marlen

WE'LL, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK AMONG FELLOW STROKE FRIENDS. I'LL CONDENSE 2+ MONTHS AS BEST I CAN. WE SPENT JANUARY IN PALM COAST, FLORIDA AGAIN. THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL, SO I COULD GO IN THE POOL ALMOST EVERY DAY TO EXERCISE. THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS THE PITS. LAST YEAR WE HAD A TWO BEDROOM CONDO OVERLOOKING A POND. YHIS YEAR WE HAD A THREE BEDROOM CONDO OVERLOOKING THE INTER-COASTAL, AND IT WAS $500 DOLLARS LESS. GOOD THING, BECAUSE WE HAD LOTS OF COMPANY. fEBRUARY WAS THE BEST. WE SPENT 4 WEEKS IN DISNEYWORLD. MY SON, WHO REMAINS IN THE WILL, GOT US A DEAL AT TWO DIFFERENT HOTELS, 2 WEEKS IN PORT ORLEANS, AND 2 WEEKS AT CARRIBEAN BEACH. MY WIFE AND I SURVIVED BEING IN ONE ROOM WITH ONE BATHROOM FOR TWENTY NINE DAYS. I TOLD HER SHE COULD USE THE BATHROOM ON THE EVEN DAYS, BUT AFTER THE FIRST DAY SHE STARTED TO WALK FUNNY, SO I THOUGHT WE JUST BETTER SHARE. WE WENT INTO EACH PARK TWICE DURING THE MONTH. I WALKED SO MUCH, I WAS 5'11" WHEN I LEFT HOME AND RETURNED 5'4" TALL. I WORE MY LEGS DOWN. WE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE AND HAD THE BEST TIME. IF I DON'T SEE ANOTHER KID BESIDE MY OWN GRANDCHILDREN FOR SIX MONTHS, I'LL BE FINE. BY THE WAY, MY LITTLE GUY FROM KOREA IS DOING JUST GREAT. WE SPENT TIME WITH MY SON'S FAMILY AS THEY CAME OVER TO SWIM EVERY WEEKEND. PERFECT WEATHER AND WE HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME, I TOLD MY SON TO WATCH FOR SPECIALS FOR NEXT YEAR. WE WANT TO DO IT AGAIN. ALSO, MY DAUGHTER AND FAMILY CAME DOWN THE THIRD WEEKEND IN FEB. THE WHOLE FAMILY WENT TO THE WATER PARK FOR THE DAY AND HAD A BLAST. THE FIRST WEEK IN MARCH WE WERE IN WEST PALM BEACH, SEEING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. ANOTHER GOOD TIME. THE TRIPS TO FLORIDA AND BACK TO INDIANA WERE WITHOUT PROBLEMS, THANK GOODNESS. DID I GET A TAN? OF COURSE. WE HAD WONDERFUL MEALS. WE HAD A REFRIGERATOR IN THE ROOM SO WE HAD OUR CEREAL FOR BREAKFAST. THE FOOD AT DISNEY HAS REALLY IMPROVED, SO WE AT IN THE FOOD COURTS A LOT. TASTY AND REASONABLE. IN THE TIME WE WERE GONE, I PUT ON ONE POUND AND MY WIFE STAYED THE SAME. I HAD THE EXTRA ICE CREAM ON A STICK ONE DAY. NO MOVIES, NO PICTURES, NO MORE. MARTY

thank you........................tra la la la la la la la la! :ChristmasTree:

RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS, WE ARE HEADING TO FLORIDA. A MONTH IN PALM COAST, THEN WE'RE OFF TO ORLANDO FOR FEBRUARY. THANKS TO THE FRINGE BENEFIT OF HAVING MY SON WORK FOR DISNEY, WE ARE STAYING AT DISNEYWORLD FOR THE MONTH. THIS WILL BE A REAL TEST; MY WIFE AND I IN ONE ROOM FOR 28 DAYS. THANK GOODNESS IT'S A SHORT MONTH. I GET THE BATHROOM ON THE EVEN DAYS. THEN WE WILL WONDER BACK SLOWLY, VERY SLOWLY IF IT'S STILL NASTY UP HERE SO, BEST WISHES FOR THE COMING YEAR. SEE YOU IN THE SPRING. MARTY :Clap-Hands:

SUNDAY NIGHT, WE ATTENDED A NEIGHBORHOOD CHRISTMAS PARTY. WE WALK A LOT, AND EVEN THOUGH WE LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, WE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORING HOUSES. ANYHOW, I WAS TALKING TO A LOVELY YOUNG LADY WHO IS THE MARKETING VP FOR THE HOSPITAL LOCATED IN THE TOWN WHERE I HAVE MY AQUATIC CLASSES. THE HOSPITAL IS EMPHASIZING STROKE CARE AND IS GOING ALL OUT IN THIS AREA. I TOLD HER HOW I TRIED TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK WHERE I WAS TREATED, BUT NEVER GOT CALLED. SO I WAS TOLD TO REPORT FOR DUTY WHEN I RETURN FROM FLORIDA. I WILL BE VISITING WITH SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS TO RELATE MY RECOVERY EXPERIENCES, ENCOURAGE THEM AND TRY TO INJECT A LITTLE HUMOR (THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR ME). I'M NOT TOO EXCITED YET BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE NEUROLOGIST IN CHARGE OF THIS IS THE ONE WHO MIS-DIAGNOSED ME THE FIRST TIME I HAD A MINI STROKE. HE WON'T REMEMBER ME. AT LEAST THE WHOLE THING IS ENCOURAGING. MARTY :santasmiley:

WELL, IT'S BEEN THREE AND A HALF YEARS SINCE I BEGAN SINCE MY ROAD TO RECOVERY IN WATER. AND IT'S BEEN A GOD-SEND. THERE WERE 15 WOMEN AND 2 MALES IN THE ORIGINAL CLASS AND THEY ARE ALL STILL THERE. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO WE ADDED ANOTHER 12 WOMEN BECAUSE A NEIGHBORING YMCA CLOSED DOWN. I WAS AFRAID I WOULD HAVE TO DROP OUT OF THE CLASS BECAUSE THE ESTROGEN LEVEL IN THE POOL BEGAN TO RISE. BUT, ALL IS WELL. WE HAD OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY LAST TUESDAY AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME. WE ARE ALL VERY CLOSE, INCLUDING THE NEW MEMBERS. I'M GOING TO MISS THE GROUP WHEN I HEAD SOUTH IN A FEW WEEKS. LAST WEEK , I WAS NOTIFIED I HAD BEEN NOMINATED BY MY INSRUCTOR AND THE Y FOR "ARTHRITIS PARTICIPANT OF THE YEAR". I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS OR IF THE PRIZE APPROACHES $1,000,000. WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED AS SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE PROGRESS. CONSIDERING I HAD VIRTUALLY NO MOVEMENT IN MY ARM AND FINGERS WHEN I BEGAN, AND MY WALKING AND BALANCE LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED, I FEEL GREAT. I DO HAVE ARTHRITIS, BUT THE WATER MAKES THE PAIN DISAPPEAR TOO. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THIS CLASS, MY INSTRUCTOR AND MY FELLOW WATER BUDDIES, I HATE TO THINK WHERE I WOULD BE TODAY. THEY DESERVE THE AWARD. MARTY :santahat:

FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AFTER THE STROKE, I COULDN'T DRIVE BECAUSE MY LEFT ARM WOULD NOT REACH FAR ENOUGH TO THE TURN SIGNAL LEVEL. AND TRYING TO THROW COINS IN A TOLL BOOTH BASKET WAS A CHALLANGE IN ITSELF. NOW I'VE DRIVEN ALL OVER THE PAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, AND NEVER HAS MY WIFE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT MY DRIVING. YESTERDAY WAS OUR GRANDSON'S 9TH BIRTHDAY, AND AS PLANNED, WE DROVE THE ONE AND A HALF HOURS TO A RESTAURANT TO HAVE LUNCH WITH HIM AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY. WE ALSO WANTED TO DELIVER THE PRESENTS TO HIM. THE WEATHER FORCAST WAS FOR SNOW. RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN TO BEGIN AT 2PM. WE SAT DOWN AT NOON FOR LUNCH AND DECIDED TO LEAVE FOR HOME AFTER EATING. AS THE FOOD ARRIVED, SO DID THE STORM AT 12:30. WE FINISHED EATING AND IMMEDIATELY GOT ON THE ROAD. IT WAS BAD. WE PASSED AT LEAST A DOZEN ACCIDENTS ON THE WAY HOME. IT WAS A LONG, SLOW RIDE . WHEN WE PULLED INTO THE GARAGE, MY WIFE WHO HAS RIDDEN WITH ME FOR OVER 50 YEARS, SAID FOR THE FIRST TIME, "GEE, YOU'RE A GOOD DRIVER". I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO TELL HER MY PANTS WERE WET. MARTY :i_did_it!:

KIM, I AM SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT CHRIS. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. MARTY

FIRST OF ALL, I'M SITTING AT THE COMPUTER BECAUSE I'M HOME AND DID NOT GO NEAR A STORE OF ANY KIND TODAY. NOW ON TO THANKSGIVING. I LEFT INSTUCTIONS WITH MY DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW, WIFE AND PRESIDENT BUSH THAT IF I DOZED OFF WHILE WATCHING THE FOOTBALL GAME, PLEEEEAZE WAKE ME UP WHEN IT'S TIME TO CARVE THE TURKEY. WELL I DID DOZE OFF, AND NOBODY WANTED TO WAKE ME UP. SO MY SON-IN-LAW AND HIS FATHER DECIDED THEY WOULD CARVE THE BIRD. WHEN I LAST SAW THE TURKEY, HE WAS GOLDEN BROWN AND A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. THEY GOT OUT THE HEDGE TRIMMERS AND ABSOLUTELY BUTCHERED THE BIRD. NO TURKEY DESERVES THIS KIND OF TREATMENT. FOUR YEARS OF RESTAURANT SCHOOL, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND MANY TURKEYS CARVED, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN A CARVING JOB LIKE THIS. FORTUNATELY, IT ALONG WITH ALL THE SIDE DISHES TASTED DELICIOUS. AT LEAST THEY WOKE ME FOR DINNER. I KNEW THE DOG WOULD SLEEP WITH ME, BUT I DIDN'T COUNT ON THE TWO BIG CATS JOINING US ALSO. THEY ALL SNORED AND SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT. MY WIFE AND I, ON THE OTHER HAND, WATCHED A MOVIE FROM 2-4 AM. WE DID HAVE A GOOD TIME AND EVEN THE GRANDKIDS BEHAVED. 364 DAYS UNTIL NEXT THANKSGIVING. I CAN'T WAIT! MARTY :big_grin:

PHYL, CONGRATS!! WILL I BE RUNNING INTO YOU WHEN I GO FOR EARLY BIRD SPECIALS AT 4 AM FRIDAY MORNING? ACTUALLY, I'M GIVING THE DEVALUED DOLLAR THIS YEAR JUST TO KEEP OUT OF THE STORES. MY WIFE CAN HANDLE THE SHOPPING MISSION FOR THE GRANDKIDS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS MARTY :party:

BESIDES STILL BEING AROUND THE UNIVERSE, I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER HOLIDAY. THIS YEAR OUR DAUGHTER AND FAMILY ARE HOSTING THE FESTIVITIES THURSDAY. MY SON-IN-LAW'S PARENTS WILL BE THERE AND HIS SISTER AND FAMILY ARE COMING FOR DESSERT ONLY. THIS IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE TIME WITH HER UNRULY KIDS WILL BE LIMITED. LAST TIME WE HAD DINNER IN THEIR PRESENCE, THE EIGHT YEAR OLD DRANK ENOUGH WINE TO NEED A DESIGNATED DRIVER. BUT THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM. I'M THE DESIGNATED TURKEY CARVER WHEREVER I GO FOR THE HOLIDAY. THIS IS FINE BUT I'M SO FULL FROM NIBBLING WHILE CARVING, I SKIP MOST OF THE TURKEY DURING DINNER. AFTER ALL, I MUST MAKE SURE THE BIRD IS WELL COOKED, MOIST AND TENDER. BESIDES, I LIKE THE SIDE DISHES AND DESSERT MORE. MT WIFE, AT THE REQUEST OF THE GRANDKIDS, PROMISED WE WOULD STAY OVER THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS MEANS SLEEPING ON THE SOFA BED IN THE LOWER LEVEL FAMILY ROOM WITH THE KIDS AND A COCKER SPANIEL SNUGGLED UP WITH ME. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE DOG REALLY LIKES ME. THE HOUSE IS EIGHTY YEARS OLD AND NICE, EXCEPT FOR THE D ADDED-ON LOWER LEVEL BASEMENT. YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH WAY YOU ARE ENTERING THE ROOM BECAUSE TURNING SPACE IS LIMITED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD WE WILL NOT GO SHOPPING FRIDAY, BUT I KNOW THIS PROMISE WILL GO BYE=BYE. OH WELL, I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE ANYWHERE. BEST WISHES TO ALL FOR A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY MARTY :big_grin:

FIRST OF ALL, I READ ALL THE COMMENTS ON MY BLOGS AND I THANK ALL OF YOU WHO RESOND. YESTERDAY, I WENT TO THE LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE FOR THE MORNING PAPER. AS I PARKED, MY CELL PHONE RANG AND I GOT WRAPPED UP IN THE CONVERSATION. NOW I FINISHED MY CALL AND WENT INTO THE STORE, WHICH WAS QUITE BUSY. STANDING IN LINE, I LOOK RATHER NORMAL. A WOMAN CAME IN SHORTLY AFTER I DID, AND INFORMED ME I WAS PARKED IN A HANDICAP SPACE WITHOUT A PLACARD. BEFORE I COULD TELL HER I FORGOT TO HANG IT ON THE MIRROR, SHE BEGAN LECTURING ME, IN HARSH TERMS, ON MY WRONGFUL DEED. WE WERE ALL TAKEN BACK BY HER FORCEFULLNESS. SO I EXCUSED MYSELF FROM THE LINE AND LIMPED TO THE CAR, BROUGHT MY PLACARD IN, AND BEGGED HER FORGIVNESS. SHE TURNED RED, WE ALL HAD A GOOD LAUGH, AND I WON'T FORGET AGAIN. FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS AND I GET CAUGHT. NEXT I WENT TO WALGREEN'S TO PICK UP SOME MEDS. AS I WALKED DOWN THE AISLE, WITHOUT CANE, I NOTICED TWO KIDS BEHIND ME, MIMICKING THE WAY I WALKED. THE PARENTS WERE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE KIDS. I STOPPED AND TOLD THE KIDS WHY I WALK THE WAY I DO, THEN WALKED BACK TO THE PARENTS AND SUGGESTED THEY GO HOME AND TEACH THE KIDS SOME MANNERS. THEN MY WIFE AND I WENT TO PICK OUT FLOORING CABINETS, ETC. FOR A TOWNHOUSE WE ARE CONTEMPLATING BUILDING. WE WANT WOOD FLOORS ALL OVER, EXCEPT CARPETING IN THE BATHROOMS AND TILE IN THE BATHROOMS AND LAUNDRY ROOM. WELL IT SEEMS YOU CAN ONLY GET TILE IN THE FOYER BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WON'T SUBSTITUTE WOOD UNLESS YOU BUY ONE OF THE PACKAGES. NONE OF THE PACKAGES GIVE US WHAT WE WANT, SO IT WAS TILE AND THAT'S THAT. WITH THE HOUSING MARKET THE WAY IT IS, YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD PUT WOOD IN THE FOYER. SO WE WISHED THEM AND THEIR COMPUTER WELL AND LEFT. THREE FOR THREE. RATHER THAN TAKING A CHANCE ON RUINING DINNER, WE WENT OUT AND HAD A LOVELY TIME. MARTY :big_grin:

WELL, TODAY WE VENTURED TO ILLINOIS TO SEE THE GRANDKIDS AT THEIR SCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARADE AND PARTY. AVERY AND I DECIDED TO DRESS UP FOR THE FESTIVITIES. I WENT AS A PERSON WITH A HANDICAP, AND MY WIFE DRESSED UP AS A CAREGIVER. HOW ORIGINAL CAN YOU GET? THE FOUR YEAR OLD ATTENDS PRE-SCHOOL, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SPECIAL NEED KIDS THERE. QUITE A PLACE. ANYHOW, THEY ALLOWED US TO SIT BY THE DOOR INSIDE THE SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE CHILLY AND WINDY OUTSIDE. THIS WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE KIDS MARCHED IN ORDERLY, AND ONE 4 YEAR OLD WAS DRESSED AS ELMO. AS HE APPROACHED US, HE SUDDENLY LEFT THE LINE AND CAME OVER TO GIVE ME A HUG. I NEVER SAW THIS CHILD BEFORE AND IT REALLY TOOK ME BACK. AS HE BROKE THE HUG, HE LOOKED DIRECTLY AT ME AND BROKE INTO A BIG SMILE. HIS MOTHER CAME OVER TO ME AND ASKED WHO I WAS, BECAUSE HE NEVER DID ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. PARADE AND PARTY NUMBER 2 WASN'T AS DRAMATIC AS THE FIRST ONE, BUT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. NEXT YEAR I'M DRESSING UP AS A STUDENT BECAUSE ALL THE TEACHERS ARE CUTE...............AND I'M GOING ALONE. MARTY :big_grin:

WELL, WE HAD A WONDERFUL TRIP TO NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO. BALOON FESTIVAL , TOURS OF THE AIR FORCE ACADAMY, OLYMPIC VILLAGE, AN INDIAN PUEBLO AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS WE DID I WON'T BORE YOU WITH. BUT I WILL TELL YOU I'VE TRIED TO MEET PEOPLE WITHIN A 25 MILE RADIUS OF HOME TO NO AVAIL. I SHOWER, SHAVE, I'M PLEASANT. SOMTIMES HUMOROUS, BUT I HAVE TO TRAVEL 1300 MILES TO BOULDER, COLORADO TO GET TOGETHER WITH A FELLOW STROKE NETWORK MEMBER. MY WIFE AND I ENJOYED OUR TIME WITH SARA, GARY, KRISTIN, AND PATRICK. GREAT FOOD, GOOD COMPANY, AND A VERIFICATION WHAT I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED. CAREGIVERS ARE SAINTS. AMEN! NOW FOR THE ADVENTURE HOME. WE LEFT SAT. MORNING, HOPING TO GET TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA THAT NIGHT. AT 1PM. WE HEARD A LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A HELICOPTER OVERHEAD. YUP, THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW ONE MILE FROM THE EXIT TO NORTH PLATTE , NEBRASKA. NOW I HAVE A MONTH OLD NISSAN WITH 4000 MILES ON IT. LOW AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS A NISSAN DEALER IN TOWN WHO TOLD ME WHICH TOW COMPANY TO CALL. SITTING ON THE SIDE OF I-80 WITH TRUCKS GOING BY AT 80 MPH IS NO FUN. WE RODE TO THIS METROPOLS IN THE CAB OF THE FLATBED, OUR INJURED VEHICLE BEHIND US. THEY PUT THE DOUGHNUT SPARE ON AND WE FOUND THERE WERE LOTS OF MOTELS AND RESTAURANTS AT THIS EXIT. WHOOPIE! IT SEEMS EVERY TIRE PLACE AND THE NISSAN SERVICE CLOSE AT 1 PM. SO HERE WE ARE WITH NO WAY OUT OF TOWN. WE CHECKED INTO A MOTEL 'TLL MONDAY. OUR HIGHLIGHT ON SUNDAY WAS SPENDING AN HOUR IN WAL-MART. WE ALSO FOUND GOOD STEAKS AT A NEARBY RESTAURANT CALLED "WHISKEY SALOON". AT 7:30 MONDAY MORNING, WE WERE AT THE GOODYEAR DEALER, EXPECTING TO GET A NEW TIRE AND GETTING ON THE ROAD. WRONG. HE DIDN'T CARRY THE SIZE AND THE CLOSEST TIRE DEALER WHO DID WAS 150 MILES AWAY. HE LOOKED AT THE BLOWN TIRE AND COULDN'T DETERMINE WHY IT HAPPENED. SO WE WENT TO THE NISSAN DEALER EXPECTING TO GET A TIRE. WRONG. THEY HAD NO TIRES THAT SIZE IN STOCK EITHER. NOW ON SUNDAY WE HAD GONE TO THE NISSAN DEALER WHERE I CHECKED HIS INVENTORY OF MURANOS AND FOUND HE HAD 5 OF THEM. SO I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF HE COULD TRANSFER ONE OF THOSE TIRES TO MY WHEEL AND GET ME ON THE ROAD. HE SAID THAT IF I WERE A REGULAR CUSTOMER, HE WOULD CONSIDER DOING IT. I TOLD HIM I GENERALLY DON'T DRIVE A 1000 MILES TO BUY A CAR, AND THAT WE SHOULD PRETEND I'M A GOOD CUSTOMER. GUESS WHAT? IT WORKED. AN HOUR LATER WE WERE BACK AT THE MOTEL LOADING THE CAR AND SETTING OFF ON MY NEW, BEAUTIFUL BLACK TIRE. WE HAD A NICE REMAINDER RIDE HOME. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ARE REVIEWING REIMBURSING ME FOR THE TOW AND MOTEL STAY BECAUSE NO TIRES WERE READILY AVAILABLE. IF THE DEALER HAD A TIRE IN STOCK SATURDAY, I COULD HAVE BOUGHT IT, HAD IT MOUNTED ELSEWHERE AND BEEN ON OUR WAY. I HAVE FRIEND WHO OWNS A CHAIN OF GOODYEAR STORES AND WILL LOOK AT THE TIRE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. IF THE TIRE IS DEFECTIVE, I CAN GET THE MONEY BACK FOR THE TIRE I HAD TO BUY. SO MUCH FOR OUR ADVENTURE. OUR MARRIAGE STAYED IN TACT THROUGH THIS ORDEAL, MY BLOOD PRESSURE STAYED NORMAL. I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THE DEALER IN THE MIDDLE OF NEBRASKA DID. NO, I'M NOT BUYING MY NEXT CAR THERE.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THREE FEET? MARTY :bouncing_off_wall:

JEAN, AQUATIC THERAPY IS THE BEST! I'VE BEEN DOING IT THREE DAYS A WEEK FOR OVER THREE YEARS. WITHOUT IT AND MY "ANGEL" LEADER, WHO KNOWS WHERE I WOULD BE TODAY. SO GLAD IT'S AGREEING WITH DON. YOU WILL SEE CHANGES AND EVEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN HIS MENTAL OUTLOOK. EVERYBODY WHO HAD A STROKE, AND CAN, SHOULD BE IN THE WATER FOR THERAPY. MARTY :Clap-Hands:

I HAVEN'T BLOGGED IN 6 MONTHS, SO I DECIDED TO BORE MYSELF AND REMIND MYSELF WHAT I'M DOING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. WE BACKED OUT OF BUILDING THE TOWNHOUSE BECAUSE THE BUILDER'S CONTRACT WAS SO LOPSIDED AND WE NEEDED TO MAKE 30 CHANGES. IN ADDITION, AFTER 1 YEAR, THEY ONLY PRE-SOLD 2 OUT OF 180. NOT A GOOD SIGN. SO WE CONTINUE TO BE "HOMELESS". AFTER KEEPING OUR SICK CAT ALIVE FOR SIX EXTRA MONTHS, HE LOST THE BATTLE TO KIDNEY DISEASE, AND WE PUT HIM TO SLEEP AT THE AGE OF 5. THREE WEEKS AGO. AFTER A LONG WALK, MY WIFE CAME HOME WITH A WILD IDEA. AFTER TRAVELING WITH A CAT FOR 17 YEARS (WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER FOR 12 YEARS), SHE DECIDED WE SHOULD JUST PACK THE CAR AND GO ON A WANDERING TRIP TO AN AREA WE HAVEN'T YET SEEN. SO ON OCT. 5, WE WILL BE DRIVING TO NEW MEXICO, UP THROUGH COLORADO AND BACK HOME. SHOULD TAKE US ABOUT THREE WEEKS. WHEN I SAY WE WILL BE DRIVING, I SHOULD CLARIFY THAT I WILL BE DRIVING AND MY WIFE WILL BE SIGHT-SEEING. THEN IT'S BACK HOME FOR THANKSGIVING AND MY DAUGHTER'S 40TH BIRTHDAY. PACK UP AGAIN FOR OUR ANNUAL TREK TO FLORIDA TO ANNOY OUR SON. GOTTA STAY ACTIVE. LET ME JUST SAY ONE OTHER THING. STEVE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PLEA FOR FUNDS TO KEEP THIS WONDERFUL NETWORK GOING. WE SHOULD GLADLY SEND IN SOMETHING-WHATEVER IS AFFORDABLE. THERE ARE OVER 6000 MEMBERS AND IF EVERYONE DONATED $2.00/YEAR, THERE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. 'NUFF SAID.

SHIRELY, I WENT FROM QUAD, TO A LOVELY HAND CARVED CANE, TO NO CANE AT ALL. IF I'M GOING TO WALK A LONG DISTANCE, LIKE DISNEYWORLD, I KEEP THE CANE WITH ME. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I PREACHED THIS, BUT WATER, WATER, WATER IS THE KEY. I JOINED AN AQUATIC ARTHRITIS CLASS AT THE YMCA TWO YEARS AGO. THE EXERCISES DONE ARE THE SAME THAT WOULD BENEFIT ANY STROKE SURVIVOR. MUSCLES MOVE MUCH EASIER IN WATER, AND THE WALKING EXERCISES HELP WITH STRENGTH AS WELL AS BALANCE. IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS SINCE I FELL ON MY BEHIND. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROGRESS, AND IF THERE IS A FACILITY IN YOUR TOWN THAT OFFERS AN AQUATIC PROGRAM, BY ALL MEANS INVESTIGATE. I STILL GO THREE TIMES A WEEK, AND BESIDES THE BENEFIT THE PROGRAM OFFERS, I'VE MADE A LOT OF NEW FRIENDS. BEST WISHES, MARTY :big_grin:

I'VE DECIDED TO MAKE A LIST OF ALL PEOPLE I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY STROKE WITH, SO THEY CAN EXPERIENCE AND CELEBRATE WHAT I HAVE AND AM STILL GOING THROUGH. EVEN THOUGH MY LIFE IS NOT THAT BAD, I FEEL SOME DESERVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MONTH AS SURVIVORS. ALL EXCEPT MY EX-NEIGHBOR. FOR HIM, I CAN ONLY WISH, WELL #%<<%# MARTY :big_grin:

WHILE IN FLORIDA, WE NOTICED JAKE, OUR CAT, WAS GETTING THIN AND NOT EATING. WE TOOK HIM TO A CAT HOSPITAL (NOT CAT HOUSE, CAT HOSPITAL) WHERE HE HAD BLOOD TESTS AND X-RAYS. HIS KIDNEYS WERE SCREWED UP AND THERE WAS FOREIGN MATTER IN HIS STOMACH. SURGERY WAS RECOMMENDED, AND ARTIFICIAL GRASS, SOME WITH WIRE WAS REMOVED. MEDICATION HELPED GET HIS KIDNEYS IN BETTER ORDER AND HE BECAME HIS OLD SELF. WHILE SHOPPING FOR CAT FOOD, WE MET A WOMAN WHO HAD SEVEN CATS ANS CALLED HERSELF "KAY THE CRAZY CAT LADY." KAY SAID SHE REVIEWED ALL FOODS AND FOUND SOLID GOLD -KATZ-A-FLOCKING TO BE THE BEST. SO WE LOADED UP ON DRY AND MOIST VERSIONS OF THE FOOD AND JAKE SEEMS TO BE QUITE CONTENT WITH HIS NEW FOOD. NEXT WEEK, HE GOES TO A LOCAL VET TO SEE HOW HIS KIDNEYS ARE DOING. ACCORDING THE THE LITTER BOX, I WOULD SAY HE IS DOING VERY WELL. WHEN I GOT HIM FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY, HE COST ME $65 AND I SIGNED A PAPER THAT SAID I WOULD DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP HIM WELL. MY WIFE TOOK THIS TO HEART AND FOR WHAT WE NOW HAVE INVESTED IN HIM, I'M CONSIDERING CHANGING HIS NAME TO PRECIOUS OR GOLDFINGER. BECAUSE I MADE HIM EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE, HE NEEDS TO STAY ALIVE. MY WIFE IS CRAZY ABOUT HIM (HE SLEEPS WITH HER MORE THAN I DO). SO DO I KEEP THE CAT OR MY WIFE? MARTY :blush:

LOOK, I'VE BEEN BLESSED THIS YEAR IN SPITE OF THE STROKE. MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS ARE ALL WELL AND HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED. SO YESTERDAY I WAS READING THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT HOW THE ANGEL TREES PUT UP BY THE SALVATION ARMY WERE LAGGING IN PEOPLE WILLING TO HELP. SO MY WIFE AND I WENT TO A LOCAL BANK AND PICKED THE REMAINING TAGS OFF THE TREE. THEN WE WENT TO TARGET AND SPENT THREE HOURS SHOPPING FOR TOYS AND CLOTHES FOR TWO THREE YEAR OLDS, A FOUR AND THIRTEEN YEAR OLD. LOTS OF WALKING AND THINKING GOOD THERAPY FOR THE LEGS AND MIND. WE ALSO TOOK THREE TAGS FOR FOOD, SO A FAMILY OF OF NINE AND TWO FAMILIES OF THREE WILL HAVE CHRISTMAS DINNER. THE CERTIFICATES ARE MARKED "NO CIGARETTES OR LIQUOR", SO THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT PROBLEM. TONIGHT WE SAT ON THE FLOOR AND WRAPPED EVERYTHING. GREAT EXERCISE FOR THE FINGERS AND ARMS. TOMORROW WE DELIVER ALL GOODS TO THE SALVATION ARMY. I WISH I COULD BE A FLY ON THE WALL IN THOSE HOMES ON CHRISTMAS DAY. MY FAMILY WILL GET NO GIFTS THIS YEAR BECAUSE EVERYTHING GIVEN IS IN THEIR NAMES. THE TWO LITTLE ONES MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, BUT EVERYONE ELSE DOES. I MAY NOT BE CHRISTIAN, BUT I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS HOLIDAY IS TO SO MANY PEOPLE. TOO BAD SO MANY HAVE SO LITTLE AND SO MANY OTHERS CAN'T LIVE IN PEACE. MARTY

AND SO ANOTHER NOVEMBER HAS COME AND GONE. THE POOL AT THE Y IS CLOSED FOR REPAIRS FOR 2 MONTHS. I MISS THE SWIMMING AND PEOPLE, BUT TOMORROW IS THE CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR THE 2 GROUPS. FIRST ONE I'LL BE ABLE TO ATTEND SINCE I'VE BEEN IN FLORIDA THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THANKSGIVING WAS GREAT AT OUR DAUGHTER'S HOME. GOOD FOOD, GOOD COMPANY, AND LOT'S OF FUN. WE STAYED OVER THURSDAY NIGHT AND I SLEPT WITH 2 CATS, 2 KIDS, AND A COCKER SPANIEL. WE DEPARTED FRIDAY AFTER LUNCH BECAUSE THE LEFTOVERS WERE GONE. SATURDAY WE WENT BACK FOR OUR GRANDSON'S 8TH BIRTHDAY PARTY. IT WAS HELD AT THE YMCA WHERE THE KIDS COULD ROCK CLIMB UP A WALL. MY WIFE WOULDN'T LET ME TRY EVEN THOUGH I RECENTLY PAID MY LIFE INSUANCE PREMIUM. THERE WERE 15 8 YEAR OLDS AT THE PARTY AND UNLESS YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, IT WAS JUST NUTS. AFTERWARD, ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS WENT OUT FOR PIZZA. ITS BEEN C.C.C.COLD THE PAST FEW DAYS, SO MY WIFE AND I WENT TO SEE "BOBBY". I ENJOYED IT BECAUSE I COULD REMEMBER ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED FOR REAL. THE MUSIC WAS GOOD, THE SCENES WERE VERY WELL DONE, BUT SOME OF THE ACTING WAS A BIT AMATEURISH. I ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT LIFE WOULD BE LIKE TODAY IF BOBBY AND JOHN KENNEDY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD NOT BEEN KILLED. CAN'T WAIT FOR DEC. 28. WE HEAD TO FLORIDA FOR THREE+ MONTHS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS MARTY :big_grin:

JEAN, I'M ALREADY IN THE PAMELA ANDERSON FAN CLUB. SHE EVEN DREAMS ABOUT ME. PHYL, MAYBE I'LL DO A LONGER TEXT NEXT TIME. THE BREAST WILL GO MUCH SLOWER OVER THE FOREHEAD BONNIE, THE ONLY CHANGE IN MY DIET WAS THE PUMPKIN SPICE COFFEE I HAD THIS MORNING. I GUESS I'LL GO BACK FOR MORE.