Snow can be fun

Pictures: hanging out around the table; Ruthie wouldn't mind a drink; snow and more snow; keeping beer cold.

Yesterday was house cleaning day. It was overcast and 36 degrees. Late afternoon I went out in the back back yard with the dogs. Had to shovel some snow away from the back of the gate to get it opened. The dogs had fun running around in the fresh snow. If we had some wood I could have had a small fire. Maybe next weekend.

peace, love, groove

Last weekend in January

And the sun was out....big time. Last night I went to Papa Vino's with some nursing/Lakeland friends. Tonight I came home from work and enjoyed a little sun. I cleaned the snow off the front porch. Felt good to get some sunlight. The dogs enjoyed it too. I'll probably clean this weekend and hopefully get the Christmas tree in the basement. Sunday I'm going to go see the Princess Di exhibit in GR. I hear I can't take pictures....so you'll have to imagine it.

Moments to remember:

1- Last weekend I was asked what inspired Dave to play music. Tearfully I recalled the day I came home to find Dave listening to his favorite Chick Corea song crying. He told me he was picking out music for his funeral. I think what moved him most was the music itself. A good melody and performance would bring him to tears....tears of joy and respect. The same tears I try to have for him now.

2- Last night my friend Julie got teared up remembering Dave's last days and how she got to know our friend Catherine Thomas. We talked about his last car ride which was with Catherine. How lucky we've been to know and love so many wonderful friends. Thank you.

peace, love, groove

Camp Fire #2- Wed. night with the dogs and the birds

Pictures: Ice cycle; keeping a beer cold by the fire; Ruthie watching; Ruthie thinks it's still to cold; it's a fire night!

Wednesday after work it was time to feed the birds. I had to walk through some snow to get to all of the bird feeders. It was a clear quiet night, so why not start a fire too! Toward the end of the fire, a fine light snow started falling. The peacefulness of a winter's night.

peace, love, groove

Beauty comes from the outside too

Pictures: the groomers van; Audrey is beautiful; so is Nikki; Dave wrote on the basement wall almost 14 years ago.

So the sump pump also got fixed this weekend and the dogs got pretty. Tim fixed the sump pump Friday afternoon. I think he needs to write on the wall next to Dave. The groomer came by Sunday morning. Audrey probably lost about 5 lbs of hair. She is so pretty now, they all are. I got my hair cut today, so we're all feeling chipper. Back to work tomorrow. I'm starting to get caught up on a lot of messages and stuff...feels good.

I went by Dave's niche today. It was very peaceful. Just wanted to say hi.

peace, love, groove.

Weekend fun?

Pictures: Carcassonne Friday night at the Mierau's house; Lindsey and Sue; there's a dragon out there; Joni; Lucas and Lindsey; Tim, Joni and Kay looking through pictures and memories; Tim thinks he knows about this one; Dinner at Ban Thai- Dave, Tim, Joni, Elisa, Catherine, and Kay; more fun at the Pump House- Lee, Dave, Catherine, Kay and Elisa; Tom says hi; Lee and PK; Pink Freud; Pink Freud; Elisa and Kay; Julie and Lee.

Friday night we (Tim, Joni, Lindsey, Sue and me) played Carcassonne and had homemade pizza at the Mierau's. Their son Lucas joined us, great to have a young man hang out with a older generation. Saturday afternoon we got together and went through pictures of Dave on the road with Spectrum. It was very fun to talk about old memories. Dinner at Ban Thai- one of Dave's favorites. They don't serve alcohol, so we went downtown to the Pump House for a couple cocktails.... well I had beer. The owner, Tom, sat and talked with us for a few minutes. I haven't seen him since Dave's Tribute. It was nice to visit. The next idea was to step down to Czar's 505. I don't remember for sure the last time I was there but I think it was last summer with Dave. Pink Freud, from Chicago, was playing and they were good friends of Dave's. It was nice to see some other friends there too- PK, Julie and more. The band was happy I said hi, bought me a shot and we talked about Dave for a little while. Dave thought they were stopping the band. They added a girl singer and have kept it going. Fun band. If you didn't guess, they play all Pink Floyd music.

Audrey is getting her bath right now. I'll take a picture of the van, it's very cool. More later.

peace, love, groove

Last Thursday night

Pictures: Lace Reader book and lace iced cake; Jazz at the Bistro

Busy week for me. Book club on Wednesday night. We read "The Lace Reader" this month. I liked it and bought the author's next book. I'm using the iPad to read as much as possible now, but need to figure out if I can add some notes. Last night Joni, the other Makis, the Lesters and Liz went to hear Tim's jazz trio at The Bistro downtown St. Joe. It's really Ed Bagitinni's trio. Anyway, they've played there Thursday nights for quite awhile. This was the last one. The music will now be on Friday nights and jazz will only be once a month. Bummer. I took a long weekend with today and Monday off. The main projects are: getting the X-mas stuff put away and organized and getting pictures and memories of Dave organized. I'm just a little organizer this weekend!

There was a house mystery this week. I thought I could smell burning rubber or something in the back hallway since last weekend. I was feeling the walls, afraid that some electrical wires were too hot...okay that was probably silly. Then yesterday I thought maybe Nancy-Boy was trying to tell me something. He's been very vocal (compared to normal) and wanting me to come downstairs in the basement. Then he would just meow at me. So I realized the smell was from the basement. It was.........................the sump pump. I guess the motor burned out. Unplugged it and Tim will help me replace it this weekend. I told him...Dave put in the last one, our second since we've lived here, and it wasn't really done right. I kinda coerced him into it. Dave could fix things around the house, but not always perfectly. It worked for at least 3 years...good enough for me.

It's snowing here and very cold. Our house is warm and so are our hearts. Hope you all stay warm too.

peace, love, groove

Okay... I'm addicted to

Carcassonne. It's on my iPhone, my iPad and I have the real game. As the link explains, this is at tile game where you build cities, road and farms. We're (the Kings and I) are now playing via the Internet too. I like it a lot.

Great day at work. We, the WOCNs, are going to get to teach medical students about wounds. I'm going to do the first lectures tomorrow. Using something I had for nursing students...we may need to add a few studies. Anyway, it's exciting to me.

I've been feeling like a bad doggie mom. Audrey hasn't had a bath since....last summer, Ruthie and Nikki's last baths were before the holidays. I just can't seem to find the time. So today I got a number from my friend Liz for a mobile groomer. How cool. I pay $20 for her to come and then the cost of each dog. So the dogs are getting a "beauty morning" this Saturday. They deserve a little extra pampering.

All and all we're doing fine. I seem to have more energy on the weekends and think as soon as it stays lighter out later it will improve during the week. Time to wash dishes and read my book.

peace, love, groove

Cleaning up

Still working on getting X-mas stuff put away. I also finished most of the thank-you cards that were just hanging there....waiting. Guess I was just too mentally exhausted with X-mas and the new job. I feel like I can get those things "on the burner" done and move on to the next projects.

Tonight I'm going to "The King's Speech" with the other Makis, the Kings, the Lesters and maybe Liz. I've seen most of the Golden Globe nominated movies just in time for the show tonight. Still have a few that haven't been to our theatre yet or I've missed them on video. Blue Valentine, Love and Other Drugs, Barney's Version to name a few. Should be pretty close to seeing all the Oscar nominated movies...we'll see.

peace, love, groove

Getting ready

So I've played Carcassone for several nights...I can now play on my iPhone with friends and the Mierau's just got a game too. I've also been trying to prepare for tomorrow...a KCI girls night at my house. My ex-coworkers and friends, Linda and Beckie, are coming over for margarita's (the famous recipe) and food and movies and talk. I'm very excited, but not really ready.

Another week at work is almost done. It was a good week. Today I saw a cancer patient whose spouse was staying in the room. When I was done and went over to speak to the spouse.."how are you?" Those were the most thoughtful words I heard from others. We talked about how they had been married for over 60 years. I can't even imagine having to saying goodbye after that long. It was fulfilling for me to take the time to talk. To look at the whole patient and those surrounding. I'm thankful to everyone who did that for us. Time for bed.

peace, love, groove.

Sunday morning snow

Pictures: Snow falling from the trees; there's still a lot on the trees though; the heated bird bath.

Yesterday the snow was so beautiful in the trees. The sun reflected off the white "cotton candy" like covering turning it yellow. I was home all morning and then went to play Carcassonne with the Kings and the Mieruas. It's fun.

I just realized that it's 1/10. It's been 3 months since David died. Sometimes when I'm going to sleep moments start going through my head again and again. These are not always the happiest memories...they are my memories of doubt and fear. Fortunately most of my days and nights are filled with great memories and vibes. I guess it's all part of the process.....working through the love and grief. Miss you Dave, but we're okay.

peace, love and groove

Another type of love

So I started my old Dyson vacuum today and remembered that Nikki broke it a couple weeks ago and it was making a strange sound. She likes to attack and bite the vacuum. When I bought the Dyson I was having issues with buying a new vacuum every 1 to 2 years. Unfortunately, I don't remember when I bought my first Dyson... but I thought it was time for a new one. They now have a "light " version which is 17 lbs and I bought it. I thought I was "in love" with my first Dyson, but I am defiantly "in love" with this one. It is so odd to think of my last post talking about saying "I love you" and being "in love" with a vacuum. Oh well, I love my vacuum too.

I'm working on putting x-mas stuff away which always includes cleaning. All that New Year's stuff. Today I also started thinking about Dave's last weekend and how important it was to me to have music, friends and love surrounding him. I can't help but think of all the family members in hospitals and emergency rooms who are so ill and don't have that knowledge and support...it is forming a mission...an idea.... more later.

love, peace, groove

Saying I love you

Being a nurse, it has been important for me (and probably many others) to always tell Dave "I love you" whenever we talked or said good bye or went to bed. He humored my through the years and always said it back. It's a gift for me now. All those "I love you's" to live on. Today I noticed how often I say "I love you" to my friends... our family who helped us through. It's just as important to me now. And it's just as easy to say. I love you all.

peace, love, groove

First workday of 2011

Had a productive weekend. Saturday I stayed home, watched at least 4 movies and sorted through old papers which lead to cleaning some shelves. For New Year's dinner, I made a fillet Mignon and scallops. ummmm. Sunday I went with Tim and Joni and I got a new MAC computer. Didn't realize how slow my old one was getting....oh wait, that's what they want you to think. Also got a new scanner/printer that was free.....oh wait, that's what they want you to think. Then we played games all afternoon. I got the sweetest picture Friday night from Phil Lester. It's from last summer and it's of Dave and Adeline by the pool. It makes me smile. I really did need the new scanner and will start scanning things soon.

Should be in the shower, but just had to say: it's 2011 Dave...love you.

peace, love, groove

Last fire of 2010, first of 2011

Pictures: Kris and Noah watching the fire; Kris and Noah dancing; a Camp David Fire.

The last chance for a fire in 2010 and it was 52 degrees in Southwestern Michigan yesterday. I started by going to South Bend with the Maki's to see Dave's oldest sister Kris. When we got back in town we went to see "True Grit". I stopped by the Lester's to say "Happy New Year" around 8:30 and then came home. The neighbors, Kris, Kevin and Noah helped me get a fire started...a little windy but still a great night for a fire. I had a couple "legal" fireworks left and we lite them at the new year between the driveways. No police with only two of them. Maybe I should keep that in mind in the future.

All and all, it was a great end to one of the best years of my life. One I will never, never, never, never...forget. Moments may be hard to remember, but the experiences with our friends and family and the joy of being with my Dave are very vivid.

peace, love, groove.