Teenage Hang Out

On Far Guys birthday we went out for breakfast..it is one of his favorite meals.  I had a Orthopedic appointment, I have escaped the surgeons knife this time, the exercises that I do for my shoulder really worked!!  I do them in both shoulders..I wouldn't want to be lopsided.  I can begin some of the Chuck Norris exercises on the total gym..not the fancy ones..I must still keep my elbows tucked in.   We did our errands and on the way out of town Far Guy said that it was too bad the bank ( it was a holiday) was closed (free coffee), I said, "What the hay it's your birthday..lets go to Schmiders for a coke!"  We have both given up sodas..we have them only occasionally..I was down to one a day..then I gave that one up too. Far Guy drinks coffee. I drink water.

Schmiders the old "hang out" on main street.  It was a soda/ice cream fountain.  Kids in high school went there for lunch of chips and a soda.  It was the place to meet after a game, after anything it was packed..there were so many kids in there it was hard to move.  They served Hot Dogs from one of those revolving spits up on one of the counters.  The chips hung from clips up on the wall.  You could get a malt, or a ice cream cone or a sundae.  You could get a fountain coke..flavored..cherry or vanilla or orange or lime.  You could get a lime phosphate..I never had one..but they looked interesting if you are partial to the green color.

 Otto was in charge, Donnie worked hard there..there was no swearing allowed, no fighting,..Otto would growl at you and kick you out if you caused a problem..they had pinball machines..and booths in the back...Far Guy and I used to play pinball there..if we could get the favorite machine away from Danny Hawks.  Otto also sold funny cards, magazines and tobacco products.  He had a successful business.  There were other hang outs..the pool hall, the pizza shop.and the Dixie..but Schmiders was the favorite of all the teens in town back in the sixties.

 I recall coke being 30 or 40 cents.. Far Guy says he can remember 25 cents. Now a days it is 1.75 for a medium... we had no problem placing our order for a regular coke and a cherry coke to go. There was no line of kids standing four and five deep to get to a stool next to the counter..there was only a group of silver hairs in the back that had pushed some tables together..it was the group of neighborhood women that get together every Monday and go to lunch.  Far Guy went to talk with them, I just sat on my stool and recalled how different this place used to be.  The cherry coke is still the same..and Far Guy declared the fountain coke his absolute favorite..but it just wasn't the same.  Forty years ago this place would have been bursting at the seams at 12:15 on a school day...main street America sure has changed. Schmiders is now known as The Minnesoda Fountain.  New name, new people, new customer base..same building..same coke..but just not the same old hang out:) 

Wistful Wednesday: 1952

This is Far Guy and Tiny, a Chihuahua. This photo was taken in 1952. Far Guys Dad loved dogs, I am not supposed to tell you that he used to put a cigarette in Tiny's mouth and then had him sit up.

 One time the entire family including Tiny were headed for Grand Forks, ND to visit relatives. They stopped at the farm to pick up something and while they were all in the house.. Tiny ate all of their freshly made turkey salad sandwiches...Far Guy says .."I was really disappointed, my Mom made some really great turkey salad sandwiches with celery in them and everything. Years later, my Dad would tell the story and laugh, but it wasn't very funny at the time."

Can you imagine this tiny little dog eating four turkey salad sandwitches..they were probably made with homemade bread too. Years ago that what the ladies used to do for long trips, they made sandwiches and cookies and put coffee in a thermos, and milk in a glass jar. There were very few fast food places, there were resturaunts..but they were expensive, so a good wife and mother would pack a lunch to be eaten along the way.


The fabric in these curtains and on this chair were pretty wild..but probably very fashionable for 1952:)

Lets Play Hockey

On valentines day, we attended a hockey game.  Our granddaughters Savannah and Madison were playing.  They both play on the same team this year, Girls 12 and under, yes Savannah is 13..but she didn't make the cut off date.  Paige plays also, but didn't have a game on Sunday.

 Madison

All three of the girls love hockey.  It is what they do in the winter, between practices, games and tournaments..it is an all consuming sport. In the summer they attend skills clinics and hockey camps. This is their third year of playing girls hockey,when they lived in Nebraska there wasn't a girls hockey program. 

 Savannah

The first girls hockey game was played in Barrie, Ontario in 1892.  However it took more than a hundred years for Women's Hockey to finally appear at the Olympics in 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

 I talked with the girls, I asked them  if they thought they could ever play in the Olympic Games..they thought so..but Madison and Paige want to play on different teams when they go to college..so they can "cream" each other.  There are two sisters on the Olympic Team this year..the Lamoureux sisters from Grand Forks, ND.  In fact there are five women on the Olympic team that are from Minnesota or North Dakota.

 Savannah is a bit of a scrapper.  She would like to be able to do full body checks, sometimes she pushes the limit and incurs a penalty.   Physical checks are a way to take out, slow down or interrupt the other teams possession of the puck.  Checking is not allowed in Girls Hockey.

 Madison is in the back of this photo..getting ready to bite the dust..ice.

I am not sure what positions the girls play. I think they are Wings..maybe.  When they are playing they fall down, I hold my breath until they scramble to their feet. I probably spend way too much time trying to photograph them.  Do you know how hard it is to photograph moving objects?  I love that they both were wearing black helmets..it was much easier to keep track of them.

They won their game, but even if they hadn't they would have lined up to bump fists with the refs, the coaches and the opposing team..one thing that they have learned by playing a team sport is teamwork and sportsmanship.  Oh ya, and you should always have an extra hair band!

Hockey= Invented by boys, perfected by girls:) 

Sixty Years Ago

On this date in1950 a little girl who was almost five years old and her father went shopping downtown in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. It was a special day, the little girl had just become a big sister. She helped her father pick out a lovely gift for her mother. They took the gift to the hospital where she met her little brother. The little girl remembered the story or it would have been lost forever.

Far Guy will forever be the little brother, and his sister forever the big sister.

The pearls are now in the possession of our eldest daughter, Trica. She is "the keeper of the pearls." The pearls that are as old as her father. She has been instructed to share them with her sister..

Jen wearing the pearls, we laughed the day I took this photo..they look so glamorous with a T shirt..but she has the right coloring to look fantastic in these pearls.  

Trica is also to share them with her daughters and her nephews brides. Someday they will be handed down..perhaps after a wedding or a birth.


Happy Birthday Far Guy! :)

Valentine's Day

When I was little, this was the best day!  The preparations were so much fun.  Smack dab in the middle of winter, the big jar of glue would be carried to a table at school during Art.  The red and white paper and your imagination were the only things needed to make the perfect Valentine container.  Then you got the class list, fresh copies..everyone buried their noses in the paper smelling those purple words.   I took my list home and diligently picked out the best and biggest Valentine for what ever boy seemed to be the object of my friendship that week.  Carefully I formed the letters of the names on the outside of the tiny envelopes, you did not want to miss anyone.  Even though you would just as soon forget the little boy that always had a green runny nose which he wiped on his shirt sleeves, first the right ..then the left..until they were shiny and slick with snot.  He wasn't ever anyone's boyfriend.  The little boy that every little girl wanted to call her "beau" ended up being a priest.  A nose filled with freckles instead of boogers..and he became a priest.  I am not sure what happened to "booger boy"..he is probably a Politician or a Lawyer:) 

Eyeball Report

I am still having problems, my eyeball feels like it is swollen and bruised, and my head hurts.  This eye is nothing like the last eye..it is much more painful and very frustrating.  Far Guy took me to town this afternoon for a pair of reading glasses that allow me to read again..so maybe this is the turning point. If not I will be in a fairly bad mood for a long time.  I have been silent, napping on the couch, minding my own business, staying out of trouble.. and just sleeping..I am still exhausted:(
Thumper said "If you can't say somethin nice, then don't say nothin at all."

 

The eyes have it

Wednesday was a perfectly good day to go and get my other eye done. The finish, the grand finale in the quest for sight.

Far Guy and my Dad accompanied me, Chance was once again left safely at home. We waited and waited once we got there, they were running really late. Finally at about the time I was scheduled to have my surgery they called my name. I think I was the last patient of the day...things were going really fast, the Anesthetist came in, a different guy this time..not old and wise looking like the last time..and no moustache. I was old enough to be this young mans mother, in fact he graduated from UND School of Nursing in the class after my daughters. I asked him to stay with me during the entire procedure, and that I would like to be asleep just a little longer this time...he said "No, problem" The nurses barely finished my IV and then Dr. B came in, he started squirting stuff in my eye..the Doctors are just not as neat as the Nurses are about these drops..I asked him why in the world it took him two hours to make the drive this morning....the Nurses began to chuckle...he apparently had told them that the roads were bad. Anyway, he wanted me in the OR, saying "Let's go! " ..so the Anesthetist walked me there.. Mavis was on vacation..but there were some other very nice Nurses there. The Doc comes in and says "Lets do this" ..I saw some lights..far away..and didn't walk towards them..then the Doc talked about the lens folding ..being too warm or too cold, then he said he was done and the time was 12:04 as he ripped the drape from my face. Done, Yes!! I told the Anesthetist " That was really good for me, how was it for you?" I believe he replied "Truly memorable." He did a great job! 

He took me to recovery, they got Far Guy and my Father from the waiting room. My nurse brought me a sandwich and a soda. I began to feel a little faint, some spots whirling madly in my one good eye..then I guess I kinda passed out. Which caused just a little excitement..those poor nurses..somehow they got me into the bed with my feet up. As it turns out Far Guy diagnosed my problem..fluids..he simply pinched the skin on the back of my hand..and the skin clung together. He went in search of some water for me. The nurses came back in and speeded up my IV and in a little while I felt much better. I also drank two huge glasses of water. Doctors were parading in and out, I must have been the excitement of the day.."Let's go talk to the lady that passed out in same day surgery." I told them of Far Guys diagnosis..they all agreed. Last time I was welly hydrated by the IV before the surgery, this time it was a hurry up situation with the IV just started and my body finally just protested. The handsome Duke, the older Anesthetist with the moustache, came by and said I was all better and could go home now that I had finished all of my IV fluids and drank lots of water.

This time, I was more numb ..my nose was even numb. I got to fore go the massive headache this time. Although I do have some pain and some swelling that I did not have last time. I might end up with a black eye. I rested after getting home, and had a nap. Thursday I went in and got off the fancy bandages, I can see really good far away, but absolutely nothing is in focus close up. I could not read. This is all totally foreign to me, I knew it was going to happen..but I still was not prepared. The whole not reading thing was complicated because Far Guy insisted that they check out my eye from two weeks ago..so they dilated it..wide open..and found no problems..only floaters.


Far Guy found me some reading glasses in the grocery store, but they didn't fit my face. He just wanted to get home, so we missed breakfast and other reading glass shopping options. I am using an old pair of his reading glasses today. Today I can drive myself to town and look as long as I want, of course I won't be able to read any of the tags on the glasses..so I will have to try lots of them on. I feel like crap..extremely tired and very cranky. I just woke up from a nine hour nap and I am still exhausted. I can report that my left eye is happy again, it is my dominant eye..and the two weeks of fighting for "top eye" status is finally over.


As for my sight, it is extremely clear and colorful..whites are white, and colors are once again like I remember long ago. So I can scratch off cataracts from my things to be endured when you get older list:)

Chance Reports on Far Side

Far Side had her other eye surgery yesterday, no big problems just a few little ones..she needs to have several naps.today.  She is having a real hard time reading.  She never had that problem  before..so she is in a fairly bad mood. She has been to the Doctor this morning, I had to wait a really long time in the car, but now we are home safe and sound:)

Wistful Wednesday: 1954

Cousins photo op in 1954.  That would be me on the left.  My cousins Geraldine and Hilda are in the matching dresses, and  their brother Danny in the front with the doll.  I think this was probably taken at my Aunt and Uncles home, I just do not recognize this floor or those cupboards.  We must have been visiting!   Since my Mother and Father came from very large families we went visiting all the time especially in the winter and we had visitors at our home often.  It is what we did to make the long winter evenings more enjoyable.  Hilda and I were born in the same year, she was born in the spring and I was born in the fall.  She may look innocent in this  photo..but she and I used to fight..I was a biter..and I think she was too.  Imagine two little girls biting each other and screaming.  I can't remember biting Danny or Geraldine..just Hilda.

Yesterday was a cousins get together, we met for lunch.  It was a good turn out, and we had a good visit.  Geraldine stopped by and picked me up for lunch.  Hilda and her Mom joined us as did Chuckie, Evelyn, Kathy, Diana, Aunt Anna and Wilma.  It is good  to get together.  We met at one of those health food restaurants..so I had a sandwich with lots of good stuff on it..sprouts and lettuce and tomato..and my very favorite pie..Sour Cream and Raisin..a real calorie laden piece of pie.  None of my cousins share my appreciation for it. I did learn that my  Paternal Grandmother loved it and often baked it for her family. I should have taken a photo of it..simply described it was like heaven on a fork:)

Winter Planting

Sometimes we have to strew a few seeds in the winter in order to have some summer flowers.  Some seeds benefit from the extreme cold found in a snowbank, in the spring they will be watered by the snow as it melts  and hopefully they will grow! I took this photo last summer, can you tell what it is?

Far Guy had collected some of this plants seed heads last fall, he put them in a paper bag. One evening he got his collection out and began to clean seeds..it is putzy work..but he enjoys it. He separates the seeds from the chaff. I think he just likes the feel of the seeds falling out of the flower heads onto his collection paper..and watching his seed bag fill up!

He had a plan, he wanted to strew some seeds out in the snowbanks between snowfalls. He would like the whole area near the sauna and my garage filled with wildflowers. He gave me a spiel about a quaint little split rock walkway meandering out to the sauna..with wildflowers growing on both sides. He painted a pretty picture.

Here it is blooming, it is a Grey Headed Coneflower or Ratibida pinnata. It is a prairie flower and grows in dry woods and prairies. It likes the sun, and usually grows about four feet tall and the deer don't eat it! It is not fussy about soil or moisture. The only thing I dislike about it is that it is hard to photograph on windy days...because the plants are so tall they sway in the breeze. It is a plant native to Minnesota:)

Chance: Disgruntled Model

I really should get union scale for as much time as her camera is focused on me.  I finally decided to go on strike.  I hid behind a huge mountain of snow.  I knew she wouldn't climb the snow mountain..

 Rats..it must be that zoom lens..there is no escape.

 Here is my "Wolf " look..take that!! Watch out who you are messing with lady..

 I can frown, she doesn't care..she says a frown is just an smile upside down. She is one tough cookie. No matter what feeling I come up with..she declares it brilliant.  

 I guess I might need an agent, you know a go between. Between Me and Far Side..I think I should demand a cut.  Then I heard she just takes these photos for fun.. foiled again, for fun she says..who does that sort of thing, is she nuts?  ..do you suppose I should ask for homemade treats..she has the recipe hung on the fridge..it has been there a long time. It would be a stretch of everyone's imagination to think that she would bake. 

 I know, I will just keep my eyes almost closed:)  

Turkeys Everywhere

We are getting snow, the fine powdery kind.  We are  all snuggled in for a snowy couple of days. Yesterday we went looking for the Turkeys.  We found them everywhere.

 In the road...

 In the corn field..

 In the trees..

This was quite a large rafter of Meleagris gallopavo or Wild Turkeys.  They can fly if they are not too fat, and roost in the trees at night.  They eat acorns, seeds, small insects none available at the moment in Minnesota and berries..I think all the berries are history too.  The small corn field that they are in is a wildlife planting..more to attract deer during the deer hunting season..but the turkeys seem to be enjoying the abundance of food and protection found there. 

Chance was able to keep his vocalizations to a low growl while I took photos..then Far Guy rolled down Chances window. We keep the windows on "lock" ..cause he has been known to roll down his own window!   When the turkeys were out of sight..we told him he could bark.. poor dog.

Chance loves these little adventures..I do too..these four walls are getting a little old.  Perhaps I have a "spot" of cabin fever. I do have enough things to keep me occupied indoors.. it is just nice to get out with my camera and look at something different.  I figure we still have another nine or ten weeks of snow, no matter what the ground hog said last week:) 

Wood Pile

When you heat your home and your hot water with wood you occasionally have to cut wood or buy some. The woods that surround our house are mainly Burr Oak. We only cut  the dead, down or hazard trees. Far Guy will probably order a semi-load of wood that will be a mixture of oak and pine..it gets stacked next to the road and Far Guy cuts it into lengths and hauls it into the wood shed.

 This week a load of slabs was delivered, they are pine slabs from a sawmill that saws lumber. They will eventually be stacked in the woodshed.

 In the meantime, a squirrel or a chipmunk will move in. Chance will guard this stack of slabs valiantly, it will occupy him for many afternoons. He is all about the watch and wait, although occasionally he will be victorious and chase something up a tree. The really dumb chipmunks will be dealt with but we won't talk about that. It is his territory after all, the truck delivers the slabs, he is sent to the house because he prefers to be inside when the earth shakes..but after that..the slab pile is his.

 We used to use the wood-stove to heat the largest greenhouse. You could practically stand outside and shove wood in the stove all night long.

 My sore shoulder has gotten me out of heaving heavy pieces of wood in the wood-stove this winter. Far Guy adds wood to the wood-stove once a day, the house is kept a very comfortable 74 degrees. I can wear shorts in the winter..and I do!

Having an outdoor stove has advantages. The wood mess is kept out of doors. The fire hazard is out doors also..although an occasional chimney fire sometimes just happens.

This one was real pretty. it wasn't dramatic enough to be a problem.  Far Guy just watched it..this was last November.  It is just the creosote burning off the walls of the chimney.  In the spring if it is dry we will shut down the wood stove, although there is a certain amount of safety living in the oaks..a small fire in the oaks doesn't travel like a small fire in the pines.  I sometimes worry about a bug or disease coming through and wiping out all the deep shade that the oaks give us in the summer..this spring we will plant a few pines. Not a forest full, not in rows that can be a fire trail ..just here and there throughout the woods:) 

Stuck in the Headlights

The other day we were going "through the woods." It was fairly icy, Far Guy said "Well this was dumb, I should have gone the other way." I like the road through the woods, it is one I have travelled ever since I can remember. Sometimes we see turkeys or deer..that day we saw a herd of deer. How many are in a herd anyway..more than two..? All photos were taken through the windshield.

There are four of them, Far Guy slowed down on top of a hill. Chance is a good look out, he was poised to bark. I told him to "be still"..he was except for his body that began to quiver with excitement. He began to invade my space..putting his feet on my leg..plastering his nose against the windshield. Sometimes he tries to hog my space. Far Guy lets him ride in front when I am not along..of course I do the same thing.

I wonder if Chance remembers the time in Indiana, some where very near Paoli..a deer came out of the woods and ran right down the road towards us. That deer was really hoofing it too, I wondered if he had a death wish. We must have had our deer stuck in the headlights look that day.  Eventually he veered off of the road. Far Guy and I were greatly relieved, we have never seen anything like it ever again. Minnesota deer usually just go across roads..hardly ever using them for travel. Perhaps they are smarter than Indiana deer.

These deer must have caught Chances scent, they stomped their feet at us. 

One by one they jumped off of the road onto a deer trail. They looked to be in pretty good shape. From what I have seen, we have an over abundance of deer in the woods. Just my opinion.


One of the widower silver hairs down on the lake, who shall remain nameless, but he is short and has a sinister looking moustache and is cavorting with a lonely widow..feeds the deer all winter..then in the spring when they eat all his flowers he complains. I saw him the other day..he likes to kiss all the women..he thinks he is a real ladies man, a Casanova. YUCK..I avoid him at all costs..but this time he had me trapped between a wall and a very large potted plant ( imagine a deer stuck in the headlights look), I extended my left hand..and wouldn't you know it he grabbed it, but slugged me in the right shoulder..I nearly passed out..and he still tried to kiss me..luckily I turned my head really fast and his kiss landed on my cheek...YEWWW.. I wanted to immediately disinfect my entire face.


I have never felt the need to accept kisses from anyone other than my husband and Chance, oh and of course from my children and grands when they were little.


What do you do when a strange man or woman attempts to kiss you? Besides just having a deer stuck in the headlights look on your face?:)  

Making a Difference

Some days I wonder, is all this drivel I write worth the effort? Who really cares anyway? What difference will it make, will my Grandchildren ever read it? Will their Mothers ever allow them to read what I have left behind? Today it doesn't matter.. cause I made a difference. No not a big earth shattering difference, a little difference..sometimes little itty bitty differences go a long way in the middle of a Minnesota winter.

I heard from a long time friend, Judy..she and her husband love dogs as much as Far Guy and I do. They have two wonderful dogs Jake and Molly.  She sent me this email after she read Ringo's Story.

Thank you for sharing the story about Ringo. I told the folks at the Ottertail County Humane Society about it as they are dealing with a similar situation. Someone was fostering a springer spaniel in town. He escaped as a garage door was closing and they have not yet been able to catch him. There is a man who has been feeding him and it sounds like they are going to try a live trap. So, hopefully they will be successful like you were. This dog happens to be very fearful of humans.


Take care.
Judy

I wrote back: Hi Judy, Maybe Ringo's story had a purpose..let me know how it turns out..Thanks Judy:) Connie

Later I got this one!
Hi Connie -- I just got the word -- they have Smiley in the live trap and are going to pick him up now. They said now he will have to go into some "socialization rehab" for a while. I think that means he goes visiting to the board members homes. I don't know! Judy

Of course I wrote back!
Hi Judy, I would like to quote you in my blog tomorrow..is that OK or do you wish to remain anoymous? How ever you spell that word? Anymore news about Smiley? Connie

Hi Connie,
I would be honored to be quoted in your blog! I called and inquired about Smiley today. The worker said he is still very timid. A volunteer had sat in his kennel with him for a while today. I'm going to go see him tomorrow. So maybe I will be part of the socialization rehab!


The way I found out about him is that he is one of the dogs pictured on the Otter Tail County Humane Society web page. Then we noticed an ad in the local newspaper trying to locate him. after he ran away.


They call him Smiley because when he gets used to a person he will sometimes flash a pearly white smile their way.


Judy

Like I said last Saturday..Ringo's Story was written in my mind for a long time. I felt a need to share it..and Smiley must have been the reason. A timid dog was captured in time to be given another chance at a good life, I bet that Judy will make a difference in Smileys life too, Far Guy and I are betting that just maybe this is meant to be..and Jake and Molly are going to have a new brother.  At the very least Judy will be tempted.

Smiley's story is not a new one, he was found in a shed, hungry and abused..it will probably take a long time for him to trust again, but at least for today he is safe and warm:)
**All photos courtesy of Chance.

Wistful Wednesday: 1949

My Dad and I have been looking through some of the old photos that came from his Dad ( My Grandfather).

Me: "Who is this chick you are with Dad? "
Dad: "Let me see?"
Me: "Well I know for a fact that is not my Mother."
At which time my Mothers ears perk up, she comes over and looks.
Mom : "Well that is Violet Korpi and she really wanted your Dad, everyone knew it. "
My Dad just shakes his head.
Dad: "This was at Marie and Kenneth's Wedding..we were both in the wedding."
Mom: "Yup, she was really after your Dad."
Dad: " That was in 1949, that is her brother Hubert in the photo too."
Dad was pretty cool, not denying, not confirming, just stating the facts.

I wrote about Violet a few weeks ago, she ended up with her own business..she owned the beer joint in Snellman. Minnesota. I don't think she ever married..but I am not certain. Perhaps her heart was broken in 1950 when my parents were married. She was a beautiful young woman.

This photo was taken on September 16, 1949. Dad was the best man and brother of the bride and apparently Violet the sister of the groom was the maid of honor. I had the best time looking around in this photo, believe it or not that tie hung in my Dads closet for many years..it was very silky, brown, beige and yellow. On the table are tall candles, a plate of sandwiches, a cake, a whole plate of jelly rolls that I could nearly taste and a bowl of jello with bananas in it. My dad has a cup of coffee sitting in front of him, no doubt it was egg coffee too another of my favorites. No one makes egg coffee anymore...I bet it would be a big hit. My Dad was very handsome..but shy looking in this photo:)

Egg Coffee
Boil 9 cups of water in a coffee pot on top of the stove. In a bowl mix an entire egg, the shell and all it's contents into 3/4 cup of coffee grounds and 1/4 cup water. Drop the egg and coffee ground mixture into the pot and simmer for a few minutes then add a cup or so of cold water to settle the grounds. Let it set for a bit, use a coffee strainer to strain it into a cup..enjoy..
This is a traditional Scandinavian Lutheran Church Coffee.

Medical Updates

Seems like all we do for entertainment is sit in waiting rooms, lounging around waiting for our name to be called. What with my eyes and my shoulder..and then the regular appointments.

What more could you need in a local waiting room?  A clock, a cash machine and a computer. 


Far Guy has to see the Neurologist every three months...yesterday was the day. We really like Dr. P. he is genuine, or the real deal. For those of you that may not know Far Guy has Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia..a rare disorder that causes him pain on a daily basis. He was diagnosed on December 25, 2007.

A water feature in the Clinic ninety miles away. 

I cannot stress enough that anyone with this disorder find a Neurologist that you can work with. Our Neurologist is kind, I cannot imagine that he would not return a phone call or leave us dangling and waiting for the phone to ring for days like previous so called medical professionals. He knows how to count pills..you need many meds if you have TN. Sometimes in different dosages. Through teamwork.. we are achieving a better quality of life for Far Guy. No it is not perfect..what would be perfect ? I am not sure. There are little things that we can do. The monster known as TN has a mind of it's own. Pills..take them on time..I am a real bitch about this..some days he forgets..one day he forgot his meds all day long. I saw red. I dropped the ball.  I need to be more vigilant. Head coverings..he has several but he leaves the house without them..so I usually grab them. The cold wind will bring on painful lightening bolt zaps. It is not an easy disorder to deal with..but we are doing the best we can. Chance is very much in tune with Far Guy and if Chance thinks he should lay down, he takes Far Guys hand in his mouth and leads him to the couch. Some evenings he turns down the bed..


If anyone out there ever wants to contact Far Guy his email is geneo532000(AT)yahoo(DOT) com he is more than happy to communicate with anyone that has this hideous forgotten orphan disease. Sometimes it helps to know that you are not alone, he has several TN friends that call him frequently.

Dr. P. knows by now that I will always ask "What is new? Is there anything new being studied or tried with TN ? " I have to ask..and the answer is always the same.."Nothing new." I think perhaps Dr. P. reads my blog, yesterday he said that Far Guy was a model patient and a joy to work with, and that all Neurologists should treat their patients with the utmost respect. He also shared that Neurology is the thing that gets him up everyday...because he loves his work. Far Guy and I are FINALLY at home and comfortable with a Neurologist. It has been a long journey.

My shoulder is much better, I am still doing exercises every day to improve my range of motion. I may have to get out the duct tape and tape my arm to my body at night. I injured it the other night, I did something in a sleep walking episode that locked it up..it might have involved a coffee table. I woke up on the floor and could not move my shoulder..it hurt..so I rubbed it and gently unlocked it with my other arm.. it is a little sore..but not bad. I don't bawl every time I put my coat on anymore.


My eye is doing great, Far Guy puts drops in it and I get rechecked on Friday. I will be glad when the other eye is done, my eyes still fight, the new improved eyeball is winning and takes over more and more. I wear a clear plastic eye patch at night so that I don't rub my eye. I am pretty cute with the eye patch, now if I duct tape my arm..I ought to be a real fashion statement in my thermal nightgown with my fuzzy red socks:)

Passed by again

Do you suppose that they sit at the courthouse and play darts? This time they were to the left and right of me, both my niece and my nephew were called to jury duty.  Passed up again..they really must read my blog.  Possibly they don't want anyone as opinionated as me sitting on a jury..I really would like to be called just one time.  Maybe they are saving me for a really difficult case, one that will take days, and the jury will have to be sequestered, and I will have the opportunity to be locked up with eleven lucky strangers for days or even weeks.  


Last spring when Far Guy was called, he didn't have to go..apparently both of the cases he was called for were settled out of court.  He was not disappointed, as he has served before.  


I heard my niece was not very excited, she works and has three small children..so I am sure it is a pain, we live 30 miles from the County Seat so it is a bit of a drive.  


As a kid I remember being in awe of the huge old courthouse.  The halls were all shiny with huge slabs of  granite on the walls and floors.. your shoes made clicking noises on the floor..it echoed.  You spoke in whispers, the lady behind the bars took the money for your property taxes.  Somewhere in the building was a Judge and Lawyers..people who I never wanted to meet up close and personal. 

Last summer Far Guy and I needed a building permit for the sauna..so we went to the courthouse. This box was on display there.. I found it very interesting.  I have never seem one like it before. Have you??  I asked Far Guy if I should tell someone about the excess dust in the area, I thought it was disgraceful.. he said " How about we just get you out of here." :)