SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2014

Good morning. It's going to be another hot one in Central Florida.

After a morning of puttering around doing chores, we were off to see Linda at hospice, again. Randy phoned this morning to say there was no change. 

Mark and I noticed a change. The hospice ladies had painted Linda's nails and washed and tied up her hair with a daisy ring. Those hospice people are saints, certainly. Just how could they know Linda's favorite flower is the daisy?

After a couple of hours, we got Randy to The Hideaway for lunch. His friend Dan was there and we were introduced. My lucite cowboy hat guy, Rob Nichols was singing. Cool. 

Dan eating wings and Randy with Cajun shrimp. It was a good break from reality for an hour or so. 

Rob Nichols at the mike. Dan installed a new sound system and automatic blinds for weather control. The misters were on today ... very nice and comfortable. 

After lunch we went back to see Linda. Randy just isn't prepared to let her go yet. Mark and I would double the morphine ... 

Meanwhile, Lillian Weber appeared on a Facebook post. 

The first thing that comes to mind is, "Isn't she a miracle worker?!"  And the second thing is, "What could I be doing?!"

Tonight, Mark made tuna noodle casserole, and Randy came to join us for dinner. Maggie and Robbie were so excited to see him ... 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2014

Good morning! We were up and out fairly early to see Linda at hospice. Randy spent the night with her and all I can say is she looked better than him! LOL Mark and I stayed a couple of hours but couldn't convince Randy to go home and take a break. 

Nan, my maternal grandmother would say at a time like this, "Ain't love grand!" 

When Randy's maternal grandmother is around, he finds a penny. And yes, he found one last night. 

Mark and I are going to dinner with aunt Jane and her fiancé, Cliff tonight. These two met after their spouses had passed away from cancer. They bought a new golf club home and sold both of their former homes. This, at the tender age of 85. You two rock!!!

Mark and aunt Jane in her new kitchen. 

Gene, Cliff and Mark. 

Julie, Pat and Jane ... ready for happy hour. 

Gene has been battling stage 4 lung cancer since 2008. His oncologist says Gene is his longest surviving chemo patient! Although his cancer spread to his lymph nodes, groin, and inner ear, he's tackled it all. His method is 4 hours chemo on Tuesday ... 2 hours the next Tuesday ... a check-up the next Tuesday and then 3 weeks to enjoy and travel. 

After happy hour, Jane and Cliff took us to their local restaurant. 

Mark loved the tennis ball feet on the chairs! LOL. Dinner was very good, by the way. 

We stopped in at hospice to check on Linda. No change; she's hanging on. Randy went to The Hideaway to eat and planned to spend the night at hospice in bed with Linda. God speed, Linda. 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

OMG ... I slept til 7:30 this morning! Mark was already up but also slept well. 

I'm gearing up to start redecorating the guest room ... no, not a pirate theme. Haha. But, new art might be needed ... I'm just warming up the creative juices. Usually I have a scheme in mind, but not this time. 

Randy came over about noon and we had chicken and rice stir fry. Lew popped in to bring a grappling hook (for the landclearing project) to Randy. He stayed to chat and tried Mark's rice combo. About 1 o'clock we went to see Linda. 

Randy rode his Harley and we followed in the green rocket. Mark and I walked in ahead ... and got a big smile and a few words from Linda! It was amazing to see her rally, if only for a few moments. The nurses were shocked as she hadn't opened her eyes until then. Randy was treated to a smile as well ... and her color came back a little. 

Mark decided to check out the recliner ...

and did an impression of dad ... you can see Randy to the right, adding to the goofiness.  Believe me, we needed that!

Yesterday, Randy phoned his brother Kerri to tell him that Linda was in hospice. Kerri had just gotten home from the pet cemetery. He had decided to ride his bike there and to check on the graves of Guv, Copper and Charlie. (Guv'nor and Copper were Linda and Randy's dogs.) Kerri was surprised to find a girl cleaning up their gravesites. She said she found them in disarray and that no one had been there for quite some time. Kerri took a break, and then started his bike ride back home. About halfway home, he started feeling queasy and stopped at a gas station for a break. A person he had seen before but didn't really know, called out his name and asked if he was okay. Kerri said, "No, I'm not okay! I feel awful suddenly."  The fellow offered to put the bicycle in the trunk ... and drove him home; and then he got Randy's call ... (that family is psychic) !!!

Tonight, Randy came for pickerel fillets, Hawaiian rolls and salad; a little wine and a few laughs. Then it was time to go back to reality.  Randy is spending tonight with his first love, possibly for the last time. Life is precious; life is fragile. Thank you to all our dear friends who sent messages and called us. Randy feels each well-wish, as do Mark and I. 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2014

Good morning. It's hot hot hot. 

Let's start with a little humor ... 

What a cute picture! Haha. I remember being very angry with my parents ... and wondering WHY these myths are perpetuated. 

Today, I'm taking some time to reconnect with "the ladies" in my neighborhood. It's the monthly luncheon ... and I'm driving 4 friends!

There were 12 of us at the Mellow Mushroom in Mount Dora for lunch. It was a good time ... and I'm up to date on "the news".  

In the background a family tragedy continues. Linda left home, unconscious, transferred to hospice for palliative care. She hasn't eaten nor drank water in three days. It's heartbreaking to watch. At this time, Cornerstone Hospice is the right place for her care. God bless ... I don't know how these kind doctors and nurses handle it. 

When I got home from the luncheon, Randy was with Mark (and Lew), having a visit. Mark and I went to hospice with Randy. It's very near their house! Linda was medicated and sleeping. The nurse spent a few minutes telling us what to expect and a general timeline. Mark and Randy hadn't eaten lunch so we went just a half-mile down the road to The Hideaway. At 4:20 we dropped Randy off at hospice and went home to get the doggies some dinner. 

More humor is needed here ...

Hahaha. 

Diane's husband, Kris Olson, had hip replacement surgery this morning in Jacksonville. All went well ... and he's sitting up already. Tomorrow he will be up and walking! Oh yeah; the pain ... a 12 1/2 on the scale of 10. Hang in there Kris ... it'll get better fast. 

Diane phoned Gene to let him know Linda's situation and Gene, in turn, phoned Randy who was deeply touched. Linda and Gene were very close at one time. 

So, that's it for tonight. Ta ta, sleep tight. 

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014

Whew! It's going to be a hot one here in Central Florida! The dog days of summer are definitely upon us. What's up where you live?

Cousin Alex in Scotland ... 

in action. Oops. (Connie's camera jammed before the final frame!)

Cousin Emily in Queensland, Australia ...

... models her "Frozen" princess dress made by mom, Rebecca. Beautiful!

Cousin Miles in Western Australia ...

dressed for book week ... Jack Frost? No, Curtis from "Wildwood" after he had been frozen. (Thanks for the explanation Mel.) 

Randy, working with Mark, clearing the lot. 

They worked a couple of hours this morning before the late day heat. 

This afternoon, Lew popped in for a visit. He and Mark are getting excited about hunting season coming up! (Oh boy! If it isn't football it's hunting! Do men talk about anything else? LOL)

It's warm here, but Orlando, just 30 miles away, is 97! 

It was another difficult day for my sister, Linda. Alzheimer's has taken a horrible toll on her. Tomorrow may be a move to hospice. This is hardest on Randy, husband and caretaker, of course, but awful for us all. 

Tomorrow's another day ... another chance to get it right. 

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2014

Good morning, I think? Mark and I were watching Good Morning America enjoying our coffee when Mark noticed a phone reminder from an hour earlier ... Maggie had a vet appointment at 9 AM. (Somehow, I thought it was at 1 PM.) Well, you can imagine the crazy scramble of dressing/arriving at the vet in 17 minutes flat!  The only well-groomed one was Maggie! Hahaha. 

This was our first appointment for Maggie's lymphoma follow up. Although we know her lymph nodes are larger, this vet didn't have calipers so a measuring tape was used. The bloodwork was done immediately and all were in the normal range! So, we will continue on with the broccoli, chicken and Wellness kibble. September 29th is the next appointment. Dr. Sweeney is going to study up on lymphoma and buy calipers before our next visit. It was a nice clean office and Maggie liked it there!

How cute, huh!

Is that "Ewe" mom?

Last night, Sue and Rose went to a Trace Adkins concert at the Whitecap Pavilion in Kenora!

It looks like Sue and Rose had pretty good seats!

Oh boy! I HAVE become my mother.  LOL. I dropped off $50+ of handmade jewelry, small items, to the Leesburg Humane Society shop. The man at the counter said, "I'll put it aside for Florence."

I looked around and came back to the counter with 5 small items. "She doesn't charge you for that right!  Because you brought a donation in."

"How can you make any damn money that way?!" said I. 

"Well," he said, "The paperbacks are $.25 each, and the hardcover is $.50 and $.50 for the ornament. I said, that's ridiculous! Here's $10.  Just one book. Would cost me that."  LOL. (My mom used to get mad at the shoemaker for not charging enough. Haha.)

We're in search of a paddle for "The Marty" today. The decorative paddle that Randy had snapped.  Ha. Rural King didn't have any, but I sure found a nice birdbath there! Then, when we were leaving, we spotted Sonic and went for hotdogs for lunch!

In the end, Walmart had the paddle! Mark is going early tomorrow to help Randy with lot clearing. I want pictures of these two in a 9' boat. There's a large gator in that canal ...

We're relaxing now with a glass of wine. It was a busy day. Ta ta for now. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2014

Good morning! It was sultry when I took the Scotties out at 6 ... it's going to be a warm one today! 

Randy's parrot, Polly, hasn't been talking since April. He cleaned the contacts and replace the batteries, but still no talkie-talk. Disgusted, he put the parrot under the bar to throw out later. That was last APRIL. 

So yesterday, Randy walked out of the house with coffee in hand to relax at the porch bar. Just as he lifted the cup to his mouth ... "Polly wants a f*ckin' cracker!!!"  LOL It scared the pants off him ... he had totally forgotten it was under the bar. Haha. 

We went aboard Lew's and Lyn's pontoon boat today for lunch at Hurricanes.  It was beautiful on the lake; very calm. There were dozens of boats out today. The Dead River was busy! 

Lyn, Lew and Mark after a good lunch! I had a citrus/lime flank steak ... absolutely delicious! It's one of the 575 calorie meals! 

Sue had fun golfing with Rose yesterday at the Kenora Golf Club. She lost just 1 ball. 

It was a very warm day. (Love the spectator chairs!) They played 9 holes. 

This afternoon, it's Scottie grooming time. Tomorrow is Maggie's follow up vet appointment and she needs to look her best. Robbie is in need of a haircut too ... he's so fluffy!

Miss Maggie getting groomed by her daddy. 

We're signing off ... stressed out ... tomorrow's another chance to get it right.