12/24/09 Christmas Eve

I'm so very excited. Christmas Eve brings me back to my childhood with all the same excitement and wonder. I absolutely adore getting together with my siblings and their families. Can't wait.


Mental Health Examiner: Quest for physical perfection killed former Miss Argentina http://bit.ly/74uT8M

Mental Health Examiner: Drunk four-year-old (Hayden Wright) accused of stealing presents '(video)' http://bit.ly/8q3t2w

Mental Health Examiner: Pets can be a great antidote to holiday stress http://bit.ly/85wdKL

10/25/09 A fun weekend

We all had such a great time at Matt and Beth's fall festival. It was so much fun with super people and delicious food. Beth even made meatless chili, which was very tasty. I forgot to bring some home with me. Drat.

Today, Gussie and I went to the Padua Pet Parade at QU, but I messed up and got there late. We were in time to see the ending, which was nice, and we were able to give a present for the Humane Society.

Then Gus and I went to the dog park and the only dogs that were there were the small ones, so this was a perfect day for Gus. He got to play with pals who were just the right size.

Chicago Reality TV Examiner--The Amazing Race: Face your fears or go home

10/4/09 A great lunch

Lunch at Maya with 30 members of my immediate family was so much fun. (Are brothers and sisters etc. "immediate family"?) It was so great seeing Craig, Megan, Ian, and Kris. Ian has grown into such a friendly little fellow. It was fun watching him smile at everyone.

Chicago Reality TV Examiner--The Amazing Race: Like being dropped off on Mars

8/25/09 Puppies, puppies, and more puppies

Am going to see two Shih Tzu pups tomorrow. Free. Purebred. Just hope some family members want one. I know they are going to be adorable.

Applied yesterday for another examiner position--national Reality Show Junkie Examiner.

Tonight's article is: What role did Michael Jackson play in his own death?

Am tired out tonight. Will probably hit the sack early. Well, maybe after just one more game of Farkle... (fingers crossed behind my back)

8-22-09 Pedicures and puppies

I took Gussie with me when I got a pedicure. He absolutely loved it. First he had to smell everything because these were brand new smells for him. Then Kaitlyn and Jaden came in--the owners' kids. So Gus had a ball while I was relaxing and getting my toes prettified.

This afternoon we're going to John's cabin for a big family picnic. I'm excited. My sisters are bringing their dogs too, so should be fun.

Today's article is Does Kate--of Jon and Kate Plus8--have OCD?

7/25 A good day except for WW

I've loved today. This morning I went to WW and gained a half pound--BUT it was my only gain in 11 weeks and I feel really good about that. Today I'm starting counting my points using my iPhone and that will make things easier. No excuses.

Then Sarah and I took Gussie to lunch and to the dog park. Dropped him back at home and we went to see The Ugly Truth--probably the funniest chick flick I've ever seen. Sarah and I were embarrassingly LOUD with our laughter. We both heartily recommend it. Especially the panties part. (I'm laughing out loud just thinking about it.)

After I dropped Sarah off, I again picked up Gussie and we went to the park to the Curran family reunion, at Mark's invitation. I saw so many people that I knew (especially Cathy, with whom I went to school, and Mark of course). Mark's daughter Nikki is absolutely stunning with stunning children too. Such fun.

Then Gus and I came home and walked for a mile using my iPhone GPS pedometer. It only cost $1.99 and is fantastic.

A truly good day.

Tonight's article is: Obama, Crowley, and Gates: Let's sit down and have a beer

6/21 A super fathers' day

We had a good time at the Gustison Family Reunion. Lots of visiting, games and food. Wow. I'm still full. Looking forward to the next time. Gussie had a great time too.


Tonight's article is Rihanna a reluctant witness against Chris Brown.

6/20 Rainy days

Note this is not a complaint, merely an observation: I slept a lot of the day asleep because I have a migraine. The weather has played havoc with most of my body, head, back, hips, leg, shoulders, etc. This is the gift of arthritis. Mix it with rainy weather and voila!

Jan called. She, Tim, Joe and Cindy are going to Junefest to meet some other family members, but I just didn't feel like going. They'll have a good time, I'm sure.

Tomorrow is the Gustison family reunion. Sure hope the rain stays away so we can have a great time. It's always fun when the family gets together.

Tonight's article is Psychologists and torture

6/3 I'm alive

Yes, I'm alive, but still very tired. Started my new job on Monday of this week. But that was after a wonderfully fun-filled week and weekend with family. Kris and Brian's wedding was beautiful and the reception was off the hook. (Never thought I'd use that phrase.)

I loved every minute of Rob and Beata's visit and they are safely back in North Carolina now. Miss you guys already.


Tonight's article is Texting: Good, bad, or neutral for your kids?

3/9 Fun at Kris's shower

Kris's wedding shower was so much fun. The food was tasty, the games were clever, and it was so nice getting together with everyone. I love showers...corny, but true.

Today's article is Six ways to cope with change at work

3/6 I still love Cindy

After I got home from work I put Gus's collar on to take him for a walk. Then I noticed Jane's and Sarah's cars at Joe and Cindy's. So Gus and I stopped by. Gus visited with Kirby, while I talked to the humans.

Cindy was wrapping some presents for Jane, so I ran home and got my present and wrapping paper and she did mine too. Not only that, she ended up taking Gussie for a walk with Kirby. So I was doubly rescued. Thanks a million, Cin.


Tonight's article: Rihanna/Chris Brown: More information revealed

2/28 A wonderful day with my family

I spent the day with Jane and Sarah and it was really fun, although tiring. We spent so much time together that we had both lunch and dinner. Pete joined us for dinner. Then we went to Joe and Cindy's to say hi to Eric and Julie. And Gussie dragged his butt on the floor and made poop streaks. All because I gave him some Greenies and they made "stuff" stick to his fur. God bless him.

And God bless Joe and Cindy. They didn't even blink. While I cleaned Gussie's bottom they cleaned the rug. Kirby just watched.

I left early to write my article, so they're probably all still talking about me. :)

Tonight's article is about Qtown.info--City Secrets: Qtown embraces the soul of Quincy.

2/22 Yuck yuck yuck

The party last night was awesome. It was great to see everyone and the euchre tournament was a lot of fun. Unfortunately I couldn't enjoy it too much. This pain is worse than ever. Sure hope the pain doctor can do something with it tomorrow. I keep saying I refuse to have surgery, but I can't refuse when it's like this. I want my life back.


Tonight's article is Another fear: Bungee cord break

2/21 Lots of fun today

Can't wait because today will be FUN. We're having a wedding shower for my niece, Jessi, and then a huge family euchre tournament. I'm stoked.

Today's article is Bartering: You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours and it was inspired while I was drinking a hot chocolate at Starbucks today. That's where I ended up writing it.

2/14 Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day

I had a lot of fun last night at my Mardi Gras party. The house was filled with people, and Gussie had a field day. He sure loves visitors.

This morning went to a cousin's wedding, but unfortunately am having a "bad back" day and can't go to the reception tonight. Wish I could make it, I just love being with my extended family. Luckily I saw most of them at the church today.




Chicago Mental Health Examiner: What do men and women really want?

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2/10 Joe, the superhero

I am so grateful for Joe. I locked my keys in the garage. Didn't noticed I dropped them on the seat. Gussie wouldn't get out of the car so I had to lift him out and I guess that's when it happened.

There's only the one garage key, so Joe pried the door open for me, then came back and fixed the lock. I really appreciate you, Joe.


Tonight's article is about Valentine's Day.
For singles: Valentine's Day can be whatever you want

2/8 Horribly competitive

I am. Always have been. And since I'm 61 I probably always will be. But I'm also a good loser. I have to be since I lose more often than win, unless it's word games--then I have a fighting chance.

Anyway I thought of this because every chance I get I check my examiner.com numbers and where I am in comparison to other writers. I get to see the top 5 in the Chicago area, and those are in all topics, not just health. And I also get to see the top 5 in Health nationally.

This afternoon I'm number 2 nationally in Health and number 1 in Chicago. So yeah, I'm bragging. Had to write about it right away because it will soon change. :)

This morning's article was Food stamps: A solution or a stopgap measure? Am writing another one tonight on Confidentiality.

(Thanks, Joe, for helping me out this afternoon. Thanks, Pete, for offering to do so as well.)

2/3 Bad day at work

Bad day at work today. Still sick too.

Article is about a very happy occasion in our family.

1/26 Quick lunch

The cleaners are there today so I didn't have to go home and let out Gus. That gave me time to write over my lunch hour. Speaking of Gus, since he doesn't have his long coat anymore he can now JUMP onto the bed. It's high too, because I have a new mattress. I'm just amazed at how agile he is now. He and Bozie are both 9 months old. Allie is 6 months now. All of them are cuties.

I'm giving a Mardi Gras party the Friday before Ash Wednesday. That weekend is so crowded, with a niece's wedding shower and a family euchre party on Saturday. But I have to do Mardi Gras before Ash Wednesday and spent a ton of money on decorations from the Gulf Coast. Hope people can make it.

Today's first article is Gone Hiking. Hope you like it.

1/17 Wii Fit

I love the Wii Fit. It's really fun and really smart. Okay, it doesn't have to be smart to know how much overweight I am, but it knew that I trip a lot, just because of the way I balance the board and how I distribute my weight on my feet.

Am going to work hard to make sure I continue to use it. Just wish I had good curtains in the living room so I could take off some of these heavy winter clothes in order to weigh. :)

Shopping yesterday was both fun and exhausting. Jane, Jane, Kris, Brian, Cindy and I went to Kohls. Cindy had already bought all her wedding and shower gifts, but the rest of us hadn't. So it took a long time to find what we needed off of the registry. BUT WE DID IT!

A special thanks to Jane and Cindy for helping to carry in all my loot. Plus I really enjoyed lunch at Nothing Spcecial. (Thanks also Cindy and Cody, for moving that piece of furniture for me.)

Yesterday I posted two articles, got 201 hits, and made $2.01. Guess I won't get rich doing this. I hope to get some comments from you on Bumper sticker 1: If you can read this, thank a teacher.

1/10 Still in Los Angeles

I go home tomorrow. Have been having such a glorious time. Thanks, Cindy, for taking care of my cats, especially since Allie needed a daily dose of antibiotics.

It's been just about perfect here, and I'm not talking about the weather. Love to all.



Article is about prejudice and hate.

1/6 My brother made me cry

Yes, that's the title of my article tonight. Jeff made me cry, the old meanie! Read the column tonight to find out how and why. Thanks, Jeff. I appreciate it.

1/3 Overdosing on family

AND I LOVE IT!!!!!!

We've played so much Wii, both here and at Joe and Cindy's house. I'm actually getting good at tennis, and tolerable at the other games. I'm having a really good time.


(I've published a few more articles at Chicago Mental Health Examiner.)

12/31 New Year's Eve

Jane, Pete, Sarah, Joe, Cindy, Cody, Eric, and his girlfriend Julie just left. We played Wii for quite a while. I had a lot of fun, especially making fun of everyone. My animals are up late, so I hope they let me sleep in the morning.

Happy new year everyone. Just 50 minutes in advance.

12/28 Back to work tomorrow

These days off have been super. I've gotten to spend a lot more time with my family, which I really enjoy. A few of them have been stopping by to visit and play Wii. And we've been going shopping and out to eat. All the things I love to do. :)

Today is busy busy busy. Have to put all the Christmas stuff away because the cleaners will be here tomorrow. Yikes. Such a mess. There's no where for them to dust because every possible surface is covered with "stuff."

If you get a chance, please check out my daily column.

12/26 An almost perfect Christmas

The only thing that would have made it better is if my own kids and their families were with me. Other than that it was wonderful.

Christmas Eve at John and Paulette's new home was so much fun. As always it's great for so many of us to get together, plus there was actually enough space for us. Didn't feel crowded at all. Two highlights of the evening. One, when Aiden and Ty got in the "Christmas closet" and opened presents from their brothers' stockings. They can't read so luckily didn't pick their own. Second, was Joe's line, "I said bidet, sir." Of course it's not funny reading it, but we even laughed at it again last night.

Christmas Day the sisters got together at Jan's which has become a tradition. I rode with Jane and Pete and got to bring Gussie with me, which always makes me happy. Uncle Bill was there too, with his wit intact. :) The meal was superb, despite the fact that my cranberry salad didn't set. We ate it all anyway.

Of course I talked to my kids and grandkids yesterday, which made the day even more special.

Last evening, Jane, Sarah, Jordan, Joe, and Eric came over and played games. Joe hadn't played Wii before, but he's so good at video games that he caught on right away and did very well. It was fun.

Thanks, everyone, for all the thoughtful gifts, but mostly for the gift of the time we spent together.

12/4 One of the top health writers

For examiner.com I'm one of the top health writers nationally. I told you it pays to have a big family.

Top Health Examiners

1. Pennsylvania Health Examiner
2. Mental Health Issues and Rights Examiner
3. N.Y. Wellness Examiner
4. Chicago Mental Health Examiner
5. L.A. Hypnosis and Health Examiner

Thanks, guys. You're awesome.

11/29 Poker fun

Last night six of us played poker. Pia won and she was ecstatic. Afterward we sang karaoke. What fun.

Today's my last day as I leave extremely early tomorrow morning.

Rob and Beata have been wonderful as usual--kind and fun.

11/28 Twenty eight years ago today

our Mom died. For beautiful tributes, check out my brother Joe's blog. He nails the sentiment just right every year. I'm so lucky to have this family.

I miss you, Mom. Still.

11/27 Happy Thanksgiving

What a wonderful day! There's so much to be thankful for, not the least of which is being with my son and daughter-in-law. The food is delicious. The company even better. Plus they gave me my Christmas present early--and we're playing with it.

I've wanted a Wii since they first came out, and we found the last one in this section of North Carolina. What fun! And such generous souls. I'm a lucky bug.

Some of their Danish friends came for dinner and we had a great time. They have a Wii at home, so they were able to show us some of the finer points of the games.

Tomorrow night other friends are coming over to play poker. Can't wait. I can use a little extra money. :)

11/15 I hit the family jackpot

I'm always wanting to be with family on the weekend and I really hit the jackpot today. I spent all afternoon with Jane and Sarah, having lunch and shopping (lots of that). Our lunch was free because it took so long to get to us. That was cool.

And in about an hour and a half I'm going to have dinner with a huge bunch of family. Yay. I love it.

This morning Gussie and I went to the Padua Pet Parade at Quincy University. KHQA-TV interviewed me, while holding Gus, and it's supposed to be on the 10 PM news tonight. In the middle of the interview Gus jumped out of my arms, so we'll see if they air it. :)

It was a fun experience, even though it was mega cold and windy. I look forward to doing this again next year. It was a fundraiser for the Quincy Humane Society.

10/24 Breast Cancer walk

Tomorrow Jan, Kris, and I are doing a local breast cancer walk. It starts at Washington Park and the walk goes to Madison Park and then returns. That will be such a beautiful walk, since Maine Street is full of lovely trees, most notably maples that will be gorgeous.

In the afternoon we're going to Matt and Beth's for a "fall fiesta." They're accepting food donations for food pantries, so that's a really good thing. It will be fun to be with family and friends too.

10/18 A good day

I went to the Hannibal Folk Life Festival with Jane and Sarah. We met Jan and Kristen there. It was really fun. Jane made me take my walking sticks, and I'm so grateful she did. There was a lot of walking and it was painful after a while. So it was a good idea.

The day was super. After Hannibal we drove through Pike County to see the leaves. They weren't at peak yet, but it was still a lovely drive. We stopped in Barry to look at some crafts and we ran into Joe and Cindy--a really nice surprise. Then we drove on to Pittsfield where I bought two cool things for my back yard. Can't wait for spring to come so I can display them. :)

Then Jane, Sarah, Pete and I went to Cassano's for a quick dinner. Yum.

Now I'm home with sweet Gussie and Bozie and will have a very quiet night. Tomorrow I have to work all day on the class for Wednesday night. Love to all.

10/12 More family pics

I miss my family already, but I know they were all happy to arrive home. Here are a few more pictures:

10/11 Pictures of my loved ones

I'll write words later. For now, the pictures will tell you how happy I was that my family was here.


One happy grandmother


Beata and Jill


The gang--


A very proud and happy mother.


Jill, Kayla, and Hunter


Rob and Beata


Hunter and Kayla


The gang--Rob, Beata, Jill, Kayla, Hunter, me, and Gus.

9/27 Wonderful news

The news that outshines everything else this week is that my brother is home from the hospital and doing well. We are all so incredibly grateful.

As for me...my cold is bronchitis and I'm on tons of meds so should feel fine soon. As long as I'm well by next Saturday when company comes, I'll be fine.

9/20 Not much new

Still sick. But I'm getting better I'm sure--I now have antibiotics and a fierce cough medicine (thanks, Jane and Jan). Slept most of yesterday and a lot of today, so that's got to be doing something good for me. Took Gus for our usual Saturday morning Starbucks excursion, and instead of going in to work, came home and slept again.

My nephew Cody took Gussie for a walk this afternoon. That's about all the exercise the dog's gotten for a few days--he and the cat have been sleeping with me all day. They sure are sweet.

In about an hour or so the entire family will meet for my sister-in-law Paulette's 60th birthday party. I know they'll have a wonderful time, even if the life of the party can't attend. :) Sure wish I could go, but Typhoid Mary needs to stay home.

I should start feeling normal by tomorrow (whatever normal is).

Oh, found out last night that my daughter-in-law Beata has pneumonia. I feel so bad for her, but glad it's getting taken care of now. They're coming to visit in two weeks so she should be all better by then. I can't wait to have a full house--with Rob, Beata, Jill, Kayla, and Hunter. It's going to be great.

9/19 Score: Cold 1, Jer 0

Finally gave in and am staying home from work today. I hate hate hate missing work but since I ran a temperature yesterday I don't want to make anyone else sick.

And unless a miracle happens this also means that I have to miss a big family gathering tomorrow. That REALLY upsets me.

But the GREAT news is that my brain MRI showed that I have one and that there are no signs of tumors or potential aneurysms. I'm very grateful. What did show was that I'm a compassionate, brilliant, talented, and humble human being.

Actually it showed the changes that come with age. And since we know I'm old, that came as no surprise.

Guess it's my meds causing the balance problems, which is what I was hoping for all along. Love to all...

9/1 Labor Day without labor

Had a wonderfully lazy day. After sleeping in (okay, after waking up at 6, letting the dog out, feeding both the dog and cat and then crawling back into bed), Gus and I went to Jan and Tim's around 1. We swam all afternoon and it was great. Gus is so beat that he's snoring away at my feet.

Last night was fun too. What started as just a few people coming to Jan and Tim's for hot dogs ended up being a huge gathering. Almost everyone came and the food was super. Of course everyone brought a dish so there was plenty to choose from.

I'm incredibly blessed.

Will continue with my labor-less day. Am really tired so will join Gus in the snoring department before too long.

8/15 Hallelujah!

The epidural hurt a lot more than the first one, but the doc was funny and fun. He put in a lot more medicine (steroids included). Jane and Jan were there the whole time and the doc said that if it hurt too bad it was Jane's fault.

Afterward Jane and Jan took me to lunch which was sweet of them. Then before taking me home we went to John and Paulette's new house and we got a grand tour. John and Matt were working hard and the place is looking great.

Right now I'm feeling a little "weird," but there's not much pain. Tomorrow I should be able to have my normal routine. I have high hopes that this epidural is going to work. I'm very lucky and very blessed.

Thanks, Jane and Jan, for being there for me today.

8/7 Pasta sauce

Tonight I had pasta with a sauce made from tomatoes from Joe and Cindy's garden, green pepper from Jan's garden, and onion from HyVee Market. Yay. And yum.

Saturday is the Kuhlman family reunion, and I'm really look forward to it. My family is hosting it this year and I'm going to orchestrate some very special Olympic games--the kind you can play from a chair. I'll report about them afterward.

8/3 Fun and more fun

Gus, Charlie, and I swam with Jan, Kris, Brian, and Rocky today. It was relaxing and wonderful.

My brother Joe blogged a bunch of pictures from my birthday and they cracked me up. The pictures were taken by my great-nephew Blake. He's five years old. (I think I got his age right.)

8/2 Yes, Joe, it IS all about me

Today turned out better than I could have even hoped. Jan picked me up for Mass and afterward we went to Gem City for dinner. There were sixteen family members there and I couldn't stop smiling. Thanks, Jan, for buying my dinner. And also for the fresh vegetables from your garden.

And thanks to Kris and Jan for making my cake. OMIGOD it was so tasty. I would have loved to have more but John ate it all.

Kris and Brian gave me a lovely bouquet of flowers in such a cute vase. Hard to describe, but they were ceramic frog boots. If you want to see the vase, stop by anytime.

Cindy and Joe gave me a frog votive candle holder and a cute vegetarian cookbook.

Jordan, my godson, gave me a new swimming suit. How did you ever guess my size, Jordan? :)

And Blake and Ty made me beautiful birthday cards---Blake drew a picture of Gus on his.

Everything was just perfect. My children called me, and Rob/Beata sent a package that hasn't arrived yet, so I still have someting to look forward to.

After dinner nearly everyone came over to my house to visit for a while. We drank beer and played with the puppies. Then we watched Wipeout and I Survived a Japanese Game Show--two of my new favorite silly shows.

Matt and Joe put my new license plates on, which I really appreciate.

Sorry if there were gifts I forgot to mention. I'll have to look through things in the morning to make sure.

Thanks to everyone for making my 61st birthday memorable. Hope some of you can join us at Jan's tomorrow for swimming. Love you all.

7/6 Best and Worst

This has been such a great weekend. I've been able to be with my family a lot which is so important to me. Last night, Kelly, Todd, and the boys came over, but I didn't hear them knocking.(Note to self: get a doorbell.) Luckily I went out in front to water the flowers and saw them sitting over at Joe's house. So Gus, Bozie and I went over.

I knew they'd come to meet Bozie, because they are definitely cat people. Bozie made quite a hit with everyone. She is such a cutie. And of course Gus got some great attention too.

The worst part is that this weekend my back has been worse than ever. This latest bad flare up started about two days before the MRI, and unless I take the pain meds it's really bad. With the medication, I can tolerate the pain, but can't do a lot more than that. All I want to do is sleep. Last night I forced myself to water the flowers (which was good because I got to see everyone).

I'm grateful the puppy and kitten have each other. Neither has to rely on me for their fun. I do love to play with them though. Here are some pics I took with my phone.

We didn't know if Gussie would like the water or not, but he followed Rocky (a miniature dachshund) right into the pond.



I finally have a picture of Gus and me. It looks like I'm choking him, but I promise I'm not. Just wanted him to look at the darn camera.



My sister Jane holding Gus. And a pic of a small evergreen on Jan's porch with bubbles on it. The kids were blowing lots of bubbles and some would stick on the plant. Loved it.



A very tired puppy.



Bozie loves TV. Here's she's watching Wimbledon.

7/5 A wonderful Independence Day

Thanks, Jan and Tim, for such a great time. Most of the family and lots of friends turned out, and it made it a special day. Poor Gus doesn't remember how to walk because everyone kept holding him. :) That makes me happy.

I had a lot of fun. Can't wait to see the pictures.

When Gus and I got home I heard Bozie meowing, but couldn't find her. Started to get scared. Then I found her closed in the pantry. She was there the whole time. Luckily she didn't have an accident. A great kitty.

6/30 No time

Will post more later, but here's a picture from Joe and Cindy. My little Gus being chased by a Huskie--Storm. By the way, Storm is very sweet and they were playing great together.

6/7 St. Francis Parish Picnic

I went over at 5 and met up with some cousins. Had a beer with them. Then when my sister, brothers, and families arrived we had dinner. Everyone bought great sandwiches--roast beef, sloppy joes, hot dogs, brats, etc. No vegetarian food except onion rings, so that's what I ordered. For dessert, instead of getting superb homemade cakes, I got a shaved ice--a HUGE one. Then suddenly I got sick to my stomach. Started sweating profusely. So I told the family--bye, I'm sick. Walked home and threw up.

Wonder what it was--onion rings or shaved ice, or a combination of the two. Glad it's over. But I'm sorry I had to leave the family so early.

5/28 Family fun

Just returned from Kelly and Todd's where we had dinner to celebrate Adam's return to Quincy for a vacation. It's so much fun to be with family even though tonight was for a short time. I was uncomfortable as I had a painful day, so came home early.

Tomorrow at 7 I have xrays, so that might tell us something. Sure hope so.

4/13 Ellie, etc.

My great-niece Ellie was baptized today. It was a beautiful ceremony and she is a gorgeous three month old girl. Her full name is Elaine Elizabeth Ann and when the priest said, "Elaine," several of us got teary eyed. That's our mom's name--Ellie's great-grandmother.

Afterward we went to Matt and Beth's house and enjoyed lunch and cake/ice cream. Yum. I love getting together with the family.

Then instead of going straight home I went to the dollar store to buy some trinkets for the children I see in therapy. It's fun to play games with them as we talk, and of course it helps them to be more open to talk.

It snowed yesterday and today, but of course none of it stuck. It sure was weird though to have snow showers this late in the year. I took Quincy and Cookie for another walk late this afternoon and it was a lot more squirrelly than yesterday. Damn.

4/12 I woke up happy

Don't even know why. The dogs did have to get up during the night--but they came right back in and went to sleep. Then they got up at 6 AM as always, but went right back to sleep, so I actually slept until 7 (eventually).

My back felt bum early this morning so I took ibuprofen (lots) and it's starting to feel better. The good thing is that while my breakfast was cooking I put away a box of books, with lots more to do. In a moment I'm going to take the dogs for a walk. Later today I have some shopping to do--especially for my great niece Ellie's baptism which is tomorrow. I love family occasions like this. It will be fun. I've been back for three weeks and haven't met Ellie yet.

Tonight I'm going to dinner with lots of sibs and spouses. That'll be fun too. As for now--Q and C want to go for a walk. Adios.

4/6 A good weekend

Took the dogs for a walk (separately) this morning. It worked really well. I loved it. Walked about a mile and a half in beautiful spring weather. The dogs loved it too.

And my niece Sarah just called. She's going to take the dogs for another walk this afternoon. Great. They'll be nice and tired. While they're gone, I'll finish my taxes. (About time, huh?)

Last night John, Joe, Jane, Jan, Paulette, Cindy, and I went to mass together, and everyone but Jan went to dinner at Kelly's Tavern afterward. A nice evening.

I got a few more boxes put away yesterday and plan for a few more today, after I get my taxes done.

4/5 Dogs, house, lunch, shopping, and I succeeded

The girls have discovered squirrels. They jump at the huge maple tree in my backyard, and also have a go at the fence. Cookie is such an extraordinary jumper. I wish there was an agility course here. Maybe there is--I should check that out. She would be so good at it.

After working half a day I joined my sisters for lunch at the only Thai restaurant in town. Our niece, Kelly, happened by and she ate with us too. It was such an enjoyable meal and we sat for quite a while afterward just talking.

And I did it. Yes, I did. I made it through the whole meal without talking about my back pain. I'm very proud.

I went grocery shopping with Jan afterward, and even that was fun.

Last night my back bothered me a lot, so I called Jane and asked her a few questions. After using a moist heating pad and taking pain medication I was able to sleep well. Unfortunately the dogs had to go outside at 2:30 AM. The past week they slept through the night only twice. It's one day at a time with that--but I do think they finally feel like this is their home.

They sure love the big yard and get lots of exercise running and jumping every time they go outside.

Jane will be over in a little while to pick me up. I'm going to buy some new clothes for work. Then a haircut at one, church at 4:30. After that I'll have time to unpack some more. Last night I did unpack two big boxes, and that felt good.

4/1 It's April

What a great day. I was so busy at work that the day just flew by. Then I went to Alpha Dog to pick up the dogs and have their first private lesson. Elizabeth thought Cookie would be easy and Quincy difficult but it was just the opposite.

I was so proud of Quincy. She only needed one big correction and that was it. And I was correcting Cookie practically the whole time. She finally got it though and did well too. I'll have to get the right kind of collar and keep practicing with them.

Then I stopped by for Tim's Uncle Bill's birthday party. I think he's 82. Jan made a great salad and they ordered pizza. I was late, but Bill said he was really surprised. A nice ending to my long day.

3/30 Sunday

Went out to lunch yesterday with Jane, Pete, Jan, Deb, Joe, and Cindy. It was nice; I always enjoy spending time with family.

The fence is a mixed lessing. The good thing of course is that I no longer have to go outside every time the dogs do.

The downside is that they want to be outside all the time. I'm worried about all beautiful bulb plants that are already starting to bloom. If the dogs eat them or dig them up, Jan has threatened to dig them up and take them to her house. I definitely don't want that to happen. Kris has always had a beautiful garden in the back yard.

Speaking of Kris, she had a lot of toys stored in the shed and told me I could have anything I wanted for my office. So I took a few stuffed animals, two chairs, and tons of blocks. Cindy bought something for me, and I can also go to Kelly's to pick up some stuff, so I ought to be pretty well set. I'd like to get a few dolls, but can buy them if necessary.

Okay, back to work.

3/29 Brrr

It's been really cold, but thank heavens it's sunny. They're putting the gates on today, and then my fence will be complete. This morning I've been putting away items in the house and the dogs are driving me crazy because there's a squirrel in the tree in the front yard. They've not experienced this before.

The other things that drive them nuts are rabbits. Until here they'd not even seen a rabbit much less have them in the yard. They follow the trail around and around and around. Mind you they are on a leash, so I'm going around and around too. C'mon fence!

Went out to dinner last night with my sisters and their husbands, and a friend Debbie. They'd been setting up for the monster garage sale to be held today. Their proceeds will go to our Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Chicago. I can't help because of all the "stuff" to do in the house. But I'll probably join them for lunch when they're done at one or so.

Guess that's it. Back to work.

3/25 Survived second day

Today I learned so much. At the end of the day I did a crisis call with one of the supervisors. We went to the emergency room and did an evaluation of a patient with mental illness. There's certainly a lot more for me to learn, and I'm nowhere near ready to do this alone yet. It's not because I can't do it, it's because there are SO MANY DAMN FORMS to fill out. Yikes.

A recap of my first night here--I promised to talk about the gifts waiting:

Joe and Cindy left a bottle of Asti Spumonte, two wine glasses, and a laundry basket full of food and paper products. What a wonderful surprise.

Jan and Jane bought me a gorgeous plant.

Jane and Pete got beer, wine, wine glasses, bottled water, and rolls from the best bakery in the world--Underbrinks.

I'm sure I forgot some stuff, because they were so generous. It sure gave me the best ever welcome home.

3/23 Happy Easter

Went to mass this morning with Jan and then went to her house for Easter dinner with her family and Jane's. Delicious food. Nice dogs. Fun card games.

Am now home with my pups.

Snowed last night and at 5 AM when I took the dogs out, they were jumping around in it, catching snow flakes with open mouths, just like kids. They ate it off the ground too. Just what I needed when all I wanted was for them to do their business and let me go back to sleep. :)

Last night was fun. Dinner and drinks at the Abbey for Eric's birthday then everyone came over to my messy house. We had a ball though.

Too tired to write much. I need to take a nap before I get busy putting more items away.

I start work tomorrow.

3/21 New home, same blog

Have to hurry. I'm signed on to a neighbor's wireless. Don't know who. Can't connect to Joe's across the street, so I'm "borrowing" someone else's. Can't get my own to work at the moment. Will try again tomorrow.

The trip up here took less than 14 hours, and that's with a 90 minute stop at a vet's in Jackson, MS. The dogs were very anxious and uncomfortable so we got them sedated a bit. They were out like lights. And it made the trip easier on all of us.

When Genia and I (and two very groggy dogs) got here there were so many wonderful surprises waiting for us. More about that tomorrow.

For now--all my stuff was delivered and we are safely ensconced in our new home. The dogs are not used to all the traffic. We lived in a very quiet area, plus they had the privacy fence. Here it's very noisy--close to a busy street with a gas station across the back alley. The dogs won't even go to the bathroom. Yikes.

More tomorrow.

3/13 They're gone

Jan, Tim, Cindy, and Eric left this morning at 5 AM. I miss them already.

Yesterday we spent the whole day in New Orleans. We started with a trip across Lake Ponchartrain. Someone said the bridge was 26 miles long, but we haven't verified it. But I'll tell ya--that sucker is LONG. Eric and Jan took some wonderful pictures and Eric is going to post them on his website.

Then we took the streetcar through the Garden District. We walked around and found another cool cemetery. A cemetery gave us a tour. He was a real character and we got to see an open above-ground grave. Very fun.

Afterward we went to the French Quarter and spent the rest of our time. We ate at the Gumbo Shop and ended the day with begnets and coffee at Cafe du Monde.

Gotta get ready for work. I'll post some pictures when they send them to me.

I miss you guys! Thanks for coming.

3/11 Another great one

We went through Alabama into Florida. Went to Pensacola Beach and it was absolutely beautiful. Eric took so many great photos, and I can't wait until he posts them on his website.

Tomorrow we're going to New Orleans again. Right now I am super-tired so will hit the sack. Am looking forward to another fun-filled day tomorrow.

3/10 What a day!!!!!

We all got up early and began our journey at Waffle House--a real treat for Cindy and Eric since they'd never been to one before. Then we drove west on Beach Boulevard, all the way to New Orleans. What a jaunt!

In N.O. we went to one of the above ground cemeteries and also went to Musicians' Row, a rebuild project spearheaded by Harry Connick, Jr.

On the way home we stopped at High Cotton Grill for a very late lunch. By the time we got back to my house it was almost time for Lorena, Genia, and Caroline to come over. We played cards for a few hours. It was a good time. And after they left, Jan, Cindy, Eric and I played euchre. It had been a long time since I'd played, but it came back to me pretty quickly.

And one of the best parts of my day was getting my car detailed. No dog hair, at least for a few days.

Tomorrow we're driving to Mobile and will take the car ferry over Mobile Bay and drive to Pensacola, Florida. Lots of beauty on the way.

The most important thing is that Eric is having a great time. And he's taken some wonderful pictures.

Oh, I almost forgot--Genia knows Eric's girlfriend. She went to high school with Genia's daughter. Un-freaking-believable.

More fun tomorrow.

3/9 They're almost here

They should be here in about two hours. I'm going to take a shower and then eat some dinner, 'cause they're eating on the road. Can't wait.

3/8 Preparing

Last night Caroline called and said she and Genia were on their way to the Ruby Tuesday's near my house and why didn't I join them. Why not indeed. I threw away my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and said good-bye to the pups. Because I'd taken a few bites of my sandwich I wasn't extremely hungry, so I got the salad bar and a margarita. Yum on both.

Got home and vegged, knowing that the weekend would involve lots of cleaning. This morning I took the dogs to the kennel because I'd planned on shampooing the carpet. However--the only grocery store near me (where one usually rents carpet shampooers) is Walmart and they don't rent them. Yikes. So I'm doing the few "baddest" parts with my spot cleaner, and my carpet looks like it has some disease that causes spots.

I hated to spend money on it anyway, because all the carpet is going to get torn up very soon when the new stuff is installed. Ah well...at least it's only mud and not yucky stuff.

Genia and Caroline are coming over tonight to play cards. I wanted them here instead of going to their houses because that way I can work longer. Yeah, I know I'm not working now...quit being such a smartaleck.

Okay, back to the lovely carpet. (Do you recognize sarcasm when you hear it?)

One day until my family arrives. Nine days until the movers arrive. Things are happening.

3/1 This month

As my s-i-l, Andrea, reminded me--I'm going to be living in Quincy this month. I can't even believe it. One week from tomorrow my family is coming. Two weeks from Monday the movers are coming. In two and half weeks I'll be leaving. Wow. And I haven't done much yet. So--bye bye.

2/28 Can't sleep

The dogs woke me up at 4:30 to go outside. They came right back in and went to sleep, but not me. I haven't been able to go back to sleep. My mind is just racing--so much to think about, so much to do. I have to put the finishing touches on my presentation for tomorrow. There are going to be around 300 people there, and we are talking about the importance of funding case management. Some federal folks will be attending, and it's vital they hear us.

Then of course there's all I have to do with the house and other items to get ready to move. I'm so excited, yet know there's a lot of work ahead of me--not the least of which is driving to Quincy with both dogs. Last time I drove to Quincy in August, Q was six months old and I didn't have C yet. Now Q is one and C is 18 months. They'll take up the whole back of the car, plus I have to take at least two suitcases, a big bag, dog food, toys, water, computer case, purse, and a dog crate. Oh my. I have no idea how I'm going to get everything in the car. But I'll do it. Everything always does work out, even when it seems impossible. I just want to have enough room in the back of the car so the dogs can at least move around for the 12-15 hour drive.

Lots of fun things to look forward to also--I'm going to be home for Easter. Plus family members are arriving on the 9th. I love to show off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Besides the devastation still in evidence, there's incredible natural beauty. It'll be fun to have them here.

2/22 75 degrees and storming

It's a waste of a perfectly fine day. Seventy-five degrees--that's my perfect temperature. But it's storming. Tomorrow and Sunday will be either sunny or partly sunny, but only 65 degrees. I shouldn't complain since my family is still in the throes of winter.

Because of the rain the last several days Quincy has gotten lots of baths. She loves the baths as much as she loves rolling in the mud. Cookie isn't a bath fan, but will jump in the tub just because I tell her to. She's a good girl, but still kind of skittish about things. Luckily she loves people as much as Quincy does, so I never have to worry about that. Plus she's a great "early warning system" when people are coming to the door.

So much to do to get ready for the move, but that will make the time fly. Of course, I don't want it to fly too much because there's not much time yet. I sure hope I'm able to get everything done. I'd given notice that my last day of work would be 3/21, but found out that's Good Friday, so it's holiday here since we're a faith-based organization. So that will give me an extra day to get home. I can leave early that Friday morning and arrive in Quincy 12-15 hours later. Both dogs are good travelers, but Cookie hasn't traveled more than an hour or so at one time. I've got my fingers crossed. I've asked either Caroline or Genia if they want to drive with me, to help with the pups. That way they can meet "the family" up close.

We're having a case management summit at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino next Friday. I'm going to do a small part of the presentation, and I'm stoked about it. Should be a good conference.

Quincy's graduation from dog training is next Thursday. Unfortunately she and I can't be there. I'm going to be spending the night at the Hard Rock Casino with Caroline and Genia, because C got a $59 rate. It's the night before the conference. I'm having a private training for an hour for Cookie. She's a well behaved dog except on the leash. She pulls more than any dog I've ever had. It's almost like a compulsion to be somewhere. Poor thing. She pulls so hard that her belly almost touches the ground. It's hard on me too, so I'm hoping Erika (the trainer) can do some magic.

2/14 Valentine's Day

I received a valentine card today. Surprised me. Very sweet. Also got an email from a former beau.

Anyway, today and tomorrow I'm going to a conference--MSVOAD (Mississippi Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster). It'll be informative and also enjoyable since all my friends are going. Yay for that. After the conference ends tomorrow Caroline, Genia,and I are going to Florida for the weekend. It will be a cheap trip too, as we're staying at Caroline's aunt's condo--right on the beach. The bad news is that rain is forecast for the whole weekend. That's okay because the weekend is all about relaxing, and that's what the three of us need. I'm really looking forward to it.

Then back home to work on program closure and the all-important job hunting. I'm still hopeful about Numero Uno, but received a no-thank you letter from the hospital back home. It makes sense though, because it was for hospice and I don't have any experience in that area.

One thing about Numero Uno that really excites me is that besides outpatient counseling, I would be on call for crisis work at the emergency department of the hospital for individuals with mental health needs. This is right up my alley because of my experience with behavioral health in St. Louis, and of course my crisis and disaster work. I've decided I can live on the salary negotiated, even though it's about 58% of what I make now. It will be hard, but I can do it. Plus they pay a productivity bonus,and I'd work hard to earn that.

Guess you can tell I'm kind of psyched about moving home. I absolutely hate leaving here, I love the place and have such great friends. But I miss my family terribly. More later on old-lady angst.

2/13 Excellent news

Nope, not about my job search, although the interview went very well and I feel confident.

But my sister, Jan, s-i-l Cindy, and nephew Eric are coming to visit me next month. Plus a b-i-l (Tim) and another nephew (Cody) may join them. I am beyond thrilled.

Gotta run to a meeting. Will post some Mardi Gras pictures tonight.

2/2 Groundhog Day

On my brother Joe's blog people are posting quotes from this movie. We have many cult favorites in our family--the most notable one being Tombstone. But I'm watching Groundhog Day right now and laughing--at the same old stuff. :)

Today I had lunch with Caroline and tonight we'll play cards at her house.

But other than these items, I'm feeling depressed. There it is.

Like I said yesterday, I've definitely decided to stop being depressed and only look forward as of Ash Wednesday. Will it work? I sure hope so. It has in the past; but it's been a long time since I've been depressed like this. 1992 to be exact. It worked then....

1/25 Let's talk about something silly

Since it's my lunchtime I'll accept my friend Monk's challenge to blog this meme:

How long have you been blogging?

Since December of 2004 and there have been very few days that I've missed.

What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?

No real blogging mentors, although I do admire people who stick to it. It's not easy.

What inspired me to start blogging was that I'd always written travelogues for my family and friends. When I went to New Zealand, Australia, and Okinawa I'd email everyone about the fun I was having. By the time I moved to the UK for five months, blogging had been developed and this was a much easier way to communicate to my family/friends.

After I returned to the states my blog became a lot more boring, hence the title of this blog.


Are you trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?

For fun.


What 3 things do you love about being online?

Basically I've met so many great people. In 1995 I joined an online writers' community and have met many of those folks face to face. They've become dear friends and it's all because of being online.

What 3 things do you struggle with online?

The hardest thing is to remember that this is a public forum. And also that people can (and do) misinterpret what one says. When anyone has criticized me about being boring or self-centered, I just say, "Stop reading it." It's my blog and I'll write about what I want.

I kept diaries for many years. In some ways, this has replaced it. In others, no--I can't write my innermost thoughts. But my blog has helped me keep so many memories alive for myself. That's a really good thing.

I tag my niece Kelly, my daughter-in-law Beata, my son Rob, and my brother Joe. Will they respond? Maybe Kelly will.

1/20 Go Packers

Am watching the playoff game with Todd and Jill. It's fun since Todd is from Eagle River, WI and Jill lived with me in Milwaukee. So it's a lot more fun than watching the game alone. Being with other fans sure makes a difference.

We taped the game so still don't know how it ended. Right now it's 20 to 20 in the fourth quarter. An exciting game.

We had such a wonderful day. Went to Build a Bear with Jill and the kids, and I bought some belated Christmas gifts. Plus this morning we opened other Christmas gifts. Everyone seemed to like what I got, and I loved my presents. I got a gift certificate so I could get the Ironman Triathlon watch I wanted. This one is a lot more feminine than the usual honkin' big ones I buy.

We also went to Starbucks and the kids got to play there while Jill and I enjoyed some coffee. Tomorrow the kids are off school for MLK day, but both Jill and Todd have to work. So I get a full day with Kayla and Hunter. We'll take Jill to work, then go to breakfast at Coco's, a tradition when I visit. Afterward we'll come back and get their dog Sadie, and go to the park so the kids can play. And I'll play with Sadie. She's a sweetheart, but has really aged since the last time I was out here. She's probably 12 years old and is getting up there in years.

I am having a wonderful time. Yay for family!

1/9 A new Bozarth

Meet Elaine Elizabeth Ann Bozarth, the newest addition to our huge clan. She's called Ellie, which I think is just adorable. She's named after my mother (her great-grandmother)Elaine, Ellie's mother (Elizabeth) and Beth's grandma Ann. So both Beth's and Matt's grandmothers are represented.

Isn't she a beauty? Born this afternoon and everyone is in love with her already. Actually we loved her before she even entered the world.

Welcome to the family, Ellie.

1/7 Busy and fat...

Went to a home dedication today. It's an amazing thing, and a big payoff in this job. We do lots of work for which we'll never see the results. But on the occasions when there's a house blessing, it's a beautiful thing.

The local news has been covering them, and once again my fat frame is shown. This time I'm hugging the homeowner, and it's fast, so it's not so bad. But still...

My family has started our own Biggest Loser contest. Several of us joined up. We've been at it for a week, and will go until Easter Sunday. As you can see, there are varying degrees of loss needed, so we're doing it by percentage lost, not by amount. My nephew-in-law, Todd, is a math teacher so we have him being the "keeper of the data."

I'm psyched about this; just need to really get busy. Wish us luck. And I'm laughing in the picture, but my brother Joe said that it looks like I'm pulling a Karen Carpenter.

1/2 Home again

New Year's Day 2008, I'm in the middle with the pink scarf around my neck. Brrrrrr.

January 1 was awesome as usual. Part of the family went to the cemetery to celebrate Mom's and Dad's life, and we toasted them with a beer, like we always do. There were 20 of us there, which was great. It was absolutely freezing--a bitter wind was blowing, but we huddled together and enjoyed the visit.

Then we went back to the old homestead, owned by Joe and Cindy, and ate and ate and ate. We played games all day too. Most of us got very involved in the musical version of Catch Phrase. We played Texas Hold'em too, twice. And I won one of the tournaments, so that was a good pay off. Others played Cattan, which is a game where you build civilizations. Others played Rummikub and Triominoes. It was a super day.




Here's a picture of Rob and me on Christmas day enjoying the scrumptious meal.

12/31 Family stuff

Sorry I haven't posted for several days, but I'm staying at my sister, Jan's. She lives in the country and has dial up connection. She's ordered DSL but it hasn't been turned on yet.

So I'm sitting in a coffee shop in Quincy. Free wi-fi is a good thing. :)

I'm catching up on some work while Jan is working at the clinic this morning. Jane is off, but don't know what she's up to. I've been here since Friday and everything is going beautifully. Jan and Tim are always so welcoming and loving to me. It's such a treat to stay in their beautiful home. Friday night we just relaxed and played some games. Saturday we went shopping with Jane and her daughter Sarah. I got a few after-Christmas bargains. Saturday night all the siblings got together, without kids. We ate at Sprouts. It was a lot of fun. Several of us went to the Elks afterward, where we met up with True and Pat (a cousin and her husband).

Sunday Jane, Jan, and I went to Mass together. Then last night Jane and her family came for dinner, and so did Kris and her boyfriend, Brian. Kris is Jan and Tim's daughter. Also, Tim's Uncle Bill joined us. Caught up with the cast of characters? Just wait--there will be tons more tomorrow at Joe and Cindy's house.

Tonight Jane and her family, and Kris and Brian are coming again for dinner and games. I'm looking forward to it. But of course the reason for my visit will happen tomorrow--on New Year's Day. More on that later.

12/8 It's those days....

Yesterday was my brother John's birthday. Today is my brother Joe's birthday. Tomorrow is my brother Jay's birthday, and my son-in-law Todd's birthday, and my ex-husband's birthday.

Here's a general HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all!!!

Genia came over tonight and helped me wrap presents. Sorry, guys, they weren't birthday presents.

Time's passing so quickly....

(Oh, it was 80 today, and will be in the 60s overnight. Not too shabby.)

12/1 70 degrees in December

My home office was basically just a big closet until Rob came and helped me organize it. I'm grateful beyond words. (The TV, printer, and phone are on the desk. Everything but my laptop.) Still some boxes under the desk, but I'll take care of that soon.

11/29 More pictures

Some of the live oaks that died were sculpted beautifully by an artist with a chain saw. (Yes, they are really called "live oaks.")





















My beautiful kids.

11/29 I won't kill it

My sister Jan brought me a plant. Beautiful baby tears. I've had this plant before and love it, but always kill it.

This one sits on my kitchen window sill and still looks perfect. The problem begins when it starts getting a little leggy and I try to replant the ends. Supposed to be easy and for most people it is--just pinch off the ends and put them in the pot. But somehow I kill it.

The reason it's important is that this plant is from my Grandma's plant. She always had beautiful baby tears around the house. When she died we all got a plant. Some people, like Jan, were able to keep it going, and she keeps giving offshoot plants to plant killers like me.

Thanks, Jan. I love having a part of Grandma Bozie in my house.

11/28 I miss you, Mom

Even though Mom's been gone for 27 years ago, I still really miss her. My brother Joe wrote a great blog entry about Mom today. So I'll be lazy (and tired) and just refer people there.

Didn't get home until 7:30 tonight, so it was a long day.

11/27 Photos

A series of pagodas on a fishing dock.


















And the Hard Rock guitar at the casino.


























King Neptune lost his arms in the storm.























Finally, here's a Katrina Cottage--many of the survivors are given that after the FEMA trailers are removed.

More photos later.

11/25 Not much time

Need to get some sleep. Rob is downloading his photos for me, and I'll post some tomorrow. But for now I have to catch some zzzz's.

He was absolutely awesome today. Rob did so much work around my house; I can't believe it's the same place.

I took him to the Beau Rivage tonight for dinner--the seafood buffet. He was suitably impressed, and did some damage.

11/24 It's really Sunday

What fun we've had. Today we drove around and enjoyed each other's company. I showed Rob all the devastation from Ocean Springs to Waveland, and he is angry that our country doesn't realize all the work yet to be done. But we managed to have fun despite the storm's ravages.

After the drive we went to High Cotton to eat. I had my usual friend green tomatoes and Rob enjoyed a seafood platter. We went to Lowe's afterward and got stuff to work on the house. Then we re-cleaned the place and my friends came over at 7 to play games and cards. They just left. And it's actually Sunday instead of Saturday. They loved Rob and he loved them, so it was a successful evening. And both Quincy and Cookie were so well behaved.

Tomorrow we're putting up my Christmas tree and cleaning out my office. He's also going to put down some boards in my attic so I can store things there. Lots to do tomorrow and we'll celebrate our good work by going to the Beau Rivage for the seafood buffet tomorrow night. Should be another wonderful day.

Rob is super, and it's such a pleasure having him here.

11/23 Rob's here

He arrived at 2 PM. He absolutely loves my house, which makes me smile idiotically. I made dinner and then we've been playing games for hours. It was really fun.

The dogs adore him and he says the feeling is mutual.

What a wonderful treat to have my son here.

Tomorrow we're going exploring and tomorrow night friends are coming over for games. Both Rob and I love cards and other games so I think it will be a fun night.

I promise to take pictures tomorrow. For now, I'm beat. Love to all.

11/22 Happy Thanksgiving!

So far it's a quiet day. Just talked to Jill for a few minutes. They're expecting lots of folks from her Dad's side of the family. There will be nine people and two dogs. Quite a crowd.

I'm going to Genia's today for dinner at 3. Should be fun. I'm taking Grandma's Holiday Salad and a sweet potato casserole.

Still lots of work to do here at home to prepare for Rob's arrival tomorrow. But unfortunately the barometer is dropping and I have a splitting headache. Hope it goes away soon.

In the meantime my dogs and I are napping. That's what holidays are for--that and overindulgence in the food department.

11/20 My big news!

(Rob, the day I picked out Quincy--when she was 10 days old.)

Rob is going to visit me from Friday until Monday. I'm so excited. Not only will I get to see my wonderful son, but he's going to do some chores around my house--saving me some money.

A huge thank you to Beata for loaning him to me. Unfortunately she has to work (drat that retail job!), so she can't come too. I'm going to miss her but it will be super to have my son here.

Saturday night I've invited over my card playing friends to play games becasue I wanted them to meet Rob.

Can't wait.

11/11 It's quiet now

All my friends and acquaintances are gone. But that's okay. I can use the quiet. It's been quite a weekend.

Yesterday our speakers were superb--Bob Mankoff, the cartoon editor for the New Yorker had us guffawing with his presentation on humor, especially cartoon humor. He and his wife Cory are really nice. I spent some time with Cory, just chatting. She was interested in the work I'm involved in.

A woman named Sue (I forgot her last name) spoke about gestures, and everyone had fun with that.

In the afternoon we played board games. I won at our table and got to take the game home. It's called Word Sweep and is so much fun. My fear is that no one will want to play it with me, except Rob. It's a great game though, and won't be re-gifted since I want to keep it. :)

The meals were all great and we got to choose from the buffet or order off the menu. I sure ate too much, and there were always several desserts to sample, including the chocolate fountain.

After dinner Greg Pliska had us running all over this huge, old hotel for a treasure hunt. You had to solve some very challenging puzzles to find the answers. My team came in 14th out of 24 (only 19 were able to completely finish). I attribute our late showing to the fact that we were the old codgers. David (my friend who often comments here), Joe (a friend of friends), and Jane and John Williams (he's the executive director of the National Scrabble Association and she is a vice president and someone I'm happy to call my friend). Jane ended up not feeling well, so it was the three guys and I. We had a lot of stressful fun competing. Wish we'd done better, but I was just so damn proud we finished. It was really difficult, and went from about 9:15 PM until after midnight.

During the day I was interviewed by a couple (Jennifer and Matthew) who are doing a documentary called Jokes My Grandma Told Me. They were basically interested in family humor. So I had a lot to tell them. :) They are interviewing a lot of people, and it was fun. Made me miss my siblings though.

Then about 20 of us stayed up late playing word games. I made it until after 2 AM and am proud of myself for keeping up. David and Dave (a great guy from Madison, WI) played until 4 AM or so, along with some others.

Will post about today later.

11/6 Bye bye Jan and Tim

Some shrimp boats in the Ocean Springs harbor on one of the bayous. These boats were everywhere and were so cool. Tim bought 30 pounds of fresh shrimp from one Vietnamese woman who was from a town near where Tim served. A nice coincidence.



Many beautiful homes can be found like this--on stilts. FEMA determines the required elevation.


Jan and Tim left early in the morning. It was wonderful having them visit and we sure had lots of fun. I miss them already.

10/31 Trick or Treat

My outside light is broken--or maybe just needs a new bulb. I'll check it tomorrow. But what it meant tonight is that only one group of kids was brave enough to ring my doorbell. Guess I'll be forced to eat a lot of candy. Oh, well.

Last night Genia and Caroline came over and we played Canasta. I'd gotten the rules from the internet. Haven't played Canasta in years, but it was so much fun.

Tonight I went to choir practice and it had been canceled. No one bothered to call me though. It upset me a bit, but it felt good to come home and relax with the puppies.

Jan and Tim will arrive late Friday night. The plan is for us to go to New Orleans on Saturday, the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sunday, and Mobile, AL on Monday. I have to work Monday afternoon, so this will work out well. They'll leave on Tuesday morning after an all too short visit. But it will be great to have them.

Today it was 80 degrees and sunny. An absolutely perfect day. For the weekend it's supposed to be in the mid to high 70s and partly sunny. No rain is forecast. I sure hope it stays that way; it will be wonderful sightseeing weather.

10/19 What a great day

Rob, Beata and I woke up at 4:30 because my stupid alarm went off. Rob went to the gym to work out while Bea and I went back to sleep. At seven we had breakfast--some yummy pastries from Panera Bread. Then it was time to say goodbye to Beata.

Rob drove me to Charlotte. It was a nice, uneventful trip. What a pleasure it is to spend some uninterrupted time with your adult kids. We really missed Beata though. But she was out earning money.

When we arrived in Charlotte I got to check into my hotel room right away which made things a lot easier for us. Then we met up with my friend, JC, a gal I wen to grade school and high school with. The lunch wa so enjoyable. Joyce and I always have a laughfest when we're together. I'm really a lucky bug to be able to travel and catch up with people who mean something to me.

Rob left around 2 and I had a conference call with coworkers at 3. It lasted until 4:30, but my first meeting here started at 4. So for a half hour I attended two meetings at the same time. It was pretty confusing, but I managed. Thankfully I remembered to keep my phone on mute most of the time.

Tonight was good--we had a team leader meeting and then an all Crew meeting. This year I'm a division leader which is a step up--not in glamor or coolness, but in responsibility. I like it though. The Avon Breast Cancer Walks not only do a tremendous amount of good, but they are fun and addicitng as well. Gotta run--I'm hungry and tired.

Be nice. And no talking politics while I'm sleeping.

(As I type I'm sitting next to a handsome young man, Joshua. What a little cutie.)

10/18 I arrived

My connecting flight was canceled so I arrived in NC a few hours late. Rob picked me up in Raleigh and we had a fun drive to Sanford. Beata arrived shortly after we got home. She made a delicious dinner and we relaxed afterward.

Bea made a confession to me--she confessed that she can't wait to become a citizen so she can vote. And she's decided to be a Democrat. I whooped with joy. The two of us against the rest of the family. YES!

The zoo were all thrilled to see me. Since I miss my dogs, it's nice to have three of them fawn over me.

10/15 Leaving Thursday

I get to visit Rob and Beata on Thursday and part of Friday. Am flying to Raleigh and will stay at their house overnight. Then on Friday they're driving me to Charlotte, where I'll participate in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. I was asked to be the Operations Division Leader for the crew and said absolutely yes.

It's a great event, and my sisters, nieces, friends and I go to the Chicago one every year. My sisters and I have done it for the past six years and over the years others have joined us. It's such a wonderful time. Even though we're all so busy--especially Jan who walks the 40 miles--we still get to spend some quality time together and I cherish it.

This one won't be as much fun as Chicago because they won't be there, but it's a worthy cause and I'm looking forward to it.

Plus it will be super to see Rob, Beata, and the zoo. Haven't seen them since early May when I drove back there to pick up Quincy. She was eight weeks old at the time. And about eight pounds. Now she's eight months old (tomorrow) and more than 60 pounds. How time flies!

Can't wait to see two of my kids!!!!! I could use the hugs.

8/11 Lots happening

It's been an amazing time. Right now I'm at McDonald's with the grandkids. They finished breakfast and are playing while I try to catch up a little.

Can't remember if I mentioned the lovely flowers that Rob and Beata sent me for my birthday. Amazing. And some of them are still beautiful more than a week later.

We've seen lots of our family especially Jan, Tim, Jane, Sarah, and Jordan. It's been great. Jan and Tim are just wonderful to let us stay so long. Jane has been incredibly generous with buying the kids things and supplying an extra duffel bag to put them in for the trip. :) Jordan and Sarah have been such big helps with watching them.

Swam every day but one so far. Yesterday we swam twice so that made up for the one day we missed. Hunter's had a few meltdowns where he cried for his mom, but it hasn't happened for several days. In fact now he calls me mom, I hope that doesn't worry you, Jill. Both kids want to live with me now, I think it's 'cause I told them you're never coming back for them and you don't love them anymore.

Okay, the truth...they really miss you, but there's no crying anymore. They are having such a wonderful time swimming every day, being with family, and enjoying "vacation rules." I told them that when we get to the hotel in St. Louis that their vacation rules are officially over and that we need to get them back into "mommy and daddy rules" so that when Jill and Todd walk into the hotel they won't be horrified at their children's behavior. Truth be told, Tim and Jan both say that Kayla and Hunter are very well behaved and polite, so that's very good to hear.

I put Q in the kennel a few days ago. She's such a HUGE puppy and I wasn't having a relaxed time just worrying about the damage she could do at the new house. She is completely housetrained at home (except for the unfortunate diarrhea incident--no fault of hers), but has managed to pee several times on the expensive living room carpet. Plus she enjoys Jan's flowers--a bit too much. So tomorrow morning we'll pick her up and bring her to the house so she can run around outside for a few hours before taking off for St. Louis. I'm much less anxious. The kids are easier to watch. :) We leave about noon tomorrow and will stay at the hotel. Jill and Todd get in at 9:30 so the kids will be anxiously waiting for their arrival.

The following day Q and I leave early for Jackson MS. I have a meeting in Jackson on Tuesday, so will put Q in day care there while I work. Tuesday evening we'll head for home, and that will be a welcome occurence. Have to rest up from my vacation.

Today will be fun though. We're having a family picnic at Jan and Tim's lots of folks are coming and we'll swim then have a feast. Can't wait.

8/7 Time flies, etc.

On August 2, I turned 60. One of the worst birthdays in my life. Not because of my age--that's never bothered me. But because of Quincy's diarrhea.

Yep. It started the evening of August 1. Luckily she was able to run to the door and we had no accidents inside the house. Until in the middle of the night I heard a loud SQUIRT and woke up scraeming, "NOOOOOOO!" It took a good portion of the rest of the night to clean the carpet, then clean my rug shampooer.

Woke up at 3:30 after only a few hours rest. We drove to Jackson MS, making many stops along the way. I dropped her at a vet/kennel while I went to a meeting at the MEMA EOC (Emergency Operations Center). Told the vet that instead of just boarding her, she needed to be seen.

My wild dog just loves kennels and vets. She bounds into those places like she bounds everywhere--with joy and enthusiasm. God, I love her!

Turns out she has a lower GI infection. More meds to the tune of $125. After my meeting Q and I took off for Quincy, IL. We stopped VERY frequently. Ended up staying at a Drury Hotel in Cape Girardeau, MO. Thanks, Jill, for making the reservation for us. Turns out that all Drury Hotels are pet friendly. And the place didn't smell at all. This means I'll definitely stay at that chain frequently.

Got to Jan and Tim's in Maywood MO, right across the Mississippi River from Quincy on Friday, the 3rd. Quincy absolutely loves their property where she can run all over the acreage. Their two dachshunds run hot and cold in their feelings for her, but she seems to like them a lot.

On Saturday I drove to St. Louis to pick up the grandkids. (Left Q at a kennel in Quincy so Jan and Tim didn't have to worry about diarrhea.) It was wonderful to see Jill and Todd, but my heart exploded with joy to see Kayla and Hunter. My nephew Jordan went with me to help out and prior to the kids' arrival, he and I spent time at a Mexican bar and restaurant with my friend Joe.

We got back to the Quincy area around 8:30 or so. Jan and Tim had other guests too, so it was a wonderfully crowded house. I kept Q in the kennel overnight because there were a lot of little kids at Jan's, plus a new puppy. Crazy--but fun.

The kids and I have been swimming daily except for today. Swimming in the pond in the country is absolutely superb. Quincy loves it too. She is having the time of her life.

Must run. Most of the big family is meeting at Kelly and Todd's for pizza at 5. Tomorrow is shopping with Aunt Jane, and Friday is going to Mark Twain Cave with the kids. Jordan has been a real godsend with the kids. Can't believe I just said that. But he has been awesome.

And I owe so many thanks to Jan and Tim for their patience with the kids, the dog, and me.

Wish I could have gotten more work done. My vpn (virtual private network) won't connect and our IT department hasn't gotten back to me about it. Have worked nearly all day though. Just wish I could send the emails via my computer instead of Blackberry.

Much more, much later.

7/26 My surprise

Beata called me tonight. Said she had a birthday surprise for me and was going to send it next week. I said that I was leaving Thursday for a meeting in Jackson and from there it was off to Quincy. I also said she could ship whatever it was to my office because someone would always be there. She said she didn't think that would work.

The surprise was my son Rob. I can't believe it. He was going to come visit me for my birthday and I'm going to be gone. That really makes me mad.

I want it all...my vacation and my son. Is that too much to ask?

7/7 A good Saturday

I've actually accomplished some things today, and the day isn't even over yet. That's really something! As much as I hate housework, I've put away two boxes and cleaned the kitchen and dining room. Lots more to do, but... don't know if I'll get around to it or not.

Jill contacted me today, and it looks like they'll leave on August 4th. Since that's just two days after my birthday, that means I'll be able to celebrate with my family. Makes me smile. Can't wait to get confirmation from Jill, but it looks pretty sure. They changed their minds about their destination though. It looks like they're going to Whistler up in British Columbia instead of Italy. Things just worked out better for them.

It'll be a little more difficult for me since they won't be going through St. Louis. I could just go to LA and watch the kids there, but I want them to be able to visit with the whole family; so I'll probably fly out to get them. We'll decide soon.

I was pretty excited about the weather. For a while it looked like there were no thunderstorms for a change, but the sky is cloudy and ominous looking. At least it will keep me home. Quincy likes that.

6/3 The 2007 Chicago Avon Breast Cancer Walk is history!

We're tired and punch drunk. And at a hotel west of Chicago. About 13 of Bozarth friends and family are getting ready to swim, eat pizza, and drink beer (or soda or iced tea or water). Too tired to post more, but will give details tomorrow. Jan, Kris, and Beth all did so well with their walking. And Jane, Deb, and I all did well with our crewing. More later. Love to all.

6/1 Hurricane Season and the Avon Breat Cancer Walk

The Atlantic Hurricane Season begins today. And so what did I do? Leave town.

My flight didn't get into Chicago until 9:30. My cab driver was a doll. From Iran and close to my age. He had a brochure in his car for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. How cool.

By the time I got to the hotel the other five gals were in fine form. Not from drinking (although a few of them had hoisted a couple of brews), but just from being silly. I knew this was going to be a fun weekend.

We're calling Beth and Kris (my nieces) Avon Virgins since it's their first walk. We're also trying to come up with a funny, catch name for our "team," but most of the good names have been taken. We've seen some doozies over the years.

Went to sleep finally after midnight. I woke up at 6:45 and showered--a late morning since Q wasn't sleeping with me. I shared a room with Jane and Deb. Deb's in the shower now and Jane is still sleeping. Jane brought some great ear plugs for me and I slept like a baby. Hope my snoring didn't keep either of them awake.

We'll breakfast here at the hotel, then it's off to the designer outlet mall. We plan on lunch at the Red Tavern, which is where we always eat when we're at this mall in Aurora. After lunch we'll make our way to the hotel where "Event Eve" will be held. It's near O'Hare I think. And we'll stay there tonight because we have meetings there this evening. Tomorrow we'll head to Soldier Field where the opening ceremonies will take place.

More later. (This will be FUN!)

5/26 More work

Tommy and Tom came back today and put up another ceiling fan and did some other work too. We didn't get as much done as I'd hoped but I can do some of it myself. My favorite thing is that I have a fan on my back porch. That will be great for warm evenings when I still want to sit outside.

Q is acting the fool right now. She keeps jumping on me with a toy in her mouth. She'll come right to my face then turn around and put her butt in my face. I swear she's laughing while she's doing it. What a character.

All my brothers and nephews are out at John's land for the weekend. They do this every Memorial Day weekend and it's a nutso experience. How do I know? Because I'm the only sister who was allowed to partake of the weekend a long time ago. I loved it, but it is indeed a surreal time. They'll come back with tons of stories and lots of inside jokes. All part of the family mythos.

5/4 Last day in Quincy with Quincy

Since I returned from Chicago I've been having such a relaxing time in Quincy. It's hard not having internet access all the time, but my Blackberry works pretty well. Right now I'm at my niece Kris's house, pirating wireless from my brother Joe's across the street.

Last night more than 20 of us gathered at Tower of Pizza for a great meal. Jeff and Deb even drove in from Carthage. I loved the noise and the chaos (and the margaritas). Thanks, Jane, for organizing it.

Tomorrow Q and I will head for home. I'd like to start by 7 or 8 since it's such a long drive and I want to do it in one day again. I'm anxious to get home...so much to do there. Plus my fence should be up by the time I arrive. Hooray for that.