i'M GONNA WALK THOSE STEPS

And I did. Made it up the steps twice -took two soaking baths --and slept in my own bed. Glad to have made the journey. I'm going to keep making progress but not too fast. I went out this morning to get the mail and the street was slick with rain. So my paper is still sitting. I came in and read it online. Simple tasks keep beckoning and I will not follow -- too scary that I may twist in the wrong way. Rainy and bad today.

What do I want to get accomplished today?

I want to get back to reading for Humpty Dumpty.

I want to see what the Doctor says about Jennie and Jordan.

I want to make phone calls to Commerce Bank about how to get an Account Archive -- CD rom

I want to call ron Hahs about my Deferred comp account.

I want to call Joan tonight and see how she is.

I want to call Betty Ann to see about Joker.

More pics of Thanksgiving and the "loot" that they got from me for Xmas.

There is life in the Old Broad!

I went upstairs after Liz got here and took a bath, got out and got dressed and came downstairs. I had no trouble and it was a major accomplishment for me and a hurdle jumped over. Liz straightened the house, put the decorations on the tree, and then did some errands.

I had a bank problem at Bank of America that I needed to fix and I could not get the loan officer to pick up the phone. She went over to get this done, get me some tacos that I have been craving and some orange juice and then she will be back.

It is a good day so far. A man came to pick up a check this morning and I had him take the trash out. I could not do this. I have to call about Jordan since he has to go to doctor today about a mass in his stomach.

This picture was made on Bryan's 24th birthday. The next was made when they all went to mall, with my credit cards, and got what they wanted for Christmas. Might be a tacky way to do things but they get what they want and it saves wrapping and shipping. Works for all of us.

Bryan and his 24th Birthday

When they came in, on Wednesday, it was Bryan Stacy's 24th birthday on Nov. 24. He called ahead and wanted me to order pizza from Imo's which I had waiting when they got here. On Friday they all went out with my credit card and bought their own Xmas from me. Here are photos My outfit with black brace is exceptional.

Thanksgiving is still available and needed

Today is the first day I have felt like I might be human again -- Sunday, November 28--Mark, Tina, and Bryan and Andrea have been here for a few days and they worked the entire time they were here. Tina and Andrea cooked Thanksgiving dinner and grocery shopped. Bryan whittled me a stick that made me something to pick up things from the floor and carried down the Xmas decorations from upstairs and cleaned out the gutters. Mark set up the tree, put lights up on the front and back and made the house merry for the owner and Christmas. I hated to see them pull out to go home but I am so happy that they were here.

Today I want to find out about Jordan --he went to hospital last night with stomach pains, and I want to go up the steps. I have fixed a salad for lunch and fried hashbrowns and am sitting here watching "Diagnosis Murder".

I am most thankful for coming through this ordeal and to all who have helped me.

seMissourian.com: Op/Ed Column: Thanksgiving memories (11/24/10)

seMissourian.com: Op/Ed Column: Thanksgiving memories (11/24/10)

A Slipped Disk keeps one from writing.

On Thursday, last week, my back gave out and I found myself on the floor unable to get up without excruciating pain. I finally got hold of Annie and she and her kids came over and tried to help but nothing would work. She called Dr. Mark Kasten who sent out medicine and then 911. Sirens of the firetruck and ambulance filled the neighborhood but the four of them put a soft gurney under me and got me back on the couch. They helped me go to bathroom, using a homemade bedpan, and i waited for Jim Stacy to come since he coincidentally was coming thru cape.

He did a yeoman's duty --even washing the pee towels. He left on Friday and Mark got the Visiting Nursing Association to come in. I had to sign a million forms but they showed up on Saturday and Sunday to help me--even going to Rhodes to get me a soda. Jordan came on Sunday to run some errands and got my turkey to cook.

So it is Monday. I am feeling better mentally and physically and mentally-I am always afraid that I won't get up and be able to move. I did my own shower today and washedmy hair and I felt I had climbed mountains. I can use the computer in the bed. I am sleeping downstairs since i can't get up the stairs.

Tomorrow, I will have the Nurses for my last day and Debbie will come to do my hair as well as Gloria will be here. Liz also came today and did my bills, made my phone calls, did errands -went to Kohls to get me some gowns with a long zipper and some standard flannel sheets for downtairs. It's nice to sleep in different rooms so you can check things out.'

Tim Seabaugh came with his crew andsaid that they would do the sidewalks on Friday. Bryan's birthday is on the 24th Wed. and he will be 24. I have his card already since he wants money.

When you don't want rain, it comes!

So much for Bristol. I'll try again for Ken.
Rain has not been evident in weeks but the day that I get someone to come pave my driveway, it comes. So they don't. Now another day of waiting and I am stuck here waiting.

I pulled two pictures off and hope I can share them on the blog. One is Ken Iman who died last week and the other is Bristol Palin--who is still on Dancing with the Stars! What a disaster!

Getting my driveway in shape

Couldn't help putting this picture on today. New Bethel Church on Easter Sunday. We had new dresses from Buckner Ragsdale and Mom had her new hat. It was a good time.

Waiting for the men to come today to do my driveway. Maybe I won't fall on the holes in the driveway now. I don't know how long it will take but I think that they should be finished in a couple of days. The men are coming Monday to put in a new sidewalk. My place will look great. I had the house painted last year and the leaves are raked to the street.

I am watchingMad Hungry on television and this woman is making linguini and clam sauce. I have never made it and never will since I hate clams. Why am I watching it?

What I accomplished today:

l. Sent out material to Southeast Missourian and University about the death of Ken Iman

2. Debbie came to do color on my hair and fix it.

3. Ron Seabaugh came by to say that they would start on my driveway tomorrow.

4. Tim Seabaugh bought the sidewalk estimate by.

5. Liz came to work --went out to get groceries and do errands including Garbers for Jim's Christmas present. Also got a Christmas wreath for Jim and Laurie.

6. Gene Skippers came to clean the yard after my call to him. Leafs will be picked up soon.

7. I made three receipes for the triple slow cooker I bought: dressing, green bean casserole, and cranberry casserole. All were good. I froze all of them.

It will be a day tomorrow with the people working on the driveway. I have found out that one should be here for things like this.

The Great Ken Iman

Gary Nichols called me tonight to tell me that Ken Iman died last night. His wife came home and he was in the basement dead. He was planning to come to Homecoming this year but he had to cancel. I can hardly remember my adult life without Ken Iman in it--he was in our wedding, came early to eat at Julia's for the rehearsal dinner. He was dating Phyllis then whom he later married. They had four children: Susan, Karen and Rob and I can't remember the other child's name. The marriage did not survive the Rams experience plus the Eagles experience.

Ken came back once and received an award on the field -- He was All-American here --on the same team with Bill Stacy and Gary Nichols and his brother, Norm. He announced on the field that he remembered me when I was Janie Cooper from Charleston and when I was thin. I could have killed that lug of a guy.

He came back once and they did an interview with him and I had to sit beyond the camera and translate for the interviewer. He could not keep his words straight. He said he had been hit too many times and I told him he was stupid from birth.

I feel a little lost tonight. I always knew, when he was a big football star, or when he was a coach for the Eagles that he would be delighted to see me and call me every name in the book. I loved the big guy.

Jim Stacy is coming home tonight!

Just talked to him and he was in St. Louis-- should be here by 6:00 so I took my bath and got dressed. We will go out to eat tonight.

What did I accomplish today?

Visited with Tim Seabaugh this morning and his partner about an estimate for a concrete sidewalk.

2. Visited with the man who is giving me an estimate to cut down two trees -- $1450. I told him to go ahead and do it.

3. Eric Gohn came to work and we went out to get violas from Sunny Hill to plant, took an old vacumn to Safe House for a donation, went to Dollar General to pick up some things and then came home and he cleaned out the beds in the front, even though it was rainy and they look good.

That took all morning and I have slept and watched tv the rest of the day. Tried to get the webcast of SEMO's football game but it never came in.

Friday, November 12, 2010

What I have accomplished today:

l. David Sailer has been here to inspect the roof, he said a raccoon was trying to tear it up but that he would fix it and it should last a couple of more years. Yeh!

2. I talked on the phone to Joan and to Sara and gave them the results.

3. I ordered presents for Bailey and Leah and sent them in the mail. Pots from Rachel Ray.

4. I have read thru Southern Living and have my menu set for Thanksgiving. I have bought a 3 deal slow cooker.

5. I have talked to Mr. McEntyre today about the tree trimming and will call D. C again at 3:00 today about the electrical work. Both are supposed to come by today. Have not heard from Mark Spinks about the windows.

6. Talked to Eric Gohn today about coming by tomorrow and cleaning out all of the beds. He needs the money--Joan's nephew.

7. Entered all my daily sweepstakes coach of the year, and answered e-mail and FB.

This afternoon I am watching NCIS until it is time to call about the workmen. I've accomplished something today!

Thursday, Veteran's Day

I need to get my hands busy on projects during November and December. Here are the projects I need to have done:

1. Get my fireplace fixed -- have this done. Called Gene Renfrow and he has it all done--even fixed the damper and replaced the part on the chimney to keep birds from flying in. Cost me $ 1500 but I have it fixed. Couldn't use the fireplace last year.

Here are the ones I have to do yet but I am making progress on all of them.

1. Replacing of eight windows --I ran into Gail Gunter Spinks at Homecoming and she gave me a card on her husband, Mark. She was talking about the need to get the rebate back on windows before the end of the year. So Mark is coming by this week.

I called Chris Hutson yesterday about the other projects. He just had his driveway done and he has rent houses so he knows hows and who to call. He gave me numbers and names for each project.

2. The first project did not come from Chris. When Rick Renfrow was on the roof he noticed that some time were coming up and he recommended Sailer Roofing. I called them today and he is coming by for an estimate. The roof is 20 years old.

3. Then I called D. C. at 573-579-1308 and he is from Charleston. I am supposed to call him tomorrow and he will come by to give me an estimate on adding four plugs to my lower floor.

4. I plan to call Mr. McAllister at 651-3784 or his mobile 270-0799 about removing trees from back yard and side yard.

5. The last project is repairing the asphalt driveway. I have called Gail Allen at Paving Plus at 573-266-0055 and left a message.

That should hold me and my pocketbook for a season.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

What did I accomplish yesterday?

Mailed off packages to Andrea and Colin.

Gloria was here to clean house --Need a new vacumn. Stopped.

Went out to dinner with Bev Hickam.

Learned a lot about sweepstakes from net and entered some.

Entered Red Robin and Target from the coupons they gave me.

Did Booksneeze and sent it in.

Talked to Barbara Rust about her grand-daughter and did some research for her.

What have I accomplished today?

Talked to Harriett about stuff at home, Joker, Rosalie, etc.

Visited with Ricky Renfrow about the chimney and he fixed it.

I found my home equity checkbook and paid him.

Called Doc at Port Cape and he doesn't do turkeys anymore

Called Mark Spinks about coming Friday and giving me an estimate on my 8 windows.

What else do I need to do today?

Call Sailer about roofing.

Liz -- get vacumn.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Yea, yea Gloria comes today to do housework so I am a bird out of a cage. I have sat here in the mess writing notes, doing FB and making phone calls so I am ready to do something else. I got packages in the mail for Andrea and Colin -- Christmas packages of films, stories, etc--and will put them in the mail today. I thought that they needed a break.

Yesterday I went to the meeting about medical retired and there were so many familiar faces. I was glad I had attended instead of having them send me the package. Then Barb Kinsey and I went to My Daddy's Cheesecake to eat. Her brother, Wes, owns it. I bought three cream horns and came home and ate all of it.

I'm praying for Rosalie Oliver LaPlant today. She has been so sick with cancer. I need to make a call today about her. When we were in high school, she had a 19 inch waist and could play Nola on the piano like nothing. We are wonderful friends. Both of her girls: Laura and Amy worked for me in the office.

mONDAY, november 8, 2010

I did nothing yesterday to amount to anything but I did it sincerely. I just stayed on the couch and barely moved. Today however, Debbie has already been here to do my hair, Liz is out to Target going to get the errands done, and I am dressed and ready to go to a meeting with Barb Kinsey comes after me. I am doing some work on sweepstakes. This woman said she did it all the time so I am working on it. I may as well do as much constructive as I can.

This meeting is about Medical benefits and the gossip is going strong. Now you can only go to Southeast and there seems to be a conflict since Limbaugh (above) and Spradling are on the Boards of Southeast and the University. They are doing everything they can to keep me from going on the Board but I am still pursuing it. I will stop some of this if I make it.

November 7, 2010

Then we went to Truman Library and saw the documentary. It was a wonderful trip and it brought back memories of when Bill and I went there to do his dissertation research. We went to a musem the Steamboat Arabian that afternoon to see a "dig". Interesting. We left the tour to come ohome on Saturday morning. Great trip!

Got back from trip to Kansas City. Joan and I drove by ourselves. We spent the first night there at the Elms. Truman went to sleep there that night and woke up to find he was the President. We saw the room where he stayed that night. Looks pretty much like an old room.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Hallelujah, the election is over. Democrats got trounced. Steve Hodges did win. Liz came this morning instead of this afternoon and we made some steps to get me packed to go to Kansas City. She took my mss to Frank Nickell and I am cleaning out files and packing. I will enjoy the three days in Kansas city. We will stay at the Elms tomorrow night.

Jim and Laurie called last night and they will not be coming for Thanksgiving but Jim is coming on the 13th to go fishing with JOhn Wyman and Bryan. At least I will get to see him.

Taking off for Kansas City....but not in this truck.

Elections, Gossip and More Gossip 11-2-10

Today is election day. First I went out to eat with BARB Kinsey and we talked about how terrible this guy Frank was and how she hated him. Then Margaret Dement came to pick me up and we went to vote--I voted no on the gaming and no on the puppy mills--Yes on Tommy Sowers and Robin Carnahan. Big group voting.

Edna Ruth Fischer worked the polls and Wendell Wyatt. Fun. Then Dean Loretta Prater called and we talked about her son going bankrupt, the Board of regents deal, and all kinds of things. I like gossip--I find it my fun than harmful.

Now I have to wait for results.

Election Day - November 2, 2010

It is election Day today and I am thrilled that I had my abscessed tooth finished and so far so good. Betty Ann played Nurse and went home yesterday. It was so good to have someone there all the time. I will be so happy not to listen to all the ads--who knows what to believe anymore. I am going to lunch with Barb Kinsey and then probably go vote with either Henry Sessoms or Margaret Dement --someone in the neighborhood.

Slept so well last night that I did not want to get up this morning and get at it.