about personal choices after weighing  the risks vs.the benefits. I support your choices, but please do not criticize mine. To my face anyway.

I've been knitting and crocheting practice pieces in an effort to see how much stitch memory I've retained from years ago. I used to crochet avidly, and am finding just doing simple stitches and trying to remember how I used to hold the yarn a relearning experience. We are knitting a scarf in the Fiber Arts class I am taking at the Senior Center.  I ended up finishing it at home. Admittedly, I did have to look up how to cast off stitches when I got to the last row. But it's coming back.

This evening, we went to the AA Senior Center to support a former neighbor who was having an art exhibition. I'm glad we went. They seemed surprised and pleased to see us. Their son was friends with Sean growing up.  And it was nice to catch up.

January 22, 2026

I hate bringing this incident up, but it was mentioned today in a conversation. A rift between my husband and my brother happened some years ago. My husband made negative comments on his blog about my brother. I find it interesting, however, that to my knowledge, my brother has never asked what provoked my husband to do so.  And while I don't condone what was said and the hurt it caused my brother, my husbands words weren't said randomly. And I didn't appreciate the hurt I felt being caught in the cross fire. And as much as I'd like this incident to be in the past, I don't suppose it ever will be. I wish things were different, but life isn't that simple or kind.

Frigid temperatures continue to be in our future. Washtenaw County buildings, including the rec building, are closed tomorrow due to the sub-zero temps. The polar freeze is on. I will miss my exercise routine.

Saturday, family is getting together to celebrate Donna's birthday at the Olive Garden. Birthdays seem less significant as we age, but still worth acknowledging. 

January 21, 2026

As I lay in bed last night trying to fall asleep, I started to think about how when I think about deceased loved ones, I think about a version of them, that is often not in sync with who they were when they passed away. For example, Dad is a younger, kinder version of himself in my memories. Even though I am aware that he was often cruel to Mom and others. Perhaps, this is a coping mechanism?

I heard a couple of ladies in the weight room this morning, talking about how much they love winter. For the record, I tolerate winter. I appreciate it's beauty and stillness but much prefer summer's heat. And being outdoors without layers and layers of clothing.

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." – Albert Camus

January 19, 2026

National Parks are no longer free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as of January 2026, following a change by the National Park Service (NPS) that removed MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the fee-free holiday calendar, replacing them with other days, including President Trump's birthday. Another example of Trump's pettiness and egotism. 

I asked Porter if she was off of school today because it's a holiday, and she said "no, it's just a day off."  I then asked her if she has ever heard of Martin Luther King. She said "no, I think it is a pretend person." I acknowledge that preschool may be a bit young to be studying this part of our history.  But apparently, Trump has the same knowledge level as a four year old when it comes to Black History.

I am back in the knitting business. Kathy took me to Hobby Lobby today for yarn.  Let the needle clicking and yarn looping begin.

And it is cold. Temps are dropping as low as -10 degrees over the next week (and that is without factoring in the real feel of wind chill).  Michigan, my Michigan....

January 18. 2026

Fortunately, I've rebounded and feel fine.  If only it were 50 degrees warmer, I'd be a happier woman.

My senior center Fiber Art scarf project is on hold. I ran out of yarn. I am hoping to go to Hobby Lobby to pick up a couple more skeins tomorrow.

Kathy and I decided to resurrect plans to have a Pedit family reunion. I sent an inquiry to the first cousins I had email addresses for to gauge interest, and have heard back from the McShanes so far. Who, by the way, indicated interest. I also did a little research on banquet venues, and it looks like we may need to charge $50-$65 per person, which may be an obsacle for some people.  Cheaper options exist - having something at one of the metroparks or even something at my house are also options. But also a lot more work.  

January 17, 2026

I wish I knew for certain if I have a stomach virus or food poisoning. Because symptoms developed quickly, I am leaning toward food poisoning. Regardless, I spent an unpleasant night sitting on the bathroom floor vomiting my dinner into the toilet. My gut is still tender, but the cramping is gone. I am going easy on eating today - toast, half a bagel, a banana, and brothy soup with crackers. And I am trying to hydrate. I do not want a repeat of last night.  

January 16, 2026

I stand with Denmark on this one. USA's latest world stage moments are in the WTF category. I hope that European countries know that not all Americans support Trump's illusions of grandeur.

Our new dresser was delivered today. We paid for the whote glove service, which includes setting up the dresser and removing all packing material. I was left with snowy muddy puddles on my hardwood floors, small styrofoam pieces everywhere, and packing materials left in one of the drawers. In fairness to the delivery guys, it's a snowy mess outside and tracking in dirty snow was unavoidable. But they also borrowed our drill and bits, which surprised me as I would think they would have the appropriate drill bits. I vacuumed and mopped and all is good, except Michael mentioned he's been unable to remove the drill bit from his drill. Oh well,,,

Kathy and I joined the Ann Arbor Senior Center yesterday. I signed up for a Fiber Arts class and attended my first session on knitting this morning. And am on my way to making a scarf. I was hoping the senior center would have  a room where seniors could casually hang out but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'll have to be old somewhere else, I suppose.

January 14, 2026

I, with Michael's buy-in, made the decision to replace our tall dresser with a lower one. Today we moved the tall dresser to the guest room in the basement. And it was heavy. Very, very heavy. And Michael mentioned more than once he wished Butch was helping him, not me. I take no offense. I've selected a dresser from Gardner White and hope to finalize the sale tomorrow. My clothes are currently in neat stacks on my office floor. I see this as an opportunity to purge some clothing that is either worn or I don't wear anymore.

Not surprisingly, it is snowing again. And it's coming down hard.

"It was one of those bitter mornings when the whole of nature is shiny, brittle, and hard, like crystal. The trees, decked out in frost, seem to have sweated ice; the earth resounds beneath one's feet; the tiniest sounds carry a long way in the dry air; the blue sky is bright as a mirror, and the sun moves through space in icy brilliance, casting on the frozen world rays which bestow no warmth upon anything.”    Robert Byrne

January 11, 2026

Three plane delays later, Kathy and I finally returned to Michigan. And snow. And despite leaving a temperate climate and Joe's southern hospitality, it is good to be home. I am unpacked and tackled several chores this morning. I noticed a fine layer of dust in certain areas of the basement related to our recent  sewer job, so tackled mopping the guest room floor and wiping down appliance tops and a few shelves. Michael did a first clean-up so it wasn't too bad. Plants are watered. Beds are stripped and I'm on my second load of laundry. And plan to grocery shop today.

I return to the rec center tomorrow. I got some walking in while visiting Joe, but not as much as I would have liked. I also need to get back to my strength training routine and am looking forward to the strrength and balance class I have been attending this past year. 

Routines, you gotta love them...

January 9, 2026

My mind has been swirling with thoughts about mortality. It hit me at Steve's funeral that it is now my generation that is dying. Both parents have passed away and my mother's brother Max is my last living uncle. And now it's me, my spouse, my siblings and their spouses, and cousins that are at risk. And while all seven of my siblings are alive, a few of us are now in our seventies, so I suppose it's only a matter of time. Tick, tick, tick...

We spent today visiting a hodgepodge of places including: Al's Diner,  Paynes Antique English Stained Glass (very interesting place, by the way), Carolina Sunshine Alpaca Farm,  J.R. Moore & Son General Store (moonpies and cans of pig brains),  Ole Gilliam Mill Covered Bridge, Gravestone (for an evil buried TV), Bynum Bridge, Blackwood Station Outfitters, Allan & Son BBQ (great hushpuppies), and finally MOD (pizza).

We head home tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing the Doveman. And a big thanks to Joe for driving miles and miles and being an accommodating host.  Kathy and I enjoyed our stay.

January 8, 2026

I love my country, but it feel like the United States has gone bonkers.

We did not go to Greensboro today; we went to Hillsborough instead. We walked about a mile and a half on their Riverwalk along the Eno River. And then walked the few blocks that make up their downtown area, stopping at a few businesses along the way. Afterwards, we headed to Chapel Hill to eat lunch at the Cosmic Cantina. Which was as good as I remembered it to be from prior trips. We also visited the Ackland Art Museum at UNC, which is  just the right size for a quick art fix. They have a surprisingly diverse collection for their size.

I called Michael for a quick update on the sewer pipe replacement that happened a few days ago. I am glad we had it done - especially after hearing about some of the more disgusting details. 

Well, back to my Mayberry R.F.D. moment. See y'all back in Michigan in a few days.

January 7, 2026

Joe, Kathy, and I attended cousin Steve's memorial service and burial today in Fayetteville. It was nice meeting his brother Mike Pate's wife Daysl, daughter Angela, and grandaughter Abby. Also in attendance were Aimee's sisters, Susan and Kim, who surprisingly recognized me. I had forgotten Steve served in the Air Force, and found myself quite touched by the grave site flag folding ceremony and the playing of taps. It was very solemn. It can be viewed at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X4XPbKgtZNRLgAfjuxIg8dDj3Kz4Blmk/view?usp=share_link

Tomorrow, we may go to Greensboro. I am loving NC's city names - Pittsboro, Greensboro, Siler City, Mt Airy - makes me feel like I am in an episode of the Andy Griffith show.  Golly...

January 6, 2026

Kathy and I booked aisle seats in the same row. When I got on the plane, a woman with a baby was sitting in my seat with two more little ones in the two seats next to her. I didn't have the heart to ask her to give up the seat. It turned out she was booked in the middle seat next to Kathy, so it worked out, but there were some awkward moments.

Regardless, we made it to North Carolina safely and have settled into Joe's home. We hit up a few thrift stores this evening before heading to Carolina Brewing for dinner.

Meanwhile back in Ann Arbor, Michael was dealing with Dynamic Drains as they broke up our basement floor to replace a broken sewer pipe. And a swarm of gnats was found under the floor, which for some reason sounds like a scene out of a horror movie. 

Tomorrow is Stephen Pate's Memorial Service in Fayetteville. It will be interesting to see what family members show up. Admittedly, I am not close to any of them. But I am still curious.

January 5, 2026

Ollie or Oliver is a black cat that lives down the street from us. He likes to go for walks, not only with his owner, but also passing neighbors. Yesterday, one of the neighbor girls came by our house selling girl scout cookies, And Ollie sat patiently on our front porch waiting for her. Today, he was out for a walk with his owner wearing a little red plaid coat. It's hard not to love his personality. He visits our back yard often and always makes me smile.

I am mostly packed for tomorrow morning's flight to North Carilina. I am well aware that I overpacked, but I found myself unsure what to bring. Temps in the afternoons look like they will be in the 60's - maybe too cold for shorts and short sleeves? But too warm for sweaters?

Tomorrow is also D-Day for our sewer repair, which I believe is a major stress factor for Michael. And I am both relieved and feeling a little guilty about not being here. The idea of having our basement floor dug up is daunting.

There are a few things I try to avoid on this blog - a major one is politics. But I also try to be sensitive to family members feelings, which isn't always easy to do.

January 4, 2026

Lately, I find myself looking and feeling more tired than usual. I blame it on the weather. The norm for me when temperatures were comfortable enough to be outside, was sitting and reading in a sunny spot or walking. And I mentally and physically miss the warmth the sun provided in those moments.

I finished working on the last half of 2025's photo book. One more proofreading and it's off to Shutterfly for printing. And within the next few weeks, I'll kick off 2026's edition. I am well aware that my photo books are not works of art, but I find it personally satisfying to have a venue to organize my photographs and thoughts. And these books, along with this blog, both spanning back several years, are great resource materials when I am trying to remember when a life event occurred. 

And for the record, it is still snowy.  And a quote. January is the beginning of anything you want.

January 2, 2026

Today would have been my mother's 95th birthday. Kathy and I ate lunch at the Big Boys she used to go to in Livonia in her memory. Both of us wishing we could spend at least one more day with her. I still miss her. I always will.

We drove by the house on Lennane. It's looking a little run-down. I have a lot of memories of sitting on the front porch with Mom. We also took a trip down memory lane and drove down Beech Daly. I was surprised to see Mamma Mias is still open. I remember eating there in the 1960s and naively thinking it was a semi-swanky restaurant. Kathy and I added it to our 2026 bucket list. Which also includes visiting all 162 Ann Arbor City parks. And possibly joining the senior center.

 Kathy and I  are heading to North Carolina next week to attend Stephen Pate's Memorial Service. He is being buried at Camp Ground Methodist Cemetery. It seems appropriate that we will also be able to visit Mom's grave site.  "Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything,"  - C.S. Lewis.

January 1, 2026

When Porter was here for Christmas, she asked me to remove the lamps from her bedroom because they were too "tempting." She turned them on in the middle of the night a few times only to then complain about difficulties falling back to sleep. And I smiled in amusement as I removed her room's dastardly tempting lamps.  This reminded me that I would like to thank everyone that made me smile last year.  Whether it was something you said or some small act of kindness, I thank you.

Kathy and I dropped by Butch and April's house today to see Paul and Fiona. They spent the night, so Celina and Michael could have an evening to themselves. Fiona was napping when we arrived and Paul was playing video games with grandpa. We were lucky enough to still be there when Celina and Michael picked them up, so we got to visit with them for a few minutes as well.

And snow flurries continued today.

February 1, 2026

Kathy and I went to the Masonic Temple last night to watch Shannon (aka #144 Tortuous Intent) compete in a roller derby game between the D Funk Allstars and the Devil's Night Dames. Shannon skates for the Devil's Night Dames. The final score was 200 to 149. Shannon mentioned after the game that her team has not won a game this season. Ouch!  But we had fun. Jerry, Marilyn, and Joel were also at the game. And I believe Darrell was there in an official capacity.

Also, kudos to Kathy for her cool composure while driving. The Red Wings game ended and traffic was diverted on our chosen route. So the route to find parking was challenging. We only drove around one barricade. Shhh, don't tell.

Cold weather continues, but we have enjoyed a few blue sky sunny days, which have lifted my spirits. Today is the first day of February, which gives me hope. I have no doubt that the groundhog will see his shadow tomorrow, but six more weeks of winter is better than the alternative. 

In America, paying due deference to the creature's importance is our national mythology, it is left to the ground-hog to decide the day, and so the fate of the season. He is supposed to come out of his hole on that day, and take a look at the world. If it is a bright day, he will see his shadow on the ground, and, taking fright at it, will run back into his home and stay there. A fresh attack of winter will set in, and he will be justified in the steps he has taken. If it is cloudy, he will cast no shadow, take no fright, and gives us no further attack of winter. ~Hartford Courant, 1877

January 28, 2026

Sometimes my dreams leave me wondering why I go where I go in my sleeping life. Last night's dreams had Tricia staying with me. I walked into the bedroom she was using to retrieve something and found a photo of me with Paul McCartney and John Lennon on a city street. I looked about 15 and had a short shaggy haircut. And I woke up with the song She's a Rainbow buzzing in my head. Which ironically is a Rolling Stone's song, not the Beatles. My short analysis is that Kathy and I have been talking about Tricia's upcoming birthday. I received a message from Byrne in response to the reunion inquiries in which he remembers 15-16 year-old me. Not sure about the short hair, but Xfinity is running an ad featuring the She's a Rainbow music. A jumbo of unrelated events developed into a dream.

I have received responses to my Pedit reunion inquiries from most of the McShanes, and Jolie and Byrne Pedit, who both sounded very iffy. No word yet from Holly or Andrea. Bern's kids have the furthest to travel, so I am not surprised. Kathy has had contact with Carolyn, but no feedback yet from Cyndy or Arden. Linda Ellis and Lawrence McShane are both deceased.  As are Arden's wife Helen and Cyndy's husband Dan. One benefit of trying to contact people you haven't seen in 50-60 years is that I have managed to get an updated list of most email addresses.  I am leaning toward announcing a date and accepting that many will not be able to attend due to travel or health issues. The reality is we and our first cousins are 60-80 plus years old at this point.

I looked up at the sun this morning and it looked like a pale ball in a sea of gray. I wish I had taken a photo.

January 26, 2026

Ann Arbor schools are closed again today. And with a negative 15 degrees feels-like temp anticipated tomorrow morning, school closings may repeat. The rec building is also closed today as clean-up continues from last week's flooding. Kathy and I headed to Briarwood to join the mall walkers this morning. We also checked out the sales at Macy's.

I google-chatted with a former coworker today. I consider her a friend. Interestingly, she is also a Trumper. It was good to catch up. She currently lives in Orqueoc, MI - which I believe is close to Cheboygan. I'd like to visit her someday. 

I looked outside. It is still winter.

January 25, 2026

“Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago.” — Christina Rossetti, “In the Bleak Midwinter”

January 23, 2026

Over the years, I've received warnings from co-workers and family for my use or consumption of the following:  statins, GLP-1s, bread, and diet soda.  I can't say that I have done extensive research on the dangers associated with any of these, but it's my understanding that statins are associated with side effects like muscle pain, but also possible cognitive issues. Unknown long-term health effects seem to be the culprit for GLP-1s.  Diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners, which I guess are supposedly bad for you.  And bread adds extra carbs. I'll take my chances. And please do not send me articles supporting your position - I can do my own research. In the end, it's about personal choices after weighing  the risks vs.the benefits. I support your choices, but please do not criticize mine. To my face anyway.

I've been knitting and crocheting practice pieces in an effort to see how much stitch memory I've retained from years ago. I used to crochet avidly, and am finding just doing simple stitches and trying to remember how I used to hold the yarn a relearning experience. We are knitting a scarf in the Fiber Arts class I am taking at the Senior Center.  I ended up finishing it at home. Admittedly, I did have to look up how to cast off stitches when I got to the last row. But it's coming back.

This evening, we went to the AA Senior Center to support a former neighbor who was having an art exhibition. I'm glad we went. They seemed surprised and pleased to see us. Their son was friends with Sean growing up.  And it was nice to catch up.

January 22, 2026

I hate bringing this incident up, but it was mentioned today in a conversation. A rift between my husband and my brother happened some years ago. My husband made negative comments on his blog about my brother. I find it interesting, however, that to my knowledge, my brother has never asked what provoked my husband to do so.  And while I don't condone what was said and the hurt it caused my brother, my husbands words weren't said randomly. And I didn't appreciate the hurt I felt being caught in the cross fire. And as much as I'd like this incident to be in the past, I don't suppose it ever will be. I wish things were different, but life isn't that simple or kind.

Frigid temperatures continue to be in our future. Washtenaw County buildings, including the rec building, are closed tomorrow due to the sub-zero temps. The polar freeze is on. I will miss my exercise routine.

Saturday, family is getting together to celebrate Donna's birthday at the Olive Garden. Birthdays seem less significant as we age, but still worth acknowledging. 

January 21, 2026

As I lay in bed last night trying to fall asleep, I started to think about how when I think about deceased loved ones, I think about a version of them, that is often not in sync with who they were when they passed away. For example, Dad is a younger, kinder version of himself in my memories. Even though I am aware that he was often cruel to Mom and others. Perhaps, this is a coping mechanism?

I heard a couple of ladies in the weight room this morning, talking about how much they love winter. For the record, I tolerate winter. I appreciate it's beauty and stillness but much prefer summer's heat. And being outdoors without layers and layers of clothing.

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." – Albert Camus

January 19, 2026

National Parks are no longer free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as of January 2026, following a change by the National Park Service (NPS) that removed MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the fee-free holiday calendar, replacing them with other days, including President Trump's birthday. Another example of Trump's pettiness and egotism. 

I asked Porter if she was off of school today because it's a holiday, and she said "no, it's just a day off."  I then asked her if she has ever heard of Martin Luther King. She said "no, I think it is a pretend person." I acknowledge that preschool may be a bit young to be studying this part of our history.  But apparently, Trump has the same knowledge level as a four year old when it comes to Black History.

I am back in the knitting business. Kathy took me to Hobby Lobby today for yarn.  Let the needle clicking and yarn looping begin.

And it is cold. Temps are dropping as low as -10 degrees over the next week (and that is without factoring in the real feel of wind chill).  Michigan, my Michigan....

January 18. 2026

Fortunately, I've rebounded and feel fine.  If only it were 50 degrees warmer, I'd be a happier woman.

My senior center Fiber Art scarf project is on hold. I ran out of yarn. I am hoping to go to Hobby Lobby to pick up a couple more skeins tomorrow.

Kathy and I decided to resurrect plans to have a Pedit family reunion. I sent an inquiry to the first cousins I had email addresses for to gauge interest, and have heard back from the McShanes so far. Who, by the way, indicated interest. I also did a little research on banquet venues, and it looks like we may need to charge $50-$65 per person, which may be an obsacle for some people.  Cheaper options exist - having something at one of the metroparks or even something at my house are also options. But also a lot more work.  

January 17, 2026

I wish I knew for certain if I have a stomach virus or food poisoning. Because symptoms developed quickly, I am leaning toward food poisoning. Regardless, I spent an unpleasant night sitting on the bathroom floor vomiting my dinner into the toilet. My gut is still tender, but the cramping is gone. I am going easy on eating today - toast, half a bagel, a banana, and brothy soup with crackers. And I am trying to hydrate. I do not want a repeat of last night.  

January 16, 2026

I stand with Denmark on this one. USA's latest world stage moments are in the WTF category. I hope that European countries know that not all Americans support Trump's illusions of grandeur.

Our new dresser was delivered today. We paid for the whote glove service, which includes setting up the dresser and removing all packing material. I was left with snowy muddy puddles on my hardwood floors, small styrofoam pieces everywhere, and packing materials left in one of the drawers. In fairness to the delivery guys, it's a snowy mess outside and tracking in dirty snow was unavoidable. But they also borrowed our drill and bits, which surprised me as I would think they would have the appropriate drill bits. I vacuumed and mopped and all is good, except Michael mentioned he's been unable to remove the drill bit from his drill. Oh well,,,

Kathy and I joined the Ann Arbor Senior Center yesterday. I signed up for a Fiber Arts class and attended my first session on knitting this morning. And am on my way to making a scarf. I was hoping the senior center would have  a room where seniors could casually hang out but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'll have to be old somewhere else, I suppose.

January 14, 2026

I, with Michael's buy-in, made the decision to replace our tall dresser with a lower one. Today we moved the tall dresser to the guest room in the basement. And it was heavy. Very, very heavy. And Michael mentioned more than once he wished Butch was helping him, not me. I take no offense. I've selected a dresser from Gardner White and hope to finalize the sale tomorrow. My clothes are currently in neat stacks on my office floor. I see this as an opportunity to purge some clothing that is either worn or I don't wear anymore.

Not surprisingly, it is snowing again. And it's coming down hard.

"It was one of those bitter mornings when the whole of nature is shiny, brittle, and hard, like crystal. The trees, decked out in frost, seem to have sweated ice; the earth resounds beneath one's feet; the tiniest sounds carry a long way in the dry air; the blue sky is bright as a mirror, and the sun moves through space in icy brilliance, casting on the frozen world rays which bestow no warmth upon anything.”    Robert Byrne

January 11, 2026

Three plane delays later, Kathy and I finally returned to Michigan. And snow. And despite leaving a temperate climate and Joe's southern hospitality, it is good to be home. I am unpacked and tackled several chores this morning. I noticed a fine layer of dust in certain areas of the basement related to our recent  sewer job, so tackled mopping the guest room floor and wiping down appliance tops and a few shelves. Michael did a first clean-up so it wasn't too bad. Plants are watered. Beds are stripped and I'm on my second load of laundry. And plan to grocery shop today.

I return to the rec center tomorrow. I got some walking in while visiting Joe, but not as much as I would have liked. I also need to get back to my strength training routine and am looking forward to the strrength and balance class I have been attending this past year. 

Routines, you gotta love them...

January 9, 2026

My mind has been swirling with thoughts about mortality. It hit me at Steve's funeral that it is now my generation that is dying. Both parents have passed away and my mother's brother Max is my last living uncle. And now it's me, my spouse, my siblings and their spouses, and cousins that are at risk. And while all seven of my siblings are alive, a few of us are now in our seventies, so I suppose it's only a matter of time. Tick, tick, tick...

We spent today visiting a hodgepodge of places including: Al's Diner,  Paynes Antique English Stained Glass (very interesting place, by the way), Carolina Sunshine Alpaca Farm,  J.R. Moore & Son General Store (moonpies and cans of pig brains),  Ole Gilliam Mill Covered Bridge, Gravestone (for an evil buried TV), Bynum Bridge, Blackwood Station Outfitters, Allan & Son BBQ (great hushpuppies), and finally MOD (pizza).

We head home tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing the Doveman. And a big thanks to Joe for driving miles and miles and being an accommodating host.  Kathy and I enjoyed our stay.

January 8, 2026

I love my country, but it feel like the United States has gone bonkers.

We did not go to Greensboro today; we went to Hillsborough instead. We walked about a mile and a half on their Riverwalk along the Eno River. And then walked the few blocks that make up their downtown area, stopping at a few businesses along the way. Afterwards, we headed to Chapel Hill to eat lunch at the Cosmic Cantina. Which was as good as I remembered it to be from prior trips. We also visited the Ackland Art Museum at UNC, which is  just the right size for a quick art fix. They have a surprisingly diverse collection for their size.

I called Michael for a quick update on the sewer pipe replacement that happened a few days ago. I am glad we had it done - especially after hearing about some of the more disgusting details. 

Well, back to my Mayberry R.F.D. moment. See y'all back in Michigan in a few days.

January 7, 2026

Joe, Kathy, and I attended cousin Steve's memorial service and burial today in Fayetteville. It was nice meeting his brother Mike Pate's wife Daysl, daughter Angela, and grandaughter Abby. Also in attendance were Aimee's sisters, Susan and Kim, who surprisingly recognized me. I had forgotten Steve served in the Air Force, and found myself quite touched by the grave site flag folding ceremony and the playing of taps. It was very solemn. It can be viewed at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X4XPbKgtZNRLgAfjuxIg8dDj3Kz4Blmk/view?usp=share_link

Tomorrow, we may go to Greensboro. I am loving NC's city names - Pittsboro, Greensboro, Siler City, Mt Airy - makes me feel like I am in an episode of the Andy Griffith show.  Golly...

January 6, 2026

Kathy and I booked aisle seats in the same row. When I got on the plane, a woman with a baby was sitting in my seat with two more little ones in the two seats next to her. I didn't have the heart to ask her to give up the seat. It turned out she was booked in the middle seat next to Kathy, so it worked out, but there were some awkward moments.

Regardless, we made it to North Carolina safely and have settled into Joe's home. We hit up a few thrift stores this evening before heading to Carolina Brewing for dinner.

Meanwhile back in Ann Arbor, Michael was dealing with Dynamic Drains as they broke up our basement floor to replace a broken sewer pipe. And a swarm of gnats was found under the floor, which for some reason sounds like a scene out of a horror movie. 

Tomorrow is Stephen Pate's Memorial Service in Fayetteville. It will be interesting to see what family members show up. Admittedly, I am not close to any of them. But I am still curious.

January 5, 2026

Ollie or Oliver is a black cat that lives down the street from us. He likes to go for walks, not only with his owner, but also passing neighbors. Yesterday, one of the neighbor girls came by our house selling girl scout cookies, And Ollie sat patiently on our front porch waiting for her. Today, he was out for a walk with his owner wearing a little red plaid coat. It's hard not to love his personality. He visits our back yard often and always makes me smile.

I am mostly packed for tomorrow morning's flight to North Carilina. I am well aware that I overpacked, but I found myself unsure what to bring. Temps in the afternoons look like they will be in the 60's - maybe too cold for shorts and short sleeves? But too warm for sweaters?

Tomorrow is also D-Day for our sewer repair, which I believe is a major stress factor for Michael. And I am both relieved and feeling a little guilty about not being here. The idea of having our basement floor dug up is daunting.

There are a few things I try to avoid on this blog - a major one is politics. But I also try to be sensitive to family members feelings, which isn't always easy to do.

January 4, 2026

Lately, I find myself looking and feeling more tired than usual. I blame it on the weather. The norm for me when temperatures were comfortable enough to be outside, was sitting and reading in a sunny spot or walking. And I mentally and physically miss the warmth the sun provided in those moments.

I finished working on the last half of 2025's photo book. One more proofreading and it's off to Shutterfly for printing. And within the next few weeks, I'll kick off 2026's edition. I am well aware that my photo books are not works of art, but I find it personally satisfying to have a venue to organize my photographs and thoughts. And these books, along with this blog, both spanning back several years, are great resource materials when I am trying to remember when a life event occurred. 

And for the record, it is still snowy.  And a quote. January is the beginning of anything you want.

January 2, 2026

Today would have been my mother's 95th birthday. Kathy and I ate lunch at the Big Boys she used to go to in Livonia in her memory. Both of us wishing we could spend at least one more day with her. I still miss her. I always will.

We drove by the house on Lennane. It's looking a little run-down. I have a lot of memories of sitting on the front porch with Mom. We also took a trip down memory lane and drove down Beech Daly. I was surprised to see Mamma Mias is still open. I remember eating there in the 1960s and naively thinking it was a semi-swanky restaurant. Kathy and I added it to our 2026 bucket list. Which also includes visiting all 162 Ann Arbor City parks. And possibly joining the senior center.

 Kathy and I  are heading to North Carolina next week to attend Stephen Pate's Memorial Service. He is being buried at Camp Ground Methodist Cemetery. It seems appropriate that we will also be able to visit Mom's grave site.  "Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything,"  - C.S. Lewis.

January 1, 2026

When Porter was here for Christmas, she asked me to remove the lamps from her bedroom because they were too "tempting." She turned them on in the middle of the night a few times only to then complain about difficulties falling back to sleep. And I smiled in amusement as I removed her room's dastardly tempting lamps.  This reminded me that I would like to thank everyone that made me smile last year.  Whether it was something you said or some small act of kindness, I thank you.

Kathy and I dropped by Butch and April's house today to see Paul and Fiona. They spent the night, so Celina and Michael could have an evening to themselves. Fiona was napping when we arrived and Paul was playing video games with grandpa. We were lucky enough to still be there when Celina and Michael picked them up, so we got to visit with them for a few minutes as well.

And snow flurries continued today.