68 1/2 hrs

'til the poker run! The last week has been pretty much a blur. Memorial Day weekend was spent at a family reunion in Missouri. We snuck down to Branson for a day before the reunion. Jeannie had never been there before so it was fun. My folks went with us too. We saw 2 shows, a Broadway review and the Fabulous Platters. The Platters are old but they did all their hits and some Motown. Tickets were only $20 and the show lasted for over 2 hours so I guess we got our moneys worth. The family reunion was nice, very low-key and relaxed. There were conflicts because of the weekend so we were kinda short on relatives but the ones that were there enjoyed themselves.
The patio is finished and looks great. There are still many projects that are unfinished and so they shall remain. I'm not going to stress myself out doing stuff nobody else notices but me. The place is presentable and clean and that's all that matters. I think Ginger missed her plane this morning. She was supposed to be here at noon but a voicemail on my phone said that "a mixup with the flight" caused her to be coming in at 6 pm instead. Doesn't matter. She's gonna be here soon. And so will everybody else. Can't wait! The weather is supposed to be perfect, so here's hoping for the best.

Happy Birthday!

Happy 49th birthday to Jeannie Gayle Ammon! In 2 weeks we'll celebrate our 29th anniversary. She has been and is my best friend, confidante, analyst, career coach and most important of all, mother of my children. She loves me with her whole heart, despite all my faults and short-comings. I couldn't have asked for a better life partner. We've been through tough times before, and we'll get through this tough time together. Happy birthday baby, you deserve more than I can ever give you. I love you!

Things are moving fast now

The poker run is 2 weeks from this Saturday and the days are flying by. There are lots of little things that I want to get finished before company comes. Tomorrow is Jeannie's birthday. Saturday is graduation from good 'ol Dells High for Amelia and then Sunday at noon we put her on the plane back to Norway. She has really got herself worked up and I can see why, how strange would it be to go back to friends and family you haven't seen for over 9 months? I have to commend her, after all our family has been through in the last 6 months, she has done her best to not be a bother and aside from a few bumps, she hasn't been. I'll miss her company and the life she brought to the house.
The new patio is going in tomorrow so if everything works out like it should, we'll be relaxing on it the night before the poker run.
PS- Don't feel sorry for Jeannie having another birthday, she's still in her 40's, unlike some of us.

A Mother's Healing Garden

I am so excited. Our plans are coming along so well for the garden. DreamScapes is helping us with the design, and construction. We are now in the process of getting a brochure printed to tell about the garden. We are selling memorial pavers to cover the cost of construction, along with a few grants we are applying for. We feel confident it will all work out. It will be great to have a labyrinth to walk right here in Dells. We will do a dedication when we are finished and talk about how to use it. It is going to be beautiful.
And it is only 1 1/2 weeks until the poker run. It helps us to have projects to keep our minds focused on something postitive. I have also been attending a grief workshop in Sioux Falls with my good friend Carol. Thank you to all of you who remembered me on Mother's Day. It was a hard day but your love helped me through. I don't know what I would do with all the really wonderful people in my life. I love you all.

Day 120, give or take

of this cold, miserable, dark, gloomy weather. I'm sick of it! Where's the sun? Where's the global warming? I need sun! I need to sunburn my big, red face. I need to sweat profusely. High today- low 50's, dark overcast skies, cold north wind, coat on, furnace running. Blah. This weather pattern better change soon or I'm gonna.......complain some more.

It's a mystery

where the time goes, the weeks fly by. It's already Wed., May 10th. The last few days have been pretty nice, although very windy, and everybody is furiously working on their yards and gardens, landscaping and planting flowers. It's supposed to rain tonight again so I suppose I'd better mow again. Although I finally ressurected the riding mower, it is burning oil like the wind and it actually doesn't mow worth a toot anymore, so I've been mowing with the push mower. It takes longer but it looks nicer when I'm done. I wanted to get the house painted this spring but after one bid came back at $5,250, that has been put on hold. I'll either do it myself or find somebody that is more reasonable. Yikes! Other than that, the new full length glass front entry door has been installed and it is great. So much more light in the front foyer, it no longer looks like a tomb as you walk through. You can't beat natural light. Now Jeannie wants a skylight in the kitchen but that will have to wait 'til I win the lottery.
Jeannie and I have both been faithfully sticking to the South Beach diet. We're in the second phase which allows more carbs, mainly some whole wheat bread and fruit. Which is a really good thing if you haven't had any for 2 weeks. I have made it to 208 lbs, finally. The last week was kind of lateral movement, but the book says the weight will come off more slowly once you move into the second phase. I haven't drank a beer in 3 weeks and surprisingly, haven't missed it. I always enjoyed a cold beer with my evening meal but I guess it was more habit than anything cause water tastes just fine. Unfortunately, beer has lots of sugar in it, and that seems to be the key to making this work. I like the way my pants fit better than I liked the beer.
Last weekend in Duluth, I visited the open house at the local Harley dealership. Long story short, I walked out with a new Softail Deluxe. Very spur of the moment, but I absolutely love it. It is beautiful and I enjoy it more than I thought I would. Now it's time to send the old Electraglide down the road. As my wife gently reminded me yesterday, we really can't afford to have 2 Harleys in the garage. Maybe if I wait for that lottery thing.........