Cemetery visits

I have been to a lot of cemeteries in my family history research, I have been to some from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, all the way to Oklahoma.  Next time I go to Denver, I will be visiting a few there.  Anyway, today was the first time I have been to a Confederate Cemetery.  It was in Higginsville, next to the veterans cemetery that my brother is buried in.  Oma, Tom, and I were really interested in all the headstones.  We stopped and read the signs before we walked the cemetery.  I loved the flags that adorned each headstone as well.  It was really an interesting cemetery.  Thanks Gail for telling us about this cemetery. 

Anyway, we started on Saturday at my Grandpa Fines grave (started with the oldest and ended today with the youngest!).  He is buried in Wright City, MO which is about 1/2 way to St. Louis.  Today we ended with Larry and he is buried about 1/2 way to Kansas City.  So, we almost went from East to West in 3 days. 

Yesterday we went to dad's grave and Gene's memorial.  I think the hardest on Mom was Larry's for some reason.  I am not sure why, but she sat there and looked at his marker for a while while Tom and I walked around and enjoyed the decorations that people had left in tribute.  It was beautiful.  I just wish I didn't have to go visit because of Larry there.  I would rather have Larry by my side instead, but I think he is there in spirit. What is wonderful about the veteran's cemeteries is that all the headstones are alike and in line.  It doesn't matter which way you look, they are in line.  And today, they each had a flag to honor their service to our country.

It turned out to be a wonderful week-end.  We did a lot, but also enjoyed a lot of family time as well as tributes to the ones who went before us.

One more week...

One week from now, Kristi will be in her own apartment.  It has been a long time since she has had her own place, so this should be an experience, and Alayna has never lived anywhere but here with us so that will be a new experience for her as well.

Kristi has done a good job gathering up stuff for her new apartment.  She is at the point now that she has to unpack to determine what she has and doesn't have since she has been at this for a couple of months now. She gets her keys on Tuesday and then fun will begin.  I am not a fan of moving, so I think I will leave Missouri (like Beth and Lucas) and head to the West Coast to see Tory and family!!! 

Alayna really doesn't get "moving" yet.  She is still working on the facts, but does understand that she will be sleeping somewhere else.  We just wonder how long it will take to get over not seeing Papa.  Kristi is thinking about letting her ride the bus to school this summer as well as home.  This way, Kristi could just pull up to the house and drop her off.  She would be able to spend about an hour with Papa and Oma before getting on the bus.  Then at night I would get to see her about an hour before her mom would pick her up.  This might help with the transition.

So, if anyone is bored next week-end and is looking for something to do - come to our moving party.  BBQ included!!!

Monday

There is a place here in Columbia that is a studio that you can rent and take pictures. The price of your rental includes all the lights and backdrops for that particular area you choose to use. There are 5 different area's that you can use, each a different price.  So, we are renting the portrait studio part and taking some pictures of Alayna and some others of different groups of us.  These are going to be Alayna's 7 year pictures...can you believe I just said 7 years!  WOW!!!!

Anyway, after that we hope to go to Shelter and take some pictures (weather permitting) and then off to Higginsville to pay tribute to Larry, my brother.  We want to spend some time walking around looking are the headstones while we are there.  I love the military cemeteries at memorial day because they are all decorated with large flags.  The cemetery that my dad is in is doing that as well, and they give you a flower when you stop at the gate to put on the grave.  Mom and I are doing that on Sunday. 

On Monday, there will be a military burial at the Memorial park Cemetery in Columbia.  One of our brave men (24 years old) died in combat and he will be laid to rest on Monday.  People are suppose to line the route from the church to the cemetery to pay their respects waving flags.  I hope there are not any protester, I think that is so disrespectful to the family.

A fun filled day...

Today started off with some UN-shopping.  The girls (me, Oma, Kristi, and Alayna) went shopping last night and let the sales get the best of us.  So, today we Un-shopped. We took back several items that once we got home didn't work with what we are doing on Monday (pictures of Alayna). So, we Un-shopped. I thought Kristi was going to tear into the assistant manager at Claires in the mall.  I bought a decorated hair comb for Alayna and when Kristi saw it, she said that Alayna's hair is too fine and the comb won't stay. So, that was one to the things to return - but Claires won't allow returns on "speciality items."  She said people buy them, use them once and return them.  Kristi explained to her that you can tell by the card that they have not been used - or even taken off the card.  But, that didn't work.  So, Kristi asked for the managers and the district managers name and phone number.  She is going to call and have it out with them.  You go girl!!!

After that we ran home, ate some watermelon on the deck and then Kristi, Oma, and I climbed into Kristi escape and did just want the car is named for - we escaped!!!  We went to Wright City, Missouri to put flowers on my grandpa's grave and then to Warrenton to check out the outlet mall - mainly the kitchen store.  I think I might be the only one who visits grandpas grave.  I know he is buried next to 2 of his sisters, but they don't have headstones and so nobody visits.  I make sure I stop anytime I go past.

Tomorrow, Tom is heading to the airshow at Columbia Regional Airport (yes, Tory - that little airport you came in to). Kristi and Alayna are going to a graduation BBQ in Jeff City and Oma and I are staying here and having Sauerkraut and polish Sausage.  I have some stuff to do before Monday.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday - and a safe one. 

Must be summer...

Today we spent about 4 hours in the yard working.  Mainly mowing and trimming. Tom and I were working near the road and Tom got the mower stuck - really stuck.  We got our truck and tried to get it out and all we succeeded to do was break the tow strap in different places with each attempt.  So, time to get to know our neighbors.  Tom ran over there and asked if he could bring his tractor and get it out.  It came out on the first attempt with a tow chain.

After that we finished trimming and cleaning near the road and then Tom mowed the yard.  I finally had to stop with the push mower because we bent the blade.  So, now we have to take off the blade and get a new one.  Good reason to stop for the day.  And what a day it has been.  This was more of a workout then my Wii Fit.

We did get some of Kristi's furniture moved to the garage so we can move Alayna out the the living room and maybe be able to paint Alayna's old room so that it will be Oma's living room.  Right now it is a deep purple and we are going to paint it off white or ivory color.  Something not so dark. 

Yesterday, Tom went with his mom, dad and brother to Kearney, MO for a graduation ceremony for his cousins' son.  I had things that I had to get done here so I stayed behind.  I was glad that I didn't go since he didn't get home until after 8 last night.  It was just like old times for them.  The 4 of them on a road trip. 

Tonight we are going to have pork steaks and fried potatoes and steamed spinach for supper.  I am so ready for a nice quiet night.  We will probably play Wii with Alayna for a little while.

Alayna's First Bus Ride...

On the way home from school earlier this week, Alayna asked when she would be old enough to ride a school bus.  I explained to her that I didn't like her riding with people I didn't know.  Then, I told her the story about me driving a bus just so mommy and Uncle Bubby would be taken care of in a proper way.  Of course, I left out the part of Brian's bus driver (his mommy) leaving him at school the first day of kindergarten - she didn't need to be scared!!!  I also didn't tell her that I totalled a brand new bus on the 2nd day of Brian's kindergarten school year.  Brian had a rough start to his school life.  Of course, the bus accident wasn't my fault - it was the guy behind me bending down to answer her cell phone (OK car phone) and hit me going about 50 MPH.

Anyway...back to Alayna.  I thought about it and decided to ask Kristi about it.  We talked and decided that I would leave early on Thursday and meet the bus driver (after calling the bus barn and getting the entire life history of the driver).  I met him at the school and proceeded to give him one heck of a riot act.  I told him where she would be allowed to sit, how he was going to get to drive way, that she would not be crossing in front of the bus, when "I" expected her home, what to do if he was going to be delayed, etc.  In other words, I told him how to do his job while my granddaughter is in his care.  I am sure that he didn't know how to take this.  After I was satisfied that I had scared the crap out of him I went into the school and got Alayna.

I explained to her that we were going to meet the bus driver and she could decide if she wanted to ride or not.  I told her that she didn't have to ride, but it was available.  She was excited and scared.  Walking out to meet the driver, she was shaking holding my hand.  She told him that she knew where she lived and would help him find her house. She said that she didn't want to ride.  I told her that we would wait in line just like she would do if she was riding and walk to the bus so she could see what it would be like.  While standing in line she had a death grip on my hand and was shaking.  I told her it would be OK, I would not make her ride we were just going to see what it was like to walk to the bus. 

We headed out to the bus and there are only like 10 kids who ride the bus, but one little boy took her hand and said "Is this your first time riding a bus?" And Alayna of course answered "yes" in which he responded "I will help you, it is not bad, what is your name?"  After talking to him for a minute, she let go of my hand and turned around and said "Bye Grandma, I will be fine." 

I just smiled and started walking to my van, stopping once to turn around to make sure she wasn't looking for me but, that was not the case.  I almost went back to the bus and took her off - Grandma was scared now! 

I raced home and told Oma "I did it, I put Alayna on a school bus."  She just smiled, knowing that it was me that needed to let go, not Kristi.  Grandma the protector.  I grabbed the camera and ball bat and headed down the driveway, only to get half-way down to find out that Tom had removed both memory cards from the camera and I had to go back to the house.  I took off back down the drive way, minus the bat (just in case the driver didn't live up to my expectations).  I  heard the bus about a half-mile away, I know that sound.  He waved as he drove by, per my instructions and turned around.  I thought he was driving a tad too fast and told him that when he stopped. 

Alayna was smiling when she got off.  She was happy, She conquered another milestone in her childhood.  Now, if I can only keep her young and innocent.  I dread the teen years - I need to move to another country before then so Kristi can pay in full for her raising.  She has a LARGE bill that needs to be collected on.  Good luck Kristi!!!!!!

Update on our lives...

Hello everyone...how are all doing? We have been running around like crazy getting ready to move Kristi and Oma. I think moving two people is more difficult then moving the entire family. Of course, it is not as hard on me...all I am doing is supervising...wait, that is what I usually do! I knew I had found my calling.

Kristi has gotten a lot packed and moved to the garage. She is hoping that will make it easier on moving day if we only have to go to the garage instead of running up and down the stair. So, Tom is running up and down the stairs instead of everyone else. Tom seems to always get the raw end of the females ideas in this house. This is what comes with living with all women. Brian caught on early and bailed on us.

Kristi will be moving out the first week-end in June and then we will work on getting Oma moved upstairs and then move her sewing stuff to the new sewing shed. Then, we will make a pantry out of mom's current sewing nook. It won't be as much a pantry as a place to store all of our stuff that we use for cooking. I think we will be very busy for the next few months. As soon as we get this moving around done, we want to have a garage sale. We want to move from here - but why move all this stuff again!!! I just don't know how to answer that question.

Alayna is almost done with her first year of school. She is struggling because they have decided that she has a slight issue with ADD. I tried to play the Wii with her the other night and had to quit because I couldn't keep her focus on what she was suppose to be doing. Tonight, Kristi and I made her go outside and run since she couldn't seem to stand still and quiet down. This helped her run off some energy. I think she will miss this when she moves probably as much as she will miss Papa.

Papa and I started talking about some things we would like to do on the week-ends. One of the thing I would like to do is go hiking and taking pictures of nature. Tom loves to take nature pictures and I have gotten into hiking since I have lost so much weight. We have also talked about see some places in Missouri that we have never been to before - you know be a tourist in your own home state. We can take our lunch and just enjoy. Of course, some week-ends we will have Alayna, but I hope not every week-end. The only problem is that will be the only time that Tom will be able to see her for very long. So, we will have to come with a compromise.

Tomorrow (May 19th) Oma is going with the senior group to the Mennonite area. She is going to eat at a restaurant that is run by the Mennonites. She is really excited about it. Next month Oma talked me into going on a trip with her to Kansas City to see the play "Little House on the Prairie" with Melissa Gilbert playing Ma. We get dinner catered and then the play and of course the bus ride there and back. We are not suppose to be back in Columbia until 1 am, I won't be worth a lot the next day at work.

I have started working on some family history research on the Cohrt side. One of mom's cousins sent a letter asking questions and this started me looking again. I guess I will have to make a trip to Kansas City to the library. I have not been there in years, so I am not even sure what they have. Guess I better plan for a whole day for this.

Today we had excitement at work today. The old-beat up truck of one of the sales guy caught on fire in our parking lot. Why couldn't that have been the old truck we now have? When they told me a truck in the front parking lot - I asked "Is it mine?" No, I was disappointed, but guess it is for the best. He has a mess to deal with. Well, that is enough of an update - I think you will get the point that it is not quiet around here - at least for now. I will update on the quiet in a few weeks (after Kristi moves).

Good news for Oma today...breathe now!!

I guess I should tell you the whole story...get a soda and have a seat.

About a month ago, Oma went in for her 3 month cancer check. She has to go every three months until he has been cancer free for 3 years (I think) and then it is every 6 months. I really don't see her going 6 months - but that is the plan. Anyway, her $2,000 urine test came back with bad cells in it, so she had to go today for a CAT scan of her lower body. We were kinda expecting the worst since Dr. Remis didn't want to wait - he made them put her with a week instead of waiting the 3 weeks for the next available appointment. She had to drink this yukky tasting stuff and drink at least 48 ounces of liquid before her appointment at 8 a.m. this morning.

We went to see Dr. Remis at 2:30 today and they put us in the same room we were in when he told her she had bladder cancer. This is the only time we have been in that room - and then today they put us back in that room. Not a good sign we commented!! When Dr. Remis walked in he asked why mom and I were both white as a sheet - we told him that we were afraid of what this room would hold in store for her. Well, the news is good - no tumors in her liver, pancreas, lower lungs, colon, stomach or kidneys. Her heart looked good and the aorta was working wonderfully and her hiatal hernia was not showing at all. So, all in all good news. He showed us the pictures of the "Bad cells" from her last urine tests and one from 3 months before and there is a noticeable difference. He said something has changed the shape of the cells, but he doesn't know what. Her DNA test came back negative today - so no cancer in her urinary tract is the way I understand it. He was very worried that she had developed kidney cancer but he said it appears that is not the case at this time.

He said that one thing that could have caused this test to show bad cells, is that she had the flu about 3 weeks before her test and her cells might still be showing that she wasn't totally over the flu. He said that is unusual - but when has the Fines family done anything that is usual!!!

She will have to go back in 3 months for another test - just to be on the safe side. He said if that one comes back bad, then we will talk about what to do next. But, she is in a better mood tonight and maybe this will help her outlook. I tell you, Tom and I were both ready to move in with Kristi!!!!

Also, I guess she is going to move upstairs now. She said if this came back as cancer, she would stay put in her apartment. This way she wouldn't have steps to worry with during any treatments.

I told her tonight that I was so happy with the results - and she told me that Dad, Gene, and Larry were not ready for her to break up their poker game. I told her that could be the case. I said that she has something that she hasn't done yet - like bungee jumping. She just game me a dirty look! Guess that is not it!

My computer came home! Yea.

Seems that the motherboard and Father computer where not getting along, so they had to go to divorce court and get the mother board out of the picture and let Father computer flirt with a new motherboard and then seal the marriage. If this is too much for you, then here is the simple version - I fried the motherboard somehow!

So, now I can update my stuff easier and can play Spider Solitaire. I didn't mind using Tom's computer, but didn't want to do anything on it since I couldn't save the data. So, look out - here I come!!!!

Happy Mothers Day to all those great ladies out there.

We had a really nice day here. I got up and we made a big breakfast. After that, I started on this new recipe for spaghetti and meat sauce. It takes 5 hours to cook this and took a lot of wine!!! My kinda spaghetti sauce. It was really good and I even have enough to make lasagna one night. I am so happy.

Alayna and I worked together to make a 12 X 12 scrapbook page for Kristi for Mother's day and one for Tom's mom. Alayna even signed the page to make sure it is special for each of them. Then we worked making flower pots out of old pop cans. We used pop cans, artificial flowers, and Alayna and I stamped the boarder for each can. But, I ran out of flowers so I have to go to town and get some more. They are so cute. I will post a picture when I get them all done.

Yesterday, Tom and I went to Columbia Photo and sold some our old camera equipment. With the credit we got we bought a lighting kit. We are going to take pictures of Alayna. We are not sure if we will like it, but want to try it first. What Tom really wanted was a new lens - but it is $1,600 so I don't think we will be getting that very soon!!

I hope everone had a wonderful day and enjoyed your mother's day.

5K Race

On May 8th, I walked my 5K that I have been planning/training for. I did what I set out to do...finish the race...not in last place...and enjoy myself. Well, I did all of them. I finished 50 out of 97 in the walking portion of the race. I was 5th out of 9th in my age bracket, and 36 out of 79 females. So, all in all I think I did pretty well. I did my walk in 50 minutes, which was not bad since I walk 1.75 in 30 minutes.

While walking I was able to think about all of those who I love who have either died from cancer or currently battling cancer. There were times that I bust out laughing and other times that I shed a few tears. You really don't think about what your loved ones have missed on a daily basis - and then it hits you of all the things you have accomplished or completed since they have passed. It is almost mind blowing the things that are done all over the world each and every day.

So, in closing...I have another 5 K coming up in July and one in October. I am going to try to find some more because I really enjoyed walking and completing the task. Anyone want to join me??

Jay Dix 5K Walk tomorrow - 5.8.10

I decided that I wanted to do this walk this year. This is the 3 year that I have signed up for this walk, but have not actually done the walk. One year I was having health issues and couldn't do it and last year life got in the way. This year I am going to do it - no matter what. I heard tonight that the wind chill is suppose to be in the 30's so I won't have to worry about getting overheated!

I have been walking and Wii-ing to get ready for this walk. I think I will do ok, but will find out tomorrow. I will probably be ok until I drive home. I tend to get stiff after I walk this far and by the time I get home I have "drop-feet" and look like I have had a stroke!

I will let you know how long it took me to finish the race...and if I lived through the 5K!!

Kansas Race

Man, did we have fun at the Races this week-end. Tom and I both came home wind burnt from Saturday's race and sun burnt from Sunday's race. And, par for the course - it rained during the truck race. Last year it was so bad that we were in a tornado warning with sirens going off all around us. This year it wasn't as bad, but still an extra 90 minutes we didn't want to sit for. My tushie is still sore from 2 days of those bleachers. The races were great because it was a wreckfest and that is what makes racing fun!

Anyway, we had a nice time and got to go down onto the track this year for the Sunday race. Tom and I got to sign the start/finish line and go see all the trucks up close and personal. After a lot of picture taking - I headed back to our seats and Tom walked down pit road. We even saw a girl that Tom graduated High School with and talked with her and her husband.

While we were "Slaving" away at the race - Alayna was at Beth & Lucas' house enjoying playing with Brayden and Kolby. I asked her last night if she had fun - and she told me all about her day and what fun she had. What was funny was that she was telling me a story that she and Brayden were playing and she just knew that that "Brayden needed some quiet time to compose himself because he was just losing it, poor boy!" I loved it, kids come up with the cutest sayings.

Our next race is in October and we are planning on spending more time at the track. I can't wait.

Posting from Tom's computer

Last Thursday I did my usual Wii workout and then proceeded to try to get some work done that I had brought home. I went to start my computer and nothing....dead....angels flying around...get the picture?? So, Friday we took it to Best Buy since it had a 3 year warranty and it hasn't been 3 years yet. The geek guy (ohhhh how I love to say that about a computer person, geek guy!) wasn't very optimistic that I would see that computer again. He said that if they decide to bury it - then I would get a new one. So, Tom told me that he wanted the 2nd hard drive (the one with my data on it) out of that computer to confirm that they won't delete everything on it.

They also told me that it would take 2-3 weeks (dang geeks!). So, I would use Tom's computer at night and then on the week-ends I will cry - or scrapbook!