And Life Goes On!

Well, here I am, almost 2 weeks to the date of my judge's interview for the pageant update!

The week after, I was totally worn out and could not do my Cardio Rehab. The nurse threatened to report me to my doc if I didn't TOTALLY rest for one week, eating lots of veggies and fruit. So, that I did and this week I am totally renewed!

Received my labs from last week and they are the best ever! My Cardio Rehab, also, went very well on Tuesday. Surprising what a little rest will do, EH? So, on with LIFE!

This A.M. I spent about an hour on line looking for a new gown for next year's pageant..;)
Well, I don't know if any contestant ever one on their first try and I am beginning to get excited about next year! This Sunday I will attend the Post Pageant Party in Peoria, AZ and receive my gifts and dvd's and professional pictures. It will be fun to see all the gals again.

For today, however, I intend to spend a couple hours cleaning the garage, as we are getting a new door on Tuesday, and maybe plant my plants that have been waiting for almost a month to go into the ground, before they all die. I will do all this after I sit down and pay bills for an hour!

Yesterday, I caught up with the regular laundry and next I will strip the beds of flannel sheets and ready them for this Spring weather we are having, which also includes taking the down comforter off the bed that has been much too hot for the past couple weeks!

Yesterday, I took Leo to the train..As we left his house, he said, " Guess that's it!" I responded, "Yes, another chapter in your life." He said, "And what a chapter it was!" He seemed to take it much better that I expected. In fact, I think I was more sad than he as we left the house for the last time. He offered to have me take anything I wanted from the house that was up for sale, but I just couldn't bring myself to accept his offer as everything just brought back sad memories. So, we left with my sister Ruth and Misty (as Leo put it) in the suitcase, which was in my car's trunk! Guess he didn't trust leaving the ashes out of his sight and is hauling them home in his suitcase! As I attempted to lift it, I asked him, "What ever is in this suitcase, bricks?" As I have never lifted such a heavy one! "No," he said, then added, "Just a few things, not that much." He didn't tell me at the time about the heavy ashes in there, maybe 'cause the last time he handed me a velvet bag with Misty's ashes in it explaining to me that I was now holding Misty, I almost threw up! So, he didn't tell me about the ashes in the case until we were on our way.

We had lunch at Denny's and shared a strawberry shake (Ruth's favorite) almost in celebration of Leo taking her and Misty home, it seemed...:( We drove to Flagstaff and had no trouble finding the historic four story hotel Leo had reservations at. It is two blocks from the train station. This A.M. at 4:30 he was to be picked up by a cab and taken to the station to catch his 5:15AM train. So, buy now, he, Ruth and Misty are on their way home to Illinois. Another chapter in my life closed, too. (I am very sad now, thinking about it..don't know if I will ever get over the loss of my big sister, who was the only constant I ever had throughout my lifetime, until last October. "You are severely missed, my dear, dear sister and almost mom.)

We must all move on now, knowing she is better off where she is and is now experiencing the love of those that went before her and of our merciful and forgiving Lord. "Til next time, luv to all my babies big and small, yo mama and grammie.

Is It Over or Just Beginning?

Here it is Thursday already..the pageant was five days ago...guess I am just beginning to get my feet back on the ground!

Well, I did not win or even place in the top five this time...This time, you say? Well, maybe I 'll try again next year..most the preparation is already done..should be a piece of cake next time! We'll see. Sure made a bunch of new friends..hope they all stay in touch..we went through a lot together.

It really seems nice having time to do the dishes and the laundry and maybe even vacume the floors tomorrow..what a treat!

Then, of course, I have my three CASA kids that I have almost totally ignored the past month and even longer because of the pageant demands and my illnesses. Looking forward to socializing with them and fighting the system for them again.

This Saturday, Larry and I will take Leo's dresser to him as he is being moved on the 12th and next Wednesday, the 14th, I will take him to Flagstaff where he will catch the train to Illinois the next day at about 6AM, I guess. Another chapter of my life closed..can't think too much about it as it is still very hard for me to accept the fact that my dear sister (and almost mom) is no longer on Earth. I miss her so very, very much! I understand that this Autumn Debbie will have a memorial service for her, which will help with some closure..it did with my sister Laurie, anyway.

I must now concentrate on getting stronger as my nurse a Cardio-Rehab is quite concerned about the down turn in my Cardio results. She feels I totally wore myself out the last couple weeks with little sleep, the stress of the pageant, all the activities, the dancing and to top it all off, being quite ill with a really bad cold. She made me promise to rest 'til next Tuesday and eat lots of veggies and fruits to help regain my strength and if I don't show improvement by Tuesday, she will report it to my doc...whoa!! sounds pretty authoritarian to me. In a couple weeks, I intend to get a second opinion, anyway.

Til next time..love to all my babies big and small..yo mama and grammie

Ready, Set......Go!!!

Woke up Tuesday AM with a horribly burning throat and sinuses...just what I need with a million things yet to do for the pageant! Got out the echinasia, and cold eeeze. Troat continued to burn..could not swallow...went to the store and bought two bags of potato chips. Started eating them on the way home and WALLA!!! Within about five minutes, throat was better...so every 3 or 4 hours since, I eat more chips. Feel much better today...just wish my nose would quit filling up. That'll be cute tomorrow if I have to keep wiping and/or blowing my nose during my interview with the judges (did I mention, also, wiping the make-up off my face at the same time..:(......?

Dress has been redesigned, revamped and added to, toe nails are polished, finger nails are glued on (Still have to file and polish them) and I am having quite a time here trying to type with them! I wnet spray tanning for the second time in 8 days..pretty tan right now. Two interviews today with the Prescott and Prescott Valley news papers. Seems like they are interested after all...the Prescott Paper said they were going to write a story about me, instead of just publishing the press release from the pageant people! Sure hope I at least end up in the top five, so I don't embarrass my city! They are coming to our performance on Monday to take more pictures and get the results of the pageant.

Just need to finish packing and go over my lists of lists so as not to forget anything!

Debbie called today from Pekin to ask me if I could take Leo to the motel in Flagstaff on the 14th. Guess he is going home to Illinois on Amtrack and needs to spend the night there 'cause the only train going his way leaves at 4 or 5:30AM. Said I would be happy to do that. The movers are coming on the 12th..they will be towing his car. I don't know how he will sleep there the next two nights with no furnitue. Larry and I are thinking of asking him to stay here 'til the 14th...we'll see. She has rented an apartment for him 2 minuts away from her with the mall and a city park a block away, so he won't have to drive much. He had a crashed fender last time I saw his car and Deb said he ran into Kim's car coming out of his garage a couple weeks ago. Too bad..wonder how Kim felt about that?

A bit chillier here today about 67 degrees..a bit windy, but the air smells very fresh..just like up at the lakes in Wisconsin.

Signing off now...my next blog will probably be Sunday night or Monday..

Love to all my babies, big and small..yo mama and grammie