Winter piled high

I thought I would show a few local pictures of the winter spell ... after years of weak Winter, we got a real one this year. The drifting is what piled the snow high. It was a mess and will be again, for there is snow predicted for the next several days. Valentine's Day, with a vengeance?

Thing about cars

If you'll see, there missing plastic. Thomas called today ... the part is expensive.

How the van should look.

Happy St. Vallentine's Day!

Thomas got this nice bouquet for Lois. Isn't it sweet?
Love abounds!

Thank God Thomas and Lois had nowhere to go today. The roads were a mess!

Flowers in Winter

Thomas and Marcus went out to pick up gas for the snowblower and Thomas' flowers for Lois. The roads were a mess and the going slow. I'm sure that the $7 delivery charge was too little in this hostile weather. Thomas, at the time of purchase and ordering, requested to pick up the flowers and avoid the surcharge delivery fee. Boy, oh boy, was it wise to pick them up early. The shifting winds today were bitter and mighty.

Thomas, ever the nice guy, went with Lois early this morning to her visit to her pain management doctor in his new office. A good thing they had an early appointment, for ... the office was calling afternoon appointments and cancelling them due to weather.

Lois is doing well and the doctor has no interest in seeing her for months. She has had leg and foot pain, unrelated to the knee surgery. The doctor suspected impingement and stress from her lower spind nerves that give her the sensation of foot pain. When she walks, the pain changes and lessens, generally. The doctor has no interest in surgery for her. I doubt that Lois wants surgery either.

Phone & website match

They didn't. Thomas called a company after making a purchase online for a health guide issue. They charged him fine. He didn't get his product. After chatting with phone operator number 1, he was directed to phone number 2 to talk with phone operator number 2.

Number 1, make it so.
No, captain.

Number 2, make it so.
No, captain.

Could I talk with someone willing to look at records?
No.

Am I ever going to make headway with you?
No.

Press 1 if you'd like to let loose a firestorm of profanities.
Press 2 if you would like to argue with a computerized answering service.
Press 3 if you believe you have reached this call in error.

.........
After more, "talking", and finding that Chase credit card listed the wrong 800 number for the charge. So, Thomas found that the $24 he spent on the report, was online only. So ... $24 for a PDF ... skip all that.

The company suggested that he pay for it again. Yeah, that's right. My advice, do not make purchases from this company. So, I rank this customer service as -- below dirt. They then suggested that he spend more money to get it. I'd rank that in with bad business practices. So, Thomas is out of luck on this.
...

In other news, the old TV found a new minor problem, but with hand tools and luck... it will continue to work. Thomas didn't have to call a repair person to come.

Sunday, sleepy Sunday

The morning started with a squirrel on the feeder, apparently not satisfied with the food on the ground. Feed me more, she chittered, but I did not respond.

Thomas and Lois went to church and there were a large number of new members. Hey, yeah! They came back and the gloom of the day continued and they grew sleepy ... a pendulum swinging ... grew sleepier ... pendulum swinging ... sleep -- y
You are asleep.

They later watched Pirates of the Carribean, Dead Man's Chest, for they liked the first Pirate's movie. They liked it. Last night they watched another movie, courtesy of Netflix. It was Glory Road, the tale of integrated basketball, where a coach crosses the lines and puts in black athletes. The movie is riddled with racial slurs from jerring racists. I understand that the coach was demanding and it was a good movie.

Stop dressed

Here are Lois and Beth dressed to go to the funeral. He is the father of Beth's friend and fellow classmate. Thomas and Lois returned and Beth went to get coffee with another friend there, Marie who still lives near Fort Wayne. As a side note, Beth isn't this tall. She's wearing thirty inch heels. Okay, she's wearing heels, not thirty inch ... maybe thirteen.

Thomas quickly read a health report then started the car on this bright, solomn day. It was cold, but people were happy to see each other. Damn these sad days! Too often we meet friends and loved ones because of grief, not joy.

Saturday mourning

RICHARD A. NITTERAUER, 68, of Fort Wayne, died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne. Born June 12, 1938, in Springfield, Ill., he was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. He retired from Fort Wayne Community Schools as a speech pathologist, in 1997. He loved his Lord and his grandchildren. He also enjoyed classical music, the outdoors and traveling. Surviving are his wife, Donna J. Nitterauer of Fort Wayne; daughter, Suzanne M. (Ron) Hostetler of Fort Wayne; and two grandchildren, Benjamin Hostetler and Bradley Hostetler, both of Fort Wayne. Funeral service is 2 p.m. Sunday at Elzey-Patterson & Rodak Home For Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Road, Fort Wayne. Visitation is from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial in St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.
Published in the Fort Wayne Newspapers on 2/9/2007.

Making a date

For cards, anyway, it was a bit of a chore. Write the date, have it pass in congress, but it was re-written. It was passed onto Senate, but that wasn't any good. Much like, "I'm just bill; just a lonely old bill and I'm sittin' here on Capital Hill..." Lois negotiated for a date for cards with friends. Finally, with other commitments, March was elected and it's the day before St. Patrick's Day ... 16th.

For those out of the loop, the frinds play girls vs boys. In the games that I know, the boys have lost 19 out of 20 times. The boys claim, "cheating, talking, stacking the deck" or other nonsense to explain the dismal record. That might be, but 1 : 20 is a bad ratio.

Maybe the boys will use email to make plans and strategies to win this time ... or some time, so that they aren't famous for failure.

Lois wears halter top

Well, it's a halter to carry a heart monitor. She wears it for 24 hours, then we get to wait for results. Joy of joys!

This is Lois' spot. It looks gross, but it's healing. Die, cancer, die! It did or rather it isn't on her leg anymore. I'm sure it will be no more remarkable than skin in a couple of weeks or less.

Season's up!

Supposedly robins in the area are a good sign, but these little birds drink then flew away for parts unknown. So, I don't think it's a sign at all, for Indiana. What I didn't get was when there were three all bobbing up and down similtaneously like clockwork.

Spotted

Lois' new mark

It's not as bad as it looks. This spot was a bit of cancer, now it's gone. This pit, healing, is larger than the origin.

It's 2007 and the doctors have seen Lois already. Well, let's hope the problems are all this simple.

What we all need -- a laugh

Lois was walking down the steps, but stopped, sat, and laughed. At what could she be laughing? What could make her cackle so much? The man below.

His being on the phone wasn't it. His situation was with constant moving, of himself and his pants. It was a funny enough scene for Lois to drop and laugh. Thomas brings wonders -- sometimes bringing laughs when he doesn't mean to do so.

Give me some sikin

Lois went to the dermatologist today. Jackie, a nurse practitioner, stated "Eww. Gross", yesterday as she looked at the site. Lois had the thing on her leg removed. It wasa basal cell, low-level cancer. There should be no more problems. Thomas stated that in two weeks, she will have seen each and every one of her many, many doctors.

2007, Medicare does not get a break.

puking heartaches

Lois has returned to stomache cramps and vomitting. At the cardiologist, she has been instructed to wear a harness. Is n't that just so plunky lucky. Results may vary.

Thomas spent hours today sorting through a Pennsylvania foothill of paperwork. Three piles were made -- shred, trash, save. I think the save pile was the smallest.

gettin' dirty

Well, thanks to Thomas, Marcus got to two different interviews with the use of his van. Marcus' car is, well, doubtful for long trips. Marcus did five hours of driving today and it would have been a harsh trip for the old bugger of a car. The van performed admirably. Although getting 1/3 to 1/4 of the gas mileage of Marcus' car, it is comfortable and reliable. Marcus would trade up in a second.

Marcus has been struggling to get a job. His interviews this week are all out of his resident city -- each 90 miles or more away. So, Marcus would like to give a simple thing ...

Thanks Dad!

As a result of all the driving ... a filthy, dirty, messy van. Mudflaps are optional, sadly.

Trip around the block

Jenny plays cords

Harrison Hall

Jim shys from camera, but was happy to unveil, "Star" his pencil horse drawing with, "nice eyes" in his words.

new sofa sits 6; yes ... it's great for it was a long time coming
Jessica and Diane rest nicely.

gifted

Lois got a long box in the mail. "What in the world", she thought. She opened it to find ... old photos and one from 2006. It was put together by her nephew and niece, how nice! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

It was certainly a highlight of the day and week!

close in

Thomas got Lois a visor with simulated binocular magnification. They are completely useless seeing distances greater than 8". The bottles, her many medications have tiny print on them with some specifics. Actually, she doesn't need to read them, but it is nice to be able to read what is there. I don't remember where Thomas got the visor.

Even dryer

Well, another appliance appeared to be failing and requesting scrap yard, but that would have been hasty. In one year, the freezer died, the fridge died, the washer died, and 6 months before those, the dishwasher. It is nice that the dryer was easy to fix. The bill was $118, but the technician knew what the problem was, had the part with him and fixed it within 15 minutes.

Way to go Stucky Brothers! The price was too much, but it is cheaper than bringing it in, buying a new one or guessing. The technician was very competent. Thanks, man!

week of mild illness and dreary weather

Thomas and Lois had spells of sleepiness requiring rest, with periods of being up at night. This didn't dispell the sleepiness during the day. They were to have cards at the house, but Lois fell ill and cards were cancelled. A friend fell on her face earlier in the week, so her bible study didn't meet. Well, at least Thomas got to hit some balls at the golf dome.

Thomas got to watch the playoff games, favoring the two teams who won ... Chicago Bears who punished the Saints and the Colts who barely pulled off a win. Tony is a lifetime Bears fan so he is going to be tunnelvisioned on the game in two weeks.

Debbie and Tony came up for a quick visit with the folks and that seemed to go fine. The kids were at home with the grandfolks, so the pets didn't need kenneling.

Marcus went to a friend's birthday party. His friend reached the mid four-O, which truly can't have the moniker of "big". Now there is the big eight-O or the big nine-O or for fewer, huge ten-O. Marcus is reminded that soon, he too will reach the 40 mark. Another year in a life of 55 - 85 years with any luck.

Today, a visitor popped by for a chat with the local birds. She couldn't find any birds willing to gossip; pity.

Scurried away

Thomas, "giddy as a schoolboy" trotted off to golf practice today at the golf dome. He miessed a few times to swing away, but today got his chance. "Fair" was the call for his fairway practice. There is an indoor driving range where he meets "the guys" weekly to swing then eat lunch.

This morning, Lois' Coumadin level was 2.0. The clinic is seeking a stable 2.0-3.0. Lois isn't quite there yet.

Eyes have it

Lois went to her new eye doctor. Her previous eye doctor may very well leave her practice to be a full-time mom. She has child five now and Lois believes that the doctor will not be back, or anytime soon. She is seeing Anderson/Farber group, Farber is her doctor now.

After a very long appointment, she was diagnosed with Left Central Serous Chorioretinopathy. What's that you ask? I found two sites fairly informative. Research on your own for more details. (site 1, site 2). The doctor doesn't seem to want do surgery at this time. That's great news for Lois.

In other medical news, Thomas pulled out a couple of Christmastime Sunday newspaper stacks. These were well-loved newsitems, but rather the medical records of Thomas and Lois. Thomas found some 2005 -- instant pitch, while saving 2006, which accounted for most of it. Thomas and Lois have been doing marathon races with paperwork.

Thomas had cancer and therapy 2005, Lois with multiple hospitalizations 2006, complete with double knee replacement surgery. Thomas and Lois seek to be away from those places this year.

Topples trees

Well, the tree didn't fall over, but this partial sampling of the ornaments on this year, lets you know that the tree holds decades of memories. There were other ornaments that aren't in this shot.

More good photos of 2006

Mom, out of hospital, out of rehab

I could go on, but I'll stop here. What I could use are more photos! If you have 'em, I want them, please.

Little Guitarista

[photo courtesty of J F on her flickr account, which she may or may not disclose.]

I'll just tune this guitar ... plink! Sproing!

Jennifer broke the guitar? No. The strings snapped. She got a different guitar.

"Do, a deer. A female deer. Re, a drop of golden sun ... said the joker to the theif."

Hey, she caught on quickly!

Medicine

More medical news, but not about Lois or Thomas. Debbie, this time takes the spotlight. Apparently Debbie's pain quickly worsened over a short period so she will have to have surgery again. Her adhesions are a problem and the same doctor will likely fix them.

With scanning, the medical staff found her cecum to be slightly malformed. That seems to be minor, but it is interesting, nonetheless.

Debbie said that she would likely have surgery in the spring, but she made no commitment to any time.

From Marcus' blog

photo collections for 2006; most of them taken by Marcus
collection 1
collection 2

* girl squatting by S. Cramer
* photo of me by Megan O.

Phone Poker?

Thomas got a call from Jessica. She was at a friend's house. They were playing poker and needed to know the hand values. Who better to call, then Grandpa? He helped them!

Missing and good news

Lois started the day frantic that she couldn't find her pocket calendar. She looked everywhere. Finally, Thomas looked and found it in the car. Whew! Lois had two appointments today. She had one with the orthopedic who said, "I don't want to see you for a year." That sounds bad, but it's good!

Lois went to the Coumadin clinic for weekly blood draw and viola ... it's better, but they are looking for a specific number, so they'll never be satisfied. They will, however be happy with her improved number.

Lois get frustrated with the local market in that she can't always find things, like good quality fish. She found very large scallops, but they were pricey! After a day of driving and doctors, both Thomas and Lois were tired. They watched an episode of Ballykissangel before the Prez spoke at 9. They seem to like the show quite a bit. Netflix has been a saving grace in opposition to typical cable. Blecht!

Puke then no puke and wonderful sights

Lois shows a nice blastoma, courtesy of her diabetes. This one she didn't feel so much and was far less serious than other ones she's had. She didn't lose vision and the doctors tend to let these heal themselves, as long as it is not a symptom of a different disease. [photo is of the same eye]

It is 2007 and you know it because of billing from places. Say, like an April medical bill sent, noting that Medicare paid some, which means the bill is done. The weather has been cold and when not cold, often gloomy. The nice news is that there are snowdrifts to your chin and there arent' ice storms wrecking havoc and destruction.

Thomas is continuing with his home PT, but is starting to forget it. Tsk, tsk, tsk. He remembers at night, "Oops! I didn't finish my exercises." Lois has been between pukey, sleeping hours upon hours, and not restful at night. Apparently, 2007 is a good facsimile of 2006.

The Christmas tree is still up and the spirit of Christmas is still here, though the reality of another year is here, overshadowing the spirit of Christmas. The start of the year is slow, but welcome.

The extended family is starting their school year and with downturned faces. The Orozcos got their computers back running and the Loves are doing okay. The Freygang family ... now in three different locations are alright, but they don't write much -- so, I'll write and assume they are okay.

Thomas called friends about the bi-weekly poker. Nuts! There aren't enough people here in FW to keep the poker going in January and February, so it might be cancalled for those months. The "snow birds" don't come back 'til March/May. Kris, the most poker-avid player is most hurt by this news.

Lois will begin bible study with Betty, Gloria, and Donnasue this week. It will be great for them to make it a habit and setting goals. Now, if everyone can stay healthy, Thomas and Lois can go to the YMCA also.

Post holidays

Rain or shine, Dave plays

Rather than grab a spoon, the one who gets four of a kind puts his/her finger on his/her nose and pushes up like a pig snout.

New Year here and the family was too.

Here we see the kids playing basketball (Dave) and the others playing pig (spoons game without the spoons). We seemed to all have a good time. Johnny got new orthodics courtesy of Grandpa, for his flat feet. When about to leave, Johnny got hit on the head by the van door. It was unclear how badly hurt he was, but after the trip home, he was playing basketball. He, therefore, was okay.

The Orozcos start their school Wednesday and Ana returns to Indiana University also -- she's rushing for Sororities. They are darned particular about dresses. She and Debbie hunted for a couple of weeks -- nothing! Jennifer does not yet seem interested in rushing, but that really hasn't been discussed.

Lois was tired last night and Thomas went to bed around 8:30, before anyone. Thomas was still tired today.

Beth and Tom went back on Monday and got home safely. One of their dogs, Samson, pouted and showed his displeasure with being treated like a dog. He stopped being a dog a few years ago, so he didn't want to go back to being one.

Happy New Year!

The family gathered together for the New Year and grudgingly the group photo

We quickly put together a group shot ...

Then things got a little crazy

Rumbly in the Tumbly

Lois will later seek medical advice about her pukiness and general GI discomfort. She claims that she wants to address it after New Year, after the family leaves. Yeah, I'm sure that hospital forgot her appearance and desperately needs more medicare money, at the start of the year. Ho Ho Ho ... Merry Taxmas!

The good news is that other family is coming up from Indy area today and tomorrow. It will wham-bam Happy New Year Ma'am and then they stay or go ... I don't know. It will be nice however to just be with family.

Thinner & meaner

Lois' blood is thinner ... so much so that they doctor's are having her take less medicine -- Coumadin. We'll have to find out what, if anything all of that means. On the lighter side ... she's up longer and later.

Lois also has thunder gut. Her intestines sound like a bear or other wild beast. She has been uncomfortable and in some discomfort. She also been "urpy" and nausiated and pukey at times.

Thomas finished his at-office, PT today. He also visited a friend who is in a nursing facility after his hip injury.

Thomas and Lois are waiting for family from the Indy area, but their date of arrival is yet a mystery.

Christmas 2006

What a feast for the eyes -- Christmas in all of it's magic and wonder!

The day started like any other -- messy. Joe wanted to come over, but didn't have his car (long story that won't be covered here). He therefore wanted a ride, but wanted to stay only 30 minutes then leave. Well -- that wasn't going to happen. So, we were all off the hook for that responsibility. A family friend, Betty, joined us again and she had a wheeled walker with seat.

When we got her situated in the car, we weren't. We had packed a chair in the car, for the Freygangs (who hosted Christmas) have no really comfortable furniture for Lois. After several minutes of playing Tetris with bags, stuff, chair, and walker -- surrender! We put the wheeled walker in front with other stuff and Thomas, Lois, and Betty were in back. Marcus had the most comfortable seat -- driving.

Since the kids have been young, they have waited for "Grandma and Grandpa" to arrive before opening their gifts -- this year was no exception. We ate a lot, burst our guts, chatted and slowly rolled into the other room to open gifts. Diane and Father filmed the event -- as it was, and the unwrapping unfolded in shifts.

Angel was first, sniffing out her gift in seconds and chewing open her gift. She was cut off after a while, for fear of her getting sick from overindulgence, like the humans would know. The girls opened their many gifts and were happy, but he "big items" were the most dramatic. Jennifer got a guitar and Jessica got a store-bought computer, HP. Considering all the gifts, everyone did very well.

The bags of wrapping paper removed, the room was still full. We went into another room and played some games, taking a break with more eating -- sweets, pie, ice cream, cookies and more. Boy, oh boy ... stomache's delight and misery. Betty grew tired and we withdrew around seven. Thomas, Lois, and Marcus got back around eight and time slowed and we were weary. Thomas and Lois packed it in early and Marcus could not.

God willing, we will have our other 2nd and 3rd Christmas this year, just as nice as this one. The Orozco family and Loves are coming this weekend for Christmas / New Year.

Footsmarts

Lois has had some difficulty with her feet. Boy! This year isn't a happy story for some health! She complains of pain. Thankfully, it isn't too bad. It is, just one more thing. Lois' coumadin levels are getting low, so her dosages are changing. Isn't that just super fun?! [unhappy feet]

Thomas is still growing stronger with home PT and office Physical Therapy. His tests recently came back okay ... in normal range.

Thomas and Lois went to Indy area to see family and had a good time there, I understand. They spent part of a day with Beth and Tom. Beth and Tom have two dogs who love to play and tease each other. According to Lois, they teased each other with a log two feet or longer. One would have it, then it would be "stolen" from him by the other.
Supposedly, Samson grew tired and took the log to the porch, lying in front of Lois and Beth. Argos passed by several times, trying to continue the game, but no dice. He resigned with style by sitting on the porch, placing a paw comically on Samson's head, "please, let me have the toy!" [useful feet]

The next Thomas took Tony, Jon, Michael, Dave, and Megan around a couple of places. They wound up seeing, Happy Feet. They also saw Tony's folks' new house, nearly complete, which is in the area of Debbie and Tony's house. I understand that it quite nice.

Lois went with the girls, Debbie, Beth, Ana to see a quilt show in Indy. They had artisans who crafted quilts with environmental material -- canvas bags, scrap denim, etc. While lacking batting and other more typical quilt facets, they excelled in dynamic uniqueness. After hours of walking, Lois had some tired feet.

What Lois got to see was Secret (Orozco cat) crawl through the Christmas tree to bat off ornaments. After that, she'd bite and scratch at them like prey. [scratchy feet] Toby, disappointingly, barked to be included -- asking, "where's mine?" Lois laughed quite a bit about the silly animals on this trip.

Marcus missed that, in favor of seeing a birthday party on Saturday. After months of turning in resume' s, he has received now more responses that the companies got them, but declined to hire him. [defeat]

He turned in a 20 page application for a job -- he'll find out sometime next week what, if anything results from that.

Health horizons

Thomas had a carotid artery test a bit ago. The office had not called, or so he thought. After checking the phone service, he found that the test came out clear -- no mess, no surgery. Lois isn't going to need eye surgery and Thomas is getting stronger with his exercises.

Eerie sight on the wall -- what Lois called Angel, was a shadow of bells.

This is a superimposed picture of the tree lit and the tree with a flash. It has a ghostly appearance. I will have to re-shoot the picture.

Christmas in stages

Lois and Thomas put together a few of their holiday decorations in celebration of Christmas. There are window lights, a tree with decades of ornaments -- memories with each of them. There were carols on the stereo ... dust on the lawn of a snow two days ago. The sun melted some, leaving typical Decemeber white grass.

The feeling of love and of Christmas is waming the house. Thomas is starting to work on the hide-a-gift puzzles, which he has done for 30 some years. Yes, Christmas is here. I know that there isn't a picture here, but the next one will have pictures.

God bless you all -- thanks for Jesus!

Bliss?

Okay, while there weren't the sounds of elves hammering away or sewing machines feverishly working to make dolls, December is here and minds and hearts are on Christmas.

Lois is reading what she thought was a card, but alas ... it was not. Earlier she got ill then rested. It was a blissful day in one respect -- no doctor's appointment for Lois or Thomas.

Lois later was feeling a little better.



The question for this photo is: What do you think is happening? What a Santa's elf caught putting together a toy? Was this a naughty soldier?

No. Thomas is putting in weight (via marbles) in the soldier who stands sentry during the Christmas holiday. There are two holes in him, one at the feet and one at the neck (for the lightbulb).

Thomas and Marcus put up the tree today, but did not decorate it just yet. It is expected that Lois, Thomas, and Marcus will slowly piece together the tree on Saturday, perhaps.