Today I was allowed to drive all the way to Costco to get “stuff” snd I didn’t run into anyone, or fall down. It was a successful trip. I actually did it for Jennie because she needed flour. So, I went. She so suggested that I get an Apple Watch because my Fitbit had refused to charge for the last month or so. I miss getting all that data it collects. Ai thought, what the heck, I needed something different to figure out. So, that’s what I did.
I also got bananas, Cheerios, and Jimmy Dean bowls. It was not a wasted trip for an expensive toy. I got food, too.
When I got home I immediately took for his second walk around the block then ai spent the next 5 hour working on the watch. It’s supposed to be easy, but I managed to make is complicated to the point where I put it back in the box and planned a trip to an Apple Store so one of their geniuses could explain to me how simple it is to set up.
It didn’t stay in the box long because it was an unfinished challenge and ai didn’t want the day to end in failure. Ai apparently figured out how to get it going before Lydia got home about 2030.
While messing with the watch, I washed my sheets and blanket. I got a whiff of the atmosphere under the blanket and figured you wouldn’t be happy with me. IA will admit, however, that this is the first time ai’ve washed them since you went away. Ay9u can imagine it was pretty ripe. I won’t go that long ever again. Promise.
With clean sheets, a shower is necessary, so that’s my next task.
I remembered to go to Coffee @ The Kozy yesterday and was surprised to find 5 people at our table. There was Chuck, Jeff, Larry, Lonny, and Ingrid. Yes, the boss was there, too. Thankfully there was a spot next to Ingrid, so i took it. I learned a to of stuff about geology of the area where we reside. We talked about the Missoula Floods that created topography that’s now in place and I found it very interesting. Interesting to the point where I with I had paid ore attention in school about that stuff.
That’s the only thing on my calendar for yesterday so if something else happened, I’m not aware of it. I did manage to make it home where I parked myself in my chair to watch TV, and woke up around 1830. That reminded me that I was supposed to be at a spaghetti feed at 1700. Dang! I missed it. It was being held at the church. I haven’t heard anything abut it today, yet. I just hope they had a good turnout. It was a fund raiser for the B.O.B project at church.
Jennie sent me a text about this time asking me if I was watching ‘the game’. Thinking she meant the Ducks, I semi-panicked thinking I was missing it. A hasty search revealed that the Ducks weren’t playing until today. But, Miami and Old Miss were. So, I watched that one. It was a good one.
Now, about today. I got up at a reasonable time, about 0730, then hit the snooze button and woke up again at 0930. Max was a little antsy about getting outside so I took him for a quick walk in the yard then explained to him that I had to eat breakfast before a long walk. So, I ate and he retired his little self to my chair where he sat in a position that allowed him to stare at me the entire time. When I finally finished, he perked up, jumped down, and made it very clear that I has made him a promise, which I kept.
He knew it was going to be a good walk because we stopped by your car which meant we were heading to the river walk down town. He likes it down there. No many people go there so I was able to eat him run free for a one time. Another plus about going to a walking pals in the car is that I put his window down all the way so he can pretend he’s going 100 mph between lights and stop signs. So far he hasn’t made any attempts to jump out the window like he did in Bisbee, AZ many months ago. Since there haven’t been any cats running across the road he hasn’t felt a need to take that plunge again. Thankfully.
Max loves to watch Lydia eat. Actually, he loves to watch anyone eat, and he’s not even a tiny bit shy about doing it.
Well, the game is over and the Ducks lost56-15 to Indiana. Ducks only lost 2 games all year and both were to the Hoosiers. Just wait till next year.
I’m not sure you were able to watch it, but had you been here you wouldn’t have liked it much. If you had been here I would have liked it a lot.
I miss you my Love.
Now it’s time to wind down.
G’nite.
Me
PS – When I took Max for his late walk this morning, this was our view. It’s nice on the river.
I seem to have missed the 6th. “How,” you may ask, “can that be possible?”
“Well,” I would respond, “that’s just a common event in my daily life,” with crossed fingers hiding behind my back.
That’s not true, of course. I never hide crossed fingers behind my back. Honest.
So, what happened yesterday? Actually, lets talk a little more about what happened Monday and what didn’t happen yesterday.
Monday I drove myself to our favorite dermatologist to see how well my face healed. You’ll be happy to learn that I drove there and back without incident. While there I was told that I healed up right nicely. I could have told Kate that on the phone. All she had to do was call me. She quickly let me know that I’d need to put on the hospital gown laying on the chair I didn’t use, opening to the back. She also told me I could leave my jockey shorts on. So, I did all of that.
When she returned a few minutes later, she started investigating my entire body for other suspect areas she could identify. After once around, zapping random abnormalities she spotted on my nearly naked body. I didn’t count them, but there were more than ten. Then she got real close to a spot on my nose, right nostril, net to my lip. She said she felt the need to have that area biopsied.
Shortly thereafter, she sent the nurse back in with a hypodermic which she stuck directly into my right nostril and injected it’s contents which deadened my nose. I made it clear that the deadening did not take affect quickly enough. It really hurt. A lot. But I endured, knowing the pain would stop eventually. It finally did, and I was once again able to communicate coherently.
After a few minutes, Kate came back with a scalpel which she applied to the suspect area and removed a piece, which she put in a specimen bottle so someone could look at it with a microscope, then cauterized the wound so it would stop bleeding, and put a little band aid before sending me home to await a call to share the results.
Now, what I forgot to share yesterday was the news I just shared.
Today I got a call telling me the biopsy was negative so I could relax. I was already relaxed. I don’t tend to get upset about moments that tend to make most people tense. It’s a choice we all have. The news just made me more relaxed. Now I have the honor of waiting until my next dermatologist visit so she can burn off the newly healed wound she created. I have no idea when I’m supposed to have my net visit. I’m sure they’ll let me know. If, for some reason they don’t contact me to make my next appointment, I’ll get uncharacteristically tense and call them. I’ll play that by ear because I don’t know how long to wait before I allow myself to get tense.
Today Jennie supervised the receipt of their new refrigerator. She’s very happy. I was second choice to be at the house when it was delivered. Since I wasn’t needed, I didn’t do much today except walk Max and eat stuff.
Just a short note to share an interesting thing Max has been doing lately. You know that I take him out for romp around the yard before going to bed. Previously, he gladly went out but he’s backed off a few times. Then I open the slider and offer him an off-leash friendly run, he simply lays down. I even walk to the edge of the patio and he just lays there, with the door wide open.
Granted, it’s dark, but that didn’t used to bother him.
He starts this by coming to me and sitting where he can see me, no matter where I might be, and he gives me his tiny little growl. Just enough to make a noise. It’s not aggressive at all, just a simple growl to let me know he’s close and wants my attention.
Tonight he did that while I was working on the church newsletter. I stopped and talked with him a bit, letting him know that I had to finish my job then we could go outside. He seemed to understand because he just laid down by my feet and waited.
When we got to the door he made it clear that going outside wasn’t what he wanted to do, so I worked a little bit on the puzzle near the door. He watched me a bit then disappeared. He actually went to bed and waited for me there.
Such a funny little guy.
I cooked tonight. First time in a while I took the reins and got busy. All I did was slice up two boneless chicken breasts using Lydia’s new knife that is about the sharpest knife I’ve ever used It’s amazing. I had a bag of frozen stir-fry veggies I wanted to get rid of and some extra rice that needed to be cooked so that made a meal. It wasn’t the best stir-fry, but it was good and we ate all the chicken. So, we got our protein. I made way more rice than necessary so bagged it for a later meal and left some in the pan for Max. He was a happy dog and cleaned it up pretty good. That’s probably why he didn’t eat his dish of food I put down for him. Could be his earlier growling was his effort to let me know he wasn’t pleased with my food choice for him (it was turkey).
Here’s another fun photo I like. A good one to end the evening with you.
Today I planned to go to church and I woke up at 0530. Then I went back to sleep until 0809. Max needed a walk so I took him out which ate up the time I was going to devote to a needed shower. Now I will take the shower before bed. So, it’s Max’s fault I didn’t go to church. He’s willing to take the blame for that. We had a talk about it.
After that, I worked on a puzzle for a while, ate some lunch then took Max for another walk because I had to be at the Walters’ house for supper at 1700. It was steak and it was good. When I got home I think Max could tell I ate steak because he kinda glared at me a little.
I tried watching some sports on TV but none of that appealed to me because they were teams I didn’t follow so I turned it off and worked on my USS North Carolina battle ship Lydia gave me. It’s the tiny little pieces version and it’s difficult for my old fingers.
Now it’s 2330 and time for bed. I have a dermatologist appointment tomorrow at 1000 and I need to smell nice.
I was going to add a photo but I can’t find recent stuff and there’s 89,000+ on my laptop. They are also all out of order so I might have to just start using whatever photos pop up.
The only things I can remember about yesterday are a couple of trips around the block with Max, lots of TV, and I went to the bathroom a couple of times. Oh, and I ate lunch. That’s about it. Oh, and Lydia returned safely from her trip out of the country around midnight. I believe I mentioned that she and Jered went to North Carolina to meet an old school friend of his. It was a spontaneous trip, and they had a great time. I think Lydia’s favorite thing about the trip was visiting BB-55, the USS North Carolina. They got to go all over the ship and she took a bunch of photos. She also got me a Mini Lego kit of the ship. The pieces are incredibly tiny and really hard to pick up. I took the pieces out of their packages today so I have to work on it continually to get them all in the proper places so they won’t get lost.
Lydia didn’t get up until noon today due to yesterday being a travel day. Doug came over for a visit while she slept so we had to talk softly to keep from waking her. We had a nice visit anyway, the first one we’ve had in a long time. He doesn’t come down from his mountain very often, so it was great to see him.
I forgot to share with you that when Jennie came over to watch the Ducks the smoke alarm in the hallway by our bedroom was chirping for randomly for a while so I changed the battery. Then it chirped some more then sounded the alarm. Not seeing, or smelling any smoke we agreed that the smoke alarm must be failing so I just took the battery out of it. A little while later Jennie went into the kitchen and discovered that one of the stoves burners was on low and had melted the silicon mat. That had to have been the source of burning the alarm detected. I must have bumped the burner control when I was busy sweeping fir needles up. Those things are everywhere. Arter that little episode, and previous ones we had, I think I might have to get a different stove with controls either on top, or toward the back of the stove. As it is, we have a hazard in the house. A simpler solution would be to not put anything over the burners. Kind of a scary situation, don’t you think?
You’re probably wondering how I could forget to share this with you right after it happened. Me too. We may never know how lucky we are to have a smoke alarm that works even when there’s no smoke even though the source of the alarm’s distress was discovered by the good observational abilities of your daughter.
I promise to be more careful in the kitchen going forward. I suppose I could simply turn off the stove breaker and just use the micro from now on. That would work.
Now I’m stopping. Max is asking for permission to go to bed. It’s 2230 and time to follow Max’s lead. Probably a good idea. I’ll leave you with a fun memory we made in Orlando once upon a time.
First, Happy New Year. I have to admit this hasn’t been one of my favorite years of the many I’ve been fortunate enough to have ushered in over my lifetime. Most of 2025 was really great, but the ending not fun. I know you were in a lot of pain toward the end and don’t blame you for not wanting to go on. Because of that, the ending was more tolerable for me, but I still didn’t like it, much. I think that’s true for everyone who loves you.
Now, about football. You had the Oregon game set to record so, of course, I had to watch it. So did Jennie. She came over and spent most of the day with me watching football. Oregon was the first game this morning, beginning at 0900 and it was a good one. Most of the came made us all nervous but the Ducks persevered beating Texas A&M 23-0. Yes, they. What made that even sweeter is that Texas was ranked at #4 and the Ducks are #5. It was a fun game and made the day even better. I just wish you were in your chair watching it with me, but Jennie did a good job covering for you. She brought Siah with her and Jasper came later. We had hotdogs for lunch. I ate a can of chili and ate the whole thing because no one else wanted any. That worked for me because I can eat a whole can of chili no problem. You’ve seen me do that lots of times.
During half time of the Oregon game I took Max for his morning walk. I actually got up at 0500 for some reason, but didn’t want to take him out in the dark. We walked all over the back yard, though, and that seemed to please him enough for the time being.
I’m working on one of the puzzles I got for Christmas. It’s a 1000 piece one and looks pretty difficult. So far I have the edge done but had a problem with that. One piece was missing for a couple of days until I got on my hands and knees and searched all over under the table. It was hiding behind a chair leg. I was very happy to find it. The rest is going to be difficult.
Now that it’s 2026 I need to take the tree down. Maybe I’ll work on that tomorrow. Maybe not. It’s kind of nice to look at.
It’s 1800 now and I just got back from walking Max his second time. He earned it, and walking is a good thing for me, too. I’m getting pretty good at it because I haven’t done a face plant since my last one before our trip around Oregon.
That’s about it for today. You know I love you, but I’ll give you an ILY anyway. Just one more thing. When the Winnebago folks visited I gave Sophia the bag with all your Sketchers so she could see what fit her. I got a text from Carolann, who feet at much smaller than yours, thanking you for 3 pairs of sandals she found in the bag. Sophias feet are actually your size so she may wind up with a lot of the shoes. We’ll see.
Here we are on the last day of 2025. It’s only 2030 and the fireworks are going off randomly all around us. It’s not really noisy yet, but it’s enough to make Max hide behind the couch and he refuses to go outside even when it’s relatively quiet. Poor little guy is so scared of the blasts. I think in just a little while I wrap things up and go to bed. Perhaps he’ll curl up with me.
Today I did very little. Jeff stopped by to say “Hi”. He stayed until he remember that he was supposed to pick up Jerrie half an hour ago. Jennie texted me and I’ve been tracking Lydia to make sure she got to North Carolina OK. She did and I’m sure she’s enjoying herself. No doubt she tired, but I bet she’s still having fun. This is quite an adventure for her.
I watched a couple of football games, but my heart just wasn’t in the mood to watch teams I don’t know. My favorite was this afternoon where Miami beat Ohio State. Miami is ranked #10 and Ohio State is ranked #2. know me., always pulling for the underdog. Oregon plays tomorrow against Texas A&M. That’s going to be a good game. Jennie is coming over to watch it with me so I’ll have someone in the chair next to me Like we normally do. Well, she’s coming over because she’s an Oregon fan, not to just fill up your chair. Perhaps Dan will come with her. Whatever the reason, it will be good to have them here. Maybe having company will motivate me to clean up the kitchen. Every time I go in there I shudder at how upset you might be because of my neglect. Now, that’s a better reason to motivate me, not just people coming over.
I’ll have to do laundry tomorrow. Might even take a shower just for the fun of it.
I searched my photos for one that shows me with a beard almost like I have, but none appealed so I just chose this one, because it’s you.
Now I’ll quit. I love you. Please tell Mom and Dad I said Hello.
Today was different for both Lydia and me. The big event for me was having lunch with the Winnebago Crew. We were supposed to meet at the Spaghetti Factory at Riverside in Portland, but Carolann was warned that it was a bad choice because it’s very close the ICE headquarters and officials said to keep clear because of demonstrations. If you’ve been watching the news, you probably know what’s going on with them more than we do.
So, Carolann took the reins and switched our reservation to the SF in Clackamas. It’s a 40 mile drive so we had to leave before 1100 to get there on time.
I got up about 0900 and took Max for his walk then I took a shower. I know, it isn’t Saturday, but I have to admit it was time. I actually took one last Saturday, my second one since you left. I tell everyone that. They don’t believe me. With Lydia living here they are all sure she would encourage me to take showers more often. Maybe I do.
While I was showering, Lydia packed a small bag for her trip to North Carolina with Jerad this evening. They are flying American and Lydia, trying to save a couple of bucks, got a flight that goes from PDX to Miami, then up to NC. Seems like the long way around. They will both not think that way, of course, because it’s an adventure. They will only be gone for a few days.
Surprisingly, Lydia and I got to the restaurant first. Everyone else was late. It was good to see all of them. Once we were seated, we swapped gifts, like normal. It was a one-way gift giving episode because I left all of our stuff in the car. I did that because I also had a big shoe bag of shoes for Sopia to check out. She’s the only one who can fit in them. Whatever she’s not going to keep she will donate them for us.
For lunch Lydia at green tortellini and I had some shrimp cooked in garlic and hidden in a plate full of fettuccini some white sauce. I was craving Carbonaro, but they didn’t have that. So, I took second choice. It was OK, but Carbonaro would have been way better. I ate it anyway. Everyone else was done before me, but that’s OK. I didn’t realize it, but Lydia thought we were racing so she cobbled hers up very quickly.
The drive home was very peaceful, and Lydia actually took a nap. Thankfully, I was driving, so it was OK. Once home all that we needed was for Jerad to appear so Michelle E. could drive them to the airport. Of course that wouldn’t happen until Michelle arrived to pick them up. She got here at 1800, the chosen time.
Since I didn’t have anything to do with packing, I watched TV and fell asleep. I knew I was drifting in and out but thought I had a handle on myself. Somehow, however, Jerad managed to get here, walk through the living room, I’m told, and I didn’t even blink. So much for my excellent awareness, right?
I took Max for his evening walk when we got home from lunch so it was a short one because Max was in a hurry to get back so he could visit with Lydia and Jerad. He gets so excited when someone other than me shows up. So, instead of a walk, I let him chose the evening movie. You and I watched “The Family Plan II” and really like it but Max found the first one for us. I’m not sure how he does it because he needs to have the remote on the floor and it looks like he’s jumping up and down on it to change screens and such. But it works for him. Apparently he practices when we leave him alone during the day. The #1 Family Plan was very good, too. If you get an opportunity to see it, we recommend it highly.
Now it’s2320 and time for bed. Max is already in his favorite position, so I better join him.
We made it through the 29th without any major issues. Actually, ewe made it without minor issues, too. It’s been a good day.
I just returned from walking Max for the 2nd time today. He’s really such a good little critter and I thank God every day for leading you to him. He’s a blessing, as are you.
Today I’m going to share something Lydia wrote that I really like. It’s mainly about you so it’s relevant, and she said it would be OK to share. This is about her experience at Diane’s memorial service on November 8th.
I quote Lydia
I didn’t think it would hit the way it did. Out of nowhere. Unexpectedly. On some level I should’ve known, it was my first Christmas without her. But all day we went to church and sang and ate, spent time together laughing and opening gifts. But… But then it was 9:15 and I was sitting in an ugly yellow pew. An ugly yellow pew that wasn’t ugly at all because it was hers.
It was 9:15, in an ugly yellow pew and we were singing some Christmas hymn that was much too high, and then I was crying. He held me. I looked away from the screen with the words and my eye snagged on the candles. All the sudden I was 7 and she was showing my how t hold the wick, when to walk, how fast to walk, where to stop and bow before stepping up in front of His portrait and lighting the candles. Slowly, from left to right.
Then I was 10, it was unreasonably hot outside, but not here, not standing with her amongst the pews strewn with rows of handmade quilts. She remembered to show up early and turn on the AC. I only wanted the soup downstairs, but she made me stop and look at the quilts first.
Then I was 12, my brothers and I trying to shrink while pastor stood with his guitar calling the children forward. We thought we were too old to be considered children. She nudged us out of our seats, told us to snag a candy cane for her.
Then I was 13, standing over the heater again waiting for everyone to show up for choir practice.
16 sitting in the basement eating little sandwiches off of pretty floral trays with her and her friends.
18 and singing, 19 sneaking spiked spiced cider, 22 and chasing the boys through the basement as they giggled and she rolled her eyes, 24 and singing Hosiana next to her. The last time we sang it together.
26. 26 and sitting in the front pew. That ugly yellow pew. In a black dress. Family next to and behind me. Tears streaming, pastor speaking, her picture staring back at me. Pretty yellow flowers next to the candles, as I let her go. Or so I thought.
Because then I was 26. Sitting in an ugly yellow pew on Christmas Eve again, staring at the candles, listening to the hymns with tears streaming as my first Christmas without her passed. The organ was playing and people were singing, but all I could hear was her laugh, her scolding us for running, or standing over the heater while my dress puffed up. All I could see was her smile, her eyes rolling, her face.
Mom sang with the crowd, he held my hand, and I cried.
End Quote
I found this to be quite profound and a tribute to you and a little about how much she loves you. An addendum to her narrative is about the “he” she refers to. I asked and she said it was Jared, her boyfriend. He’s a stellar guy and will one day be a valuable member of the family. Heck, he’s already a family member. I glad you got to meet him before you left us.
Now I must bid you good night. I love you and I miss you.
Temporary Sanity ... 