I went to get my hair done this morning. My operator called to say her surgery had aeen postponed, so I went, even though I hadn't intended to. After I got home, Chris wanted to go back to our little shopping center, so we did. First was our bank, then the drugstore, and while we were there about noon, we went to Taco Bell for lunch. At home again we read the morning paper and watched the news on TV. Then Chris went to work on the computer, so I re-read again in the last published book written by Patty Briggs. The next one will be out in August. We had an early dinner, and then Karen came over and picked me up, and we went to the adult session of Stake Conference. It was a good meeting, and I saw some friends afterwards. I missed talking to the Roger's son and daughter-in-law. I wanted to tell them again that I was sorry we didn't get to Elynore's funeral, and to ask about Harold. We did sent flowers for the funeral.

Now we don't have to drive everywhere.

Today with Karen's help, we took another step in becoming more independent seniors. We got Chris attached to the North County Transit District. He can go almost anywhere in the county on a bus for $4! I can go with him, and pay just $4 too. Karen picked us up, and she had already filled out the papers , so all we had to do was go to the office downtown and have Chris' picture taken, and have him sign the papers Karen had filled out. They will pick us up at home and bring us back. Since it was still morning, Karen asked if we wanted to go somewhere else. I said K-Mart, for canesters for flour, sugar, etc. We did , but I didn't find what I wanted. The clerk suggested Bed, Bath and Beyond. I'll try there. It was lunch time, so we went to Carls' Jr. for fish tacos, that were very good. We came home then, and rested a while. We went for a short walk around the neighborhood, then came back and wrote letters. We just ordered some more Netflix movies, so we'll be well supplied, along with Kaye's.

A mixed-up day, but it turned out OK.

Today started out earlier; Chris had an appointment with Dr. Donahoe and sort of hurried to get down there for that later, and a Protime Test first. We drove down to the Clinic in Carlsbad, and he gave his blood for the test. Since we were early for the Dr. appointment, we went to the state park, where we used to take our trailer when the girls were still at home. We parked and got out and sat on a bench where we could see the ocean and the surf. It was a lovely day, and we enjoyed it. We drove back to the Clinic, and the receptionist told us the appointment had been canceled, and they had left a message on our home phone. We didn't see it. So, a new appointment was set up for next week. We called Karen and met her at Carl's Jr. for lunch, then came home. After dinner we watched another CD of "Foyle's War" we got from Netflix.

We woke up to the alarm clock's blasting this morning. After lazing around for about 10 minutes we got up. We had our breakfast, cleared up the dishes, and read the morning paper. I had started re-reading one of Patricia Briggs' books, and I spent the rest of the morning on that. Karen had invited us and Al to lunch, so we went to her house. It was a very nice lunch, and she told us about their trip to areas around Greece. I thought it was the islands, but she said she wanted someday to go back and see the islands. Instead it was the little countries around there, and done by boat along canals. After lunch we all went outside to enjoy the beautiful yard and landscape. At home again we rested a while, and I read again and Chris worked at the computer, making notes to take to Dr. Donahoe tomorrow.

At breakfast this morning, we found we had no milk. After clearing up the kitchen and generally the house, we drove to WalMart. We got milk and creamer and a couple of pizzas, and got sodas at their lunch counter and came home. I discovered I'd left my cane in the grocery cart, so we went back. They had it inside the store, so I didn't lose it really. At home we had one of the pizzas for lunch, and then sat down to watch the last half of "Mary, Queen of Scotland." It was good, and was quite similar to the version in the a Encyclopaedia Britannica that I just read afterwards. For some reason most movies of this period in Europe are dark. Maybe that's because the weather was so bad during those years, that they had to make the movies that way to make them seem real. We had our dinner and then watched the newscasts on TV for a while. We talked to all three daughters briefly today, and that was nice.

A busy day at home.

Roy came to clean the house, but we were still getting our breakfast. So he started cleaning in the back of the house. Soon we were done, and he could continue as usual. We asked him to come back next Monday, and help us clean up things in the garage. That will be a job, but it has to be done, or we'll never be able to find things again. After he left we had our lunch and then a little rest. but that was short-lived; all the paperwork had stacked up while Chris was incapacitated. We got it out, and finally it is now entered on the computer and then filed away. As soon as we are rested up again, we'll get our dinner. After that, we will watch a CD and relax. I'm re-reading some of Patty's books while I put the hot pad on my legs, and I guess I spend a lot of time doing that! I forgot to say that Hidiberto Lopez, our neighbor, came and cleaned the yard, and I paid him.

It has been a nice day.

Karen took us with her to Church, and we saw a lot of friends who had come to see Chris. It was nice to talk to them. The speakers were a young man and a young woman, children of Elder Larson (c0unselor to the Bishop) who are going on missions. They spoke, and also their two brothers back from missions. Bro. Larson seemed so proud of them, and rightly so. After this one meeting we left, and went down to the beach and parked. We had sodas and sandwiches and ate them and watched the beautiful ocean. The sun had come out, and it was a lovely sight. There were two swimmers. I'd worry about sharks, but they evidently didn't care about them. There have been three attacks, one fatal. We came home and spent a quiet afternoon, and then we got dinner together. Tonight we watched a mystery show and then the Memorial Day presentation from Washington D.C. It was first rate.

NIce to have Karen back.

Karen came over this morning and it was good to see her. I had an appointment for a perm, so I had to leave. Karen took her Dad shopping at Boneys' Grocery and then down to look at the ocean. The sun came out, and he said after I got home at 1 p.m. , that it was very nice down there. We had our lunch, and Karen came back to pick up Terry's house keys, that they had given Carla before they went to Europe. I couldn't remember what they looked like, but I did remember hanging them up. She found them right away. This afternoon we worked for a while on our business papers that had piled up while Chris was in the hospital and care center. After dinner we watched "Waiting for God", and another episode of "Foyle's War" on PBS.

This morning the ant exterminator came and sprayed all around the outside of the house. It certainly works, we haven't had ants in the house since we started the service in February. Then we went to the Kaiser Clinic in town and Russ-Chris had blood drawn for a coumadin test. From there, we went to get a new screw put in my eye glasses; it got lost last night. It was raining, so we didn't stay out, but came home for lunch and then a rest. I read and didn't sleep, so I'll sleep better tonight. Karen called from New York and told us their plane had been delayed, and they wouldn't get home until after 10 p.m. I'm sorry about that; I was looking forward to seeing her today. Now we are going to have dinner and then watch another of the movies Kaye has sent. She and Kyle are at a writers' convention in Montana.

Our first lunch out since Chris' hip broke.

We slept in again, and it sort of messed up the day. We had a late breakfast, and then were watching a Perry Mason re-run, when the phone rang. It was Karen, calling from New York. They will stay there tonight and then fly home tomorrow! That's good news. I'm looking forward to hearing all about their trip. Later we went to WalMart, had lunch at their McDonald's, and then did a little shopping. That was our exercise for the day. It was too windy to walk outside today. There was rain in Orange and Riverside Counties, and a flood warning in areas where recently there were wildfires. I heard, too, that there was a tornado out there. We came home, rested and listened to the London "Les Miserables". That music is really good. I wished the CD also had the people doing the singing; I liked that. Tonight my visiting teacher and husband came over for a visit.

Today Silvia was supposed to come about 2:30, but she was late, and my husband got upset, and we went grocery shopping. We needed some things at the store, and I had counted on Silvia doing it. We got the necessary things, and came home. There was a message from Silvia, so I called her back and she came, and did the washing and changed the beds. She had to take someone to the hospital, and that's what delayed her. Also, Pat, from Kaiser came over, and checked Chris out, and she said he was doing fine, and she would not come to see him again. That's good news. He still has to see Dr. Donahoe, and have a blood test, and then he will be declared as well as he can be except for getting his strength back. As soon as Silvia is done, we will have our supper and watch the rest of the movie we started last night. Things are looking up!

Back to May- Gray weather.

We finally got a cooler day; in fact it was foggy except for a little while just before the sun went down. We were able to go out 0n the front patio and fertilize and water the orchids. I hope they will bloom this year, but maybe not, because I didn't fertilized them while Russ was away. Also, he turned the water on in the back yard, to water there, too. This afternoon we rested a little while, then I mixed up a loaf of white bread, and baked it. Russ went to the computer and sent Karen's e-mails to Kaye; she hadn't got them. Also, he worked a while on the accounts. Tonight we are going to watch part of a movie--we don't want to stay up so late tonight!

Our last warm day, we hope!

We have had another quiet day. Roy came late this morning, and he did some house cleaning, and then he helped us get our things for AmVets out to the curb for them to pick up in the morning. We are sending along to them Helen and Al's old bathroom supplies for someone who is ill. We didn't know about them when Russ-Chris-Gramps was coming home, and Karen bought all new equipment. Al didn't want anything except the canes. After Roy left, we had lunch, and then one of the Kaiser staff of home visitors came and took Russ' blood pressure, heart and breath tests, and blood tests. I guess he passed. Tonight we watched a mystery show on TV, and that was our day. Oh yes, Russ did a little work on the computer.

We are almost back in our usual schedule.

We stayed up late last night, so we slept in this morning. It was a slow start, and we didn't finish breakfast until 10 a.m. Part of that was because I cooked bacon and eggs, instead of just serving cereal as usual. It has been another hot day, so we just stayed inside the house with the air conditioning on. I finished re-reading one of Patricia Briggs' books, and Chris took a couple of naps and then worked at the computer. During the morning we listened to the program from Temple Square in Salt Lake. I didn't feel up to going to Church, and we substituted that and a program on BYU channel for church. Karen sent another e-mail. They are still in Croatia, but they expect to move on tomorrow.

I'm back again on the Blog.

I'm finally back to the Blog. Many thanks to my "Secretary" who filled in for me all the time I was so busy. Things are looking up; Chris-Gramps is getting along well. After I had my hair done, we drove to the yellow store and bought some groceries. After this, I will ask Silvia, who comes to help us on Wednesdays, to shop for us. I just don't want to go to a big store yet, I'm not up to the crowds. Roy is coming to clean and do odd jobs every Monday, so you see we have assistance. Now our daughters won't need to worry about our doing too much. Chris is walking around the house with just a cane some of the time, when I don't insist on the walker. He says he can better judge how he feels, than I can! I guess he's right.

Blood and Nurse

Secretary is posting as Almeda is too busy driving around to do so. Yesterday they drove to get a pro time test then the nurse dropped in for her scheduled visit and took blood (seems to me overkill to do both) but Kaiser wanted to him to see a doctor in Carlsbad today, so they'll drive down for that. Luckily he's getting used to Almeda doing the driving, but I encouraged them to ask Jane...but am sure they won't.

A Week has Gone

Secretary is posting an update: Carla is visiting ordered pills and worked on a computer listing of them, Karen called from New York and will go on to Frankfurt then Greece. Kaye is in Missoula, just hanging out while Kyle gets his Range Officer Training, and will go home tomorrow. Almeda has nice hair after appointment this morning. Hardly a mention of Gramps/Russ except I talked to him and he sounded fine. Posted by Secretary, awaiting further news.