31/01/09 Sad day of loss….

Tags

back, kajsa_jo, kitty, rbs, väder, willie

-Varmt välkommen hit-

I  was woke up early this morning with a sad phone call. Pr. Martin Ringstrom has passed away just hours earlier. He turned 100 last november. He was one of the founders of our Swedish club and was the oldest living pastor of the Augustana Synod. He will be sorely missed. The world is a lesser place without him now.

And 2 years ago today Molly Ivins died. We certainly have missed her wit and wisdom these last years.

Work was ok this afternoon. Had visitors but no one wanted a tour. I got my work all caught up. That is amazing! I still had time for 2 long chats with Eric, our artist in residence. I always enjoy his stays. He is an old hippie sort of guy and very intereseting!

Since it was 71F this afternoon, I came home and sat outside with my 2 cats and Jo. Nice to get some attention. We all enjoyed each other.

Willie is walking better and I had less back pain. Nice for a change. Maybe with our weather bouncing around that is what is the culprit, at least for me. I can eat almost anything but not much. Mac and cheese sounded so wonderful for supper. It just wasn’t. (sigh)

Keep fightin’ for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t you forget to have fun doin’ it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin’ ass and celebratin’ the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was.

Molly Ivins

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Julie-Ann den 31-01-09

30/01/09 Back to life….

Tags

back, famenemy, john, julie, kitty, mark, marsha, rbs, svg, väder, willie

-Varmt välkommen hit-

I made it to Swedish club. And made the coffee. I was really tired. And it wears me out to do anything. The meeting went well. One of our members has just returned from a semester living and teaching in Karlstad Sweden. Lukcy him!! He teaches at the college so does not get to join us often, but he will be able to talk to use in a couple of weeks about his adventure. Will be great to hear!

I spent lunch in a park reading and listening to the radio. I had a piece of tea ring at club and drank some juice for lunch. All I could stand.

Work went ok. No one came in for a tour so I just did computer work. And chatted with Marsha. John and Julie (artist) came in to visit also. By the way, the Sally who is leaving is a Sally who works at the Red Barn not the Sally I eat out with, etc. That Sally and I are cousins. She is going no where!!

I came home and sat outside with my black kitty. She liked having me at eye level and rewarded me with some attention. It was almost 60F today. Nice weather but got breezy late.

My back and leg gave me fits today. I have no idea why it has flared up again. When I worked at the hospital I had a spell like this. It hurts so bad I think I might die. THEN. Willie came home. He walked but certainly not normal, more like a duck. His one leg was hurting. What a pair we are! But the sad thing is there is no one we can ask for help. It is just us. Rather scary. And it makes me sad. Oh well. Nothing to do.

Hot bath, hot milk, and call Mom”.

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Julie-Ann den 30-01-09

29/01/09 Boring Day

Tags

sjuk, väder

-Varmt välkommen hit-

I read this article and then be very afraid. What are we doing here???

Our weather is ok today. It is sunny and around 44F. No moisture in the forecast. But knowing Kansas, it could snow tomorrow!!!

I feel ok today. Not as crummy as yesterday. Eating is still ok. I have taken it easy today. I still have little desire to eat.

Has been a boring day. Just resting.

Hot bath, hot milk, and call Mom”.

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Julie-Ann den 29-01-09

28/01/09 Better

Tags

annalarkin, familjen, sjuk, väder

-Varmt välkommen hit-

I am better. I had soup last nite and toast today. Felt better yesterday. Have to be well on friday. It is Swedish club and work.

A while ago I wrote and article on my great grandmother that was published both in Sweden and here. Well. I got an email from a ‘new’ cousin in Enköping that is descended from her brother. What a surprise. He wrote entirely in Swedish so I had to wait until I felt well enough to know what I was reading. I translated it today and sent on to other family.

I am watching my tape of Extreme Makeover where they rebuilt a home for a family in Chapman KS. where there was a bad tornado. And while there, they helped other families, built the town a storm shelter, planted flowers, and tree. It is an amazing show. But what I keep thinking is, we are a country of plenty, even in these horrible financial times. Why does this not happen more often, and just not for a tv show? If these dumb businesses helped others rather than buying themselves a new jet or remodeling an office that is perfectly fine, think how good the world would be. Why does our country waste money on stupidity instead of helping others?

We are warmer today, around 43F now. I am so grateful we missed the ice storm. It was our turn last winter. That would have been the last straw for me.

Hot bath, hot milk, and call Mom”.

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Julie-Ann den 28-01-09

27/01/09 Sick

Tags

sjuk, väder

-Varmt välkommen hit-

I got sick with the intestinal flu monday morning around 1am. There is no need to say more as I am sure no one cares to listen to me whine. I was afraid of having to go to the ER with my diabetes but did not. I am up to sprite, juice, and ice chips today. And lots of sleep.

We had a snow/ice storm here. Not a lot of snow. All the schools are closed and all events are cancelled. Glad I am staying in. We do not have the horrible ice that is doing damage elsewhere.

Back to sipping and napping.

Hot bath, hot milk, and call Mom”.

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Julie-Ann den 24-01-09

25/01/09 Exhasted and tired of my back

Tags

back, bill, john, rbs, sally, snö, väder, willie

-Varmt välkommen hit-

I had lunch with John today. That was the only relaxing moment of the day.

I worked at the Red Barn today. Again. Sally, who’s place I am taking, has quit and is moving away. We had an open house for her today. I went in to help set things up. We had a ton of good food plus coffee and wine. And a great turn out. The only problem was my back. I can no longer find a position sitting or standing or laying that is without much pain. And even at nite in bed there is no relief. Not so much of a fun day for me. But I helped keep the food plates full and took some photos. I should have stayed to clean up but I did what I could. I did have dishes washed that became empty.

Willie and I ate out tonite then went to Dillon’s for groceries. I made it through slowly. Willie was kind and put them all away.

Bill called tonite. He has quit working for himself and will be hauling farm equipment now. I am out of a job now because of this. But. He has to take his paperwork after delivering things, scan it onto his laptop and then email them to the head office. Tonite I had the joy of teaching him how to do this over the phone. I have taught computer classes at the hospital many times and I have never gotten over that what I think is just common knowledge to me, should be to all. And it makes me very frustated. But. He did it once without deleting anything important and emailed me 2 separate files. Tomorrow he is going to practice. Since he wrote nothing down, I await his call. Or calls.

Our weather was very cold all day — 20. Slight breeze and cloudy. We have a 70% chance for snow tomorrow but they will not say how much. There are 3 small counties in a winter storm watch. They say it MIGHT affect central Kansas (me) but they are not sure. I am pretty sure it will storm bad. I have a meeting tomorrow at 530pm at the Red Barn…..my new second home.

Hot bath, hot milk, and call Mom”.

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Julie-Ann den 24-01-09

24/01/09 Tired and busy

Tags

docents, eric, jaliscos, mat, rbs, sally, väder

-Varmt välkommen hit-

I worked at the Red Barn today. No one came in, no one called. I did the thank yous I needed to do. I restocked things in the gift shop. Sunday’s docent has bailed. This is sooo old. I do not blame her as she really does have an emergency. But we have two others who routinely do this all the time. They seem to never give a thought to anyone else. And since we have went from 9 docents to a mere 6, seems like John and I work a lot of sundays. John is not a docent but a fill-in when needed. I am very frustrated.

I met for Eric for coffee after work. We met at Jalisco’s. I wanted a chili rellenos and just plain ice cream. I got fried ice cream. And I thoroughly enjoyed every bite!!! I enjoyed talking with Eric. Took my mind off things.

Tonite I went to a Pampered Chef party at Sally’s. I ordered waaaayy too many things, but they are quite practical. Can’t wait till they come. Sally’s stepdaughter from Nebraska was there. Nice to see her again. Wish she was staying longer. It was a nice evening, but I am exhausted. And another long day tomorrow.

It was frigid today. A high in the low 20′s. But without the wind, it felt warmer than yesterday.

Hot bath, hot milk, and call Mom”.

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Julie-Ann den 24-01-09

Trying to be cost effect AND warm………

Since many of us are dealing with higher and higher heating fuel costs plus colder, frigid temperatures, I thought posting this would be appropriate. I was perusing a blogger that I really rarely read, but I was bored so here it is. It is actually a political blogg found here: http://www.iamtrex.com/ And I do feel his pain. We have an electric heater in the living room where it is livable. But when nature calls and one must wander to the far back areas of the house, it is best not to linger.

Somewhere back in October I set my thermostat at 65 degrees and vowed not to touch it for the rest of the winter.  My house is gas-heated and natural gas is particularly expensive this year, so I vowed that no matter what icy blasts might rattle the windows in their panes, I would just put on a sweater.  Even should the water in the toilet have to be cracked with an ice-pick each morning, I swore that I would simply buy some long-johns and tough it out.  (This is just one of the myriad of ways in which I am turning into my father, but that’s a whole other post.)

Tonight for the second night in a row it’s going down below 15 degrees Fahrenheit (WTF?  This is GEORGIA, people, not Michigan!) and dammit, I’m tired of shivering.  I think I’m going to crank the heater, wrap up in an electric blanket, and, like, bake something in my big old 1940’s stove until me and the cats are as toasty warm and cosseted as a bunch of pot plants in a hippie’s basement.  Yee haw.

I’ve been able to write this whole don’t-touch-the-thermostat thing off up to this point as a testament to the hardiness of my Scotch-Irish ancestors, a race of men bred to slog through hip deep mud behind plows on some godforsaken windy, misty island in the North Sea.  The kind of people who go outside in their shirtsleeves when it’s 33 degrees and misting and declare, “Aye, it’s a fine, soft day…”

But no, this is too much.  I’m sitting here in my flannel lined britches and long underwear, a t-shirt, a thermal long sleeve shirt, and a hoodie, a pair of thick, bunchy LL Bean socks, and I can still feel the cold licking through the cracks around the doors and windows.  In fact, it kind of feels downright personal.  Like someone I didn’t invite over who won’t go away.  My house wasn’t built for this.  Southern houses are built so that the heat drifts up into the rafters and cool air stays down closer to the floor.  (It’s really, really nice and warm in here about a foot over my head.)

Sorry, Dad.  I’m being a candy-ass and turning up the heat.

23/01/09 Call me Nanook of the North

Tags

deprimerade, elly, john, marsha, rbs, snö, svg, väder

-Varmt välkommen hit-

I had Swedish group today. We actually had people there today. Our attendance has been dropping. Several regulars are ‘cutting back’. Still see him running everywhere, but what do I know. And some have other conflicts. Very frustrating. Elly and I work really hard to do the coffee, get a host/hostess, and do all the programs without a suggestion from anyone, usually. And I take it really personally that our attendance is down. We just wrack our brains trying to come up with a solution.

I met John for lunch. And 2 friends I do not see often sat next to us. A nice lunch.

Had to work today. Marsha says it is not working with me just working friday and saturday. She gets nothing done if people come in for tours. I really do not want to work anymore days. I worked full time for almost 25 yrs. I am too selfish. I almost thought of going to 3 days but I just cannot. She will look for someone to work the other days. I am pretty sure I can do what I need to in 2 days. Just need to remember what I need to do. Will soon come easy.

At some point today we were actually 41F, but that must have been midnite. This morning it was 35 with strong winds. AFter work it had dropped to 27 with high winds. Now it is 19F with snow but no winds. Tomorrow colder with the high winds again.

Not been a good day for me. Nor yesterday but today is worse. My emotions are all over the place and I am all shaky inside. Still upset over Bill, more upset over Mom, and now a major setback on the farm. What next?

“Hot bath, hot milk, and call Mom”.

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Julie-Ann den 23-01-09

21/01/09 Warm weather to end

Tags

john, rbs, svg, väder

-Varmt välkommen hit-

I had no plans today. I did some laundry, dishes, and I have a lazy susan for cooking utensils that I reorganised. It was a mess. Now I can find things.

Our weather was sooo nice. It got up to 63F. Amazing. Tomorrow we will only get up to 30F. This weekend there is a chance for snow. What a shock this will be.

I am working on a questionaire for my Swedish  club. We do this every so often to see if what we are doing is what people actually want. Last week I wrote my first press release for the Red Barn. I saw it in the newspaper today. Very cool. And next is writing a letter of invitation for my friend John and his upcoming art show. Should have it done already but will get it to him on saturday.

“Hot bath, hot milk, and call Mom”.

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Julie-Ann den 22-01-09