LOSING A FRIEND AND RELATIVE.

Hello. Nice People,

We buried my niece yesterday.  We grew up together, me and Pat. She was 76 years old. 18 months older than me.  Pat never was a picture of health. Since her twenties, she always had an issue. Sometimes more than one at a time.  And so we grew apart.

Pat married the love of her life, and they were the happiest couple on the face of the earth.  We lost Ron five years ago, and I believe she also died on that day.  Pat and Ron,  I think they are together in heaven.   Dancing to some 50s tunes and loving each other again.

Hello Nice People,
I finally found it.  My BLOG, that is.  Things have changed since I last was here.  I'll need some time to figure things out, like how to put in pictures.  And how to change my header.
I have had that picture of the school bus for years, so now its time to go.  be patient with me.

CATCHING UP...........AGAIN!

Hello Nice People,

     Today is the last day of March,2016 .    the weather at the Shore has been quite warm for this month.  Joyce and Bunk were here yesterday.  We had a nice visit.  Joyce got up to see Benny.  I didn't tell him they were coming, so it was a good surprise.  I restocked him with goodies, soda and fruit, and of course his favorite cookies.  His feet and legs are so swollen with fluid, but I don't think that's going to see any improvement.  Not with his stubbornness.  After that, we went to Habachi for some lunch.

     My legs are giving me a lot of pain.  The Chiropractor suggested I go to  Neuro Physician.  I DID make an appointment....see what happens.

     I have been retired now four years.  It seems like yesterday that I went in and told Carmella I was retiring.  We both cried.  Carmella passed away the beginning of this month.  I had not seen her since that day, but it is hard to believe that she is gone.  Sal is retiring in June of this year.  I hope we do well at home together everyday.  There is  a lot of work around here.  I don't know if he is up to it.   

     My cyber friend, Linda, out in Washington State went in for back surgery on February 8.  Now she is in a nursing home.  she is pretty much confined to  a wheelchair.  I am praying she gets better.
I am gonna try to pop in here and catch up on news.  I just have to learn this Windows 8.  It  used to be so easy .
    

Hello Nice People,

     March 5th, and we're having a snow day.  Schools are closed, offices are closed.  Its one of those days.  Predictions say 6 to 8 inches.  I'll be surprised to see 3, but that means it will be gone sooner.  Its a clam chowder day.  Sal makes the clam chowder, so that lets me off the hook.  I just look at him with kind of glazed eyes, and he thinks I dont know how to make it.  Thats the method behind my madness. 
      Ben is having issues with retaining water in his legs and feet.  Its not good at all.  I never saw feet so swollen, they actually look like balloons.  Monster feet is a good description.
I think its good that I am at the nursing home so much, a couple times a week, or more.  It kind of keeps them on their toes.  I know they are aware of the problem, but they were not being aggressive in the treatment.  He is so stubborn about listening and he doesnt understand the importance of keeping his feet up.  Since I brought it to their attention,  they have increased his diuretic meds and are battling him harder to keep his feet up. 

    

Getting The Train Back On the Track

Hello, nice people

so much has changed on blogging.  I can't seem to get a handle on getting this train back on the track.  I will figure it out, after all, I figured it ouot the first time.

Today is March 1, 2015.  Its been a COLD winter!  Everyone is complaining about the snow.  Actually, we haven't had that much.  Its been about 5 small storms, thats all.  But it never goes away because of the low temps, that makes it seem like it is endless.

This is just a short post to get back into blogging.

Good night.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE A BROTHER.

Hello Nice People

     Today is Holy Thursday.  I loved the pictures on the news of Pope Francis washing the feet of women, men and handicapped.  Before him, Popes never washed the feet of women.  I don't know, is that a step forward?

     WWJD, WWYD (What would you do),  or, How did I get into this?!
I have a brother!  An 83 year old, stubborn batchelor.  Last June, he was put into a nursing home, which is a very nice place.  This came about after a fall in his grungy apartment.  Grungy, because he was no longer able to take care of IT or himself.  So he is definitly in a good place.  He is clean, has a clean bed and good food.  I found out about this turn of events from a family member.  Now, the elephant in the room here is that he had not spoken to me for 35 years.  He lived two small towns away and I would see him now and then, I even tried to talk to him a few times. With no success.  There never was a good reason for this.
      Here is where I took it upon myself to just go up, present myself to him and see how it plays out.  I walked into his room and said, "Do you know who I am?"     Nope. he went down a list of relatives, living and dead, so I finally said, "I'm Marlene, your sister."  I can understand him not recognizing me, 69 years old now and snow white hair.  Well, son of a gun, he accepted me.  Of course, I am not so stupid not to know that now he needs me.
     All relatives live 60-70 miles away, so there is really no one that can visit on a regular basis.  I live 6 blocks from the nursing home.
     Well, since then, I have become his regular visitor.  I make sure that I am there on Sundays and Wednesdays.  Now he has my phone number and he calls me.  "Are you coming up here today?"  So its now about 4 days a week.  I keep him in all his snacks and goodies:  Fruit, candy, cupcakes and soda.  When I go, I bring him his favorite meals:  Spaghetti and clams, subs, sandwiches, etc.
     Of course, HUbby------->, thats him over there on the couch,  feels that I am being taken advantage of.  I try to keep the whole thing low key with him, but I find him just shaking his head in a disgusted manner.  I can understand that he would be a little skeptical after being ignored for 35 years. 
I even find it embarassing that I am doing all of this after being ignored for 35 years.  Even the nurses tell him how lucky he is to have a good sister.
      I dont want this thing to get bigger and be a problem between Hubby and me.  And I can't very well stop visiting and buying.  Talk about being stuck between  a rock and a hard place.

      Wow, I need and answer.

APRIL FOOLS DAY AND DR. DOWD

Hello Nice People

     Today is April 1, 2014.  April Fools Day.  Should AFD be capitalized?  Its not a holiday OR a holyday.  Its just something that someone, who knows who, started.  Why in April?  why not July, or January?   We need something to make us laugh in January.  Especially this past January.  It was a cold, long Winter.  I dont think its over yet. 

     I had a doctors apointment today withn Dr. Dowd.  She is the tiniest little person, good ole Dr. Dowd.  I dont think she weighs 80 pounds.  So, there I sit, on the examining table, all 280 pounds of me.  I feel like I am the Jolly Green Giant and she is the Lilliputin character from the fable that I forget the name of.  Dr Dowd has been my cardiologist for about 30 years.  In fact she said one time that I had been her patient so long that my file was the thickest one in the cabinet.  In other words, everyone that started way back with me.........is now dead.

     I am sure when I started, I was some what thinner.  I was never thin, but over the years, I have gained and lost and gained and lost AND gained and lost.  But now, that old nemisis. old age has set in.    You put the two together, weight and old age, and what you get is not good:  DIABETES!

      She is always so nice about my weight.  She never raises her voice or threatens me.  She never belittles me or gives me an ultimatum.  Maybe she should.  But she says that I am healthy, heartwise.  I guess all the meds she has me on are working.  I think they are what is keeping me alive.  But she and I both know that the weight is the root of my problems.  Like shortness of breath and DIABETES.
So on the way home,  I seriously thought about going back to WEIGHT WATCHERS.  God knows. I dont want to, but I am thinking about it.  So I will check out the new prices since the last time I failed at this diet thing.  Check out where they are located and sleep on it.  Decisions to come.

    

I am at a loss. HELP!!!!!

I am so addicted to my Ipad, that I have completely forgotten how to add to my blog.  I would like to change the picture and delete the pictures on the side.  All of that stuff is so old......it needs to be changed.  HELP!!!!!!

Hello Nice People,

     Here I am, in the Summer of 2012, and I am officially retired.  I finally did it.  I took all the steps for retiring from being a lowly school bus driver of 33 long years.  You might think I held a job of great importance, considering all the steps I had to take to make it official.
#1   I had to write three letters:  one to the Board of  Education, one to the Transportation Department and one to the Administrator of the school, Atlantic County Special Services.  Now, there was a time when I was a whiz at writing.  I loved to put words together and have them sound like I was the most blossomed writer of all time.  (see, how do you like that word blosssomed?)  But over the years,  after spending all my waking hours with kids;  Little ones, just starting a vocabulary, and big ones who have already tossed theirs to the curb, I have definetly lost my touch. 

     Write three letters, hmmmmm,  I don't want them to sound like I am an uneducated, this is the only job I can do, good thing you hird me thirty five years ago kind of person.  Hmmmmm, I can do this:

Please accept this letter as confirmation of my retirement as a bus driver with



Atlantic County Special Services Transportation Department, as of June 30, 2012.






May I also take this occasion to thank Beth Buoro, the Board of Education, and


of course, Carmella and her staff for the opportunity to work with the children and people of Atlantic County Special Services.






I sincerely hope my services were rendered in a satisfactory manner.

                                                              Sincerely,

Not bad, right?



                                                                  

#2    Register on line with the New Jersey MBOS, which is the Division of pensions.  Not easy to do, but I think I have it.  We shall see, if I don't get a check by August 5,  I have to start from scratch.  Wish me luck.



A WARM WINTER AT THE JERSEY SHORE

Hello Nice People

It's been a warm winter here at the Jersey Shore.  Actually, it's been rather nice all up and down the East Coast.  We are beginning to think that maybe we won't be seeing ANY snow this winter.  That will be AOK with this OLD school bus driver.    People always say, "OH, schools are closed on snowy days."  BUT, there are always those days that start out nice, just a little grey, and then the snow starts to fall.  That's when they call us in and tell us to get the kids home safe and the way we found them.  Never mind the icey roads and the accumulating white stuff. 

Temps have dropped the past two days, and supposed to stay that way for a week or so.  Hubby, (that's him over there on the couch->->->)  is getting a little old and stiff in the bones for keeping the wood stove filled.  He still keeps up though with some help from Gloriebelle.

Come on, Daddy, let's get that fire going.  This sweater gets shorter everytime washes it.



Get those corners good and clean Dad, we don't want any embers jumping out.



Well, that's better, maybe now I can enjoy a little shut eye. Oh yeah, Thanks Dad.

Trying to blog from my new IPAD.

If this works, it would be so terrific. I found the APP for blogs. Now I just have to type with 2 fingers without too many mistakes. And learn how to put in pics and publish. I tapped on a picture. Let's see if it comes up.

THANKSGIVING...AND I'M NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER.

Hello Nice People,

        It is a BEE YOU TIF AL day here at the Jersey Shore.  And I haven't been out of the house.  The day after Thanksgiving day....and I haven't done a thing all day.  A little bit of crocheting, a little TV  ( I'm watching Achmed the Terrorist) and trying to find the Dashboard for my blog.  We had the usual Thanksgiving.  I purposely cut back on some of the work.  Bought those mashed potatoes that you find in the cold section of the supermarket.  I put them in a nice dish, added some butter and wa la!!, no one knew the difference.  Instead of the ususal lazagna, I bought 2 and a half pounds of already made lobster ravioli, and it went over quite well.  Pretty good with a white sauce, add a little grated cheese and butter----not bad!  The next step, I am still a little embarassed about.  If you don't think you can handle it, stop right here!-!-!
I used  paper plates.  There, i said it.  Now its out in the open.  I thought about it last year.  Then reconsidered.  but, you know,  I'm not getting any younger.  And it's SO much work,  cooking and cleaning and preparing for a big dinner.  Well, since it's only the immediatly family.....no one cared.  And in the end it was a lot less cleaning up.  I washed all the pots before they  came and the plates went in the trash.  Silverware was the only thing left to wash.  So Paper Plates it is for next year.

A Rainy, Nasty, Saturday In October

Hello Nice People,

         Thats if there is anyone left.  Pauline, you are so faithful.  I used to check your blog, just to see what was  new with the turtles.  It's a nasty, cold , rainy Saturday here at the Jersey Shore.  There is snow just a little North of us in Pennsylvania, but i don't think we will be seeing it.  the ground is just too warm for that.  I made some Fried green tomatoes, for the lack of anything else to do.  Hubby, (thats him over there on  the couch---->)  ran the sweeper and swiffered the floor,  so that  leaves a relaxing day in the house.  Now I'm makinga pot of chicken soup.  that will get rid of the chicken frame from a Sam's chicken.  While that's cooking, I think I will get into some crocheting.

Hello Nice People,
      Things have changed  since I was here last.  I don't even remember my password for this blog.  Ihave been to 6 or 7 different Google screens and they keep sending me around in circles.  I  think I did successfully reset my password though.  I read that if you don't update your Blog in the next few months, it will be deleted.  And I would hate for that to happen.  I  always have intentions of getting back to it.  What a shame to just let it go into cyberspace.    I think there are two reasons i didn't keep up with it.  #1--i got a laptop because Hubby,  (thats him over there on the couch------>)  discovered playing cards on the desktop.  And #2--Facebook:  its just too easy to keep up with everything thats going on.  One little click and I am on FB.....and a few short sentences and I am done.
       I have too get familiar with this site again.  I can't even remember how to add pictures.  Hopefully, it will all fall into place.  I have a pot of stuffed cabbage on the stove, so this will have to wait til later,  I think its just about done.
      i hope to get back to this blog.  If I don't,  someone please yell at me.  If I have any friendly readers left.
                                       Til later!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Melody

Where was I 43 years ago today? Well, I was not a happy camper, that's for sure. I had no idea what to expect in the next few hours. All I wanted was to "get me out of here." Can anyone guess? Yep, I was in the labor and delivery having my first of two babies. Today is Melodys 43rd birthday. I was so poorly informed of what was happening. Then this 8 lb beautiful little bundle of pink and red appeared and she has been a joy to our hearts eversince. I don't think I have ever told her how proud we are of her. We just don't say those things to each other, but she knows that we will do anything for her and of course, for her family. Both Melody and her brother, Dominic are the best thing that could have happened to us, the Ole Boy and me. Melody has had a lot of stress in her life, but she overcomes all of it and never complains. Melody, we love you, and we are so rich to have you in our life. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MELODY!!!!!!!!

We live in a good neighborhood. Mostly small houses and well kept lawns. I DO have a complaint though. Almost every night, around 9 o'clock someone down the street lets off four or five fire crackers. Or the kind that goes pow pow pow pow. And this absolutley freaks out the dog. She does not want to be held, and she just vibrates every bone in her body. She runs through the house a few times and then she is nowhere to be found. Now with a small house, that is not easy. Where the heck can a little dog hide in a 2 bedroom house. But she does. We have learned to just go to bed and in the morning she will be back in her bed. But this morning, not so much! It is 4 o'clock now, and I just got up to make my bathroom visit, checked her bed and she is not there. I tried to get back to sleep with no luck. Now where is that dog. I know she didn't get outside, but that thought keeps running through my mind. Hmmm, she's not so clever......I'll flush her out......I'll ring the doorbell....hahahaha.
4o'clock, Westminster chimes, Bark, bark,bark! "So, where were you, you little witch?!" "Oh, I was under the bed, sound asleep, til you rang the doorbell." "OK, so now its almost 5, I guess I may as well stay up, the paper'll be here in a half hour. Gloriebelle, where are you? Gloriebelle? Yep, in her bed, sound asleep. Thud, there's the paper. Ahh, coffee time, the AC Press and the sun coming up. Life's not so bad.

THANKSGIVING 2010

Hello Nice People,

It's the day after Thanksgiving. We had a nice day yesterday. Melody, Shane and the kids were here for dinner. Dominic, Chas and Angelo came in later for pie and coffee. They go to her mothers and aunts earlier for dinner. We ate and talked and laughed. Thats good to do now and then. I am so lucky to have my kids and their families close by.
We have a part of the family who is not a good story. I never thought anything about the disease, Schizofrania. But hubby has a Neice who has this problem. She has social problems, and was recently evicted from her section 8 apartment because she harasses other tenants. Now, homeless and with only her cat, she has been living in her car down at the bay that looks over Ocean City. We have tried to help her with no luck. She is very, very combative and angry. The police know her very well, because she has been arrested so many times. We are in contact with the police. They say they cannot remove her til she does something wrong. Knowing her, it will eventually happen. It's getting cold. The police keep an eye on her continuously, riding by to make sure her car is running to keep her warm. Hubby gives her enough money when she needs it for more gas, but until things change, thats all she will let us do. I hope this situation will change soon.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

My son Dominic

My Grandson  Angelo

I am thankful for them both.  For their Health, their safety and that they have a wonderful relationship with each other.

HALLOTHANKSMAS

Yeh, Christmas.   Christmas is fast approaching, and I am not into it.  I am still reminiscing about Summer.  Actually it seems like Summer is just around the corner.  Well, I DO mean the corner back there. The one we passed a bit ago.  The weather is still warm and mild.  The trees haven’t even lost their leaves yet, and here it is mid-November.  Exactly one week from Thanksgiving.  What did we used to call this time of year?             Hallothanksmas.  Yeh, thats it, Hallothanksmas. I haven’t heard that for a long time.  Thats when three holidays run together.  Take a little ride and you see some houses with Hallloween decorations and some with Christmas decorations.  Now thats  Hallothanksmas.

I FINALLY DID IT

Oh gosh,  I forget how to post on my Blog.  Hmmmm, how did I used to put in pictures?  This is what I get for being MIA for so long. But who cares about that.  Well, while I was gone,  I went on another DIET.  This time, I did Low-Carb.  Started on August 4th of 2008.  Good Lawdy Miss Clawdy!!!!  That was 2 years ago!   And it worked!!  At least while I stayed on it.  Start eating carbs and guess what,  the weight comes back with a vengance.  So now, I’m trying to get back to the low-carb lifestyle.  Yes I am too trying.  Its the hardest thing…..so much harder than the first time.

There, I did it.  FINALLY a post on my BLOG.  I’ve been wanting to do this for so long, but for some reason, I just  couldn’t find the words in my little old head.  Now, I have to figure out how I used to put in pictures.    Bear with me!!!!!