Please visit my niece's blog: http://lisamellison.blogspot.com

I tried to do a cut and paste for Lisa's blogsite but it would not copy into the body of this posting, but would in the title box---so there it is! She has a wonderful video of Manny dancing to the New Kids on the Block, and he knows how to 'busta move'! She is finally done with the tax season rush, as well as tax season rash, as her chest lit up with hives clear up to her neck! She likes the extra money she earns but it is a rough way to go to April 15th!

*

It is a big family day for me today.....first thing this morning, I received a text message from my niece, Alayna, in Manitowoc, reporting that the 70 degree temperatures are a thing of the past and snow was on the ground again when she got up. Ugh! Next, I read Lisa's posting and watched little Manny's dancing video, feeling all warm and sentimental because I miss him so much. Finally, I sent birthday greetings via facebook to my other nephew, Jamie, who is 24 years old tomorrow. He is special to me, used to be special to "us". I was Jill's birthing coach when he was born, and at 12 days old, Jamie was spending the night at our house, where he had his own room and such. We watched him when Jill was working or had Guard duty, several days a week, until we had our own baby in 1987. I thought it would be no problem to take care of two little ones, since Jamie was sooooo good---ha! What an eye-opening experience that turned out to be! Whew! We had our hands full, especially since I not only had responsibility for babies, I also had to work all day in the office which was in our basement. Funny, after we had Timmy, he had to come to work with his mama, too! The more things change, the more they stay the same!

*

As soon as the Pet Store opened, I went to buy the treatment Joanne suggested for helping Lynx. It is called "Laxatone" which made me wonder exactly should I expect from this medicine....The tube says it aids in removing hair balls, which I thought was a coughing up problem, and not the other end. What do I know? I did not even know the pets lost their baby teeth and grew new ones! People like me do not deserve to have pets, but we get what we deserve!!! Joanne waited around the house until I got back and she applied the paste to Lynx's nose and front paws for her (Lynx) to lick off and hopefully feel better. Lynx does not like to be held so she sort of flew out of my arms as soon as she was done being treated, leaving me covered in cat hair! I may do it again later, and Joanne said once more tonight to see what happens.

*

Connie, the keeper of our property here, gave an update on the man who died in the rented unit. It seems he left a note, guess that says enough. How tragic to end ones' life, especially when he was in the business of helping others not come to this point in their lives. One of the neighbors commented that it seems to always be the men who die here, and that they were living alone, basically, when they died. She also declared that she is going to paint the blood a lamb around her door frame to keep the angel of death away, but I told her (hey, she opened the door!!!) about being ready to go when the Lord comes for me. One must take every opportunity.........

One of my neighbors who is a Realtor sent postcards advertising a Unit she has listed in our building and I used it to help show where my Unit is located. The smaller blue canopy, near center, is two floors below my river room....just picture it.......See how the palm trees are just outside my doors? At the top of the left side you will see the Unit where the porch runs from front to back. These folks lost their porch ceiling in the wind storm last week Tuesday. Some of the porches are enclosed, like mine is, but some are still open. I like mine being glassed in for additional "living room" although the majority of my time is truly spent in the room by the two palm trees, to the left of the sliding glass doors.....come visit me!

*Tonight is our usual dinner and Bible study group, with the plans to meet at Cracker Barrel this time. One of us is hungry for meatloaf again, her last time having it was Friday, leftovers from Mimi's! I hope we get more of our group together tonight, as the past few times have been fewer and fewer. One lady does not drive at night but lives wwaayy out in Middleburg by the "old" Smokey's, so if her "driver" is not coming, she can't either. Calls have been made to all involved and we can only hope they make it.

My day yesterday was full of exercise---yes, exercise---in futility! The afternoon was spent attempting to change a mess of my banking stuff from one to the other. I am changing to the credit union and must unschedule my pre-authorized deductions from the bank and get them set up with the new account. Oh, easier said than done! One place has me writing me a letter and sending a voided blank check in order to make the change. Another place I had to talk to Appleton, WI, with new information with additional paperwork required because, for some reason, my former spouses' name appears as being on the account, which he does not, and they need a formality performed to remove the name. This was set up back in 1996 when Timmy was born, and so much has happened since then! My health insurance will only make the changes via e-mail so I am awaiting a reply from someone there to switch it over or risk having a lapse in coverage. Yikes!

My, that sun feels so delicious on my arm and cheek! I will be tanned on a least one side of my body anyway. A group of us were wondering how much longer before the pools are warm enough to swim in, at least for adults to swim in, as kids do not seem as sensitive to the icy water temp. But, the sun certainly helps make it seem warmer, and we count the days until we have successive days in the 80's to bring that water temp up to "user friendly"!