I'm watching hockey for the first time in my life since the famous USA over Russia game in the Olympics...so many years ago.  But this year the Bruins are in the finals and the games have been interesting.  Maybe as I age I don't mind the lack of scoring....I can appreciate the battle going on between the two goalies; I don't always need ACTION and SCORES.  Whatever...it's been fun watching it.

We had early Father's Day last weekend.  Maria came down Friday and we went up to get Bob and Wini on Saturday to come to the house to stay over.  Saturday I took Wini clothes shopping at Kohl's--her first time in the store.  I got her to try on crop pants which she swore she would never wear...well, she bought a pair of them.  It was hard finding her size...she's an 8 or 10 petite.  We found some tops and two pairs of pants.

Maria stayed at the house with Bob, who was happy to see Wini when we returned.  I don't think he was always remembering where he was and who Maria was.  He did all right though.

Steve came on Sunday and we all went back to Kohls after having a "picnic lunch" to buy sneakers for Bob.  Steve and Maria helped Bob pick out some walking shoes that look fashionable.  Oh, Maria and I took Bob and Wini to church in the AM, dropped them off, went to the flea market and then it was time to go pick them up again.  Bob looked spiffy some of the new clothes I got him, new slacks and nice blue and with striped shirt.  He insists on wearing a suit coat.  Oh well....it's what he wants.

Saturday night Bob got out of bed after a particularly close lightning strike.  I heard him and Wini talking and then he opened our bedroom door and then closed it.  I went out and found him confused in the bedroom and Wini was trying to talk to him.  When he saw me he seemed to realize that he wasn't home.  I took him in the bathroom as I thought that's what he was looking for.  He told me he wanted to go to sleep...so I took him back into bed, tucked him in and kissed him on the head-told him nighty night.  Didn't hear a peep out of him the rest of the night.  Poor guy.  Wini said he was sitting in my office chair out in the hall as he didn't know what door to go into, all of them were closed.

Wini still doesn't accept how impaired Bob's memory is.  She has very unrealistic expectations and gets upset when Bob doesn't remember or is unable to do what she wants.  I told her that even though it mostly means that she is going to have to do tasks herself, it is easier for her to do them then it is to expect Bob to be able to do them.  She agreed....let's see if she remembers.  I don't think she will.

One thing I'll say about hockey, you can write an entry in a blog like this while you are watching the game...it's like baseball in that regard I guess.

We got the RV back from the shop yesterday.  It's great seeing it out in the driveway again.  I vacuumed it out, put sheets on the bed and got the fridge started up today.  We are taking it to Greenfield MA this weekend for an agility trial.  Hope it doesn't rain...it seems like everytime we go to Greenfield there are wicked t-storms.

Rocky killed a squirrel in the yard today.  He's not that good at killing things efficiently...he grabbed it by the tail and shook it.  It didn't die and he went nuts on it...shaking it.  I was hoping Bubbie would take it from him...she knows how to kill things swiftly, silently and efficiently.  Rocky will learn.  I finally got them to come in the yard and I went out and got the poor thing and dumped it in the trash.  It was a big 'un.

Therapy appointment and work tomorrow.  Then home to pack up for Friday's trip.   FUN FUN FUN!

Later.

Trial weekend. Well, Sandy had a trial weekend. I stayed home on Saturday with Bubbles and then she and I joined Sandy and the boys at the trial yesterday. It was fun watching the boys run again and seeing some old friends I haven't seen in awhile.

Saturday Bub and I slept until almost 11! WOW! I felt like a slug from all that so I got busy as soon as my feet hit the floor. Cleaned and did laundry. Then I took Bub for a walk in the neighborhood. When we got back I threw on my workout clothes, kenneled her and headed out for the gym.

I did a good 50 minute workout and then my stretches. Put up Ovarian Cancer flyers in the locker room and then hit the road.

Went up to Colchester to deliver two huge trash bags filled with Husky memorabilia. Old posters, megaphones, media guides for UConn and the Big East and a basketball autographed by Rebecca Lobo and Big Girl. Actually, it was originally autographed by the entire 94-95 championship team, but the other autographs wore off over the years. Now I know that you have to apply a fixative to keep the ink from fading.

I took the bags to Lisa's house and dropped them off with Drew. Lisa's granddaughter is going to be the beneficiary of all this treasure. She is four now I think and already a huge Husky fan.

It felt good to be ridding myself of all this stuff and having it go to a good home. It also felt good to see Drew again and on the way back I swung by Charmine's and visited with her...that was good too.

Then it was go home, shower, change and get out to the Sun for the game. Good game, Sun beat the Mystics in fine fashion. Home again, wrote up my game article and then tried to sleep.

Bad night. My stomach was very upset---reflux to the max---probably from the decaff coffee I had at the game. I won't be doing that again.

I had to OD on Pepcid in order to get the acid under control and then I could sleep. Got up at 5:45 to get ready to hit the road with Sandy and the dogs to go to N. Smithfield for the agility trial.

Bad night again last night and I am getting sick of this. Don't know why the bowels are in an uproar again...maybe the reflux, maybe something else, but I have to get this back under control. I hate the multiple trips to the can all night long...losing so much sleep.

Looks like we are going to have great weather next weekend for Maria, Bob and Wini's trip to our house. YAY! We will be having Father's Day early here and I can't wait. It's going to get very very hot mid week and I'm glad I have no obligations during the day on those days. I can sit in the AC and stay cool.

Think I'll hit the gym again tomorrow. I felt so good after my workout Saturday...the best I've felt in a loooooong time. Hoping to reproduce that feeling.

I'm enjoying the Sarah Palin Comedy Road Show. That trip to the Old North Church was a winner. Looking forward to future stops and her take on history. It's all so entertaining. She's earning every penny she's getting for this trip. Who is paying for it I wonder. She has to be getting paid, she doesn't do anything for free.

Life is good, Sox are on a roll, I have my laptop back, the pups are all lovey-dovey and I'm going to get to spend time with the majority of my family this week.

Later!

Got my laptop back from the shop...it "only" cost me $400+ and another $18 for a keyboard protector. Should have purchased the latter when I bought the laptop...would have saved me the $400+

It's good to have the laptop back, and just in time for tomorrow night's CT Sun season opener. I just got the news that they picked up Jessica Moore! That means they have Tina, Jess, Renee, Asjha and KG...five former Huskies. Who's next? Ashley Battle? I think it's cool that they are getting all the Huskies here...they certainly know how to play the game. J Mo will be a great compliment to Tina under the basket.

Went to the therapist yesterday and talked a lot about how Sandy and I interact--the problem part of it anyway. Had a good session and talked about it a bit with Sandy last night. There was some hollering and fussing, but we came away with some mutual agreements and understandings...good talk. I'm trying to change how I interact and I realize that I hold too much in and then shut down...not good for resolving things.

Today I was going to go to the gym but the weather was so nice I stayed home and puttered around outside with the dogs. Just left them for the time it took to run down to New London to get the laptop at the shop. It was gorgeous out there.

Oh, I did work in my "office" a bit more and got more stuff squared away, dumped, recycled or stashed neatly away. I still have some boxes of pictures I need to go through with the family; some work pictures and a couple boxes of "toys"....gadgets I had in my old office when I was working. I'll see if Maria wants some of it to sell on Etsy.

Otherwise I think I'll end up recycling the whole lot.

I got a new pump for the pond. A small one, just to use to help with aeration. The pond is looking kind of scummy. We may need to drain it and clean it. We did it the year we moved here, but that was four years ago! Time to clean it I think.

The tornado the other night was so scary. I was watching on Channel 3. They do the best job of keeping people informed. I was disappointed though with that Lt. Vance (or whatever rank he is) of the State Police. He was asked about what advice the State Police had for people who might be out on the roads when a tornado hit and all he did was reiterate the advice Channel 3 was posting about get in the basement, away from windows and put a mattress over you. Hey, how about telling people to get out of their cars, seek cover in a ditch, avoid highway overpasses, etc.? Stupid.

Anyway, I am very familiar with the areas they were showing on the news where the tornado hit. We travel that way when we go to the Big E. It was eery seeing familiar sights, with trees and cars all blown all over the place.

We didn't get the storm. I could hear thunder off in the distance when it was hitting Plainfield, but it barely rained here. Maria said the lightning was awful. Multiple strikes at once and it just kept on coming.

I have a little dog curled up on my lap and it feels soooooooo good.

I went to Bob's on Wednesday and cleaned some more in his room, then went shopping for clothes for him. He had no summer shirts, needed underwear and socks and I also got him some slacks as he has gained weight and his pants don't fit him now. I'm glad he has put on some weight, he needed to.

Wini and I had a good talk and we came up with a plan to provide her with some relief. She was very honest and open with me and I told her I appreciate it. I need her to be that way with me. I told her we don't want her going downhill...if it is too hard, she needs to let us know so we can help. She promised she would. She also told me that she would let me know when she can't do it anymore.

She told me that Bob told her "when I can't live here anymore, I'll go live with Ann." That's a plan, as long as he doesn't try to pet Truman and Bubbles gets used to him!

Watching the Sox now and hoping that they can turn their latest fortunes around. They haven't been doing too good.

The little dog just snuggled in more on my lap and then heaved the little sigh....I love it when he does that.

Okay, I'm off now to watch the game.

Later!

Having problems with the laptop since I spilled coffee on the keyboard. Al Joslin came and checked it out and then did some research and thinks I need a new power button as it keeps shutting off if I leave it idle for about 16 seconds.

I called the local place that works on Apples and they say they have to do a diagnostic test ($100) to figure out what's wrong. I'm going to have them do that, but will tell them that if it comes out that Al is right and it needs a power button, then I'm not going to pay for the diagnostics!

It's been an up and down situation here lately. Went to cover my first Sun game last week, the day after I went to Steve Bousquet's funeral. I'm still not used to saying that. I can't believe he's gone.

It was a huge wake and a huge funeral....a wonderful tribute to a wonderful human being. One of the best I've ever known. I feel so bad for Katy, Jen and Jeff and all the rest of the family. Such nice people and something horrible happens....it's unbelievable.

I have been doing more lately. Making myself go to bed early and get up early. I make myself move around and keep active. It's good and it's hard at the same time.

Got a bug up my ass about Sandy one day and went on a cleaning and organizing tear...threw out a lot of my stuff, made piles to donate and went through all my drawers sorting and organizing. I feel better but depressed. I don't want to be just like her...with her OCD stuff, but my clutter causes problems even if it isn't that significant. So, I'm making it sterile around here, just the way she likes it.

It's easier that way.

Going to Bob's tomorrow to clean his room some more and get him stuff he needs. I didn't make it last week because I ended up going to Putnam twice in the week, for the wake and then for the funeral. I couldn't take another trip in the week.

I'm changing Father's Day on him...I thought it was the second Sunday in June and made all my plans accordingly...then I find out that it's really the weekend AFTER that...UH-OH! So, I asked the gang if they could do it on the second weekend and they are okay with it. So it will all work out. Good.

Maria is going to come down on the Friday night, we'll go clean out Bob's stuff on Saturday and Sunday we'll take Bob out for dinner and the boys will help us move the boxes. I can't lift them.

I'm sure we will find some treasures in those boxes....I have already found some great things in the stuff I've been able to go through thus far.

Have to find someone who wants those opera and big band 78's that he has. A LOAD of them.

Bob doesn't recognize Loretta in pictures any more. He still recognized my mother and people from long ago. I wonder if he will know who Maria, Phil and Steve are. He sometimes knows who I am, but mostly not.

I go back to see the therapist this Thursday and have plenty to talk about...lots of sadness lately, for obvious and not so obvious reasons.

Oh, I went to my first meeting of the CT Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and really enjoyed the gang. They are working on a 3k walk/run at Hammonasset State Park on Sept 24th and I'm going to walk/run it. I'm going to start a team-to see how much we can raise. The money goes to raise awareness about the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer...which most people don't know anything about.

I also volunteered to go to health fairs around the state and hand out literature, etc. Most of the women work and aren't always available to cover these events. It's important that we have a presence at the health fairs, so I'm willing to help anyway I can.

I also am going around to different places asking them to post the symptoms of ovarian cancer in their ladies rooms. I hit the Norwich Senior Ctr today and will be getting them up in my gym too. Anywhere I go I'm going to ask if I can leave the literature around for women to see.

Okay...I've typed enough...can't pause or the computer shuts off...so my stream of consciousness is done for tonight...

Later!

Starting all over again. Eating two eggs and a cup o' joe for breakfast this AM. Huffed and puffed and had sweat running in my eyes yesterday at the gym.

It felt good being at the gym. Until about an hour later...when I went into the "coma." This has happened several times before, when I return from the gym I go into a fugue state, where I lie prostrate on the recliner and can't move or react to things.

Fortunately, Sandy was outside, pulling weeds with the dogs, and didn't bother me when I was in that state. I rouse after about an hour or so and then I feel ill. That passes in another couple of hours and then I'm fine.

It happens just about every time I work out at the gym. I mentioned it to Dr. McCourt, but didn't get a reaction. Hmmmm....

It isn't going to stop me from going to the gym. I think next time I'll take an energy drink on the way home from the gym. I do drink the G2 in the car as soon as I leave the gym and I had a protein drink when I got home, but next I'll throw in the energy drink.

Yesterday was busy, after we finally dragged ourselves out of bed at 10 am...(THANK YOU BUBBLES). I made pancakes for breakfast, then cleaned upstairs, doing more laundry and changing sheets, vacuuming etc. Then I got in my exercise togs and went to the gym.

OH! Rocky got one of his squirrels yesterday! He is always "stalking" them, in a crouch and moving slowly, cat-like, and then he spends a looooooong time sitting five feet away from them, watching them eating sunflower seeds. We were beginning to think that he wasn't interested in catching them, just in stalking and watching them.

WRONG!

Sandy looks out and says, "Rocky has something out in the yard." I said, "glad this happened while YOU were home, and continued playing Cityville-I had rents to collect and crops to plant...important stuff.

She went out back with a big hunk of steak leftover from Friday night's supper. That got him. Thankfully. Usually he doesn't want to give up something that he has....he grabs it and runs away. What a mess that can be. He will drop things for Bubbles, but then we didn't want to have to use Bub in that way.

So, he coughed up the squirrel and Sandy was able to haul it away. WHEW!

It was a long time before the squirrels ventured back to the feeders.

Speaking of feeders, here's a list of birds spotted/heard in the yard so far this Spring:

hummingbirds

Rose Breasted Grosbeaks

Northern Orioles

Wood Thrush

Mockingbird (haven't had one in the yard since we lived on Sunrise Street)

Two Scarlet Tanagers-buzzed through once...hope they return

Carolina Wrens are back in their houses

And the permanent residents are singing: sparrows, finches, cardinals, goldfinches, blue jays, starlings, downy and hairy woodpeckers, mourning doves, flickers and our resident hawk: the cooper's hawk who swoops through our yard to Cliff's and then to Mark's...very impressive.

We are planning a trip in the RV to New York in June, to an agility trial up there. The RV is still at the shop getting things done to it...they are trying to figure out how to install the switch we want that automatically turn the generator on should we lose power. They have never done this before and are "putting their minds to it."

Speaking of therapy....should I get a complex because that office STILL hasn't called me to set up an appointment? I'm going to go over there today en route to the studio. I want to see their faces when I tell them I've been waiting for three weeks! DOH!

I have lots of things to do now...more phone calls to make, got to do my Mortality Review stuff and email it off...can't go to meeting tomorrow, have to go to Putnam to take Bob to the eye doctor to get his new glasses. YAY! I'll get the financial info too so I can finally do that Westview Application and I'll take a box or two of his records home. He has all these boxes of old records up there and by records I mean the music kind. I have to look through them and catalogue them...so I know how to dispose of them.

Oh, if you get the chance, check out The Borgias! The old episodes are available on "On Demand" and if you can, get it!

Deliciously Wicked!

Later!

Trip to Maine-some photos

Our site at the campground

Sandy plays with sewage...

UConn Jack drops in for a visit

Truman thinks he owns the RV

Back Home...safe and sound

Trip to Maine

We made it to Maine and back, safe and sound. Sandy was stressing on the way up, about getting gas. I pointed out that we had enough gas to go to Maine and back, but she wanted to gas up before we left. I refused, as gas is super expensive here and we could get it cheaper in MA or ME.

We agreed to get it at the rest area on the Mass Pike and then decided to go 290 to 95, avoiding the Mass Pike and Boston. We realized that we were not going to hit the rest area when we were just about out of MA. So, we sailed on to Maine and then got gas on Rte 1 on the way into Ogunquit.

Before I tell the story about the gas, I have to tell the story about the EZ pass. We got an EZ pass so we don't have to stop the RV at the tolls. We had been talking about getting one anyway, because we do travel through tolls a lot en route to agility trials, etc. Anyway, we got the pass in the mail last week.

So we are coming up to a toll at the bridge in New Hampshire...EZ Pass get in the left lane:::::EZ Pass get in the left lane::::::: We get in the left lane. Now, we have NOT affixed the pass to the windshield per instructions because we want to use it in our other vehicles and we know people who leave them lying on their dashboards when they go through the toll and it can read the device. At the last possible second, we get nervous about the location of the pass...so I'm disconnect my seat belt (which always makes me paranoid) and I'm leaning out over the dashboard, holding the pass. We keep looking for the gate to go through. Don't see it. All of a sudden I realize I'm holding the pass backwards! I flip it over, Sandy is whining a high pitched sound of fear (that we will get a ticket I guess) and suddenly we are back in multi-lane traffic and neither one of us can figure out when we went through the EZ Pass gate!

We may get a ticket, will have to wait and see. This is getting to be a habit with me...trouble with the EZ pass lane...like the time when I drove through the EZ pass lane in MA when Robin and I were driving to Lenox. Never got a ticket for that one...guess the expression on my face when they took the picture told the story.

Back to Sandy and her gas situation. We pull into a Mobil station and into the last lane. Sandy says "we're not going to have enough room, I can't reach the gas." I tell her to park it right where it was....she says, "oh DUH! We'll fill up at THIS pump (the second pump)." I told her, "right, I don't think they will complain about us taking up two pumps when they see how much gas we are going to be buying." We could buy "only" $90 worth of gas on one card and then I stuck my card in and put in another $90. That put us up over FULL. Not bad (cough::::cough:::Gag::::gag).

Then it was time to get the rig out of there....and don't you know a car full of teens pulls up to a non-parking spot in front of the station door, kitty corner, and blocking our exit. We had to sit there waiting for the kids to come back out and take off. Then Sandy very nicely swung that rig around the end of the gas median, bringing the car along with her....just like a pro!

We found our campground in Wells very easily. We went in and they told us we had our pick of spots, except the sites that had paved pads...those belong to seasonal campers. We headed down to the seasonal area, swung around twice and found a nice one on the end of a row. We unhooked the car and the dolly, leveled the RV, got the slides out and were all set, quicker than you can say WINNEBAGO. I was very proud of us!

This campground is nice. It has trees, electric/water/sewer hookups at every site and it was very quiet and clean. We want to go back in the fall, this time bringing Jean with us.

Everything we like to do was located very close to us at that site. Jakes was within walking distance, the bakery is right down the road, Reny's was about a mile away, the Maine Diner about two miles away and if there hadn't been an accident that rerouted the traffic, we would have been within 25 minutes of that Marden's store we like to hit in Sanford.

Speaking of Sanford, Jack (who lives there) came down to see us on Saturday AM. We went ouf for breakfast at The Egg and I and then Jack came back for a little visit. We had a great time, laughing as usual and it was great to see him again. We have known each other for over ten years now...it doesn't seem possible. Jack is someone I met on the internet and became friendly with, and then met in person at Gampel. We've been fast friends ever since.

Friday night (back up now) we went out to eat at Jake's....a place we "found" last time we were up there. I had a combo plate (whole bellied clams and scallops) and Sandy had clam strips (fake clams, I call them). I heard the guy in front of me ask for half and half (fries and onion rings) so I did the same. I know a GREAT idea when I hear one! The meal was delicious. We got the small portion meal...and it was a lot of food. I left a lot on the plate (but no clams).

Saturday was Egg and I (pecan waffle) and then off to Marden's after Jack left the RV. There was a motorcycle accident and the traffic got rerouted...we ended up meandering thru the woods for a while, but then found our destination.

We were looking for a little ottoman for the RV...something to put our feet up on when we were sitting in the chair. Well, I found two plastic little "end tables" like I had by my bed when I lived in a trailer when I was in the Army (and I thought I was so rich)....we bought both of these tables--about $5 for the two. We put a little pillow on one and VOILA! an "ottoman!" The other one serves as a little table to put our drinks/plates on when we are sitting on the couch.

We found some other little odds and ends for the RV at this place too. This Marden's is like a step-down from Ocean State Job Lot, so you can imagine. It's like Railroad Salvage. We LOVE poking through it. Of course, Jack said he would NOT set foot in it! HA HA! That's our Jack!

By the time we found our way back to Wells, we were hungry. We had had a late breakfast and no lunch, so we hit the Maine Diner around 4:30...beating the crowd. We each had a cup of seafood chowder--they won the Wells Chowder Festival with this entry last year--big hunk of lobstah, clams, shrimp, fish and scallops in a delicate milk base....fantastic! I had (mistake), codfish cakes and baked beans. That did me in.

I spent the night running back and forth to the toilet. I was so happy we had the sewer connection at the site. "nuff said.

Oh, Sunday as we were packing up to go home, Sandy read the instructions about the television reception in the RV...and found the signal booster! We went from having no reception to being able to get eight stations...of course, there wasn't anything on we cared to watch, but now we know how to boost the antenna!

Sandy had purchased "Ratatouille" and "Finding Nemo" at Mardens. We couldn't find that damned "Finding Nemo" anywhere at Walt Disney World, but we get it at Mardens!

Sunday morning I made bacon and eggs and english muffins for us for breakfast. Then we closed up the rig, hitched up the dolly and loaded the car onto the dolly and we were ready to go. But FIRST...I have to roll up the car windows...so I set the emergency brake, start up the car and put up the window. Shut the car off and get back in the rig. One last check around to make sure everything is secure and off we go....WAIT...we are having trouble. Doesn't feel right.

Of course, I had left the brake on and we were dragging my car across the campsite...leaving two long deep ruts! I get out and pop the brake and then ask Sandy for the shovel to fix the ruts. She gets out and starts bossing me..."you go to the office and let them know we've done this damage and are fixing it and I will fix the ruts." I tell her "no, I can fix the ruts." She: "no, you just took your energy drink, you need to rest, I'll shovel." Me: gets mad, throws shovel down, hikes off to office.

Later we discuss it and admit that we both over reacted. I point out that when she forgot to put the pin in the tow dolly I didn't get all up in her grill. As a matter of fact I just asked her, "did you put the pin in?" and she said, "no I forgot, thanks for reminding me." And I didn't say another word. So, how come when I make a mistake, she has to "take over" like I can't do anything right?

We have it worked out now. We learn. We made it home safe and sound. She even let me drive after we stopped to make lunch and check the tow. The road was very bumpy (it being Massachusetts) and the belts that we rachet on to the front tires loosened up.

We got that car unhitched, parked in the garage, dolly unhitched--towed the dolly down to the lawn with Sandy's car and the RV backed down the driveway and parked in it's spot quicker than you can say WINNEBAGO. We took the essentials out of the RV and we were done!

So much easier than camping in the tent or staying in a hotel. And it cost us about as much as it would to stay in a hotel...factoring in the gas and campground cost. If we had eaten more meals in the RV, it would have been much cheaper than our usual weekend trip to Maine--gas, hotel, meals, etc.

Now, my Dad. Today it finally happened. I called and he answered the phone. I told him who I was and we chatted a minute, then I asked to speak to Wini (yes, that's how she spells her name). I heard him telling her that there was someone on the phone, "a woman who takes care of us"...he didn't remember my name. I won't say it hurt me, because I have been anticipating this day and because last week he called me "what'shername" but it did surprise me that he thinks of me as someone who "takes care of them."

I think he's right. I am taking care of "them." Wini's memory is failing. I told her I was not coming up tomorrow to get the papers, but would come over Wednesday afternoon instead. She admitted that she did not remember what papers I was talking about. I reminded her that I needed Bob's financial info so I could complete the Westview application. She remembered then...but I can see that she is slipping fast. For her sake, we may have to place Bob sooner than we thought.

I have to get on the ball and get that application in. We may not be able to protect any of his money...the rule is five years now. Oh well, we never thought we were going to get any kind of inheritance...but I do worry about Wini's money getting tapped. However, at the rate she's going she may be joining him in the nursing home...not that this would be a bad thing. He is so dependent on her and obviously loves her very much.

Now i switch gears to Sox and Celts....Go BOSTON!

Later....