Palin Debat Flow Chart - Enjoy!

Monday Humor

Cat Headstone

Last month we were in Ann Arbor for a Rose family gathering and stayed at a hotel in Milan which is about 10 miles from A2. One night, Melinda and I were driving to a food store when we saw a cemetery....and, of course, we had to make a detour to drive through.

Almost immediately, my eye caught sight of an interesting shape. I couldn't tell if it was a lamb on top of the headstone...but it looked more like a cat! I'm glad we stopped. Below is a picture of the most interesting (modern) headstone I have ever seen!

The next day, we brought Rachel and Bob back to look at it. Rachel was impressed...Bob stayed in the car (chuckle).

Pittsburgh with Rachel

Rachel accepted a teaching position at Pressley Ridge school in Pennsylvania. We left Thursday and spent the weekend helping her move in, find furniture and all the various things needed to live till her first paycheck. :-)

Pittsburgh is a city of contrasts. Nothing is straight, nothing is level and everyone we encountered was friendly and accommodating. The Allegheny mountains are beautiful and I can't wait to visit in October when the colors change. Her school is located on a ridge (thus its name) and is next to a huge cemetery (whoo-whoo!). I'm planning to spend an afternoon there when I return. :-)

This is a picture of Rachel's living room on 'move in' day and the fabulous couch we found for next to nothing! She thinks the upholstery is something that her grandmother would pick out and plans to find a slipcover soon. (Personally, I like it!)

The kitchen has all new appliances and a dishwasher....I'm SO jealous!

Picture of Rachel after she installed the tp holder herself....like mother, like daughter!

Picture of me getting ready to turn the hot water off while RAchel is in the shower. I'm so evil!

This is Rachel's galley kitchen - everything is new.

Bob making one of the numerous trips to bring in more stuff.
He must have felt like a pack mule this weekend!

Sunday afternoon, we spent a few hours at the National Aviary.
Rachel was very patient with us. :-)

We couldn't resist pictures with the various flamingo posters & sculptures.

This is "WHITE LIGHTNING", Rachel's new car. The name is self-explanatory.
We have bets on when she will get her first ticket.

Bob's Birthday

I have been feeling significantly improved in the last few days. One more test on Friday. I hope to get the okay to return to work on Monday. I've started adding foods (broiled fish, rice and canned fruit) to my diet and as long as I take Reglan 30 minutes before I eat, I am tolerating the food and have stopped losing weight (whoo-whoo!)

Enjoy these pictures from Bob's birthday yesterday.

Melinda, Rachel, Michael and Bob prepare to enjoy their dinner
of steak and broiled cod with creole topping.
I've never enjoyed a small piece of fish and rice pilaf more than yesterday's dinner!

Melinda, Michael and Rachel serenade Bob. :-)

I'm not feeling very attractive lately so I decided to do a "Nina" picture.

(Family will understand).

Michael amuses himself (and us) while he waits for cake and ice cream.
(Lord, help us....he is definitely a Rose).

Bob graciously wait for the serenading to finish.
It's a Rose family tradition to sing:

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday (Just for You)

May You Live to Be One Hundred!

Michael and Bob enjoy the 'brotherhood' camaraderie
while listening to Melinda, Rachel and me.

Home & Joke

I am on short term disability due issues with my GI tract....not fun.

Here's a cute joke a friend sent me....enjoy!

BANNED FROM WAL-MART...........

This is why women should not take men shopping against their will.

After Mr. and Mrs. Fenton retired, Mrs. Fenton insisted her husband
accompany her on her trips to Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, Mr. Fenton was like
most men--he found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get
out. Equally unfortunately, Mrs. Fenton was like most women--she loved to
browse. One day Mrs. Fenton received the following letter from her
local Wal-Mart.

Dear Mrs. Fenton,

Over the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a
commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and may be forced to
ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against Mr. Fenton are
listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's
carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute
intervals.
3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the
women's restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice,
'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away.'
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&M's
on layaway.
6. September 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other
shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets
from the bedding department.
8. September 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him, he began
crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'
9. October 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a
mirror while he picked his nose.
10. November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he
asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
11. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly
humming the ' Mission Impossible' theme.
12. December 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look'
by using different sizes of funnels.
13. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed
through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'
14. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he
assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'
And last, but not least ....
15. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a
while, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!'

Regards,
Wal-Mart

Friday

Am optimistic. Starting to feel a better. Was more active today and able to tolerate more food and liquids. Spent quite a bit of the day outside. Bob took us to the fireworks in Kentwood. We parked in a lot about a 1/4 mile from the launch area. This was very special because Bob normally hates to go to the fireworks....so I know he wanted me to enjoy it. :-)

Recent pictures....


First. "Do you see what I see?"

A dogs paw in a bowl of my jello.
Too bad it wasn't the Virgin Mary or Christ...could have made a few thousand dollars on eBay!

Bob wanted a picture of me and my "Backyard Wildlife Habitat" sign
I received the plaque from the National Wildlife Federation after meeting
a number of specification as a wildlife habitat. :-)

Bob and Rachel finish spreading mulch on our back fence line.
Bob and the kids really worked hard while I was in Wisconsin and since I've been sick.
Melinda is a tenacious weeder and expert path layer,
Rachel (our city girl) has turned into quite the outdoor woman, and
Michael doesn't hesitate to help with the lugging and carrying jobs.
I am blessed.


I thought my raspberries last year were huge....they're MONSTERS this year!

Sick

The doctor has put me on short term disability as she tries to figure out what is wrong with me. Tuesday, I had extensive blood work. Yesterday, an ultrasound of my pancreas, liver and gall bladder. A few other things which are too embarrassing to write in a blog (sigh).

Still only tolerating applesauce, clear liquids and the evening 1/4 c of mashed potatoes. So far I've lost approximately 16 pounds....always wanted to lose weight but definitely NOt this way.

Being checked for microbial infections/parasites...."did you drink well water while you were in Wisconsin??" Never thought to ask if the Door County restaurants were on wells or not...... "Did you eat tomatoes"....yeah, right after it was broadcast on national news that salmonella was linked to them. "Do you remember being bitten by a tick".... Oh yeah, like that is something i would FORGET!

Sorry....guess it's not only my digestive track that is cranky. (chuckle)

Few Pictures

A bird decided I needed a lily among my black eyed susan. Quite a surprise.

The second brood of Robins are within a week of fledging....they are a noisy brood.

A nice surprise when I returned from WI. Bob build a small fence to hide my woodpile....necessary to be certified as Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

A very confused squirrel.....Yes, I put a ceramic snake in the bird feeder. The poor squirrel peered at it from different positions for at least 1/2 an hour....hilarious.

A Father's Day present to Bob from Rachel.
He did the arrangement on a 4 x 4 in our front yard.... he loves it.

The first bowl of my currants....frozen and ready to make jelly in October.

A very sleepy Rachel. This is the perfect position to receive a dog kiss from Cassie.

Blah

No, I haven't gone off the face of the earth since my return from Wisconsin. It has not been a good 10 days. Two days after coming home, I became ill suddenly at work. Long story.....after numerous visits to the doctors and urgent care, I have been diagnosed with IBS and gastroparesis. Basically, my stomach and intestines have the disposition of a cranky, colicky child (groan).

I am on a two medications and a special diet which consists of broth, bananas and steamed, broiled (tasteless) food.

Yes, this is my idea of hell....well, maybe that's a big harsh....okay, it's at least a level of Dante's Inferno.....maybe a level five. :-(

Have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to go back to work.

Road Trip

This little gem stands about 5'7 and weighs a little over 50 pounds. It will be a great addition to Bob's pseudo flamingo family. For a mere $29, I was able to have it shipped to Grand Rapids. ... can't wait to see the look on his face when he opens the package.... chortle!



Nan and I took a road trip today to Door County today. The peninsula juts out between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. We ambled along at a leisurely pace, stopping whenever we saw something of interest.


In Maplewood, we stopped and took picture of this beautiful church. Mosaics like this one of the Blessed Virgin are found above the front doors of many of the churches. The picture does not show how the light make the different mosaics sparkle...trully beautiful.

We made it to the point (Gill's Rock) in time for a spectacular lunch overlooking Green Bay (see below). Of course, we had to support the local economy and buy some souvenoirs. :-)

Evidently, Nan finds it very amusing that I am incapable of staying within the speed limit. We would breeze from one town to another at 55 mph (equivalent of 70 mph for me) and then have to slow down to 25 mph through these little four-way stop towns. Even taking my foot off the gas completely did not reduce the speed to 25.....I think it's is a vast conspiracy!
Tomorrow we plan to visit a large antique mall and search for one of my Carnival bowls. :-)

Nan and I took a road trip today to visit Holy Hill, a basilica in Hubertus, Wisconsin.

It was by far one of the most beautiful churches I have ever visited!

The church was constructed at the top of a hill and can be seen for miles. The view from the church is spectacular....enjoy a few of the pictures from our trip!

This wooden cross was fashioned from white oak that grew on the property

and was erected in 1858.

This is a side altar and dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux.


This stained glass window pictures the Holy Family.


All the columns were enhanced with these frescoes.

The majority show a small child's face.

A few others show a woman's face.

This mosaic was directly below the altar.

A view from across the main body of the church.

This window portrays the presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

This mosaic honors St. Teresa of Avila.

Stunning!

By far the most beauitful stained glass I have ever seen!

This Rose windows is above the choir loft and honor

the immaculate conception of Mary.

She is surrounded by twelve angels.

BEAUTIFUL!

Sacred Heart...this windows seemed to radiant a sense of peace.

We sat quietly in the church and I can't begin to describe the feelings I had....peace, tranqulity, beauty, and reverence.

Well worth the trip....

Trip To Chicago

Nan and I visited Chicago today and had a great time. The first pictures were taken from the Sears Tower. I'm a little embarassed to say that I almost started to giggle hysterically in the elevator on the way to the top. The poor Mennonite man standing next to me obviously thought I had a few screws loose! When we took the elevator back to the ground level, I forced myself not to drop to my knees and kiss it!

Nan peers down in an attempt to find the Water Tower. She was very patient with my remarks about 'insanity', 'roof rats' and structural problems. :-) I may look relaxed but the old knees were shaking and the heart was pounding.

______________

We made our way over to the Shedd Aquarium (walked 10 blocks)

and spent quite a bit of time at the center display. The fish were colorful and quite active.

We also saw a 4-d presentation of "Planet Earth - Shallow Seas". No one warned us that we would be showered by water, poked in the back, and lashed on the ankles! We were happy to make our escape from that theatre!

This trainer was working with the dolphins. In this picture, the dolphine was laying on it's back andyou can see two fins sticking out of the water.

We're pooped and will add more to the blog tomorrow!