Getting things done.

We've been pretty busy this last 2 weeks.

• We went to the annual dance at the fire department.
• Our town had the annual town parade and party.
• Rich's boss brought his 56 Chevy out for the car show.
• I had lunch with the girls I used to work with.
• I have been working hard on homework so that I don't have to be a slave to it while we are gone.
• I have everything we need for our trip.
• I actually had a job interview with a company that just relocated 10 minutes from us. It is a large company that does international work. I was their first interview...wish me luck!!!!
• We had our annual bon fire party.

Today, I was recovering. I really didn't drink that much last night but, I had a headache like I had been drinking like a sailor. I only had 4 beers all night. Maybe it was a food reaction. I always make chili and everyone brings a dish to pass.

Next week will be busy too.

• Monday, I have school and we have plans to go to Buffalo Wild Wings after I cut Rich's hair.
• Tuesday, I have an appointment for a hair cut and it is Rich's B-day, instead of celebrating, we will be at the A.B.A.T.E meeting.
• Wednesday, I have school then I'm taking Rich out for dinner to celebrate his B-day.
• Thursday and Friday, I plan to make a bolero jacket to wear with my dress for the wedding.

We haven't been able to ride much this summer and we were just talking about how much we both missed having a bike trip this year. We have been putting money aside for our trip to CA and for a nice, cash gift for Jennifer and Dave.

This labor day weekend was labored for Rich. He worked on my car all morning Sat & Sun. He got everything done except for the back brakes. I'll never understand why car makers do the things they do. This year Cavalier was built with two different 2.2 and one 2.4 engines and the back brakes had either of two different size drums on any of the three engines. You can't just go into an auto parts store and say...I have this car and need shoes...you have to actually measure the drums to know what size to get. He is getting the brake shoes today after measuring the drums over the weekend. It's like everything that year was an after thought and just kinda mix and match as we go type of thing.

Monday we got to go on a ride. We logged 310 miles, hit a little rain...just enough to get wet...we saw 35-40 mph gusts and it was still a good ride. We haven't got much riding in this summer. We had allot of rain early on. Then we got so busy with other things...friends needing help...garage sales...grandkids...car repairs...etc.

Last Saturday night we went out dancing and again, was approached on the dance floor to teach dance. I appreciate that people think we look good on the dance floor but we are there to have fun, not walk people through dance steps. We would get on the dance floor for a couple line dances and we had people getting between us and on all four sides of us, going in different directions trying to follow us. We ended up yelling the out the counts and pointing to the direction they needed to go. If we got up for a swing, we had people trying to follow and running into us. We got out there for a real fast dance with allot of spins and turns and the singer in the band jumped off the stage and into our path. I squeezed real hard on Rich's left which is our signal to let each other know something is in the way on that side and he just got around him. Places to dance around here are so limited. The office manager at our dentist's office gave Rich a $80 discount on his last cleaning and x-rays in exchange for dance lessons.

I just got a call from my step daughter between the last paragraph and this one...lasted two hours. Good thing I put her in my fave five! This wedding is really stressing out every one. I was just talking to her future mother-in-law last Saturday and she was heading out to look for yet another dress. She has three and is still looking for the perfect one. Men are so lucky, they just wear what they are told to wear and they're done. Rich has been worried about our basement. The neighbor built a garage next to us and hit a drainage pipe, now when it rains we get allot of water in our basement. If the sump pump quit working, we would be in trouble. We got my son to agree to come and stay here while we are gone. He has heating, air and plumbing experience and could handle anything that might happen. One less thing for Rich to stress about! We are really looking forward to the wedding but we'll be glad when it's done.

Maintenance

We have a truck (97 Dodge Ram with 54,000 miles), my car (An 02 Cavalier with 150,000 miles) and 3 Harley's. We have decided to take my car because it’s cheaper on gas than the truck and since we have to take formal wear, we can’t take the bikes. Good thing Rich is a mechanic. I bought plugs, wires, oil, two oil filters…one for when we get back…coolant, radiator flush, air filter, trans filter and fluid. The car runs great and it has been a very reliable car. I bought it new and have never had any trouble with it other than a front wheel bearing, fan relay, muffler clamp and the normal brake pads and rotors. Oh…and a battery.

Rich has been doing a little each day to get it maintained for the trip. As he was under it, greasing the rear, he noticed that one of my brake lines is almost rusted through and some rear brakes would be in order for crossing the mountains. He will be stopping today to pick up brake lines, pads, water pump, timing chain and gear. He has been researching when these things go out on the Cavaliers and according to the info he has gathered, I am over due for the pump and chain to go. He has heard that when the chain goes, it usually takes the engine with it. He checked the price of the chain and gear kit and it’s only $50...better than replacing the engine or getting a new car. When you have one this good, you don't mind putting money into it to keep it good.

I have a little over $100 in it from the items I just bought and I’m guessing the drums ~ $30, chain and gear kit ~ $50, the lines will be cheap enough, pump, ~ $40…maybe about $250 - $275 total in parts plus ~ $400 in tires next week. Having a mechanic in the house…PRICELESS!!!!

This blog wouldn't be complete without a pix of the mechanic!

Short rides, a train and allot of big ships.

Friday we took a 45 minute ride for dinner...mostly for the ride. Then on Saturday, we rode 35 minutes to a party. That was it for our weekend riding.

We would have been riding on Sunday but we took the train into Chicago to see The Tall Ships at Navy Pier. It was 94 and very humid. This summer we have had so many days in the nineties and allot of humidity. I don't do well with humidity, so for me it was a rough day. About lunch time we started looking for food. By this time it was so crowded, it was an hour and 45 minute wait for lunch any place on the pier. We started walking and in about ten minutes we found a place with only a five minute wait. It was a nice walk. When you get away from the pier and the thousands of people, you have cool breezes that make the high temps bearable and almost pleasant. We had lunch...myself, a cool refreshing salad...everyone else, a big huge burger and fries. I could have stayed in the city exploring as I love to do in Chicago...but...the guys wanted to go back to the pier and board one more ship called the bounty. Us girls decided to go find some refreshments in air conditioned surroundings and told them to call us when they finished the tour of the Bounty so we could meet up. We no sooner sat down and the phone rang...one 1/2 to two hour wait in the sun, with hundreds of people in one spot waiting to board. They decided it was too hot for them too.

We got there early, boarded allot of the ships and had a good time before it got too crowded. I don't like crowds so after lunch, I would have been happy walking the streets of the city away from the crowded pier. I love Chicago, I can spend a whole weekend going to the museums, zoos, and just walking the streets looking into the shops on Rush Street. I prefer it when there is nothing going on in the city. I would have loved to stay for some of that but, the friends we went with were done once we were done with the ships.

Here are some pix of the ships...hope you enjoy!

Busy...busy...busy! and...something for Lady Rides Allot

Allot of things have been happening since my last blog.

I had a garage sale...made just under $200. Not too bad...it pays for the dress and shoes I bought for my step daughter's wedding.

My cousin was at the nursing home when I went to visit my Aunt Babe. He said to her, Look who's here. She looked up and smiled and called me by name...she recognized me, yea! She's not as social as she used to be. She is quiet and just listens and smiles.

After our visit my cousin and I made plans for the 4 of us to meet for dinner later that evening. It was good to visit with them. They are living our dream. They have been full time RVer's for eight years now. When we retire, we want to get a 43' toy hauler that we can live in and become snow birds.

One thing I noticed...I always thought my oldest son resembled my ex's family and had no resemblance to mine. I tried to figure out where he got his forehead from and never could. It turns out he looks allot like my cousin. After looking at old pictures I see he takes after my grandfather as much as he does his dad's father. I could always see my father-in-law in him but never my family till I sat with my cousin for a while. He reminded me of my son several times, in both the shape of his face and in mannerisms. How strange is that...the mannerisms that is.

I did get to ride to Champagne/Urbana to see my sister-in-law. I rode down on Tuesday and came home on Wednesday...149 miles...not a bad ride. We had a good visit and I was glad I went.

My friend that just lost her mother asked me to help out with the estate sale so I was there Thursday and Friday with her sister-in-law. The rest of the family works and they wanted two people there at all times. On Friday, my friend stopped over to the house after she got off work. I noticed she was looking around the house at the bare walls and looked like she was about to loose it. I asked her to come into the kitchen with me and she just lost it. She grew up in that house and it was real hard for her to see everything going out the door. It brought back memories of when I lost my mom. I hugged her and just let her cry. After nearly 5 minutes and a big wet spot on my shoulder from tears, she was OK for the rest of the night. We got a pizza and headed to her house and just hung out for the rest of the night.

On Saturday I spent the day trying to find shoes and a bag to match the dress I decided on for the wedding. I got a call from my step daughter while I was out, asking me to speak at her wedding. Wow...our relationship has come along way. She hated me in the beginning and nothing I could do would change her mind. I never understood why. I wasn't the cause of her parents split...I met Rich after his divorce was final and I always treated her good. She finally apologized to me after she started dating a guy with kids and had trouble connecting with the girl. They now have a good relationship but it took a while. She said she finally figured out that her parents had nothing in common with each other in the first place and she has thanked me for making her dad so happy. She had to be a step mom-to-be to see it.

Saturday night we went to a place that we used to go to all the time. It was closed for a couple years and recently reopened. We danced so much my legs ached, especially after walking the entire mall that morning. While we were there, someone approached us and asked us if knew where a certain town was. We said, yes we live there. She said she was working for the park district and trying to put together a dance every other Friday at the old school. After seeing us dance she wanted to hire us to lead/teach dance. I told her we are out of practice and real ruff. She told us that she couldn't tell by watching and that we looked great together. She said that when he spins me I just follow so effortlessly...little did she know I was constantly watching his face for signs of his next move. I used to feel every move coming without even thinking about it just by the way he touched me and where his hands went. I have to really think about it know. We have tried to teach some of our friends and it's hard for me to teach a man. I'm used to following, not leading. Plus...no offense meant....allot of men have absolutely no rhythm and can't even feel the beat of the music. We agreed to try it for one Friday and see how it goes.

These pix's are for Lady Rides Allot...Sunday we went riding with some friends. I am not going to say where...can you tell where these shots were taken? Hint...it's near your old stomping grounds.

School started yesterday so I need to get busy with my studying.

My Aunt Babe

My Aunt Babe is the best. She is the last of my mom's siblings and she reminds me so much of my mom, who died 25 years ago. She is witty, classy, loving and has a great sense of humor. I like to listen to her stories of how her and my Uncle Ray met and about their younger years. Me and Rich liked to tease her a little. She used to love to dance and they would go to dances every Sat night till my Uncle went overseas for the war and picked it back up when he came home. I asked her if she ever drank when they went out. She said, not much, just a little Gin once in a while. That gave Rich ammunition and he said, “you don’t mess around; you go straight to the hard stuff, or was Uncle Ray trying to get you drunk.” She laughed and told him that she did some drinking but never too much. Dancing was too important and you couldn’t dance if you were drunk.

I used to love to watch her dance at family parties and weddings. She could really go. After her husband couldn’t dance any more, her and my Uncle John would dance. He danced the jitterbug till he was 91. He broke his back trying to help someone change a car engine and never danced again. He died at 93. I have to say he had a good life. I think my memories of watching them dance is what made me love dancing so much. I remember at a party at my Uncle John’s house one time, he moved the kitchen set to another room and he and my oldest sister did the swing till I thought they would drop. She was 18 years older than me. It must have been really cool to grow up in that generation.

I usually go and see my Aunt every couple months. I haven't been to see her in at least 3-4 months…school got in the way of that. I decided I needed to call her last Tuesday and ask her out to dinner next Sunday before school starts. When I called I got a recording that her phone was disconnected.

I finally got a hold of my cousin today and he said she has vascular dementia and they had to put her into a nursing home. I talked to her the week before mother’s day and she seemed fine.

Last time I visited, she showed me the same pictures as the last visit. I just figured she forgot that she showed them to me. She knew who everyone was, but it was strange that she told me my cousin’s names…as if I didn't know them. How could I have missed that? She probably didn't realize who I was at that moment.

During that visit, I had taken some old rings to show her to see if she knew who they belonged to and the history of the rings. She didn't recognize them but she remembered her mother’s engagement ring and that I have it. She was supposed to get it but she felt my mom deserved to have it after taking care of my grandmother for the last 12 years of her life. In 85, I tried to pass that ring on to her after my mom died and she refused it, saying that it was given to my mom and there for it was now mine. I know she knew me at that point in the visit. I wonder if her state of mind can change that fast.

My cousin told me that last time he went to visit, she told him that the red jeep in the parking lot was my Uncle Ervin’s and that he worked at the nursing home. My Uncle Ervin died before my mom and that was in 1985. It saddens me to hear that, me and Rich always commented on how sharp she was so late in life…she is 86 or 87. I look at her health as a look at the future into mine. My health has mirrored hers in every stage. The thyroid, borderline diabetes, and hysterectomy. It seems I take after her more than my mom in the health department. I hope I am as sweet as she is when I’m older.

I am going to meet my cousin at the nursing home today to visit her. I hope she remembers me. She has always been very close to my heart.

We have to be careful of getting so busy we put off visits. I spent the whole day yesterday with my grandkids from my oldest son. I wanted to spend some time with them before we all go back to school. I took them to see Step Up 3 and then we went back to their house and played UNO. I want to take my youngest son’s daughter next week. She is too young for Step Up 3 and the older ones would be bored with Disney. I put in a call to her mom and haven’t got a call back yet. She is mad at my son because she wanted to change his visitation with only a 5 minute notice and he wouldn’t go for it. She tells me I can see me granddaughter any time I want so we’ll see if she feels that way when she is made at him. I don’t want to do it on one of my son’s weekends because he doesn’t see her that much.

I still want to ride down to Danville and see my sister-in-law before school starts. I have wanted to do that for a while now. I have to just do it. She is the wife of my brother Joe. I spent a lot of summers with her and she is not doing too well.

This has been a long post, guess I just needed to get it out. I feel like she is the last living link to my mom and I hate to think that she will soon be gone. Wish me luck that she will remember me today. I’m taking pictures and being hopeful. :)

It's been really crazy...some good...some bad.

The good...

• We did a run for ABATE.
• Spent time with friends.
• Spent time with my grand kids.

The bad...

• A wake
• A funeral

The friend of mine that had the hair clip mishap lost her mother on Friday so I've been trying to be there for her as much as possible.

The crazy...

• Searching for a Mother of the bride dress that will meet the approval of the bride and Rich.
• One that I feel comfortable wearing, at a price I can afford.
• One that will work with a chocolate brown tux.
• A four day garage sale. What a pain, but it paid for the dress.

These are the dresses I bought. These are dresses that I am willing to wear...Not that I am excited about any of them. I will put it to a vote between the bride and Rich then after I decide I will take back the not chosen...Any suggestions?