Ken is recuperating

Ken had a pacemaker installed Friday morning at the Decatur Surgical Center by his new cardiolgist, Dr. Gordon. Everything went well and we came home Saturday afternoon. He has a 4" incision just to the right of his left shoulder where the two leads were placed into the heart and the pocket battery was inserted there. The incision has no stitches or staples, just a clear adhesive over the top. The pacemaker is set to keep his heart beating at 70 beats per minute or higher as he exerts himself. It should have no upward limits. His left bundle branch blockage prevented electrical impulses from telling the heart to beat more. His chemical and physical stress test before our trip showed that even after 6 minutes on the treadmill, his heart rate could only get up to 122 beats per minute. My physical stress test showed 150 beats per minute after 5 minutes on the treadmill, so that gives an indication that his heart needed some help to give him more energy. He will go back to the cardiologist in two weeks for a checkup.

Like Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois, we have suffered from extreme heat also. We've had over 10 days with 100+ degree temperatures. Yesterday we had a break with a high of 93, but will creep up again. Thank goodness for air conditioning!

Reality needs to set in, because I go to work this week, with workshops, meetings, and real work. One more year, yea! It will be a heavy duty year because our enrollment is up over 600 instead of under 500 like last year. By the time the district builds another school, I will be gone.

Have lots to do at home, and will try to get as much done as I can, but won't ever get it all together. I hope you have a wonderful week. Love hearing from each of you on the blog. Love, linsue

Checking In...

Wow, I feel like I've missed so much lately. Its been a few weeks since I have had the time to check and wouldn't you know everyone has been very busy posting away. Not really a ton to report from Blanchard USA. It is hotter than Hades here. My computer is telling me the temperature is 102 right now, but it is supposed to be as high as 109 tomorrow. But a virtual cool front is sweeping in this weekend--93 & 95--guess we'll have to break out the jackets...

Seriously though, things are good here. James and I just keep working away. My summer session class will be over next Wednesday. Yeah! I have enjoyed teaching a lot more than I thought I would, although I can't say my students feel the same. ;-) Fortunately, if I'm asked to teach this fall it will only be one night a week instead of two. Good thing for us that James and I juggle taking care of Anna pretty well. Mom has only had to take her home with her one evening the whole time I've been doing this. And lucky for me, even though Miss A is in bed by 8, she usually is still awake when I get home about 8:30 so I still get to say good night. Although, it probably would be much better if she were already asleep at that time since we have to get her up so early.

She is getting more words now--cat, hat, Boos Coos (Blues Clues) and tag (Taggie, her comfort toy). And oh, are we screaming into our Twos. Unfortunately for us, both James and I pack enough attitude and stubborness that our dear daughter has it in spades. Sometimes it is really cute and then others... James is doing well. I just spoke with him, he is in Lawton today working on a job at the mall. He shaved all the hair off his head the other night. What a surprise when I got home. Usually he uses a #2 guard, but it is much shorter than that. One thing though, Anna loves to rub his head now. It is pretty funny to watch. She reaches up there first thing when he picks her up.

Well I guess I should wrap this up. Hope everyone is doing well. Take care.

Yard Work for Llew -7-15-06

Hello from Washington. Since we are having such sunny nice weather, I have been out working on making my yard look better. It's a slow process, and in truth, the weeds work faster than I do. But today, I weeded and built a small, beachwood trellis for a wisteria plant that won't grow right without one. It's pretty funky looking, with two larger driftwood pieces that have "Y" shaped tops and other pieces laid across and tied down. We'll see. It'll be a conversation piece. Wanda WakWak loves it when I garden in the back, because it means that she can trail in my wake and get all the bugs and slugs and stuff that is exposed as I dig. She also got both of her pools cleaned last night by Vonnie, so today has been having a splashing good time. I sure am glad that Linda answered all the computer questions and blog questions for Anne, in that I have not much expertise there, as Linda will tell you. She spent major time on two different days when she and Ken were here on our computer bringing it back to workable health. We are very happy and thankful to her for that. And, Anne, I love reading the comments in the blogs almost more than the original postings. In true Pollyanna form, I scan back over all the postings, searching for comments each time I enter this blog land. And, it is quite nice to be hearing from you and having more contact. All the kitties are well and up to no good most of the time: Mithril Boy is driving the bluejays nuts (we think that he is trying to reach a nest, perhaps) over in Anna's yard (next door neighbor), and Winkie watches from the shade of Wanda's pool; Kim watches the whole thing from the windows and the screen door (she will go to the vet for her one year checkup and shots in early August, and then she can go out with the big guys. So far, she has only been out once on her own legs, and at that time, she was so scared that she slinked around on her stomach and was happy when Vonnie rescued her by picking her up. Also in early August, I am having my right thumb (hand) operated on to repair damage done in the caregiving job that I had. The doctor will be taking out the bottom bone and replacing it with tendon connections so that I will be able to use my hand correctly again. Yea. I'm not sure what the impact will be on typing on the computer or on writing. The recovery is 4-6 weeks, so Vonnie will be taking over many of my chores: pet, yard, even my dream job of visiting with Ruth (lady 84 who lives in a nursing home) until my hand gets back to normal use. How is your new job, Kristen, or has it begun yet? the preparation part? Both Vonnie and I comment often on how strange it is for there to be no Kristen, Steve, and Matt here for treat time. I've been enjoying everyone's pictures on the blog. Thanks for posting them. Some century, I may learn about pictures on the internet, but for now, they are a great mystery to me. Bye for now. Love, Llew

Summer

Summer is very hot here also in Rhome. We are reaching 100s every day, with no rain.

We are enjoying a new street surface on Dillavou Lane. The county built up six inches with small gravel, rolled it, and watered it. We have been told they will seal it soon so it will look a little like asphalt, but is not asphalt. It is wonderful so far--no dust and no giant pieces of gravel. I have begun walking on it in the early morning--3100 of my steps on my pedometer for one round 30-minute trip. I already feel better, but know I will have to do that twice a day to make any difference in my size or shape.

Friends came by to spend the night this week and will return next week. Melanie and Robert Dixon and their three children from Austin, Rachel, Alishia, and Samuel (9, 8, and 5) were on their way to Wichita to visit Melanie's parents and family. They helped us with the yard work before leaving.

Ken will have surgery this coming Friday to put in a pace maker for his heart in Decatur. It is a day surgery, we believe. He has changed cardiologists for the better, I think and hope. His heart is good, but does not get strong enough signals to pump enough for a good heart rate. He is hoping his energy level will improve.

My summer ends pretty soon. I return to work July 25th.

That's all for now. Love, linsue

Linda's answers to Anne's questions--Elizabeth, Kristen, Brandi, Llew--Jump in! Help!

Anne asked these questions. I believe each one of us may have a differing opinion aobut this, so I hope others will jump in and answer Anne also.

"Do I just keep answering other people's comments to my original blog? Or do I start a new one?"
If it is the 1st or 2nd comment in the top 1 or 2 postings, I comment there. If it gets down to the 3rd or 4th posting and 3rd or 4th comment, it may be hard for others to find the comment place. I have my settings to "show" that a comment has been made. I get a notice someone making a comment in my email, so I know to look for it. After a long way around the block, I would start a new posting if 2 comments have already been made in the top 1 or 2 postings. I wonder how many time I've broken my advice?

"Also, why is there an "edit" block in front of my original message on the "dashboard?""
I have not seen the "edit" block before. What I get is a message that asks, "Are you sure you want to navigate away from this page?" When I want to edit I go to the "Edit Html" next to the "Compose" menu label.

"If I was going to send pictures, how do I do so?"
I have downloaded Picasa2 from Google where I keep all of my pictures. When I use Picasa2, and place pictures in the "hold" postion, then I can click on the "Blog" button, and somehow they go to our blog. I have found that our blog will only take 4 pictures at a time. The editing for placement and text is not perfect for me. I have to let it "do its own thing." Anybody else discover differently for the software you use?

Love, linsue

What's happening?

Have you ever felt wounded? Well, I did this weekend. I do not like the fact that my brain enjoys technology so much, only because, when technology does not work, it is no fun going ahead without it.

I am thankful that our digital camera worked on our trip, but now it does not. Something wrong where the memory goes in, not the memory chips themselves. HP was no help on that one either.

I am thankful that we have satellite service for our computers, but not when there were problems with it this weekend. Joe calls it maintenance. I call it something else. The Internet was very undependable Saturday and Sunday.

I am thankful for my computer, when it works, which it does most of the time. When we were gone, I shut it down completely, so I do not understand why the printer will not print, even after I reinstalled it, and I do not understand why I have lost the drivers to the CD-Rom drives.

Anne, what and why were you working on Sunday at your job? Did you have to go to downtown LA to get there? How did you get there on a Sunday? Did your commuter bus run on Sunday?

I will go to work today because to open the boxes from an order that came while we were gone, and get the packing slips and "pinks" (copies of the requisition) to the purchasing department in the district (next door).

We will have some company this week. Melanie and Robert Dixon, and their three children will come through to visit her parents and other relatives in Wichita. Melanie and taught together at Killeen.

Hope to hear from the others in our blog as you find time. Love, linsue

USG Nascar Race Day in Joliet, IL

Today we went to the races! We had a great time wandering around all the vendors. Everything cost an arm and a leg. Thank goodness our tickets were FREE! It was kinda hot and the sun was beating down on us most of the afternoon, but we had a good time anyway. Our favorite driver, #17 Matt Kenseth, almost won the race, but that dirty scoundrel, Jeff Gordon, bumped his car on the 264th lap and screwed it all up! Oh well, that's how it goes at the races! Here are some pics for you!

~Kristen

AlaskaCruiseFirstDay

Here we 16 are in the atrium of the Norwegian Sun. Front row, Linda Robbins, Colton, Lewis, and John Key; second row, Matthew, Steve, and Kristen Dunn; Teri and Nancy Robbins, and Elizabeth Key; third row, Ken, Warren, and Chuck Robbins, and Brandi, Anna, and James Littlejohn. Thanks to Kristen's design, we had matching shirts to begin our cruise.

Anna with dad James, and Elizabeth looking around the atrium.





Anna, James, Colton, Steve, and son Matthew hanging out in the atrium.
John Key, Brandi, Warren, and Colton getting a feel for what's going to happen next.





Love, linsue 

Pike Market, Seattle

We went to the Pike Market with Kristen, Steve, and Matthew the day before the cruise began. It was Ken's first time. I had gone there with Llew on an earlier visit. This was the first time for us to park in the garage below, ride up the elevator, and go outside on the street area.



We enjoyed walking through the market, and got to see the flowers, the fish, and I bought some Mr. Ranier cherries that were very delicious. Steve got some marionberry jam for his mom. Kristen showed me how wonderful the sweet pea flowers smell.
We watched them throw the fish, for the tourists, of course, and it was fun.
If you look carefully, you can see a blur in the upper right-hand quadrant. It is a fish being thrown. Later, we ate in one of the restaurants at the market.





As I am discovering, the text I write and where I place it, is not where it ends up in the blog. Oh, well!

Love, linsue

 

I FINALLY made it into this blog thing!

Well -- I'm sitting here at work (yes, work) with a little gap so I can get off a line or two. Did anyone happen to see the program "CBS Sunday Morning" this morning? The 1st segment was on blogging; it was interesting. That's one of Kermit's favorite shows and he records it every Sunday. Llew, being the kitty person that you are will be interested in this, I think: Alice did NOT have a good day yesterday. We had to take her to the vet and they did some emergency surgery on her to get a "particularly nasty" abscess out which was positioned near her right back leg. Apparently she'd been in a fight with another cat. I'd hate to see what he (she) looks like! We thought she'd had some sort of sprain or something because she was favoring her back leg. The mocking birds have been dive bombing her when she went out and I thought she'd gotten close to their nest and then fallen down or something. At any rate, she's now wearing a plastic collar, the whole back side of her has been shaved off and has draining pipes hanging out. She'll be like this until Wed. when they'll take out the pipes, stitches and the collar comes off. Boy, is she mad at us (now that the drugs have worn off)! And, we get to give her twice a day this god-awful tasting stuff by eye dropper! That's about the only "news" worthy stuff I have to report. Hope this wasn't too lengthy. Hope everyone has a great day.

Ocean Shores June 2006

Here is Ken standing on the beach not too far from our motel in Ocean Shores, WA. It was a cloudy day with some rain showers. The beach was a brownish gray and had many small razor clams peeking up at low tide. Here there is a difference of about 8 feet in the tides about twice each day.

This is what the Pacific Ocean looked like from our second-story studio motel balcony. There is a lot of green vegetation between us and the beach and ocean. Also a lot of paths to take to the beach. There were not insects and we slept with the patio door open.
Ocean Shores is a peninsula that was not developed into homes until the '80s. There are many deer that roam the wooded areas between the homes. The ferry that operates south to the next town did not open for service until the weekend after we left. It can only run in high tide.



Love, linsue 

Gainful Employment! Hot Damn!

Well, I always seem to get good news while on vacation, and the cruise was no different! While hanging out in Juneau, I got a call from the Plainfield School district asking me to come in for an interview the following Monday. The interview went okay (you never can tell how those things go while you're sitting there answering all their questions). The special ed director let me know that I should go to the Regional Office of Education and apply for my para-professional certification which I did this past Thursday. Well... yesterday he called and offered me a job in a special ed multi-needs class at Central Elementary. The school is only 3 miles from our house! Of course I will have to drive about 10 minutes in the opposite direction to take Matt to daycare and then back again, but it's very do-able. I will be working with 7 kids, 1 other aide, and the teacher. One of the kids has a full-time nurse so there will be plenty of adult help in the room.

I'm very excited and can't wait to meet the kids!

Kristen

Settling down after big trip

What a trip!

Ken and I enjoyed so much seeing the Northwest and being with our wonderful family.

We began in Ocean Shores so Ken could see the "real" Pacific Ocean. Bellingham Bay, Puget Sound, and Monterrey Bay did not "count" in his thinking.

It was fun to gather in Seattle at two neighboring motels, and visit with some of our family members, even into the "wee" hours of Saturday morning.

Our cruise was spectacular. The relationships among our family members grew, in part, because everybody could mix and mingle as they chose 24/7, whether on the ship at the buffets or dining rooms, in the clubs, on deck, in the cabins, at the entertainment venues, swimming, or during port excursions, whether expensive or free.

One special event was to see and hear John play and sing at the piano in the Talent Show. Thanks, John! I was very proud of you. I hope you will have more chances to perform. By the way, I remember hearing you play other instruments and singing other kinds of music in your past. Any bluegrass in there? I love bluegrass.

Thanks to Brandi and James, Kristen and Steve, and Elizabeth and John, Grandpa and I even got to babysit a little bit. I loved it!

We enjoyed shuttling the families from the motel to the ship, and thank goodness, I did not miss the "boat" on Saturday. Getting the giant Chevrolet Express on our returning day made going to the airport a breeze.

I have to give hugs and kisses to Warren and Nancy who were the best cabin mates we could have ever had. We were such neatniks without ever saying anything that our cabin steward did not have to do much except make up the beds.

After the cruise, we drove to Bellingham to visit Llew and Vonnie. There was plenty to see and do, as well as "down" relaxing time for laundry at the motel and picture developing at Wal-Mart.

Some of the things Llew did not mention in her blog that were also special to me were:
Visiting the downtown Bellingham Library, going to the FairHaven Market and Joe's Market, meeting the teacher bicyclists on the Mt. Baker drive, and driving down Chuckanut Drive through the rural areas where Llew used to live on the way to Anacortes and the San Juan islands.

Llew described how Mom (Grandma Hollingsworth) was afraid to go all the way up to the top of the Mt. Baker drive, and made Llew turn around pretty far down the mountainous drive.

Vonnie is such a good cook. Anyone else have Chicken Kiev for a picnic lunch or grilled salmon from the Copper River in Alaska for dinner? She inspired me so much that I also made country ribs, however, oven baked, and brownies, to take to Elizabeth's on our way to take Warren back home.

We returned to DFW Saturday night, and got home before midnight. Warren was here after borrowing Ken's equipment. Even though our luggage was late, we received it the next morning by courier. It went via United and San Francisco and we went via American. We spent one day at home and repacked to go to Kansas.

The trip to Eureka was wonderful. Warren got to visit John's new funeral home and property for the first time, and we got to have lunch in his new home south of Ardmore. We ate hurredly as John and Elizabeth had to go next door for a funeral. Next, we stopped by Blanchard and visited with James and Anna. Brandi worked late as she was teaching a class. We saw many fireworks as we drove past towns in Kansas on the way to Eureka.

Ken helped Warren July 4th to begin to get the trim up on his garage. Julie, her mom and sister, prepared a wonderful traditional July 4th dinner for all of us, Mike (Julie's brother) Levi, Sofi, Kylie, Tye, and Earlinda's husband.

Later in the evening Warren was the pyrotechnic expert as he and Kylie shot off fireworks in the street while Julie, Sofi, Tye (the almost 1-year old who says all the right vowels at the right time, after each firework begins: "Ooooh, Ahhhh, Ohhhh"), Ken and I.

We were sorry not to have time to visit Chuck and Teri in Park City, but needed to get back home as soon as we could. I called James on the way through the OKC area and he was busy, and I called Elizabeth on the way through Ardmore and she and John were holding a funeral out of town. We finally returned home late Wednesday afternoon.

Ah, home! Yea, home! The suitcases are finally emptied, and the laundry has begun. Ken went to breakfast this morning and passed out the White Pass Railway booklets to the guys. Eddie came tonight and he and Ken went to visit Bill's (the C Store owner) home, so Eddie can do some wiring for him. I'll visit the school tomorrow and unpack 6 boxes of books that have come. Kristen called today to let us know she has a new job with the local school district beginning in August. Yea, Kristen!

I hope you have seen Kristen's and Brandi's pictures of the trip. The beautiful thing is that everyone's pictures are different and give the cruise another perspective.

Love, linsue

Vonnie and I had a great time with Linda and Ken during the last week of June, after the cruise was over and they were returned to Seattle. The best thing, of course, was simply seeing them and sharing family and new stories, and having them here in our home. The highlights were a foot ferry trip out through the San Juan Islands which left from Anacortes and included the Whale Museum (history and tracking of Orcas and their pods) on Friday Harbor and including a ferry picnic, a jaunt over to Deception Pass on Whidby Island (very tall bridges with beaches below) where Vonnie and Linda walked some of the trails to see the bridge structures from below, the Wednesday Market in Fairhaven as well as a light dinner at the Colophon there, and a beautiful drive up as far as we could be to Mount Rainier after picnicking at Silver Lake, up near the Canadian border, on the way to the Mountain. Ken was quite taken with the snowbank (about 4 feet deep) that ended the trip before we reached the final viewpoint. But we did see two other views and two of the snow covered mountains from closer that sea level, Mt. Shuskan, and the Twin Sisters' range. We had a couple of barbecues in our yard under the grape and honeysuckle gazebo, one with Northwest CopperRiver salmon and the other with spareribs (baby ones, compared to those that we had in Oklahoma while guests of James David and Brandi, but very yummy). Our cat Mithril Boy and our duck Wanda WakWak were entertaining when they cornered a mole in the yard right by the gazebo. And Linda even found an airplane exhibit for Ken to see which he was quite impressed by. It had been on our list, but Linda got it all happening. So, many pictures and experiences later, the trip was wonderful, and we really appreciated it. Love, Llew.