Such Talent

 I have been able to attend a concert by the Lebanon Youth/Adult musical group held in the Lebanon Courthouse.  It was wonderful.  They were so great and it was nice to see seasoned musicians and young ones just starting out.

I have attended two plays put on by the Fremd High School and Stevensen High School theater groups.  So entertaining.  Again such talent.

I just attended a musical presentation by the Stevensen music department where they broke down into small groups, picked their own music to present and practiced and presented.  Some of the music was hard to follow as their groups were small but overall it was very entertaining.

As I hear of these presentations I hope to attend as many as possible.

HATS

 I have always loved the look of wearing hats.  However, over the years I have found that they are so hot.  When I moved to Illinois from Arizona I had a couple of hats.  Now, look at my hats:

NUTS

Acorns that is!

I have mentioned before how big, beautiful and messy (leaves and limbs) all the oak trees are.  Well, I didn't think about all those acorns.

It sounds like little bombs going off, sometimes like about twenty or more at a time, especially then the wind is blowing.  I am so surprised that our patio table's glass top has not broken.  At night it's the same.

I have swept them off both the top and bottom patios and the next day it's like they were not removed.

Needless to say the little chipmonks, etc. are loving them.  Driving the dogs mad knowing and smelling them when they go outside.

 So the great oaks are beautiful when in bloom and when leaves turn...however, raking the leaves, limbs and acorns are the price we pay.

Not Really Surprised

 Had the CT scan and saw the oncologist.  Yep, it is not going away.  This is what Jennifer posted on Facebook and it pretty much says it all.

"Mon had her latest oncologist appointment this last Friday after a recent cat scan  Unfortunately, her cancer is progressing.  It is, officially, the esophageal cancer metastasized, to her lungs, lymph nodes and back on what remains of her pancreas.  No more chemotherapy.  No more radiation.  No more treatments except that which will, in the future, make her comfortable.  Thankfully, the progression that was seen was very minor, and so we are hopeful that we still have quite a bit of time with Mom.  She has been such a warrior the last few years, battling this stupid, unrelenting cancer, and we are all so much the better for the time that we've had with her, and the time we still have to come.  We are looking to the future, making plans and arrangements, but not giving up on the time we have now, living for the present, because it is such a gift.  Mom is the strongest person I've ever known and is facing this chapter of her life with the same resiliency I've seen her face other struggles with, which can be summed up in her favorite phrase...It is what it is"

So, there is nothing much else to say.  I hope I can continue to be the person above.  And, I can not believe the responses the posting received.  I have never really felt that I was worthy and it is beyond belief that, you know, maybe I have been been all along.

You have one life...LIVE IT and always be kind.

Arizona Trip

It was a great mental health fix, visiting family and friends and seeing old and new places.

Except for two nights I spent the time with Matthew and his family.  Got to wake up with the boys and go to sleep with them.  Enjoyed being with Matt while he was on vacation and sitting, drinking a coffee and talking with Kelley.  And, of course, bowling, golfing, bouncing, movies, shopping, etc.with the boys.   Both of them have grown so much since I moved to Illinois last October.  You realize how much you miss by not being there daily.  Talking and video chatting are just not the same.

Driving back with Ellen went great.  She is easy to travel with.  We basically had an uneventful adventure.  Except for ending up driving so long the second day because (who knew) Iowa's hotels fill up on weekend especially prior to college starting and the end of the pandemic.  Oh yes, and when you travel always plan on eating lunch, you might not find a place opened when you are done driving for the day.  I hope Ellen had a good time as well. 

2021 Month of July in Arizona

 Spending the month of July in Arizona.  Started out from Illinois, stopped in Indiana and then on to Arizona.  Yes, I drove by myself.  I have driven it three times and wanted to do it at least one more time, and who wants to deal with flying now days!

So exciting to see family (especially Brandon and Brody) and friends.  It is so interesting coming back and seeing all the changes.  It is the same with Indiana.  I really missed family and friends.  I put together a list and making sure that I see everyone before heading back to Illinois.

Driving back will be another experience.  My dear friend Ellen is riding back with me heading to Michigan.  I t will be great to have a companion and I believe we are going a different route than my usual so seeing new territory will be interesting as well.

Visit was very much needed for me.  And enjoying my time here which is going very quickly.  Heading back East on the 30th.

Humidity

Ah yes, Humidity!!  When you talk about the heat in Arizona you always follow it with "but, it's a dry heat!"  They are not kidding.  I kind of forgot how different the heat feels with Humidity.  I used to call it "sticky underwear weather" because your clothes would stick to you.  

My hair is soaking wet when I wear a hat outside.  The house is really cold, the carpet feels a little sticky, you just really feel the difference.

In Arizona it is so hot that when you sweat, it evaporates so fast you don't feel the wetness.  Here in Illinois, you definitely wear it.

Just another adjustment.