Why I would Pull Out all My Hair, If I Could Just Get One Hand Free

I picked up my husbands Uncle David yesterday from the hospital. He was actually scheduled for release on Thursday, but when the social worker from the hospital called on Tuesday, I asked if there was any reason that I couldn't pick him up on Wednesday afternoon. (I have a bible study at the church in Bemidji on Wednesday morning and then the kids have church on Wednesday night, so if I had to go on Thursday, it would be 3 trips to Bemidji in 2 days... whew). She had to check but was fine with me picking David up on Wednesday. I picked him up at about 1 pm so he would have just finished lunch. Several of the gals at the hospital made nice comments about David. One of them is actually a former Childcare provider and a past customer of mine. She said "David is such a nice guy". I did ask them to measure inseam and waist for picking out pants for him, as they had not done so yet. It apears that his waist is 42 and inseam is 30. (I think 42 is a bit big, but I did see her measure, so I guess so). After we got in the car, I asked David if he would like me to take him Christmas shopping and he was quite agreeable to that and we decided together to go to Wal-mart. I dropped him off at the door while I parked as I didn't know if the parking lot would be slippery and he was waiting for me when I got in there. Together we picked out toys for the kids, an inexpensive coffee maker for Ron (and me), and gift cards for Serenity and Mitch. When I asked him if he had anything in mind for the kids he said with a little laugh "No, I will just go by what you say". He wanted gloves or choppers/mittens for himself so we found him some fantastically warm leather and lined choppers. As we were leaving wal-mart 2 of the greeters told David they had missed him last week and were so glad to see him this week. David seemed to really get a smile out of that. I asked if I should go get the car, but he seemed very happy to walk out to the car and get some exercise. It was a beautiful day here with the sun shining and melting the snow.

On the way home David seemed like his normal self. He will quite often say something out of the blue that he has likely been thinking about for a while but that does not come with any of the normal conversational clues. However, because I have known David for close to 17 years now, I pretty much always knew what he was talking about, or could ask questions to clarify. I then asked David if we could stop by his bank and add Ron to the account so when Mitch is out of town or not available then Ron can take care of paying rent, etc. Ron will also be able to access that account online and keep tabs on the amount of money in there. Ron and Mitch had taken David shopping before they brought him to the hospital and helped him buy a new shaver. Even with the $80 shaver, he still had cash that the guys had to take for him as he was not supposed to have money in the hospital. When I picked David up, the staff told me there was a manilla envelope with money in there. (There was almost $80 in there. Who knows where that was stashed).

When we got to the assissted living apartment I dropped David off and parked and brought in his suitcase. As we got to his door David said "I don't know where those keys have gotten to". Fortunatly I remembered the manilla envelope and found the keys in there. I got David unpacked and all papers to the front desk. David had had a bar and coffee at the bank so he didn't have to go out to snack with the residents yet. The director said they would bring him supper in his apartment.

All in all, I felt that David is doing very well.

My husband Ron and brother-in-law Mitch are cooking Christmas eve dinner this year. I told Ron it was too much for me to do 2 big meals back to back like that (I have everyone here for Christmas day) and he said he would make the Christmas eve meal. He is going to keep everything exactly as Helen (my mother-in-law who passed away in April) did it for the last 55 years, down to the green jello and corn. (Except no lutefisk and Mitch is making Telopia instead). It has been a hard Christmas. Helen always did such great things for the kids, including wonderful stockings. I could not bear to use the stockings that she used to use, but I went out and bought Santa hats for everyone (Including Serenity's boyfriend Steven) and will fill those with candy, toys, etc. Then after Christmas, I will buy stockings at 1/2 off for next year. Life has a way of going on, but it is never really the same. We saw that after Terry (my brother-in-law) died 5 years ago. He used to come over at Christmas and make rosettes. We couldn't make them the first year for sure and I think actually not the second year either, but we did finally bring ourselves to make them. It was good to do that, but was not the same, and it is a tradition that has dropped by the wayside.

Then on Wednesday evening I brought the boys back to Bemidji for church and I went grocery shopping for Christmas groceries. I bought a $32 ham. I was going to make a turkey (that someone had given us), but Ron reminded me that I would have to make stuffing too and that just seemed like too much work. After shopping I went to Penneys and got a haircut. Very short. I am getting used to it. It was time to do something, I was starting to dread the days I washed my hair and had to get through the tangled mess. Also, I am going to be getting on my treadmill alot in the next 180 days and I get so sweaty and short hair is easy to wash and take care of in those situations. I am not sure what I think, but I know I will get used to it. It does look a little like she put a bowl on my head and proceeded to cut and with my currently quite rotund face it is not the best effect but it is new etc and like I said, I will get used to it. I went in to church to get Jonathan and before I found him, I went over to my 2 closest friends there. Neither of them mentioned my haircut, even though it is quite a dramatic change. Hmm.. Then Jonathan greeted me quite loudly in front of about 50 people "What did you do to your hair? It looks terrible, UGG..." I just laughed and went to get Benjamin from the teen area of the church. As we walked out to the car, 14 year old Benjamin said "I hate your haircut". Needless to say the ride home was less than companable. Jonathan sat in the back singing a little song "My mom is so ugly, ugly, ugly..."

Long Time No See

Yup, it has been about 4 months since I blogged. Not to worry though, as I am pretty sure no one reads this.

Still gaining. Ugg...

My dad has colon cancer. He had surgery on Monday of this week and they removed 1 foot of colon. He will likely have to have some chemo, but not for a couple of weeks.

It is almost Christmas. My daugher will be home for 5 days!! Yeah. Her boyfriend will be coming with her and I think we will all have fun.

I presented my last workshop of the year this Tuesday in Brainerd, MN. Only 3 people in attendance but I still enjoyed presenting.