Just 'Marking Time'

 

We called it Happy VAlley. WE had bought a home there for $3000. While I attended Surveyor  School.  That did not last but 2-3 Quarters, then I joined the USN. This picture was before Sherry moved to Norfolk to be with me there. Sailoring was the longest I stayed at any job methinks. LOL

For today:

In the USMC  I learned to 'mark time'.  marching in-place,  and not getting anywhere.  LOL

I am just waiting for another appointment, this one for Radiation

I am staying busy with me working on my TO DO list.

I have been busy cutting the many trees here that interfere with our power and phone lines. Some of the power lines for two neighbors homes.  The trees are not big but tall. They are 3-4 inches thru, but 20-30 feet high. That is crossed off the list.

I fixed a loose fender on the motor home and  puller a step that needed repair.  Just staying busy.  Still feeding the coons and possums. 

Son Mark has mentioned a black and white kitty.  I finally saw it today. very young kitty and it ran like  a scalded dog when it saw me. I put som milk aout for it.

My pet Bunny is still here. I am trying to name it 'Funny Bunny'.  It will still sit about 5' from me and talk.  (I talk it listens) I enjoy it.

Nite Shipslog.

Budget

 

Bill & Dar at their Log house in the woods. Below is Bill when they visited our motor home while we were in Wisconsin.

For today

Sherry and I have always tried to live on a budget. Like most folks, methinks, several times in our lives it has been close.  WE are able to smile now, but once  I went to the bank and borrowed $60 for 6 months.  The payments were $10.25 a month for the 6 months. Even those payments were a little hard. LOL

I read some tough statistics the other day. Spending $100 today buys the same as $12.71 did in 1970.  Now that hurts my feelings.  I remember thinking in 1950 my mama saying in 1912 you could buy or sell eggs for a penny apiece. milk between 25-35 cents a gallon.  That was tough to believe, now you and I are seeing much worse than that.

The economist was saying normally this difference in 1970 and 2026 would take a hundred years, but inflation has speeded up.

Being honest we do not have to budget as many of our peers.  I feel fortunate and wonder how someone rents or makes a house payment of $2000+, buys a car/truck, buys gas, pays utilities, eats out and buys groceries.  For the first time in our lives we have paid a weekly grocery bill over $200.  That is not every week, but no week is less than $100.  That is  old folk.

The cost of living is out of sight that is for sure.  I started working at 50 cents an hour, now younger family members earn from $20 to $50 an hour. WOW.

I hope you are well.  I am doing good and Sherry is also BUT handling blood pressure that goes up and down like a see/saw (Is that how you spell that?)   Above is all, God has been good to us.  

Nite Shipslog

PS:  I love all your comments and thank you for taking the time, Yesterday I got a surprise, A note from Bill and Dar.  I have mentioned them many times but mostly a few years ago.   They live out in the woods of N. Wisconsin, and also have a log cabin (house) further out in the woods. They built it as a team. Bill cut the logs and Dar skinned them. She wore out a 'pull knife' doing it. I just wanted to say thanks DAr and YOu guys, sisters & and that sweet mom of yours is mentioned often here..

I will get Radiated Nest week

My sister Shirley and I. approx 1944. Mama knew I loved the brother's uniforms, she made this one for  me.  My first Uniform.

so today:

 No one has told me the details of GETTING ready for serious radiation. Today was very interesting. I actually got lost and dragged my sweetheart probably a 1/2 to 3/4 mile to find the Cancer clinic, I must have tried 6 LOCKED doors at the hospital today. A sweet lady, and employee, walked us a long ways to get us there.

Afterchecking in we had a conversation with a couple. The man was there for his cancer treatment. I told them what I had, Merkel Corsinoma,  The man across from us said his dad died of Merkel.  He also said Terry Bradshaw  suffered from Merkal Cell  in 2022 and was still alive doing well and working.

They called me in, discouraging Sherry from coming with me.  It was a interesting time. I was in two  big pieces of circular  machines. Using a piece of some hot material, that looked sorta like a thick net, placing it over my face, They made a mask (copy) of my face. 4 techs and a dr. drew on my face with a black sharpie several times;  slipped me in and out of each machine a couple times.   There was a lot of discussion about my eye.  They decided to apply some liquid EYE covering vs lead to protect the eye.  They said they would explain it the day of my appt.

Some of you  have went thru this and now I know how to sympathize. ;-)

Believe it or not, they did not offer to, nor remove the black marks on my face.  The dismissal guy said it would fade away with washing.

I asked Sherry if she would be embarrassed to grocery shop with me?  Her answer, "We will go home before shopping. LOL  (The folks getting out of the elevator did look at me funny, as they stared at my face. LOL)>

Son Mark brought in a Pizza for dinner so I did not have to cook.

Oatmeal for breakfast in the morning and methinks I will do one of the hamburger helper meals for dinner.

I appreciate any suggestions of easy breakfast meals or dinner meals.

Nite Shipslog

Easy time around here.

 Wiley and his SPECIAL wife Susie, had some pretty girls, I fell in love and married  the beautiful one on the right Sept 22 1956.  I did not deserve her, but she has been not only a great loving wife, but the BEST.

This picture taken on the Imperial Mill Village, Belmont, NC 1950s.

For today..

We are hoping Sherry's vanity stool comes in tomorrow.  Today has been an easy one with STir Fry for dinner and Oatmeal for breakfast.

I did easy stuff today.  This house needed very much a good entry threshold at our bedroom.  It has looked like the room was under repair.  So I repaired that.  The Front door dead bolt did not seat and I got that taken care of.  I usually have Pinapple bits for the stir fry, but i only had crushed pineapple (canned of course).  So to make p for that I added some cocoa nut shavings.   I also had rice for the base.

Sherry is nice and brags on my cooking.  The whole family knows SHE is the real cook around here.  This note for DAllas and Marian up in PA who were at our first Thanksgiving dinner, CAmp Lejune 1956..  HOnestly guys her biscuits are NOT HARD now!!!   Just to clarify.  LOL

We did joke about that, Marian was always THE COOK, Sherry was learning and learned well.

NOthig more today,  I have ANOTHER DR. APPT IN THE MORING.. This one is about the one radiation treatment I chose vs 25-30 that were suggested.  I have no idea if this is a heavier treatment or not.  But I will learn in the morning.

I did not sound like the treatment would be tomorrow, but IO will let you kow.  WE want this radiation over with so we cn head fo Florida for a couple weeks.

The best to you from North Carolina.

Nite Shipslog

Done..

 

The Arch at St. Louis.  WE passed it many times ad when we learned you could go up inside it, we just had to do it. Great view of the city and the Mississippi River.  Loved it.

This is Sherry when she was waiting for me to come into her life. LOL Pretty, huh?

for today...

This old house is not one you Crawl under, it is low and one must slide under you must also use 'elbows and toes'. Me 'n my PA friend DAllas and the whole platoon, learned that little trick during our 'vacation at Parris Island.' 

I could not figure a way to get the Vanity corner working properly without going under the house. At least I had the presence of mind to wear my coveralls.

I had to run a new circuit from the breaker panel.  It is now functional.  Sherry is pleased, there fore I am happy.

That wears an old man down.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Our customized 1955 Ford.  Great car, it towed our 42 foot house trailer.

Hey the vanity table came in!

 

Above is Sherry and Sister Collette in Elvis's Jeep.  Collette was a dedicated Elvis lover.

Below is the Evis home in Memphis Pictures from 1983 on a cross country trip.

Todays bit:

Yep, I was shocked, it arrived a few days early. FEDEX brought it in.  The driver carried that big heavy box to our door..  I had to cut the box open and carry it to the vanity room in about ten loads. LOL   Sherry and I put it together in less than a day.

BUT  when I turned on the lights they blinked constantly.  It slipped my mind, this is an old house and most of the wiring is 2 wire, NO GROUND WIRE.   To test the lighting, I ran an extension cord from some of the new wiring and the lights worked right. NOW I must find a way to get a ground wire to just these two outlets at least.

Here it is:

Her stool is delayed a few days.  I think she will like once I clear ou the electrical wrinkle thing.

Take care and stay cool.

Nite Shipslog

What you said and stuff, including Corn from Pennsylvania

Taken at Biloxi, Mississippi 1959, Me holding Jack Jr. on the left. He is now almost 68 yrs old....  I was an Airman at the time, Jack Landers on the right was a master Sergent in the USAF. This was a church group.

For this entry....

 WE had some rain, YEA! It was not enough to get us out of water use control.  But temps dropped from 100s in the daytime to 70 today!  Felt good.

I smile when I hear or read something someone says that rings my bell, later.  One I remember is 'Just wait, 10 years from now you will understand what I mean.'  That was from my super friend Sonny.  Boy was he right.  Towards the end of his life he had a tough time getting up from sitting or knelling.  Oh yeah was he ever right, I used to jump up from any position, now? I definitely need help.  It started at that 10 yr mark he talked about. LOL

Now I read things from some of you who write here:

MA  said concerning change:  I love our new technology, just wish it didn't change quite so often. LOL.

Man o man do we here agree with that.  Then about party lines.

Susan  said regarding party lines: Mom would break in on someone's call when she recognized the ring of a certain neighbor to tell a neighbor something,,,,  Shucks,  I had not thought of that, but that happened at our home also. Now think of that,  it was one of the earliest 3-way calls.  ;-)  All 3 parties could hear and talk to each other.

Now more stuff, 

 Who wouldathunk it?  Sherry and I just finished eating FRESH corn on the cob from Amish Country.  OH MAN, sweet corn,  

Our daughter (Actually a former daughter in law; YES we consider her our daughter, she is still a sweetheart.) just returned from Pennsylvania.  She came in the door bringing a bag of fresh veggies. She remembered us bragging on the fresh corn around Lancaster.

It wasn't long until two EARS were in the Microwave!

Also WE have some great friends here in Belmont and at church who have kept us in fresh veggies for weeks. I had just added tomatoes to our grocery list, NOW that will be crossed off because she had tomatoes in the bag also.

Enough for tonite....

Nite Shipslog

No one's phone rings anymore!

 Old songs! I remember many.  I sure enjoyed Ray Charles..

this entry has nothing to do with singing, BUT just old stuff.

Amazing how many phones there are, but few 'actually ring' anymore.  Times have changed and life goes on.  The things you remember from childhood will always be there.  If on a party line your house had a certain 'RING' for you to answer.  It might be one long ring or two short ones then combinations of those  when more homes were on the party line.

Of course kids (and maybe some adults, LOL) knew after the wring of another home KNEW someone was on the line and tried to pick up theirs as easy as they could, to eaves drop.  And more times than not, one of the active parties would, NOT SO CIVILY, say OKAY NOSEY,  GET OFF THE PHONE!  Now that of course is not experience, it is just what I heard from other kids! ;-)

And phone books?  Remember them?

Pay Phones?  For miliary troops and travelers they were GREAT for keeping in touch.

Now most of us have a 'cell phone'.  They are a great innovation.  They are sort of pacifiers,  but they are great while waiting in a dr. office (I see 90% of we who are waiting looking at their phones.)  Very seldom is it me, but I am the exception.  I do have one, but Sherry carries it, I do not do well on the phone.

At times I think it is too much, but that is what humans do.

The cell phone is a great invention, but some of us honestly over do it, of course.  Especially at traffic lights.  LOL

Nite Shipslog

Little things...

 

Above, Josh on Piano keys, NOT ONE OF THE LITTLE THIGS,  Below He and Stephen as they perform locally as 

THE DARNELL BROTHERS

I am a little prejudiced, but they are VERY GOOD.  They so stay busy and are both full time employed but they are in demand and take the time to enjoy their great talents.  They also have wonderful families.

I have decided it is time for me to do little things.  Today I leveled our new kitchen range.  We bought it a few weeks ago and I have done 90% of the cooking on it.  I have been upset many times how my eggs traveled (spread) around the pan when I broke one into the pan, then they bunched together.  Now I can't wait to see if I am more at ease with eggs.  But that will have to weight because I have oatmeal ready for in the morning.  LOL

I am resting IN BED, a lot now, I think Sherry thinks maybe too much.  She was  reading on the patio when I announced  dinner sandwiches were ready, she asked, are you going to eat with me?  LOL  I was in the bed 4-5 hours today. ;-)

Another 'little thing' was, we have 'put off' getting her a Vanity table for her new spot, so today after our sandwich, we took time to find one on line and ordered it.

WEATHER!  WE have been in a HOT drought here in central NC.  WE are under strict water usage rules, so our carport that has needed pressure washing and painting, is looking worse.  WE are supposed to get rain tonight, hoping it does arrive.

TAke care, 

Nite Shipslog

YOU are the BEST!

 The title of this post is from my heart.  AS YOU READ THIS. please KNOW ...I appreciate your prayers, thoughts, concerns, comments  and advice.

It is hard to write now without sounding like I am down.  At present I am NOT down.  I also want to  explain my logic.   I am choosing QNE radiation treatment vs 25-30. Now I learn that is much more complicated that I pictured. The PA said I will have two appointments. One next week to set up the machine, program it, I assume. She said that takes about an hour since it is so close to my eye and sinuses.  Then an appointment will be made to come back for the radiation which  takes only a few minutes, she said.

My logic is:  there is always the possibility at my age many other things could take my life and ALSO, the Drs say NO ONE can know if they actually got  all the cancer cells during  surgery.  Since the PET scan  was GOOD, and several Drs say it was VERY GOOD, then I am gonna believe that; BUT THEN  if the cancer shows up again in another spot, I will make another decision then.  The Doctor said he respected my logic, and that is how I will play it.

I was looking at my small calendar, I laughed at Jun and July this year.  This is so messed up I know I probably need a BIG one to keep track of drs appointments if all this keeps up.

AND THEN...

ONE BRIGHT LIGHT, I was released from the Surgeon's care. He is very happy with the results and we are too. 

Not sure I posted an after shot of the doctor's work.

All the older girls say I am pretty again. LOL .

REMEMBER THE BEFORE SHOT.:

Above is what the Marcal Cell Carcinoma  looks like on the surface.

I will let you go now, thanks for stopping by and REMEMBER: YOU ARE THE BEST!

Nite Shipslog

Dr. Advice

 Our months of June and July have been swamped with Dr. appts. So today was another of those and that scheduled one more, of course.   Th Dr. prescribed 4 to 6 weeks of  Radiation every day.  WE talked and I asked the alternatives He had two or three none of which he recommended.    

Any way, I asked if one shot was possible.  He was a little reluctant and said we could try one and 'see what happens???'

He again emphasized that Merkel cell cancer was aggressive, and  unpredictable.  Especially on the face they could not widen out the radiation due to danger to other organs.

For some reasons it takes two appointments to do the one shot.  One for an hour to set the machine up evidently to program it.  Then one later to come in.  Sherry heard him say one shot was $800.  I did not hear that.  I actually hear things, but do not understand them, that is my earing problem with these Cochlea implants. 

Sherry searched this disease and found :

Jimmy Buffett Died of Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Beloved singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett passed away on September 1, 2023, at the age of 76, after losing his battle with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) The Skin Cancer Foundation.

Buffett, famous for hits like “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise”, continued to perform and undergo treatment after his diagnosis until his death The Skin Cancer Foundation. MCC is a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer that develops in the top layer of the skin (epidermis). It is about three to five times more likely to be deadly than melanoma and is 40 times rarer, with roughly 3,000 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year The Skin Cancer Foundation.

I had to pick a RARE one of course..... This has me to thinking harder, of course...  MAYBE, just aybe I should agree to the 30 shots of radiation.    I am thinking.  This is probably the most cornered I have ever been on whether I should do more or not.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

The American CAncer Society gives me an average of 5 years of life after diagnosis. What is so strange about that is, I told the Dr. " Doc, at my age I know I have a few years left, I give it 5 years.  I am not sure it is worth it for the long treatment." He sighed, your derision"

What to do?  I hate hard Questions!!!!!!!

Nite Shipslog

Feeling an accomplishment

 Today was a good one.  Pancakes came out good for a breakfast change. 

 Sherry is doing well,  She is doing the laundry and is proud of herself for reading a real book, LOL.  A friend loaned her Jan Karon's 'My Beloved.'  She complained about the smaller print, but thoroughly enjoyed the book.  WE followed Jan for a while.  Loved "The Mitford Series." WE both read e-books for the large print. ;-)

Oh yes, the Fish fry went great.  Sherry did her (family famous) Pea Salad.  A recipe she picked up about 1958 in Biloxi Mississippi.  At first I could not find my Fish Fry Equipment.  But I did get it.

Then did French fries, hush puppies and fried the fish last.  My gorl said the puppies were the best she ever tasted. (she is buttering me up!)

Oh yes, and I completed a BIG ask on my to do list.  WE had a bad area in the house. An old unused and disconnected cast iron bath tub in a 5x6 area just outside the master bathroom. With son Mark's help we got the 200 lb+ tub out.  Then I started remodeling.  I redid the Drywall, added slate style flooring there and into the bathroom. I added wainscotting and made chair rail. followed by adding two 120v receptacles.  It  is now ready for a vanity set up and my girl will have a nice make-up area.

Above shot is entering from our bedroom. Bathroom is to the right just insice this door.

This is looking from the master bathroom our Bedroom is just to the left out this door.

I got hugs an kisses for this one.  LOL  She is especially thrilled with the floor, the old tile was breaking and cracked.

Anyway I am also proud of me for finally getting it done It has taken two or three weeks (Maybe a month, so you  can imagine the mess she has put up with. .

Now to bed, but first thanks for the comments, prayers and support.. As we try to climb back into the world.

Nite Shipslog.

Just thinking

 I need to get to bed,  I have prepared pancake batter for breakfast   Maybe a fish fry for the afternoon meal.  WE only have two real meals aday so that makes things simpler.

I am fine and Sherry is doing well.  Her blood pressure still is not under control.  One day is reads 125/60 the next it is 156 over 80 . a wide range. But she does have that thing they call White-Coat Syndrome. At the Dr's office it is OFTEN up to 200/90.  It ia scary.  NOW she tells me she was VERY worried about me.

From my heart, I just want to take the time tonight to say thank all of you who read here, THANKS!!

I have learned over the years that many friends and family read this to keep up with us.  

In that regard, I feel like a friend whom I asked the other day, "And how are you doing?"

He smiled and asked, "In reference to what?>"  We both just stood there and laughed.

So to everyone who is concerned, in reference to most 80-90 folks I know, "We are doing great!!"

As most of  you know, it takes a lot to keep a house and house hod going. Trimming trees, cutting grass, maintain an older home, getting groceries, cooking and cleaning. Our schedule is tight.  Sherry is kicking in now, today she celebrated national Hot dog day and fixed hot dogs for me and the sons.  LOL  We had a good time.  I have about finished remodeling the bathroom and an area for her Vanity table.  

I am thinking about a family fish fry tomorrow.  I had better getto bed.

Love it that you guys read here.

Nite Shipslog

Good PET scan, I thought I was a dog, but I am a cat.

 Met with Doc Mc Grath to day to get an explanation of the scan results. He was very optimistic about the results.  His statement, "All went well, nothing is a problem at present.  I am scheduling you for radiation of the facial area.  They will call you with the time and date."

"Doctor," I said, "If Dr. Caulifield got it all, and none showed up on the scan, why do I need the radiation.  To tell you the truth, I am in my 80s now and do not want to fall in the old folks problem of a DR. appt every week."  I could tell he did not appreciate my statement.

He said, "NO ONE can say for sure 'I got it all',  they could easily miss ONE cancer cell, and you are back where you started.  With your CANCER being one of the most aggressive, I want to be sure it doesn't come back to bite you."

Cancer?  that is the first time that word has been used,.  All I have heard and seen is, "We are not sure what it is. possible  Merkel cell carcinoma. BUT just using the words 'AGGRESIVE CANCER' slowed me down some and I didn't even ask him what KIND of cancer?

BUT right now, all is well and the report of the scan was better than expected.  So now I wait again and listen for the phone call for my  NEXT APPOINTMENT. LIKE THE REST OF MY PEERS ..LOL

Sorry to be so spotted in my reading an posting, but we are still in a tough schedule.

Still working on my to do list.  Today I just finished flooring the bathroom area and also the area  that  will be Sherry's dressing table area.  That area still needs the electrical work and adding wainscoting the walls.

I am also trying to vary my menus, but am not too successful. In the morning I will try a ham and cheese omelet with grits.

OH YES,  I have just met my newest animal friend here. It is a bunny, it  looks like maybe 5 weeks old.  He hasn't talked yet but he listens very well and pays attention.  It is much more friendly than the squirrels, possums, and raccoons.  LOL Also one feral cat, still only a night time 'distant' friend...

Thanks so much for your thoughts, prayers and attention. 

I am still doing pretty well, life is good..

Nite Shipslog

NOTE: Dallas up in PA, Thinking of you my friend. Hope you get rid of 'em extra platelets..... Hug that pretty young girl you married. about 70 years ago.