Yes and More

This probably was the beginning of all those bike races!! 1974

On December 31st I decided that I needed to rewrite at least one event a day if I am to get this writing finished.  Well there is no guarantee that it will happen but I have met+ my goal in January.  I just finished my 34th writing.  That means if I take the rest of the day off I will have done 1.096 writings per day in January, YES.  I may do one more and that would mean 1.129 per day, that of course is even better!!!!!!
I will not write about the mess at the desk but I may work on that and clean it up before we usher in February 2015. 
Terry and I went to watch our tennis pro in a tournament yesterday.  Usually he wins but lost in a tie breaker yesterday.  I needed some tips as I have 2 new tennis hats but I will NOT wear them until I win a match for the team.  We play again on Monday and our opponent has the same record as us so maybe---I want that new hat badly! If I do not win Monday I may put myself on court #3 the following week and forget about #1.  I actually may be worse than I think.  If all else fails I may resort to getting angry on the court, throwing my hat and saying bad things.  Actually that may be the answer, to wipe that smile off my face, quit having fun and be mad.   I am confident so I will pack a hat in my tennis bag and IF we win I will put it on before we have snacks and beer after the match.
I have been thinking about old age as my birthday just passed.  I have come up with a real plus for getting old.  I can take off my hearing aids and the world is so peaceful and quiet!
Must be that FP is getting to me, enough.

NO PAIN AND MUCH GAIN

Aaron, John, Travis and Lisa Saunders in 1973

I got on the tennis court this morning for the first time since January 19.  No pain in my left calf so that was good.  My game, OK but not great.  It was in the high 40s so I did wear long pants which is the first time I have ever done that.  I did not want to injury a muscle in the chilly air.  We have a team practice tomorrow, a clinic Friday and then maybe nothing until our Monday match. 
I had a great birthday yesterday.  68, for some reason it seems a lot older than 67!  Terry took me out for a free birthday lunch and then out again for dinner.  We ended up with MUCH food in the fridge as I just can not eat that much any more.  I had PT session in mid-afternoon and I think I am finished with that for now. 
Not much else, just tennis, reading and a tiny bit of biking.  I did get a great set of pedals from Terry, through Aaron, so I got those on the bike and now I need to try them out. 
No FP as it is PM and no more thoughts.

Last Sunday of January, 2015

Aaron looking at the wildlife at Sully's Hill south of Devils Lake ND--in 1974

Travis and Aaron like their hats!

1969 when Mom was 58

As I sit by the north window in our den the glass is glazed over with cool moist air.  The temp here this morning is 46 with the 7 day forecast telling us we will be in the low 70's for the coming week.  I am guessing the normal temps are in the high 70's or low 80's.  I thought I may bike over to the tennis courts this morning and practice my serve but I may wait on that.   My calf muscle gets better each day but will try to stay off of it most of the time for this coming week.  I am hoping to do the clinic next Friday and then play in the league a week from tomorrow.  We will see. 
I am using this time away from the court to get some writing done so all is not lost.
Terry is great at picking out wonderful books to read.  I am currently reading When All the World Was Young by Ferrol Sams.  I recently finished All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.  Both are great reads.  John and May suggested books by Wendell Berry.  I read Watch with Me and really enjoyed it so I guess all is not lost with this lame leg thing!
Terry and I went to the club Friday night.  I don't remember going there in the evening ever.  Where we live there is the option of belonging to the club which includes a pool area, the club where one can eat, the boat shuttle that goes out to the gulf coast, the workout room and then the tennis courts.  My feeling is the club is an OK place to eat but for the most part it is too expensive and the food is maybe a 6 on a scale of 1-10.  We went Friday night because friends, a couple from Hudson WI, invited us to her 70th birthday party.  It was a grand party with about 50 people there and it seemed like everyone had a fun time.  For me, I just have never been able to enter into those kind of eat, dance and converse parties.  I actually think I need to change my attitude and work at being more social at things like that.  I would rather be home reading, writing or in my wood shop.  I will try to change in the future.
Terry and I need to begin to think and plan the summer.  It looks like we will be in St. Paul most of the time and so we need to plan what work we would like to do and what Christmas presents we should make, if any.  It is only January but time goes by so fast it is almost scary!
I was thinking about family this morning.  Ronald's side, Glorine, is in SD, Janet's side, John, is in Arizona, Joan is in Utah, Dave in ND, Helen is in Arkansas but this week in Mexico and me here in FL.  I would not even begin to say where all the grandchildren and great grandchildren are.  Maybe we should have a family reunion!!!!!!
It is cool outside, Terry is snug in bed as she could not get to sleep last night so was up late.  That means it may be two pots of FP as the first is down to the last sip!

Not sure why

John working on the girls' bunkbeds, they will be very special

I am guessing in 1983

Terry and I (mostly Terry) organized the season's second Villia pool party yesterday.  It was the best yet.  I am thinking there could be as many as 55 people if everyone came.  Well there were about 30 and several were people who are renting for a few weeks.  I don't recall ever having people come who are just renting for a short time.  The food was good and it seemed like everyone had a great time.  It started at 4:00 but we arrived about 3:40.  Terry and I gathered our things and put them in the car about 6:15 and as we drove off there was a circle of about 15 people laughing and talking yet so it appeared as if it was a good time by all.
 
As I gingerly walk around this morning I am wondering what is going on with my body.  I started playing tennis in 2011 and after a short time tore a muscle in my right calf--end of tennis for the season.  In 2012 I dealt with golfer elbow (I am maybe the only person to get golfer elbow from playing tennis) and my tennis was halted.  In 2013 I decided to get real and had tennis elbow!  Then in 2014 that darn broken right wrist.  Now in 2015 a strained muscle in my left calf.
I decided to get to the bottom of things this morning so I went into the bathroom, took off my shirt to see how muscle bound I am.   Well the mirror sure does not lie.  I looked and looked and after some time I found a muscle (one).  I lifted my leisure wear pant leg and looked at the legs (a muscle in each one) so the verdict is I am not muscle bound.  The next step was to see how old I was.  Well there it was, the answer to ALL my questions.  I am getting older and I totally missed it.
So now I have a big decision to make.  Where to go from here.  I have come up with some options that I will think about:

• sit at home and become a master puzzle put togetherer
• take up bridge and use my mind (that may be old too I am told)
• take up pickle ball but that involves running but I do think it is for old folks
• see if I can find a competitive tiddlywinks league in Naples
• turn on the TV in the morning and watch it all day
• spend $50,000 on a woodworking shop here, opps that is out as I don't have the money
• continue to play tennis but run slow and learn to like losing
• continue my life as it is and deal with the pain when it comes
• drink 3 pots of FP every morning and see if the caffeine builds strong muscles

 Well I have some BIG decisions to make in the next few days but for now my FP is gone, that is the first pot.
I do have a PT session this afternoon and I am hoping that will tell me some things.  I need to know if that muscle is strained or torn.  I really think it is just a pulled (strained) as I feel much better as the days go by.  I am hoping the PT person can tell me when I can start playing again.  I hope to have some answers by this evening and then I will ponder my options!

The old and the new!

Elspeth Lee with her John Deere shirt--Grandpa Hengen, who she never met, worked for J D

Faustina Adkins, the oldest granddaughter in the Lee family--first grade this year

John, Travis and Aaron in the fall of 1983, all on the Highland Catholic soccer team-they were grades 8,6,4

Terry and I went to the movie "American Sniper" directed by Clint Eastwood.  We really enjoyed it.  It is a sad story but a true one.  Eastwood did a great job with it.  Now I would like to read the book.
My tennis team had their second match Monday.  My partner and I played court 1 and lost in a tie breaker.  No excuses, we should have won.  We lost the first set 2-6 and then won the second 6-1.  Get the picture, we didn't really come to play soon enough! Our court 2 team won in a tie breaker and court 3 lost so now we are 1 and 5 in two meets.  One of the teaching pros said we are doing very well--he may be right BUT we needed to win court 1!!  During our tie breaker I did something to a calf muscle so I will not play for several days.  Monday afternoon and Tuesday it was much ice time and IB and this morning I can walk without limping so maybe by next Monday??
We were invited for wine and cheese to some friends who live on the 16th floor in one of the high rise buildings here.  Very nice place and we had a good time.  It is always fun to visit with people from a different up bringing.  Michael is from New York and had 1300 or more in his graduating HS class, Terry and I had 65!  Meena was born and went to school in India.  The only thing that was wrong was he has a Yankee Room!!  It should have been a Braves Room!
We have our annual Villia meeting at 10 AM today and then Terry has organized a villa pool party at 4 PM so again it will be a busy day.  The party is not a lot of work but a person does need to bring tables, bring paper things and take care of details so it does take time.
We continue to have coolish weather for Naples.  I don't think we have seen 80 in several days.  Today it is supposed to get up to 79.  Again, no complaints.
My FP is always good to the last drop and I just drank the last drop.

On the mend

outdoor Cynthia

Rosy cheeks Cynthia

Both Terry and I are on the mend.  I took the last of my meds today and I should be good to go.  I would say my energy level is maybe only 90% but that will be back shortly.  Terry is close to being finished with her meds and I think she is almost good to go too.  She went on a walk yesterday for the first time in about a week so that is a good sign.
I think I am in the middle of battling a bit of old age.  I have been doing some more work on old pictures and oh my the memories, questions etc. have filled my mind.  I have never been one to "wish" for the good old days and I still do not, I am happy where I am today but it is more things like "why" or "what if".  I find myself seeing pictures of Ronald and Janet and wondering who they would be if they were still living.  I see pictures of Mom and Dad and coming up with many thoughts.  I have even gone back in my mind to HS days and wondered "what if".  Perhaps all of the "mind" stuff is normal, at least I hope it is because if it isn't I may be in trouble!!
Well regardless of the wandering mind I am happy to be me today.  However time does fly and February 1st Ruby Lee starts a new round of those grand kids getting a year older.  Henry, the oldest, turns 12 in August and begins the march towards those teenage years, wow. I say that and then realize on Terry's side the oldest will turn 21 this year!
No complaints but we are having a cool January so far.  Mostly the temps have been in the 70s and I think that is a little cool for Naples.  As for me, that weather is great but you actually see many people wearing long pants and long sleeve shirts.
I have been able to get some rewriting done on my childhood stories so that has been good. Much to go but when I am able to get a little done each day it slowly moves along.
Lastly, my FP is back to tasting good BUT it is gone.

We did it, we lost all 3 matches and had a lot of fun!

An urban cowboy long ago--note the cowboy boots!!

My team had our first of 9 matches yesterday.  Court #1 lost the first set in a long tie breaker and then the second set 2-6.  Court #2 lost 5-7 and 0-6 and Court #3 lost 2-6 and 3-6.  I learned a lot in my first match and I hope others did as well.  I played with Bill and we played against one guy who was OK and his partner who has played a lot of tennis.  We tend to play daily against the same people so it was fun, interesting and a great experience to play against new people.  I promise that we will win some matches this year.  The better player we played against played a lot of tennis, then did not play for a few years and then got new knees last year and started playing again.  If you look at players like me, new, and players like him you can see the difference.  Win or lose I love the competition and the challenge of trying to figure out and taking advantage of my opponent's weaknesses!  By the score yesterday I did not do all the well BUT there is another day. 
I play at 7:30 this morning and then Terry and I have several places to go.  I THINK we are on the mend after days of flu/colds.  My energy is maybe at 85% and I would say that was a factor yesterday in the match as well but you go with the flow and do the best you can.
It looks like the weather will be back to normal this week.  Today 81 and clear so that is a change from last week at this time when it was windy, cloudy and mid 60's.
I know I am getting better as my FP tasted OK yesterday and good today.  Boy it was a bummer when I didn't even feel like making or drinking my coffee.   
And the answer is yes, I could have found a better and more interesting picture this morning but what the heck there is nothing wrong with promoting one self!!  FP is gone and I am wondering what I put in it--not really.

The flu?, A cold for sure!

An oldie but goodie.  This is not Dad but it could be as we had that Jayhawk hay stacker and an M tractor like that.  We made the biggest and best hay stacks in the country!  On year Dad decided to get our stacks moved by someone who had a stack mover but our stack was way way too big so Dad and Ronald twisted barb wire fence into a rope, threw it over the stack, tied one end to the Ford and one end to the M and cut the stack in half!!
Terry and I are not being able to enjoy the FL weather as colds and flu have hit.  Terry went to urgent care yesterday and we are hoping the meds will end her sickness.  I have been sick for well over a week now and each morning I say to myself I am better but my energy is low.
Enough for now.  I did not even make FP this morning as the idea did not sound good.  Now that is BAD!

Boxes for the grand children

All of Terry,s grand children and all of mine now have a box to keep inportant things.

We are now at January 4th, I have a cold that is getting me down a bit so will stay low today.  I am thankful for 2015.

Day 1 of 2015

delicious homemade ice cream in South Bend

great homemade ice cream in Madison

We spent much of Christmas Eve Day with Kim, Dave and family-Tori, Zach, Josh and Sam (Kim is Terry's daughter)

We enjoyed Faustina, Leo, Ruby, Audrey, Liam and Henry BUT Elspeth was the Christmas Cutie!

It's gone and it's here.  Christmas of 2014 is history.  The Lord came in a new way, as a baby and he does that each year.  As I sit and contemplate it I am always amazed and sometimes I almost have to pinch myself to see if it is real!  Did our GOD, who is everything to everybody really lower himself to a baby and then decide to be born in a barn.  Each year I come to the same conclusion, yes he did and I am eternally grateful.  And yes it is here, a new year, a time we can reflect and then react in our lives.  A time to resolve to love more, do more and be Christ to people we know and love.  Perhaps it will come out in: being more present, giving more, loving more, listening to God each and every day and then acting, maybe we will decide to complain less and be more appreciative and for sure there are hundreds of more ways we can change and be more present to our Lord. 
I have several things I intend to accomplish this year.  I am undecided if I should write them and hold them up as goals each day or wait until they are completed and then share!!  Of course the first includes accountability and that may be the best!!!!

• It sounds a bit crazy for a retired person to say they will be not so busy but that is me.  It seems each day I wake up I have a list of things I need/want to do.  Perhaps I need to take a day or two each week and not have a list, I need to pray about that for sure.
• I do intend to rewrite some childhood memories and then have Terry edit them.  THEN put them in order.  Actually I want to put them in a book but that sounds too daunting so I will just say in order!
• The guitar, it needs to be in my hands each day.
• I was able to get all my slides on the computer now it is time to see what I can do with movies and prints.
• Of course I would like to up my tennis game at least a notch
• I want no day to come to a close without reading scripture
• I want to be more loving and more present to Terry
• I want to stretch each day as that helps my back 

 That probably is more than enough!   2015 started out with a winner--FP but I am now down to the last drop.