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.

Well, gentle readers, I now know that I have readers. I put a site meter on my blog as I had that feeling like this blob was just a black hole in space that I was working on...why? But now I can see how many people are reading and I hope some will start leaving comments and suggestions. Thanks for reading my rants. Let me know you are here sometime and come back again soon. I just might post something interesting one of these days.... This will be a whole lot more interesting if you participate too! Click on comments (in purple below) and type away! If you don't want to type a comment you can click on one of the reactions to give a little feedback that way (yeah, it's kinda lame) but better than nothing.

Click on Coco's photos to enlarge and see how darn cute she is!!!!

SNOW! Lots of it! I'm not all that fond of it but Coco likes it. It will be nice to have a white Christmas. We got over a foot of snow yesterday and more is promised for tomorrow. The older timers say "Green Christmas, full graveyard." So snow is good!

The shot of my Dad's truck would normally show Mt. Pok-o-Moonshine in the background. One of these days I will get a shot on a clear day. It really is there... I think. Important update: David is out plowing the foot of snow and Coco gets to ride shotgun. She loves it! She was born in Alabama but was meant to be in the Adirondack Mountains.

My friend JF told me last month that after Thanksgiving "December ushers the icy downhill descent to Christmas. Less to ponder, more to wonder." That thought has stayed with me given the activities of this month and the lovely snowy weather we have experienced. I'm so glad to have a woodstove and lots of wood to burn this year. We are blessed and my dad enjoyed sitting in a wicker rocker in front of the woodstove most of the day and evening. Of course, now he will freeze away from the stove - it's only 72-74 in the other rooms and he's been basking in temps near 90 all day. David told me to put a hot water bottle in his bed tonight. He's always so cold with his anemia.
A big disappointment this weekend. My niece Kate whose blog I follow (find the link and see her beautiful face and baby Ava) was supposed to come home for a few days with her sweet little 5 month old Ava. Well, not a good day to fly into Albany, NY with this snowstorm so they cancelled and will hopefully get to visit again soon. We miss them and were planning a Christmas party at our house. Another time... I even put up a Christmas tree. A 12" ceramic one with color lights and a light bulb inside that lights them up. I went hogwild. A far cry from our "pre-Coco" days of the 8 ft. balsam we always enjoyed. I just don't want to fight with her over ornaments. So far this week, I have taken from her mouth a bottle of Head and Shoulders, Elmer's Glue, paper plates, kleenex, a box of coffee filters and more. She was getting into the boxes of Papa's stuff. I finally had to put those out of dog reach until we get all unpacked. She is like a bad, bored little kid. We haven't been getting as many walks in as usual and this is the result. I get bored I just eat chocolate, but her, being a dog, well no chocolate for dogs. Elmer's Glue works for her.
So as you travel on the icy descent to Christmas, be safe, be warm and find cause to wonder if not ponder.
I paid for a young woman's groceries at the IGA in Keeseville this week. I say this not to gloat but to enourage others to join me in helping those less fortunate. She was standing at the counter for more then 10 minutes as the clerk kept trying her food stamp card - declined every time. The clerk would wait on the next customer, try her card again - this happened over and over. I finally got to the register paid for my groceries and my change was exactly the 12.78 she needed. I handed it to the clerk, wished them both Merry Christmas and went on my way. It seemed a good thing to do this holiday season. That reminds me to thank my dear cousin in Texas who sent 3 boxes of gifts for me to distribute to nursing home residents. I brought the last two boxes to Tupper Lake last week between hospital trips. It's nice to think of the joy they will bring some of the residents. Thanks Darwin!!!

Decided it was time for an update here. My dad's health seems to be improving. He's eating a bit more and more talkative - stays around visiting more. He does sleep a lot. Goes to bed around 10 pm and I have to encourage him to get up around 11 am. The rest seems to be doing him good but I worry that he is going to long without food. Coco usually bounds into his room in the morning around 9 and wakes him up so I give him his meds then and he goes back to sleep. I'm thinking of adding a little Ensure in the morning - even a half bottle for some nutrition. He needs to gain some weight. Tonight we had chicken, stuffing, brocolli and cauliflower and he ate a fair amount. If he was not cold all the time from the anemia I'd get him to drink milkshakes but he's freezing always. Our house is warmer than it has ever been. I had the furnace on 75 today. It used to be set at 64.

Tomorrow the county nurse will stop in to see him. I called the county the other day. I don't understand why the discharge planner at the hospital didn't offer us those services. I decided to do it after my dad had a bad morning on Monday and I thought he was going to end up back in hospital. I wish our healthcare system would improve for our elders. I'm not pleased with many of the things that happened during his illness. He and others of his generation deserve the best treatment. A little more effort in understanding elder behavior and needs would help.

My 94 year old friend called yesterday. She wanted to check on how we were doing and told me she had shoveled her walk on Sunday, cleaned her oven that morning....she's amazing and a very sweet lady. She takes no medicine - only an aspirin a day.

What a couple of weeks it has been! My dad is now out of hospital and living with us. My niece is taking over his home so he is not going back. I'm happy he's finally here as I've been trying to talk him into this for years. David and I are enjoying his company and I'm so glad he's not alone - 75 miles away any longer. At age 93 he needs company and I hope to get him back to good health. He is better...tonight I made beef stew with dumplings for supper. He did not eat much but he enjoyed it. We brought 2 truckloads of his things home today. Not sure where all of it will go but we will get things settled in good time. Right now my porch is filled with frozen foods from his freezer. Hopefully the coyotes we heard across the valley won't come to visit it tonight. It is 5 degrees tonight so it won't thaw at least. Tomorrow we will get the freezer going and put it away as it is supposed to be 40 degrees tomorrow.

A big thanks goes out to our friend Tom who went with David with his truck to bring home my dad's stuff. He and David are best buddies and help each other out all the time. Good friends are the best thing in the world. I am blessed to have many. David, Tom and my sisters Mary and Theresa worked very hard today to get things moved. Mary even carried a chest of drawers down my dad's narrow staircase by herself. She always was a show off! She was always quite strong too - I remember that from our fights as kids.
It was sad to think of our home where my mother cooked our holiday meals, birthday cakes and we spent so many hours playing cards and laughing and all being carried away in so many directions but at least my niece is moving in and perhaps one day we gather there again for a game of cards and a meal. It is nice that my dad is giving things away to the family both on his side and my Mom's I was happy to call his niece today and tell her that her Grandma's antique farmhouse table was in the garage and now it will stay in the family. He's my stepdad but as he reminded me the other day, "He's been my father for over 30 years now."
I bought a megamillion ticket the other day at the store - better chance of getting hit by lightning as pigs fly by but I was hoping to win the 207 million so I could open a home for seniors struggling to get by. One of my elder friends lives on $600 month social security, this after working over 30 years in one place. But I did not win - I saw on the news that someone in Ohio won. I hope they do good things with all that money.
Good night! God bless!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNA!!!! My youngest grandgirl is 7 today and we don't have much time to celebrate but I stopped by her house to bring presents and get hugs. She is a very smart 1st grader and I'm very proud of her good work in school.

I spent precious time I really did not have today to post the links to I Give and I Give Search (it should not have taken so long but....) I hope you will visit those links and sign up for I Give Search at least. When you search the web, North Country Life Flight will get .02 for each search. If we all do it, it will add up and mean something.

I'm working today on getting my house ready for my Dad who will be moving in this week. I'll be so happy not to have to drive 75 miles (one way) to see him. And I won't have to worry about him shoveling his roof this winter, power outages and his meals. And my family is coming for a Christmas party with him. It will be so nice.

He's a better housekeeper than I am so I'll get my house in order finally too! A 94 year old woman told me last night, "The older men are great at housekeepers, not the young ones, they are no good at it." I'll make no further comments on that.

I'm so excited for my friend and former colleague John Lloyd Young!!! He is in Spokane, WA filming a movie!!! Most of my readers know that he starred in the Broadway show, "Jersey Boys" as Frankie Valli, winning the Tony Award for Best Performance for a Leading Actor in 2006. The "Jersey Boys" soundtrack which features his lead vocals won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Show Album. He is so talented and such a nice person as well.

JLY stars in a new comedy, "Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay" with Lainie Kazan, Saul Rubinek, Jai Rodriguez, Carmen Electra, Bruce Vilanch and Vince Pastore, shooting December in Spokane, WA. You can see IMDB listing here. The film sounds great and I can't wait to see JLY on the big screen! What a dream come true for a young man that I first met at the public radio station where we both volunteered. He did the show before mine and played Broadway music on his show. I'm so pleased for him and even more pleased that I got to NYC twice to see him perform in "Jersey Boys."

Visit his blog at http://www.johnlloydyoung.com/ and let's all get out to see the movie when it comes out!!!!

Here's one of my favorite pictures from a "Jersey Boys" visit with JLY, from left JLY, me, my pal M-A, granddaughter BEP and my sister Mary.

I just wanted to add that God is also a copilot of mine. I was remember yesterday that David's Mom always said to us when we left "Go with God." David would reply "If God is going, He is riding with me." Anyone who knows my husband's driving experiences in his younger days will certainly affirm that the fact he survived it was an act of God. You wouldn't even believe some of his stories but I have witnesses.

Not much time for posting, my Dad is in hospital with pneumonia and will be soon moving in with me. He's 93 and just can't live alone any longer. I'll have great material for my blog with our new adventures. He has wonderful stories to tell. It will be a big adjustment for all of us but it will be a very good thing. No more driving 150 miles to visit him. He has resisted this move; I've been trying for years to get him here but he knows it is time. He has a hard time getting meals and eating at regular times. He's lost a lot of weight and got sick as a result. We will enjoy cooking together. He makes a great "chore boy" in the kitchen, preparing all the veggies as we cook soup and stews.

Early to bed...

I should have listened to that advice and not been sending emails to my friends and family at 11:46 pm last evening. I had good intentions (yeah I know the road to H E double toothpicks is paved with them) of inviting others to raise money for North Country Life Flight (my favorite life saving not-for-profit) or their own by visiting I Give.com and signing up. As you do your holiday shopping, many of the online retailers donate a percentage to your designated cause.

Well, I send a link to friends and family, realized it was not the link I should have sent so I sent another message in which I forgot to include the correct link. So a 3rd message was sent in which I used my old standby brain damage excuse - well it's true. ..

I hope if you plan to do some shopping you will consider visiting I Give. I won't email anyone else with info about. Enough is enough. But here's the correct link should you wish to check it out. http://www.igive.com/welcome/warmwelcome.cfm?c=47761&m=578999

I went to bed late feeling like an idiot for all those stupid emails but my dear friends seem to still love me anyway and sent me several lovely notes. They like me just the way I am. Those are good friends to have.

I'm happy to see my nieces both have blogs now! So cool. Great way for us to stay connected in this busy wired world.

I'm wondering....what about the music I've added? Annoying or what? Some comments or feedback would be welcome. Update: I got rid of the music - I found it annoying.... maybe I will try to add a playlist again when I have more time.

I've been reading other blogs as a way of escaping the things I'd rather not be thinking about. Nothing like reading about others to forget your own misery. Not that I'm miserable, just some concerns that I'm dealing with and sometimes you just need a diversion. I heard that there are 6 million people with blogs in the U.S. and the number is growing every day.

Sold my doghouse this morning. My spoiled dog never used the nice log doghouse (with a porch no less!) that I bought her last year. So I put it in the Press Republican (free ad submitted on line) and this morning it came out, the phone rang and it has a new home down the street less than a mile and I have cash in my pocket. My dog watched it go but didn't seem to care. She prefers our porch. Our cocker spaniel neighbor will hopefully appreciate it's new home.

My husband brought me home a bumper sticker last week from Subaru. It says "Dogs Are People Too" of course I ranted that dogs are NOT people - they are Dogs and should be treated like Dogs. My husband just sat and smiled and enjoyed my rant. We gave the sticker to our friend Tom who really does think Dogs are people. It belongs with him.

A beautiful, clear night after finally, a sunny day. As the sun was going down a bit ago, I could see Venus and Jupiter over the horizon and the crescent moon. Was a nice sight over the mountains with the orange glow of the setting sun.

I took a picture from my front porch and had to adjust the brightness a bit. I should have adjusted the F-stop but didn't think of that. But I share with you the photo. Sadly, the planets and the moon aren't really visible in the photo but you get the idea.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a great holiday and find the time to reflect on things you can be thankful for on this day. Despite the challenges we all face, we live in the best country and have wonderful opportunities.

I'm thankful that I'm able to get together with family today and that my dear sisters are doing all the cooking. We are going to our stepdad's home for dinner. The home where my mother cooked us many Thanksgiving dinners. Her presence will be felt there. The kitchen is still as it was when she was there - we even still have all the spices she bought and more. My grandmother, Mim, lived just up the road, as well as my Aunt Ellen. They would come for dinner too. We will remember them today too. They are all missed. My Aunt Eva is still living a couple of streets over but she's not one to come for dinner. She likes to watch her sports and have a bean sandwich on Thanksgiving Day. I get over to see her whenever I can.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Went to see The Gibson Brothers perform in Peru NY on Saturday night with David and our friends Tom and Sheila. What a great concert! The Gibson Brothers grew up not far from where I live and Eric Gibson taught English in our school district. Now they are full time musicians and bringing their bluegrass all over the country.

To the left is the art from their latest release. It was inspired by Lyon Mountain - a place famous for iron ore mining and town baseball. You can check them out at http://www.gibsonbrothers.com/

They mentioned that they are performing in Ellenburg on Dec 7 with their sister and in January '09 they perform in Chazy. Catch up with them for a good time.

I was wishing that they had performed at a Dance Hall instead of school auditorium on Saturday night. People need to move to that great music! Too bad Severance's Dance Hall in Harkness, NY is no more. Anyone remember that? I've been to some wonderful contra dances at the Ausable Valley Grange Hall in Keeseville - I can't do contra dance because of my dizziness but I go when I can to hear the music and watch the joy on the face of those who dance. That Grange Hall would not be big enough to host the Gibson Brothers audience but it's a wonderful space. Roy Hurd will perform there on Sunday, Dec. 7 - there will be a silent auction and bake sale too! Doors open at 1:30 pm - concert is 2 pm till 5 pm. $8 admission - kids under 12 admitted free.

I'm still hearing that people are reading but having trouble leaving comments - only 1 trailblazer has left a comment and that was a while back.

If you want to leave a comment (and I hope you will). Yes it's pathetic but I'd like to see some audience participation!

click on 0 comments (or whatever number appears before the word comment - hopefully it will change to 1 2 3 or even 4 one day). Up will come a box to type your comment. You do have to sign in via your google identity or get a blogger account/identity (it's free and easy) to leave a comment. But that is it.

Some people (I won't mention any names) have clicked on the envelope (email) icon and sent me a message but that is meant to send a link to the blob if you want someone else to read it. It doesn't get published as a comment.

Now that I've totally confused you - GOOD LUCK and get commenting!

I wanted you to know about the National Day of Listening. As someone who has recorded my own StoryCorps interview, I can tell you that it is a powerful experience. Mary Jane from North Country Life Flight interviewed me about my brain aneurysm experience and all that followed. She did a an excellent job and I have enjoyed listening to it with family and friends, sharing tears and hugs. Our interview is now archived at the Library of Congress. I'm so grateful to StoryCorps and to MJ for that experience.

Now, StoryCorps is asking the whole country to set aside one hour on Friday, November 28th, to record a conversation with a friend or loved one, and I wanted to encourage you to participate. You can read more at http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org and download the do it yourself guide and even watch a video about the project.

As we head into the holiday season, so many of us are on the lookout for the right gift for the important people in our lives. Sitting down and recording a Do-It-Yourself interview with someone whose story you'd like to hear—whether that's your grandpa, your partner, your best friend from childhood, or the guy you get your Thanksgiving turkey from each year—is the best gift you can give. It's free, but it will outlast that holiday sweater you had your eye on—and it will still make you feel warm and fuzzy. So this year, before you rush out the door on the day after Thanksgiving, take an hour and listen.

I purchased an Olympus digital voice recorder to do interviews and have gotten a couple done. I hope to do more. It's not the quality of the StoryCorps interview but I figured out how to transfer my home interviews to CD and they sound quite good.

Since my brain aneursym explosion in May 2005, I've tried to fill at least part of each day with activities that seem meaningful. My volunteer work with North Country Life Flight fits that nicely but there are also the more subtle things and connections that happen each day. I pretty much feel that I'm living on borrowed time. I survived a fatal illness and am so lucky to be alive and functioning as well as I am. I try to overlook the dizziness and head pain/pressure that I live with and keeping busy caring about others is a great way to do it. The memory challenges I try to see as amusing although it is frustrating at times. I always say I'm never bored as everything is new to me. I can work for hours on project and have no memory of doing it. It's strange.
I've changed since that day in May. I was always pretty quiet, not one to talk much. It's different now and luckily I'm blessed with many friends and family members who take the time to hear me out. This blog fits in with that need to communicate. Every morning I start the day with a call to my daughter, then my sisters, then my soon to be 93 year old stepdad. He and I usually chat anywhere from 40-60 minutes - he does most of the talking. I used to call him several times a week but now I check in with him daily to make sure he's OK since he lives alone and is 75 miles away from me. I firmly believe that people need contact with others to thrive so he's part of my mission. When my Mom was dying of cancer I promised her I would look out for him and I've tried along with my sisters to do just that. He took great care of her throughout her illnesses and I hope I get to be a ripe old age as well and have someone who can help me "thrive."
I'm blessed with a great group of friends as well. From childhood friends I've reconnected with recently, former co-workers (we get together at least monthly for a meal), the friends who I credit with saving me at North Country Life Flight where I now volunteer, and other friends like Tom and Sheila who we will be getting together with tonight for an evening of music to celebrate Tom and David's birthday and all the rest I'm very blessed.
Last evening I enjoyed a meal out with ten of my former PBS co-workers at the Sawtdee Thai Restaurant in Plattsburgh. They have wonderful food, very fresh vegetables dishes with choices of chicken, beef, pork or tofu. We asked for separate checks and the pleasant and capable waitstaff would bring out our dishes announcing 'Diane's Cashew Chicken." We get together at least monthly, either at a restaurant or someone will offer to host a gathering at their home. It's always a nice get together filled with interesting conversation about current events, culture and of course good memories from our days of working at the PBS station. The times we had.... We have even brought some photos lately. I brought the photo album The Hawk put together for me on my 10th anniversary party at PBS. We greatly enjoyed looking through that and last night Kathy brought photos from her collection, last month The Hawk brought some too. So it's like family.
I even got a bonus hug last night from my blob muse (does that make sense?) Alyson M who was having supper with her hubby and came over to say hi. She and I will hopefully get together soon for our favorite Greek food. We worked together at a place she wrote a short story about. Her story reminded me of why I'm happy not to be working there any longer. But we had good moments there with some good people and got to study human behavior in some kind of scary and challenged by life people as well. That's a whole other story for another day.
Time for some meaningful house cleaning and I need to write a pen and paper letter to my mother in law (from my previous marriage) in California. I also need to write to my cousin Darwin in Texas. He sent several boxes of gifts to me to distribute to nursing home residents. I took one box to the nursing home in Tupper Lake, where he and I were born (the nursing home is the hospital we were born in - at least I know I was born there and I'm pretty sure he was as well). He sent two more packages this week and I will bring them over soon as well. It's so nice of him to take the time and expense of making a difference for those who might be forgotten at the holidays. I'm told that many residents get no visitors so these gifts may mean the world to them. This is meaningful.

Today we have our first snow of the year. Other places in the Adirondacks, not far from us, have already had a foot or more. I'm not fond of snow anymore, I can't ski or skate given my balance issues so I'll just put on my yak trax and keep on walking my dog the best I can.

Here's Coco with her walking stick! My husband David built the stone wall on one of his summer vacations. Coco loves the snow and likes to lay on her side and slide down hills. We have just a dusting today so not enough for her to do that yet. She had to amuse herself with tree branches on our walk today. She gets me outside on days like this when I normally would probably just stay inside where it's warm and cozy.

Also, here's a view of the mountains across from us. Well they are there, you just can't see them given the snow and clouds, but trust me Poko Moonshine is over there. I like that our view changes with the weather.

Next weekend - November 22 and 23 - my friends Sue and Terry Young are having a holiday sale at their gallery on Route 86 in Jay, NY. If you want to spend your money wisely and buy work from local artists, their gallery would be a great place. Sue does pottery, sculpture, silk painting; Terry does etchings, drawings, paintings, book art and more. They also have a fine selection of work from other local artisans.

The photos above are Sue's "swirling mug"and one of Terry's hand bound drawing tablets.

You can visit their website to see more.

http://www.youngsgallery.com/index.html

Always remember

Today is November 11th, the 11th day of the eleventh month; a day to pay tribute to our veterans. Those who have served this country to make it a better place for you and me deserve our thanks, admiration and remembrance. Their sacrifices make our everyday freedoms a reality.

You can say thank you to a veteran anytime, not just on Veteran's Day. We are losing our World War II veterans...it is estimated that 1,000 die each day. More than 16 million served in WW2 - experts say around 2 million survive at this time.

To all our veterans, thank you for your sacrifice and helping to make this country the best.

It was quite a weekend for me! Sunday found me at another benefit - this one for North Country Life Flight.
WSLP/93.3 in Saranac Lake sponsored "Wing Wars" at Wise Guys sports bar in Lake Placid. Eight area eateries each brought 500 of their best wings to Wise Guys to be eaten and judged by attendees. I was thinking that I would be eating different varieties of Buffalo wings but was I wrong. The restaurants brought tasty and imaginative flavored wings, many served with a special sauce. It made voting very difficult as they were all great!
Over 100 people attended - each paying $10 at the door to eat all the wings they wanted and the first 100 got a free t-shirt. Half of the money collected at the door was donated to North Country Life Flight, our region's air medical rescue team. I'm a former patient. I was flown in May 2005 after a ruptured brain aneurysm. Not only did they save my life and minimize my disabilities - their service is free. No bill to pay! Definitely the best deal of my life. I'm happy to be part of the "ground team" now, volunteering when I can, to help them be available for the next patient who needs them.
North Country Life Flight was presented with a check for $595 at the end of "Wing Wars," and we also received the great news that WSLP, Wise Guys and the other eateries want to do "Wing Wars 2009" to benefit Life Flight again next year!
Many thanks to WSLP, Wise Guys (the people spoke and voted Wise Guys' wings the best!), The Dinner Bell Restaurant, Lisa G’s, The Cottage, The Dancing Bears Restaurant, Romano’s, Eat-N-Meet Grill and Station Street Bar and Grill.
Jim Williams, Vice President and Sales Manager, WSLP (left) presents $595.00 check to North Country Life Flight flight nurse, Steve Hann, RN, CFRN, NREMTP.

I apologize to all who tried to leave a comment previously. I'm still learning and today learned that I had settings set so that those who wanted to leave a comment had to be a blogger member. I believe I have now updated that so you should more easily be able to comment w/o becoming a member of blogger. Just click on the comments icon below the post - you can also have "a reaction" to my posts now - hopefully not hives! I look forward to more feedback. Because, if a tree falls in the forest...

Photos: above Three Doug Knight, from left to right Doug Knight, Speedy Arnold and Alice Knight; right Doug Knight on banjo with Joan Crane, Rod Driscoll and other musician friends. (photos courtesy David Bradford)

Saturday, November 8 I had the privilege of sharing the evening with Doug Knight and over 700 of his friends at a benefit concert for Doug at Ausable Valley Central School. I was just thrilled to be there, enjoying some of the finest talent this region has to offer. Doug Knight is a greatly talented man and his equally talented pals came out in full force out to lend their musical abilities to make the evening one of the finest events I've ever seen and heard.

I remember thinking at one point, "It's like the being at the Grand Ole Opry," as talented musicians came out to play about four songs each and then another group would take the stage. Doug later made reference to the Grand Old Opry as well - we were thinking alike.

I felt like my life was flashing before my eyes (and ears) as bands and musicians I have enjoyed for decades came out to entertain the packed auditorium and the overflow crowd in the school's cafeteria. The cafeteria people were able to see the concert thanks to a video feed that was piped in there, thanks to a team headed up by my pal Allison Arnold.

Doug has been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. To my ear (I only have one I can hear in) and the other 1400 plus ears in the school, it has not affected his ability to entertain and enthrall an audience. Doug, Alice (Doug's wife) and Speedy (Arnold) received more than one standing ovation and they were in fine tune as they delivered great music with their usual humorous commentary (my favorites were "Iko, Iko" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (yes from the "Wizard of Oz"). Doug was a pillar of strength and greatly inspiring as he spoke of how he greatly misses the kids on his bus run since he has had to resign from driving to focus on his recovery; he spoke of his Dad and other family members he has lost to ALS and how he will focus on finding a cure for ALS to make the world better for others, especially his own two sons. His voice cracked a few times but as he said, "I'm surprised I'm not a blubbering idiot up here." His strength and character was awe inspiring as was that of Alice and Speedy and all his close friends.

Other musicians included Joan Crane, the acoustic group Crossing North, country-folk trio Bear Tracks, Eric Gibson of the fabulous Gibson Brothers (Eric's son joined him on stage and did a fine job on mandolin - the Gibson musical future is secure), the Two Tall String Band, harper Martha Gallagher, as well as Skip Smithson, Jeff Rendanaro, and Steve Light. It was great to see Junior Barber again. I remember seeing him decades ago playing his dobro at Channel 57. My old pal and former radio colleague Charlie Stone shared the emcee duties with Speedy Arnold. Charlie and I were both volunteers at Mountain Lake Public Radio in Plattsburgh for a great five year run.

The evening was a successful fundraiser as well. Well done everyone and thank you for the music. Godspeed on your recovery Doug!

Above photo Doug and friends in the concert finale, they performed "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" in joyous fashion! (Photo by David Bradford)

COME TO A NORTH COUNTRY LIFE FLIGHT BENEFIT!!!!

IT'S TIME TO VOTE AGAIN!

COME TO WISE GUY'S IN LAKE PLACID ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 FROM NOON TILL 4 (OR AS LONG AS THE WINGS LAST). EIGHT OF THE BEST EATERIES IN THE AREA WILL EACH BRING 500 OF THEIR BEST CHICKEN WINGS TO "WING WARS." FOR $10 ADMISSION YOU GET TO EAT ALL THE WINGS YOU WANT AND VOTE FOR THE BEST.

HALF OF THE DOOR ADMISSION WITH BE DONATED TO NORTH COUNTRY LIFE FLIGHT, THE REGION'S AIR MEDICAL RESCUE TEAM (THE ONE THAT SAVED MY LIFE).
I'LL BE THERE AND HOPE TO SEE YOU TOO!

What a week I've had - I started to think of all I've done this week and it made my head spin! I really need to slow down. Of course, my thought has always been that I can sleep when I'm dead...

Yesterday I traveled to Tupper Lake to go to the doc with my stepdad - that turned into what my husband would call a goat rodeo. Meds changed but not called in, now he has nothing to take....I'm looking for a new doc for him. I couldn't even get in touch with anyone to take care of the problem today. So I'm hoping he will be AOK till we get this resolved next week. I wish we had docs in the area that specialized in geriatric care. The elderly have special needs and need someone who can take the time to listen to their problems. It is truly needed and I have not found that available. Heck, won't be long and I will need that too. LOL.

But Tupper Lake was a lot of fun. I went to "Girls Night Out" at my friend Joy's beautiful store. She had an open house from 5 till 8 pm with door prizes (I won a really nice picture frame - Thanks Joy!), beverages, snacks, massages and Deanna from Activate Wellness Naturally was there to do homeopath health screenings. Surprisingly enough, I was pretty free of toxins and she advised me to keep on doing whatever I'm doing. It was very interesting and a wonderful night with my pals that I grew up with. I was talking with one lady and Joy said, "You remember Laura?" - a former high school pal I had not since those days. It was great to see her - she is one of the classmates I fondly remember.

Here's a link to Joy's store. http://www.theadirondackcompany.com/
Check it out and when you are in Tupper Lake stop in! She has a wonderful selection of Adirondack furnishings and accessories and the store looks and smells beautiful. For you old timers (like me...) her store is in the JJ Newberry building - our former 5 & 10 cent store on Park Street - right across from the movie theatre. It's a great place for holiday shopping and you can support a local merchant!

Now it's time to get ready for a concert! Doug Knight and Friends tonight at the Ausable Valley Central School. My pal and talented bluegrass musician Doug has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease so the Ski Club at the school has organized this concert filled with talented musicians and good friends of Doug's. We are all hoping and praying that Doug can beat this disease and I know there will be lots of positive energy flowing his way tonight. It will be quite a night.

This morning I woke up early and wanted to go for a walk. I went down to the park in Tupper Lake and walked around the lake. I missed Coco, whom I had left home but thanked her for training me to want to walk every morning. She's been good for me and I think she is one of the reasons my body is low on toxins. Exercise helps get them out of your system!

Lovely November day in the Adirondacks...could this have been Indian Summer???

Had a nice visit with friends M-A and Joyce today and a nice lunch at the Deer's Head Inn in Etown. I had a bread bowl full of chili - very yummy and a nice hot cup of tea. It was lovely.
Joyce's stepmom Judy joined for a bowl of soup - can't remember what it was - pumpkin, ginger maybe - something unusual and she said it was very good. After lunch we toured the new thrift shop over the Deer's Head. I bought a brass angel/bottle opener for Joyce (she collects brass stuff); a yellow fleece vest for BEP; 5 vintage Flintstone birthday party hats (why? I have no idea but I HAD to have them) and a magnetic photo frame. Spent $3 on these treasures! I love thrift shops!

I'm going to go back and browse the books and cds sometime too. They had a nice selection. Like I need any of those too. It takes me about 2 months to read a paperback book now. Right now I am trying to get through "My Stroke of Insight" by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, the brain researcher who had a massive stroke and spent 8 years recovering. Good reading and gives great hope to stroke victims and their families. Lots of useful information on how to help the stroke patient in their recovery.

Happy birthday to two of my favorite 7 year olds today!

So in addition to the great photos....I am awaiting the first "comment" on my blog. I feel very exposed here - so join me and leave a comment or two. Don't be shy. No one will read it any way. How do I do that you ask??? Click on "comments" below and a box appears for your writing pleasure. Click Publish Your Comments after you type your message and that's it! I hope to hear from YOU!

From the "I learn something new every day" corner, OMG! I just discovered that in my email address book I can add a picture of the contact. Now I need all my friends to send me the photo they want in my address book. Hop to it friends! Otherwise I may have to seek out photos that you might not want representing you in my address book. Yes, I know, only I will see these photos but it's my excitement for the day. Send those photos my dear posse. I await your best shot.

Besides this beats watching the election returns. That makes me nervous.

I dressed up for Halloween this year! First time in many - thanks to my friend MJC for the costume idea and accessories! But me a mime???? I can't shut up for very long! I lasted about 2 minutes before speaking. Ran into the Girl Scouts getting free ice cream cones at Stewarts and took some pics of my favorite fairy princess and little vampire.

November 4th! Election Day and my daughter's birthday! What a day! We are going to get supper from Pizza Hut. I can save 20 percent there by ordering online for the first time so what the heck! I'm going to make a birthday cake - box mix Devils Food (my favorite and Cris' too) and then I add 3 eggs and a can of cherry pie filling to that. Serve with frosting or cool whip and dang good. NO! You do not add oil or water - just eggs and pie filling. Trust me on this - it works. I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday - although I did fall off the pumpkin truck last month but that is another story - thankfully without photography or medical bills.

It's a fine day here in the Adirondacks. Supposed to be 60 degrees today. We are blessed! That is great for November. Coco and I had a hike on the mountain this morning and it was just lovely in the woods. I keep an eye out for hunters but I've never seen any on our property but do wear my red jacket just in case. We came across a dead gray squirrel on our hike. That was our only wildlife encounter today. Hopefully something will scavenge that carcass away today so I don't have to pick it up.

Well, best get that birthday cake started!

Well, it's been awhile since I created this blog and got busy and forgot about it. But my friend John suggested I needed a blog and I remembered - oh yeah I have one!

Well it's Election Eve - and hardly a creature (elephants or donkeys) are stirring. It's been an interesting campaign but I'm looking forward to it being over. We don't talk politics in our house - we have a democrat and republican happily married. We stay happy by avoiding some subjects and will just probably go cancel each other's vote tomorrow. The American Way!

I checked the number of emails I authored today - 25 - wow - plus some other press stuff I sent as part of my volunteer efforts. Holey moley.

My little dog Coco and I went to get our truck inspected today. It ran out on Friday but luckily I made it to the garage without getting a ticket. Coco loves to ride and is always ready for a road trip. She's a good little dog and will be 2 years old next month.

It's not officially Fall but it's beginning to feel that way up here in the Adirondacks. Acorns and beech nuts are falling and leaves are starting to change colors all ready.

We had a fire in my cool fire pit tonight. David and I cooked hot dogs on it with Cris and Loyal and the girls. We had some of the last of the season's corn on the cob too. It was great. Very yummy as were the beautiful tomatoes my friend Mary Jane gave me - she gave me 25 pounds of the biggest, juiciest and best tasting tomatoes I had eaten all summer. Today I froze some of them so I can use them to make soup in the winter. My friend Diane told me to cut out the cores, blanche them in boiling water for a bit - then dip them into into ice water, the peel comes off easily. I put them in ziplock freezer bags. We'll see how they taste in soup this winter.

Jan's Blog

Welcome to my blog! Gosh, you must be really bored to be checking this out. But wait, you never know I might just post something interesting!