Fit TV

We get our tv from satelite. We have a lot of channels. I know we usually don't watch anything but the 4 major networks, but with DirecTv we could watch something else. (Maybe someday) And besides what would I do with that $50 bucks a month but waste it on a silly retirement fund.
Well here's my complaint about satelite tv. I found the Fit Channel. Men, but mostly women, dressed for the beach who are stretching and pumping iron and jumping and running and bending over and generally carrying on in all kinds of movements and contortions. You must be tall, slender, and beautiful to be on fit tv. I've been watching it for some time now. I still weigh the same as I did a month ago. It doesn't work. But I've decided to keep up with the regimen. I think my cardiovascular system is benefiting.
Okay, I'm just kidding. I really am trying. Just today I ordered a new and heavier remote for my television.

I Must Be Popular

I get a lot of mail.
Someone at Citi-Bank and someone else at Capitol One must really like me.
I'm pre-approved. Big credit line. A new offer almost everyday. So I'm thinking I should just buy a new car and put it on one of those cards. Lets see, $30,000 for 3 years at 26.5%
I checked out the amortization. $1216 per month for 3 years. Total interest of $13,801. Interest as percentage of principal is 46%.
So yes, maybe if I write and politely ask them, they might consider NOT SENDING ME ANYMORE LETTERS. yelling like Sam Kennison here: HAVE I EVER RETURNED ONE OF YOUR THOUSANDS OF LETTERS. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I WOULD FOREGO RETIREMENT JUST TO USE ONE OF YOUR CREDIT CARDS???
I think they must all be women at these banks. Men are used to rejection and would have given up after oh say the first 6ooo tries with no success. I'm okay now
On a different subject this picture explains the biggest difference between women and men.

Choices

Our life here on earth is almost completely the result of the choices we make on a daily basis. Like whether or not to go to school, use drugs, read, get married, have kids, and the list goes on forever.
Yesterday I needed to go to the other side of the county for a part for an auger. I asked Marilyn if she wanted to go. She chose to go, after all, she has been couped up in this house with her new knee for two weeks now.
We toured a bit after our stop and eventually got home about two and half hours later. As we got home and walked in the house the phone rang and Marilyn saw the name on caller I.D. and yelled "It's Dan." Our son from Lincon.
Dan: "Hi Dad, I've been calling, where have you been?"
Me: "Oh I needed a part over by Uhling and so I decided to air your Mother out."
Wrong choice of words.

Misc. (that's all I can spell of it without getting the dictionary out)

The touring group of The Lion King is currently camped in Omaha's Orpheum Theatre for a couple of weeks. As a Christmas present to our manager at the kennel (our daughter) and her kids, and my mother in-law, we purchased 5 orchestra level tickets for the show. The reasoning being that Marilyn would take those 4 with her. The knee replacement required that I take them down in her stead. It was a great show. See it if you can if it comes to your area. The show completely engulfs the building at times. The costuming is fabulous as well as the singing. I suppose the highlight for all of us was the near full sized elephant that came down the aisle and up on stage at the start of the show. Two and one half hours. $20 for the souvenir program.
&
Marilyn has been in the dumps with her knee replacement recovery. Eleven days of sitting, and pain, and swelling, and some nausea, and not being able to get back to normal in a week and half had her feeling pretty blue. She has been worried about when she could start excercising and if she would have made any progress in the Doctors eye's. Well today at the check up which was to include removing the staples, the Surgeon and his Physicians Assistant entered the room. They both bent over. The assistant in front and the Dr behind her looking over her shoulder as they pulled the wraps off of the knee. They both sounded just like two grandmothers getting to see a brand new baby. "Oh Marilyn!" Right here we were both afraid of what was next. "It Is Beautiful." "Oh Wow, you are doing SO WELL!"
The sight of her knee would probably make some of you folks light headed. But this is proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The recent past had Marilyn feeling pretty old and sedentary so when the surgeon said, "We would expect someone as young and active as you to do well, and you are" it made the walk back to van a lot easier.
Marilyn also told them that many acquaintances had told her they had no trouble or pain with their knee replacement. Both professionals shook their heads and smiled and said, "They forgot about the pain, it's the same with child birth, no one remembers the pain." The PA said, "for two weeks after any major surgery...it's just going to suck." I like medical professionals who can speak on my level.

Farewell to Lloyd

The older I get the more I appreciate humility. Not the intentional kind. The kind you can't manufacture. It's just there. The folks you like to stop and talk to, are usually the ones who have it. You can try to get them to talk about themselves but they can't. They turn every conversation around and point it away from themselves.
We had a neighbor couple who were that way. She's been gone a few years and her husband Lloyd has now joined her. His funeral is Thursday. They called and wanted me to be an honorary pall bearer. Having not heard the news, I was saddened.
I immediately got to thinking about how gracious, kind, unassuming, friendly, generous, and selfless these folks had been.
My Dad used to often say "As you get old, your bad traits will either disappear or get worse." I see it nearly everyday. The neatest, happiest, most lovely people I know are old. The meanest, most unhappy, and vengeful people I know are old.
As I fast approach 'old', things like the passing of plain, peaceable, ordinary, humble people who have been good neighbors and friends reminds me that I must try harder to be like them. To avoid complaining, to build up instead of constantly tearing down. Our country doesn't need anymore of that.
They didn't win an oscar, or take millions of dollars away from a big corporation in a trial. These are the truly great people of our society and somehow need to be replaced. They have taught us by example how to live life and how to leave the world better than they found it.
In these parts we say "They were good people". Well, Lloyd and his wife were indeed good people.
Lloyd's son and daughter in-law are still our neighbors and for that we are fortunate. They come from good stock.

Weekend Update

The weekend update goes like this. My wife is doing as well as can be expected. (excuse me, I need to add ice to the machine that pumps ice water around her knee) Okay where was I, Oh yeah Marilyns knee gives her considerable pain and she has always had trouble with nausea when on pain medication so...just a minute I need get her something to eat with her medicine. Darn I ran out of the jello I made yesterday. I'll put that on my list of things to do.
Anyway, I made her some pork chops with rice casserole in my dutch oven today and a chocolate cake from scratch last nite. It all tasted like Mom used to make except I don't remember Mom baking all of the moisture out of the cake. Maybe she did though come to think of it, back then was when we started filling a glass with cake and milk and eating it with a spoon. Good stuff. Sorry I'll be right back. I need to go fold towels and put another load in the washing machine. While I'm at it I'll empty and reload the dishwasher for I think the third time today. Baking takes a lot of dishes.
I'm back. Marilyn has had a lot of nice phone calls and well wishes from friends and relatives and church members. I stood up in church today and reported on Marilyn. I slipped up and mentioned I was there at church for the break. Laughter ensued. They thought I was kidding.
This weekend has been interesting in the TV department. Marilyn is camped in front of my big Sony taking high definition tours of exotic places. I on the other hand have also been watching some TV, NFL playoff games, in high def. On a 24 inch screen however. You see when I bought a nice Sony Bravia for the kitchen I envisioned Marilyn, cooking, loading the dishwasher, and adoring me verbally for my thoughtfulness at putting a nice TV like that in the kitchen. I would of course then be able to watch the NFL playoff games in all their big screen glory in the living room from my recliner. It wouldn't have to be big but now I'm thinking that a 36 or 42" wouldn't have looked out of place in the kitchen. Okay, one could get used to it at least.
Marilyn needs help with a shower now. I like this part. That is also the reason I could never have been a male nurse. I digress.
Okay, the shower is over. I also couldn't be a nurse because I don't like looking at incisions. More towels to wash. Yippee.
Now she wants hot tea, with sweetner and her PJ's.
I am doing my best to help her get well so she can get back to doing all of those activities that have meant so much to our marriage over the years.
Taking care of me.
I don't get it, she always made this look so easy.
Thought for the day: There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness

To Ralphs Kids! Go Get Em!

We had a terrific time with Ralph and Char last weekend. Their daughter has graduated from college and the reception for her was on Saturday. Tiffany already has plans for teaching the rest of the year but is reserving judgement on where after that. That is good enough at that age. An illustrious basketball career is over. We have watched her play high school and college basketball. She was good. She may (will) continue into coaching.
The Campbells also have a son. He has accepted a sales job for, among other things, truck mounted cranes. The big ones you see at large construction sites. When I say sales job I mean, thee salesman for the center of the United States. (8 or 9 states)
You see at the tender age of I think 25 to 30, he has developed himself into a 'super' salesman. And anyone who knows me will tell you I like 'good' salesmen and despise poor ones. Good sales people will send you home with exactly what you need. Nothing more or less. They are knowledgeable and often they stand between you and a dumb purchase.
Long story short; the two Campbell kids are going to be successful and fun to watch grow into their adult lives. They are both well equipped.
The point of this blog is that this is all pretty quick for Mom and Dad. But mostly Dad. I know all about the empty nest deal and it can hurt. But I know that what seems like the end is the beginning of new and exciting adventures in watching the developement of your family.
Ralph playfully mentions moving out of the city and has often talks of moving to our area. They have had three heavy snow storms in a row and last weekend he was wanting to move to Nebraska for the weather. THAT, right there, would be a first. No one in the history of man has ever moved here for that reason. (although I love the change of the seasons and the unique ways mother nature comes up with to try and kill us)
Well Ralph, we have had the mildest of early winters, and todays high is to be 38 then for the next week 19-18-16-12-12-13-20. With possibly heavy snow on Sat and Sun. Come on out.
UPDATE: Marilyn just called and said "come get me." I must go and clear a path so I can get her walker up to the stove and the dishwasher.

Thanks!

Your prayers (and ours) worked. Marilyn and I thank each and everyone of you. I believe that prayers are answered one way or the other.
The surgeon met with me at about 10:00 A.M. And I quote, "Well, that was easy. Everything was as we expected it would be."
They used a 'twilight sleep' type of product and blocks on her spine and the leg. She woke up with no fog, but it took about 3 hours for the spinal to wear off and the leg was just waking tonight as I left a good 12 hours later. That is planned for and helps to eliminate any severe pain immediately following the procedure.
She has stockings that squeeze and massage both legs periodically, a mechanical drain, a passive motion machine, a pressurized ice water jacket, and drugs, all to fight the onset of bloodclots which the Dr says is our #1 enemy. The usual machines to measure vitals are working and after staring at her heart monitor all day, I'm going to take my fishing pole with me tomorrow when I go visit. I'm pretty sure I saw schools of catfish at the bottom of that screen.
I don't know where to buy nightcrawlers this time of year so I'm going with chicken livers.
Thanks again.

New BMW For Christmas

My wife is going to have a new knee installed tomorrow morning.
In the agreement, her surgeon will proceed with the work, and in return for his services; her insurance company will supply the money required to pay for the new BMW his wife got for Christmas. It also states that I will be free and clear of any obligation to wash said car.
Any prayers would be much appreciated. For Marilyn and the Doctors.
BMW's don't need prayers.

2007 Is Up and Running Here On the Farm!

We have spent the last 4 days babysitting THESE two. It was fun. Mostly. The two boys and their wives went to the Cotton Bowl and celebrated Dan's New Years Eve birthday. Number thirty for those of you keeping track.
We had kids this age, once upon a time. And I farmed full time and Marilyn ran the kennel by herself. And we were somehow able to spend the time required to raise the kids.

I told their parents that I thought we could accomplish our goal of delivering the kids back to Mom and Dad... alive. We did. There was a time when a two year old and an 8 month old weren't full time jobs for Marilyn and I. They are now. But all in all it's not a bad job.

The oldest of these girls tries her hardest not to smile at Grandpa. I found her weakness when I gave her the raspberry. Something she obviously has been scolded at home for doing. This made a big smile come to her face. I think she thought she was getting away with something. During a diaper change she said in her very faint, little voice, 'Boppa, I smell crap.' I knew right there that I could die happy in the knowledge that my oldest son was doing his part in taking care of the children. She didn't learn that from her Mom.
The little one didn't laugh a lot with me. She always looks at me with a slight smile like she is expecting me to tell her a good joke. Idid tell her some stories, until Grandma said in her stern voice, "Grandpa!" I have always adorned stories and books with my own words.
Marilyn is like the perfect Grandma. They love her.
We handed them off on Tuesday morn. Peace and harmony prevailing.
On the downside, I spent yesterday sitting in my recliner with a bucket in my lap, and staring at the wall. There were frequent visits to the 'thunder mug'. Okay! Too much information.
Until I feel better, I'm witholding judgement on 2007.

For Those Of You...

Who didn't think there was a chance that I would live long enough to see 2007...(turning around now so you can see my backside like my 5 year old grandaughter does and waggling my rear)
NANNY, NANNY, BOO BOO!