Tuesday, 6/22/10

Time is flying by. Doris and I are hoping all of you are well, happy and enjoying life and the sumer months.

Mothers day has passed and now Fathers day is history. We are both well and are enjoying Minnesota and each other. Growing old has its ups and downs but we seem to survive and enjoy life here in the upper midwest.

We spent last week end at Jane and Gary's just completed new home at lake Morrison in Cass County Minnesota. What a grand home they have built. It was also constructed environmentally safe so as not to pollute the lake. This is a real problem in Minnesota. It seems if you have enough money you can convince the county boards to amend all the rules concerning run off, long docks, speed boats causing wakes and destroying shorelines, larger weed rakes destroying fish reproduction and natural fish habits in the name of having a cabin at the lake. The county boards will do most anything to accommodate these lake home owners so as to be able to up the tax base in their counties.

It was a great week end for us. It was also the first time we have been overnighters since our last trip to Madison for the annual Cousins, annual reunion. We are no longer RV'ers so this was a real treat. We fished a lot, caught a lot of fish, Northern, crappie, bass, sunnies, played a lot of cards, ate to much and generally had one great time. The weather was perfect and we threw all the fish back as we caught. Some were mortally wounded the great Bald Eagle polices the lake with regularity and it was fun watching him watch us for his easy meal. These eagles return to this nest each spring. All we saw was the giant rooster patrolling his personal lake.

I have been fortunate, having the honor of being asked to build end tables and coffee tables for the new home. I am very fortunate to be able to maintain my shop at Eide Saw. Jane allows me

to do my thing and this keeps me busy, young at heart and healthy. I unable to thank her enough for this great privilege. I did furnish the new lake home with 9 bedside tables, 1 enormous coffee table and an entrance bench for shoe changing etc. I had a ball making a lot of sawdust.

Doris is now Kenwood school free for the summer. She is enjoying the summer just plain being lazy. She still travels to the casino on each and every Tuesday. I remember when Doris and I were dating. Tillie used to travel to Beloit, WI. one evening per week with her friends to play Bingo. I guess it's kind of in the genes. It was great for Doris and I as we had the living room to our selves after a nigh at the movies or before the last bus showed up to take me home to the village of Shorewood where I boarded. What a great time we had and the great memories that went with it.

I an weary of the oil spill news and am sad for the folks whom have lost their lives, jobs, businesses and mostly for the environmental disaster. Those great beaches will never be the same no matter how they try to convince us otherwize. Forever is Forever. Many species will be lost and some already have been lost. I wonder if our need for oil will ever cease. I also wonder if the cause for all of this will be corrected or if this is a message to prepare ourselves for more disasters and a signal for terrorist to use them for a easy target ruin more oceans. I remember how Sadam burned the oil wells some years back when he was in retreat.

We are all well up here in the Land of Sky Blue Waters. Son Tod is recuperating in Oroville, CA. We are thankful that we now know where is is and is being cared for. The balance of our Minnesota clan is doing well and despite some of the folks thoughts that we were making a crazy move. It worked out well and we are happy as clams we are here.

Back in 1949 when we were married, Some said it would never last! WOW

I am still having trouble receiving e-mail. I guess it must be me as the Apple store people say all is well. It is not well as I do not receive any e-mails.

O well, I guess I will live without e-mails until some one or more of my family bails me out. Bear with me.

The nice thing about being senile is, You can hide your own Easter eggs!

I've sure gotten old!

Two Bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees, fought cancer and diabetes.

I'm half blind, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded and subject to blackouts and have bouts with dementia.

I have poor circulation, hardly feel my feet and hands anymore, can't remember if I'm 89 or 98.

Have lost all my friends, but thank God, I still have my drivers license.

Jim and Doris

Sunday June 13, 2010

Good Morning to all!

Another week has pased by with a bit of summer weather and early spring.

To-day, it is dark, gloomy with a chill in the air. A good day for reading, TV, or writing. I chose to write this morning as it is quite and cozy on the 14th floor.

Last week has been good to Doris and I. Summer vacation has become a realty for Doris after the school season has ended. She has been busy as a bee cleaning closets and riding us of the squirrel's habit of filling corners with things we really don't need, but seem to become (must keep) items we can't dipose of. I am thankful I personally have not been catogorized as one of those don't need items.

Last week we had a call from a friend in Iowa who reads our blog. It's always a surprise and also a happy reward that we receive for keeping our mailing list current. B-C or before personal computers this was a chore most folks unable to accomplish. It was not that they could'nt they just did'nt have a convenient way of keeping one if they were not trained. I can remember Mother's list of freinds, written by hand, in pencil, on 3 by 5 cards in her unique hand writng. Many of them were her long time time freinds that I remember from summer picnics, in our back yard or those special Sunday dinners my mother was so proud to serve.

The cards are gone as no one would ever put any value to this list of names of those who are now forgotten. My brother John is 5 years my junior. He does not have many of these memories. It does'nt seem as though a mere 5 years would make much difference in our lives, but when a sibling is 5 years younger, these years seem make a difference in our growing up young years. I am fortunate to have my "Apple", I am sure I would be reading Dagwood from the Sunday newspaper.

As much as I would like not to, I must comment on the oil spill.

Doris and I traveled via our RV in past years to many points of this great span of clean water and wonderful beaches. I did not swim in the gulf very much as I was never a good atswiming. I was a "just got by" swimmer. Doris is a good swimmer who used to swim laps in younger days where we had an indoor pool. Doris did not like the salt water but she did enjoy those sugar white beaches. I can't imagine how those who live on or near the gulf are feeling. They must be devistated.

We here in Minnesota, "The land of 10,000 Lakes" would also be devistated if our lakes suffered a fate equal to theirs. We will always remember meeting the shrimp boats comming in from the beds with their fresh load. Buying the fresh and biggest and boiling them in beer was an event never to be forgotten.

My tomatoes are growing like wild fire. I have them tied and have trimed the non-producing portions. The yellow flowers are beginning to appear. I, like the Chinese people must pollinate the plants as bees do not exist in China. Growing tomatoes in an industrial park does not lend itself to attracting birds and bees for this task. I just get in there with my hands, and gently shake the top blossoms, the wonderful pollen then falls below and just like magic, those little green nubbins begin to appear. I have one plant, purchased from Home Depot, that is of Austrailian plant breeding. It has leaves that resemble potato plants. It is supposed to produce wonderful pink tomatoes. I will keep you posted.

Jane has survived her knee surgery this last week. She is experiencing therapy and the healing process. She will be back at Eide Saw as soon as possible. This surgery is suposed to prevent knee replacement for an unknown period. We shall see.

I joined a health club last year.

Spent about $400 bucks.

Haven't lost a pound.

Apparaently you have to go there!

The advantage of exercising each day, is so when you die,

they'll say,

"Well, she sure looks great, doesn't she!

Thanks agian for listening in!

Keep in touch.

Jim and Doris

Sunday June 6, 2010

Good Morning,

For those of us who are older this is a special day in the history of the world and WWll.

On this day thousands of soldiers of the free world arose on this date in England, were served a grea breakfast, loaded on transport ships and traveld to the shores of France to begin the greatest invasion of Europe. One that the world has never seen before and hopefully never again, to defeat the forces of the 3rd Reich and Adolph Hitler.

Many of the invaders were drowned when leaving the landing crafts after jumping off near shore, some in deep water, dressed for invasion with heavy weapons and full packs of amunuition. Many were injured or killed on the trip that transported them from Englnd to the shores of France. Many died on the beaches before the thousands of allied invaiding forces overwhelmed the German Army and the eventual fall of the Nazis.

I was a buck private in the Army Infantry, just finishing my basic training. I remember the cheers when we were told of the invaision and all of us, the late entries into the service, were anxious to get to Europe to help finish the job. The guys I trained with probably did get there. I never made it. I was on furlough before being shipped out. I became ill during my furlough and my folks had to call the army to tell them I was unable to travel. They insisted that a Doctor would have to confirm I was to ill to get back to camp and my outfit. This was accomplished and an army ambulance picked me up at my folks home in Kenosha, Wisconsin and transported me to Ft. Sheridan, Il. It was a long ride in an army ambulance (if you have ever seen one on TV you will agree) especially when your sick. This experience turned into a three month stay at the hospital. That is when the war in Europe ended and where I was declared to ill to continue army duties. I am glad I had my chance to serve, but unhappy that my military career was shotened and I was dischared when the Japs were were still fighting. I wanted to get back to my outfit in Ft. Rilery, Kansas where I was to ship out. I never made it. I never saw any of my Army buddies again. Back then no one kept home addresses so I lost track of them, as well as my personal things that were packed in duffel bags back at the base and all of my army issue except for the things I had with me on my first and last furlough. I think about "what If" as I sit here on June 6, 2010 alive well and able to think of what might have been for me during the future of the war. I am proud to have at least claimed to be a part of it and I fly my flag almost every day.

Summer has arrived full force here in the Upper Midwest. Everything is green or becomming green, campers are prepacking thir camping gear for a new season. The green houses are doing a super job of supplying spring flowers and plants to those of us with green thumbs. School is soon over for another year and Doris has just compleated her 29th year of service at Kenwood school where a couple of our kids attended elementary school.

Doris was nominated for "Minneapolis Volunteer of the Year" this spring. A couple who volunteer together at different school than Kenwood were chosen (and deserved the award) . Doris was a special award person of the year and was treated royally at a dinner where I was fortunate to be invited. I met many of the teachers she assited through out the years of service. It was a great time an I was proud to sit next to her and see her shine. Doris was also honered Mothers Day, at Jane and Garys home, where the celebration took place. Most all of all the kids where in attendance. All of this made a special week and day for Doris.

Tod, our wayward son, living in california is recovering from a stroke he suffered a few months ago. He is doing well and travels from home to a rehab center for therapy. I am told he is doing well, however full recovery is probably a way's away.

Jane had knee surgery this last Friday moring. The was surgery to put off for as long as possable a cxomplete knee replacement. She is doing well. Swelling and soreness are the call of the day and therapy session are endles. she hopes to be home by eary week. Her home is on a hill and stairways lead to all entrances. We shall see how she manages this. She is concerned about missing work at Eide saw, however the gang there has been with her for many years and the company will survive until she is able to drive and get around.

Jane and Gary's new lake home is now occupied and I suppose she will conveles there as much as she can. Doris and I are invited to inspect the new lake place on the week end of June 25. We are anxious to see it and maybe even get in a bit of fishing. We willtravel to the lake with jim and His wife Gina. I will not have to drive.

Oil continues to gush and is contaminating the great Gulf of Mexico. Birds, fish, beaches marsh will suffer for years to come. Income, carreres and a way a life will begone for many years. I assume that some species of the gulf will also be lost forever. With all of our technical knowledge and expertise, how could this happen? Was it inevable that in our quest for energy that this would happen? We are all probably to blame for our trmendous energy supported life style. Just look at the crowded highways, and all energy guzzling machines we citizens must have or at least think we must have to survive. In Minneapolis a commuter light rail sytems has been completed and is being extended to St Paul and other suburbs to get single occupant cars off the roads. The light rail commuter cars are comfortable, the fares favorable and polution is decreased. Everyone cannot use mass transit on a daily basis and must drive but it all helps to slow the use of oil, which will propbably never happen and the pattern of covering the land with concrete roads that will never stop. If ever you should find yoursely in our "neck of the woods" we will see that you travel to the Mall of America via Light Rail.

Now that June is here, "in its full glory" I must report that my tomatos are growing like crazy. I have already tied them and I am about ready to trim the lower non-producing branches.

Work hours at the shop are still shortened due the slow economy. This is not comfortable for the long term employees, it is however better than zero hours. The work is kind of sporattic, busy one day and slow the next. Over the long run it seems to be picking up a little but for all the machinery we have it is an under performing economy. At least, in our case, all is mortgage free, long term debt is non existant. Just need to be careful what is purchased. The rule is, "if you can't sell it, don't buy it."

Now that summer is here Doris and I are again looking forward to our annual trip to Madison to visit with the Carlson clan. It is always good to see all the survivors and their families at least once a year. This event usually takes place in mid August and we again are awaiting to see which neice or nephew will be the host for 2010 get together.

As the years pass it becomes a more difficult each year to make the trip from Minneapolis to Madison. We always tell ourselves this is the last time, but as the months pass we somehow gain courage, pack up and go, visiting with freinds and family along the way. It is not a fast trip but we continue to make the round trip with out incident.

At 83 I still drive with confidence, just not as fast and a lot more careful as in the past. I do run errands and make a few out of the way deliveries for the company. I am sure I am one of those guys you drive behind and when you get even with them, you take a look to see who that old guy is.

I get awful nervous when I am diving behind those mostly young folks who cant drive without a cup of coffee, a deafening radio and a cell phone in their ear. Who are all these folks talking to?Takes us a bit longer longer but we usually catch up with the drivers who honk and speed by at the next traffic light or rest area.

Humor!

A traffic policeman pulled a guy over after he had been driving the wrong way on a one way street.

The cop asked, "Do you know where you were going?"

The guy replied, "No, but where ever it is it must be bad because every one is leaving!"

I have a sort of mental lapse when it comes to using my computer. I always have trouble remembering passwords and other secrete proceedures that refuse to let you connect unless you can furnish you pet dogs name or some supposed secrete word that you alone can answer. I guess I will list these secretes in a secrete place and then hope I can find the secrete place where they are hidden when needed. This is the reason my blog's are never regular. One time I can open it like lightning, The next time I try It wont let me in.

Thank God for the Apple Store.

I still get up early each day, shower, shave, prepare the days breakfast for my bride (Doris requires 1/2 grapefruit and a cup of hot fresh coffee each morning to get her going). I then travel to my shop where I create much saw dust. I have been building small furniture for Janes lake home. I travel to this friendly lumber yard where I pick up and deliver saw blades. They are always glad to see me as I usually fill my car with exotic lumber for the next weeks projects. I might also tell you that if it wasn't for the activity and routine I have created for myself, I am certain I would perish. I have this nice park bench, not unlike the ones on the shore of Conklin Park on the shore of lake mendota in Madison where Doris and I used to sit for hours and hug after the movie before we were married. I sit in my restored bench now, in the sun, wave at the girls and cars going by and refresh myself with a bottle of water. If I am bothered at the shop or things don't go the way I like, I just turn the switches to off, close the overhead door,tell those interested good bye, travel home (about 5 minutes) and find my favorite chair and nap a while.

I have known a lot of guys who said they would not do a thing except fish, drink coffee, and sleep after retirement. After the fishing became old hat and became a routine, they sat with nothing to keep mind and body active.

I have attended many funerals.

Thanks for tuning us in. We appreciate letting you, our friends and relatives know what's happening in our lives.

We appreciate hearing from You, we hope you appreciate hearing from us.

Be good to yourselves and enjoy!

Jim and Doris

e-mail

e.jamesbattenberg@comcast .net

blog (Published occasionally)

eidesawman.blogspot.com

phone

612-332-9965