Time to kiss 2008 goodbye! It's been a challenging year but hey I've seen worse! My mother always said "better days are coming," I always say, "as long as they don't get worse, being the eternal optimist that I am....

I was reflecting on 2008 trying to remember it. I save all my old emails to my pals, that helps me remember what I did. I blame my memory challenge on the brain aneurysm, my good friends point out they have the same problems, it's our age. Thanks but I'd rather blame mine on the brain damage. For some twisted reason, that makes me feel better.

So here's a recap of my 2008 for your reading pleasure. I'd love to see some comments posted and you can share some of the high or low lights of your year too. Don't be shy...

The year began as I awaited a scheduled biopsy to learn if I had cancer. Took a little of the Christmas spirit and all away but I still tried to enjoy every minute as I always do. Those minutes of awaiting the biopsy to be scheduled turned to months and I felt it a bit absurd that it takes so long to get that procedure. It finally happened in February and I was told I did have cancer, but hey it was the best kind to have. Total hysterectomy should cure me and my oncologist/surgeon operated in late March, told me on my birthday (April 2) that the surgery was a success and no further treatment was needed. Yippee seems lame but it works. I was also communicating with a friend who was going through his second round of cancer treatments during this time and he is doing well too. He lost a few pounds and a few hairs but we did lots of brunches and suppers to keep his weight and everyone’s spirits up. We offered to mow his lawn, do his laundry, cook, clean etc but he is an independent soul and only wanted our company for a meal. Easy and pleasant enough!

So now it’s spring. Gas prices are just awful and keeping me home, making it difficult to visit my family and do my volunteer work at North Country Life Flight. My visits to one of my favorite places in the whole world, Raquette Lake, were very limited this past summer but I did have a memorable trip there in June when we did a “Virtual Baby Shower” for my niece Kate in Florida via a web cam - techno Aunt Jan came up with that idea and it was a great success. Next best thing to have her huggable warm body and bulging tummy with us. Ava Grace was born July 31, 2008 and received a bounty of wonderful gifts. She is one cute little babe! Her Mom Kate is a beauty too! I love this pic of them.

My trips to Raquette Lake are always special and one of the highlights is sleeping out in Mary’s lean to. This year I believe I remember sleeping out alone as Mary wanted her warm in house bed. Luckily no bears came to visit but it’s the best place to sleep on the edge of Raquette Lake. We usually hear the loons, coyotes and beaver tails slapping the water. We also hear the WW Durant going by in the summer and the bugles telling the campers across the Lake it’s time for bed or time to get up. We have slept out in November with toques on our head to stay warm. It’s very cozy and the freshest air you can breathe. Below is my foot hanging out of the sleeping bag as I lounge in the lean to behind the mosquito netting...Life is good.

June was a cool month as I got to record a StoryCorps interview in a recording studio set up in an Airstream trailer at a park in Saranac Lake. I book the recording time as soon as I hear StoryCorps was coming to our region with the thought that I would interview my Dad. Well, he was not interested and David told me not to badger him into it. (Now, would I do that…. LOL) So, I pondered it and my friend M-A told me she would like to interview me. But one morning I was walking Coco and saw the North Country Life Flight helicopter heading across the valley to Burlington and though “I should interview Chuck Pandolph, the flight nurse who was with me on my flight.” So I badgered Chuck instead and he agreed to be interviewed. On the day of the interview, he started his truck to go to the interview with me and his beeper went off. Chuck had more important business to attend to. He was called to an injury in Indian Lake, hours from the nearest hospital. I wished him GodSpeed and said, “I hope it’s not one of my family members…” it was close. My brother in laws’ best friend had fallen off his roof, he was flown to AMC and recovered as has promised to stay off the roof from now on. Normally, I would not know all those details but I learned all that from my family, his friends and I even paid him a visit this summer. My StoryCorps interview…..well Mary Jane Connors, President and CEO of NCLF, my volunteer job boss and dear pal, jumped in the truck with me and headed to Saranac Lake to interview me. She did a fine job and I was amazed with the outcome. I’ve made what seems like 1000’s of copies to share with friends and family. It’s been quite special sharing hugs and tears as we listen to the interview. Email me if you would like a copy or if you go to the Library of Congress, our interview is archived there. Not on their website though, you have to travel to DC.
I’d still like to interview Chuck one of these days. His career has helped so many people and he grew up with a famous dad in Saranac Lake. There’s a story waiting to unfold. I did purchase the Olympus voice recorder (listed in my favorites) and did record some chats with my dad. It’s a neat little tool and I can make cds from the interviews.
The rest of 2008?….

…suppers and brunches with good friends from my PBS career days…we were and still are a family and it’s so good that we have all stayed in touch.
…walks on the mountain with Coco. Good for me and her and I love the trails that David has blazed on our property for our walking and ATV pleasure.

August I made it to Raquette Lake again for the annual craft fair at Raquette Lake School. My sister Mary, a jewelry artist, organizes the event each year, and for the last couple of years, I’ve helped with promotion and all as we raise funds for North Country Life Flight. All the crafter fees and raffle proceeds were donated to Life Flight, thanks to the Raquette Lake PTF for that. Many volunteers (some related to me like my sister Theresa and nephew Jeremy) helped with raffle sales and it’s just a wonderful community event.

The fall was bittersweet, a talented former co-worker from PBS, Jack Skinner became ill and passed away. Jack had quite an impact on the PBS station we worked at with his beautiful videography, he was a mentor to another talented videographer Paul Frederick who put together a beautiful memorial tribute to Jack. http://vimeo.com/1988951 He and his talented producer and wife Joanne produced many fine documentaries chronicling life in the Adirondacks.
Jack’s illness reconnected me with his family and many former friends and co-workers as I wrote to them to tell them of the sad news and to ask for their prayers and good thoughts. It put me on an emotional roller coaster for a while but feeling is good. It’s human. Even feeling awful proves you’re alive and in the moment. I felt that Jack reached out and joined us all together in his final days.

One of the friends I reconnected with this summer was my former boss and mentor Melissa. My memory won’t allow me to say how many years we worked together but each of them was a pleasure. She is one of the best people I know and she encouraged her staff to do amazing work that we did not think we could do. She always rewarded and appreciated our good work. Melissa and I had a memorable day this fall - a road trip to North Country Life Flight. I recruited her for the ground team and we spent the day up there brain-storming. It was a day well spent and her advice was greatly appreciated. She even made a generous donation to them before we left and said thanks for saving her friend Jan. It’s good to back in touch with her and I just got her original artwork Holiday card. Very clever design and I loved getting the mail that day! I'm wishing her and her family the best for 2009, safe journeys, good health and prosperity.

I did make it to Raquette Lake for our annual Labor Day outing. Tailgate poker, sandwiches from a side of beef roasted by the fire dept., music by Mitch Frasier...a great time. I don't remember if I won or lost at poker but it doesn't matter. I heard the most amazing story on NCPR on the way to Raquette. The Vinyl Cafe featured the story of Roger Woodward. I had to pull over and stop, it was so moving. I came home, sent the link to the story to all my posse and received many lovely emails from people who took the time to listen and enjoyed it as much as I did. Go to the Vinyl Cafe website - maybe this link will work and listen. You will be glad you did. http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/mp3/news/roger_woodward_story.mp3

October found me being interviewed by the Press Republican. I felt compelled to help other be aware of brain aneurysm symptoms and agreed to the interview with that hope.
http://www.pressrepublican.com/archivesearch/local_story_280224613.html I also got photographed and interviewed about gas prices and so appeared in the Press Rep two days in a row. Media slut is what we used to call that back when I was in the biz. LOL Now I’ve turned into an activist, I’ve written two letters to the editors (two more than Caroline Kennedy) this fall.

The first letter was to thank 94 year old Angie LaMariana who inspired me to solicit my pals for gifts for nursing home residents. My friends came through and I was pleased to pass those gifts on to the nursing homes.
http://www.pressrepublican.com/archivesearch/local_story_296221503.html


My other rant was about slushy roads I drove on resulting from road crews that don’t plow, just salt the road. Nasty travel. I like a well plowed and sanded road instead.

Well, the rest of the year is blogged within these pages. No sense rehashing it. Go to Arnold’s Grocery and Liquor Lokker in Keeseville if you have not yet and pick up a copy of the Doug Knight and Friends DVD. It is an amazing concert and proceeds go to a good cause. That evening of fabulous music and good spirits was one of the most enjoyable of 2008.
Stay safe in 2009. I’ll try to keep things rolling here. God Bless and thanks for reading my “blob.”

I need to spend more time having fun with my daughter and grandkids this year. We saw a movie in 2008 and had a few outings but not en0ugh. They are busy with life, sports, scouting and all and time slips away. Tomorrow they come to celebrate 2009 and our belated Christmas celebration. Great way to start the New Year!

We are still trying to get my Dad settled in. He moved in with me and David on Dec. 12 and it's a challenge to get his things merged in our already cluttered household. But it's getting better all the time and I like having the things he used at home around for him to feel at home here.

I asked him tonight if his room and his bed is comfortable and he said it was (he would never complain even it wasn't but I think it is) and told him that this is home now and to tell us if he needs anything at all or would like the heat turned up or whatever. I told him we are glad he is here with us and he said "I'm glad to be here." He seemed to mean it. It's got to be difficult to leave the place that has been home for over 30 years but I think he likes the food and company and I'm certainly relieved to have him here. He won't be shoveling his roof this year (at age 93) and when the power goes out up that way I won't be worried that he is there with no heat source. Our power goes out - we have the woodstove!

I noticed some confusion tonight - he could not remember where his next door neighbor's house was - but he remembered that Mary brought him a box of chocolates. I offered him one, he declined. I suggested he might want to start eating them before they disappear. He laughed. He's doing quite well for all he's been through of late.

My first car was a 1969 Camaro David bought for $300. I drove it for years and sold it for $500 when I was finished with it. Now, I've found another Camaro I'd like..... I'd lose my license within a week but gosh what fun I could have!

“I’ve Got A Beep….”
So Christmas Eve morning I call my sister Mary and she says, “I'm on the other line with Kate, can I call you back?” I say sure and hang up, thinking she might (or might not ) remember to call me back. She’s an artist and although she has many talents, remembering some things, like calling me back, are not high on the list. So I think, OK, I’ll call Theresa (as I do every day) and talk with her. She answers, we start chatting and she says, “I’ve Got a Beep, can I call you back.” I’m now feeling dejected, rejected and alone on this Christmas Eve morning but low and behold, the phone rings. It is Mary who has remembered to call me back! She is laughing….she was Theresa’s beep…. I’ve had it with call waiting and rather rudely tell her that I think their call waiting feature is the rudest technology I’ve ever heard of. ….I rant on “Why is the person calling always more important than me?” “ I’d much rather get a damn busy signal than that …” I point out that I am not saying they are rude, just that they are using a rude technology…”

Well, I believe I was the subject of their Christmas Eve get-together at Theresa’s home that evening. They have both been kinder and gentler and they even seem nervous about getting a beep that might interrupt my conversations with them now. I appreciate it and did not mean to bitch at them but …. I guess I did. Anyway, I miss the day of the good old busy signal when someone is on the phone and NO!!!!! I DO NOT WANT YOU TO KEEP TRYING THE NUMBER FOR ME AND CHARGING ME FOR THAT STUPID CONVENIENCE, MR. PHONE COMPANY COMPUTER VOICE.

So, now I am looking forward to calling my phone company. I called my daughter’s house today and they were on the phone. Guess what happened? No, not what you think....I got the message for my very own voice mail box. How the HELL does that happen. Oh yeah, Frontier’s new enhanced voice mail system….to be continued...or not.

A little research has found that I'm not alone in my dislike of this feature. I found a six year old CBS news report on "Call Rudeness," http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/25/opinion/garver/main507261.shtml

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! What a nice relaxing Christmas Day we had. Everyone slept in, then David and I made apple pancakes and sausage for breakfast which we enjoyed in the warm kitchen with the woodstove. Then we exchanged gifts - not many - we need very little and well you know about the economy...but I got a wonderful handcrafted sterling silver necklace made by my sister Mary of South Bay Jewelry - http://www.southbayjewelry.com/ David has been shopping with her each year since my brain explosion when I began wearing jewelry (that was just one of my personalities changes that resulted). I now have a lovely collection from South Bay and treasure each piece. Mary does lovely work and I'm trying to talk her into starting a blog of her own to showcase her talent and craft. Oh, I told Mary I got a new laptop for Christmas and I would post a photo. Here it is!!!!


After breakfast and gifts we talked on phone to family and then it was time to begin dinner prep. My 93 year old dad (pictured below) who is recovering nicely from his bout of pneumonia offered to peel the potatoes for our scalloped potatoes and he did not need to offer twice. He's always makes for a great "chore boy" when we cook, he likes to peel and prepare the veggies and often we would leave him the dishes to wash. He'd say "leave those dishes, I'll do them, you did all the cooking." OK... David and I did the dishes today but he was a great help with that paring knife.



My husband helped with "chore boy" duties too, he cut my big old rutabaga with the wood splitter he was testing out today. It did a nice job and I did not miss messing with the big old butcher knife trying to cut tough thing. He also mashed the cooked rutabaga together with the carrots and they were quite yummy. We baked a half ham too and I wished my daughter and her family could have been here to share it all. They have been fighting colds and had to stay away from Papa, (he can't risk a cold right now) so we are planning a New Year's celebration with them. BEP & Jenna wished us an enthusiastic Merry Christmas on the phone this morning. They always harmonize the holidays for us.

I hope you had a lovely day too. It was nice staying home for Christmas. We have often traveled and though it's nice seeing family it is tiring and sometimes slippery on the roads.
God bless and goodnight!

The Coco page. http://www.secondchanceboxer.com/Dogs2007/CocoPomeranianMix.html

That is where I found my dog... so be careful. You might find yourself browsing their website and see some cute adorable pup and find yourself driving to Maine to pick it up. Of course, they do a background check as thorough as the FBI which is a good thing for those pups. I fell in love with the Coco I saw on the web and lucky for us it was a good match - most of the time. Some days she's a little brat but I'm sure she thinks the same about me.

Another day... a whole lot more snowflakes. We expect another bunch of snow today, it has been snowing since sometime in the middle of the night and no sign of letting up. A white Christmas is pretty much a sure bet! I'm going to try to get out and update my "blob" pic(above). I took that in the fall and we will see how it looks today. A bit white I think.

Skiers I'm sure are happy! This is nice fluffy white powder - perfect for skiing. I remember way back when I used to ski on days like this at Big Tupper. I wish I could still ski but my balance is shot from my brain injury so that would not work. Just walking is a challenge at times. But I'm not complaining, happy to be able to do what I can do. Better than dead for sure! If you start there, it's all good!

Yesterday I sent yet another note and a small donation with gratitude to my friends and saviors at North Country Life Flight. I told them they have given me the greatest gift ever; I'm so thankful for the work that they do every day. They may tire of hearing it but I remain grateful and I'll never stop thanking them. And I'm pleased to be part of their effort now. Hopefully my volunteer work with them will help keep their service strong and ready for the next patient in need. With trauma centers hours away by ground ambulance their mission is critical for survival and minimizing disabilities. I'm living proof of that.

If you would like to support the lifesaving mission of NCLF, you can send them a tax-deductible contribution. A gift of any size will help and be appreciated. Mail to: North Country Life Flight, P.O. Box 994, Saranac Lake, NY 12983. For almost 20 years they have been "neighbors helping neighbors."

The photo below was taken by Al Lambert at the Fletcher Allen Health Care helipad in Burlington, VT. This is where I was flown for treatment in May 2005. From the pad a ground ambulance picks you up and takes you to FAHC. I received (and paid) a bill for that ground ambulance. Lucky for me and others, North Country Life Flight does not bill its patients, thanks to generous support from those who value its mission.