Monday February 23

This week I am a day late with this up-date. 

It was a busy week end at our house.

On Saturday Matt and Gigi Dobosenski and their two boys, Gavin and Garick visited. They live in St Peter, Minnesota and were acompanied by Gigi's Mom and Pop, Gina and Jim who live in Chaska, Minnesota, a southern suburb. We had a great visit and did enjoy the boy's. We hope theyb enjoyed as much as we. 

The main reason for the visit was an electric piano. Some years ago I purchased this piano. I thought it might be fun to lean to play and maybe become the life of the party. As you might guess, and piano teachers will confirm, seniors are not great prospects for piano studies. It is in good condition as it was hardly used. It was probably one of those things I bought and just had to have. It was hardly even touched.

It did however turn into a wonderful gift for Gavin and Garick who will began taking leson's shortly. They already play the violin and are exceptionally good at it. We will be waiting to hear of their success in the future and are already planning to attend the first recital. It is great to have some musically gifted folks it our family.

Doris did not win any large amounts of cash last Tuesday and I did not get even one fish to at least take a small bite on my line. 

Both of us are planning a repeat vist tomorrow.

Last week was cold and we experienced the largest snowfall of the season. It did not seem as big a deal as the folks who report the news made it. There was a snow emergency declared and cars by the hundreds were towed to the impound lots in Minneapolis and St Paul. Lots of un-happy folks stood in line Monday AM to bail out their cars. A ticket and towing charges add to many already long faces. Doris and I are thankful for our underground parking facility under our building. Car is always dry and warm. No scraping or brushing of snow before you can get started.

Doris will return to her volunteer position at Kenwood school on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. I guess you might say we are back to our normal routine. Both are thankful as 2008 was not a pleasant year for us due to all the med's we encountered.

We hope you, as we are, looking forward to spring. 

I am anxious to get a early start on my tomato's this year and am thinking about some sort of inexpensive green house to increase the product and harvest. Wish me luck.

Have a great week and keep in touch.

JIM and DORIS

  

Good Morning and aHappy and Loving St Valentines day to all.

It seem as though the weeks just fly by in Minneapolis. 

First, our usual medical report.

The Valentines day health report is excellent. Doris is an amazing lady. A survivor of invasive surgery that was canceled after opening, a stint at the U of M hospital to heal the incision and having to put up with the ordeal of my cooking and cleaning wich is no where near the top of any expertitice I may have aquired by this time in my life.

Doris traveled to Mystic Lake  to play bingo on Tuesday last. She was welcomed and she says, she received many hugs and welcome back from the bingo and bus crowd. She claimed of a bit of tiredness while there but sat a bit and rested, and then back at the table.

The visiting nureses (angels) have discontinued their weekly visits and there are no upcoming MD visits scheduled until March.  She is planning on her next visit to Mystic Lake on Tuesday, 17 of February. Now thats Progress.

February 12 was Mr. Lincoln's birthday. I will always remember that day for ever. 

Why?

That was the day after turning 18 years in December past, that I boarded a bus with a bunch of other guy's for the trip to Milwaukee for our physical exams.  All of the draftees were to be examed to see if were fit to become a part of the great Armed Forces of World War ll. 

I passed the exam with flying colores. 

Standing in line for most of the day I was finally asked if I wanted to return home and wait to be called into the service (most guy's did), or would I enjoy a continuing trip to the Army right now. 

I  foolishly raised my hand, was sworn into this mans Army, and in what seemed like an instant, myself and a few other stupid guys were headed for Fort Sheridan, IL. 

I never expected to be sleeping in an army baracks with a bunch of guy's just like me. 

And that is why, I shall always remember Mr. Lincolns birthday.

The wether has been warm and the ice on the lakes has been melting a bit. I have only made it out to the infamous ice twice this winter. I am planning a trip on Tuesday if the weather cools and it is safe to drive on the hard water. 

Will let you know the results next week end. 

Sign on a maternity room door "PUSH, PUSH, PUSH"

Jim and Doris

Monday, february 9, 09

This is a memorable day in the lives of Doris and Jim.. 

Yes, Doris has decided to make the trek to the casino on Tuesday and be her usual big player status at Bingo Parlor at Mysic Lake Casino. 

When we were young they were called Bingo Halls, run mostly by non-profits for their existance and they did quite well. 

Today they are run by Native Americans for their beterment and thanks to folks like Doris are doing quite well. 

The visiting Nurse and the Physical therapist have made their last visit's this past week and both of those traveling angels  have given Doris good marks on the progress she has made toward recovery . She is feeling better and gaining strength daily. She is also begining to ramble about the house again. It could be progress or maybe it's just my (not so hot) cooking that has helped to get her moving normaly again. 

We are both happy for the progress.

It rained in Minesota today. There was no freezing problems locally as the weather man has been kind and provided us with warm temperatures. 

Parts of the Northern part of the Gopher State has not been as fortunate and did have to struggle with ice coated side walks and roads. It was not to serious.  More of the same is forecast tonight and tomorrow.

The ground hog showed up from his comfortable winter quarters and saw his shadow.

If you beleive in this and other (Old Wives Tales) it means that we are faceing six additional weeks of winter. No matter what the ground hog saw or did, remember that we will have more winter.  This is Minnesota folks!   It is only the middle part of winter not the end of winter.  Socheer up and remember what your Mom's told you years ago, dress warm and don't put your boots, sleds,  skates and toboggans away just yet. 

On all of our political fronts,

the number 44, President Obama is having difficulty with the two major political parties trying to work together. It is an awsome  if not almost impossible strugle to change the way politics have run our country for these many decades.

Are they really expected to suddenly change in the face of a depression and a new CEO! 

We wish him good luck. 

I have always said and I will repeat now, "it is an on the job training for any new president" and especially in this time of lay-offs, closings and the financial markets and the bad press the banks are suffering.

The Optometrist say's " If you don't see what your looking for, you've come to the right place"

Doris and I are hoping all of your are working, safe and for those in the warm climes who are warm, all are in good health.

We are always glad to hear and do enjoy your comments.

JIM and Doris

Sunday February 1, 2009

The exciting month of January is now History.

A new president and his family are occupying the White House.

The new President #44 is already finding that the giant game of politic's is well and thriving in our capitol city.

We wish him good luck. 

We think he will need it.

Doris is on the road to recovery from her recernt surgery. 

The last vestiges of the experience were removed last friday when the cathiter was removed and her plumbing began to take oven on its own power. 

She, and I are thankful for that.

Her next appointment is with a urologist in a few weeks. This is to make sure her plumbing is operating correctly under that powerful Norweigan influence.  

The visiting nurse and the re-hab nurse do appear each week to check on her progress and to check her vitals. All indications are go! she seems to be doing real well but still tires easily.

It was a cold week in Minnepolis and there was no snow. The forecast is for warmer weather this commong week.

There was no January thaw this year. We shall survive!!!

I am hoping to get away a little oftener than I have for the past weeks. I miss my daily trips to Eide Saw Service. I have some unfinished projects that need my attention and I need a change of pace. 

Connie, our great neighbor has been an angel in helping me, help Doris. There are some things I just could not handle and she was there when I and Doris needed her.  Thanks Connie and thanks Lloyd for sharing her with us.

This is Superbowl Sunday. The biggest sporting event in the world. 

It's a sign of old age, but I can remember the first super bowl that was won by my Dad's team, the Green Bay Packers. 

I must be getting old.

I will not offer any predictions on this log. 

My good freind, Larry the barber is going to show up tomorrow to take care of my longer than normal hair. He has recently purchased a used Linclon Town Car with all the whistles and bells. The plan is he will pick me up at home, whisk me to Eide Saw and do the job. We will then have lunch at our favorite working mans lunch "Elsie's" and he will ferry me back to Washington Avenue. 

The group from Arizona called us last evening to say they miss us. It's always nice to have them call and let us know what mischeif they are getting into.

Sign:

At a propane refill station;

"Thank heaven for little Grills"

Thanks for tuning in, we appreciate.

Jim and Doris