I've been tiptoeing through our tax forms today, and my brain is mush. Please enjoy this happy, friendly guy.
Thanks to April, who doesn't know me from Eve, for posting this on her blog!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Pro-Life Corner
I think that it is vital that society understands and appreciates the sanctity of every human life whether it is a developing child in the womb or somebody approaching the end of their life. When I graduate and become a doctor I am hoping to be able to use my skills to help save lives. I think abortion is never the answer and hope that one day, as a doctor, I will be able to help women to make the right decision.
Siobhan Fearon, 19, of Hull York Medical School
Siobhan Fearon, 19, of Hull York Medical School
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Happy Birthday, Jay!
27 years ago, The Infantryman, our oldest son, was born. It was a Saturday, too; a day like we had here at the farm today; warm, sunny, a first taste of spring. The only difference was that there was no snow that year!
On Friday, I worked my last day. I was a secretary/receptionist/teachers' aide at an alternative school. I was tired and uncomfortable and HUGE, and was actually quitting a week earlier than I had planned. I was hoping to spend that time cleaning and shopping and otherwise getting ready to have a baby.
The next morning, John left very early for Michigan, where our best man would be married that afternoon. I got up, had some tea and toast with him, kissed him goodbye and went back to bed. My plan was to sleep until I woke up, whenever that was.
About two hours later, I woke up. It soon became apparent that I was in labor. I called my doctor, and my mom. She came by and sat with me for most of the day. 27 years ago, mere mortals did not own cell phones, so there was no way to let John know he that he might want to come home. All we could do was call another friend, who was waiting for John to pick him up so they could attend the wedding together. Since the drive was close to 4 hours, I knew we wouldn't see John again until nearly suppertime. He would pass the hospital on the return trip before he would get home, so we told him to just go there. We headed that way about 4pm.
When I got to the hospital, I learned that we really hadn't needed to get there so soon. As is typical for first babies, Jay was taking his time making an appearance. We spent about 7 hours looking at each other, and at the nurses. Moaning, hollering and complaining were coming from several of the other labor rooms, and I was getting a little nervous. How much noise would I be making soon? When the nurse came in and offered me something to help me sleep, I was a little skeptical. Then she told me, "Honey, this baby isn't coming till early tomorrow morning, 6 or 7am. (This was 7pm) I'd really like you to get some rest." As she gave me the shot, she told me that occasionally she'd see women relax enough to deliver faster than she had predicted.
About 11:30, I woke up feeling some nasty pain. I got more nervous...Certainly I wasn't going to be feeling this until early morning? I woke up John, who had gallantly agreed to sleep on the hard floor after driving 8 hours, rather than leaving me alone and heading to the Fathers' Lounge. He began rubbing my back, which was where most of the pain seemed concentrated. (Childbirth educators don't like the word "pain;" they prefer "discomfort." It's PAIN.) Suddenly he said, "Did that hurt?" Duh. Then he said, "I'm calling the nurse. I think I felt a head come down your back." Sure enough, he had. In the 2 1/2 hours I had been asleep, I had become very ready to deliver. I was not waiting until 6 or 7am. In fact, I was not waiting until 2am. I was moved to a delivery room, pushed a blessedly short time, and, right after 1am, Jay was born.
And the rest, as they say, is history. Thanks so much for the trip down memory lane!!
On Friday, I worked my last day. I was a secretary/receptionist/teachers' aide at an alternative school. I was tired and uncomfortable and HUGE, and was actually quitting a week earlier than I had planned. I was hoping to spend that time cleaning and shopping and otherwise getting ready to have a baby.
The next morning, John left very early for Michigan, where our best man would be married that afternoon. I got up, had some tea and toast with him, kissed him goodbye and went back to bed. My plan was to sleep until I woke up, whenever that was.
About two hours later, I woke up. It soon became apparent that I was in labor. I called my doctor, and my mom. She came by and sat with me for most of the day. 27 years ago, mere mortals did not own cell phones, so there was no way to let John know he that he might want to come home. All we could do was call another friend, who was waiting for John to pick him up so they could attend the wedding together. Since the drive was close to 4 hours, I knew we wouldn't see John again until nearly suppertime. He would pass the hospital on the return trip before he would get home, so we told him to just go there. We headed that way about 4pm.
When I got to the hospital, I learned that we really hadn't needed to get there so soon. As is typical for first babies, Jay was taking his time making an appearance. We spent about 7 hours looking at each other, and at the nurses. Moaning, hollering and complaining were coming from several of the other labor rooms, and I was getting a little nervous. How much noise would I be making soon? When the nurse came in and offered me something to help me sleep, I was a little skeptical. Then she told me, "Honey, this baby isn't coming till early tomorrow morning, 6 or 7am. (This was 7pm) I'd really like you to get some rest." As she gave me the shot, she told me that occasionally she'd see women relax enough to deliver faster than she had predicted.
About 11:30, I woke up feeling some nasty pain. I got more nervous...Certainly I wasn't going to be feeling this until early morning? I woke up John, who had gallantly agreed to sleep on the hard floor after driving 8 hours, rather than leaving me alone and heading to the Fathers' Lounge. He began rubbing my back, which was where most of the pain seemed concentrated. (Childbirth educators don't like the word "pain;" they prefer "discomfort." It's PAIN.) Suddenly he said, "Did that hurt?" Duh. Then he said, "I'm calling the nurse. I think I felt a head come down your back." Sure enough, he had. In the 2 1/2 hours I had been asleep, I had become very ready to deliver. I was not waiting until 6 or 7am. In fact, I was not waiting until 2am. I was moved to a delivery room, pushed a blessedly short time, and, right after 1am, Jay was born.
And the rest, as they say, is history. Thanks so much for the trip down memory lane!!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Friday Fun
A relaxing day. Did a few chores, then took Mary and Skye to The Square. We had dark cherry mochas and visited Read Between the Lynes, where they oohed and aahed over the little pup. She got so much socializing done that she flopped down on the floor of the bookstore and didn't want to get up to go home. Also took some clothes to the cleaners to be altered; when you lose weight, you have to buy new clothes! I liked these specific ones, so I am having them cut down a bit. Not cheap, and I really want to learn to do it myself, but I don't have a really good teacher close by.
This afternoon was supposed to be me-alone-in-the-house time, but there was a communication gap and it didn't work out. But I understand, and I'm OK with it.
Then the little people came over. Jay and Kris brought the kids, and they showed me their new Book Fair books. Seems the school at Zion is having a book fair every other month these days; a sign of the economy, I suppose. Schools need more money, and this is one way for them to get it. I'm just glad that the kids are wanting books!
Tonight is Karaoke night, but I think I'll be hunkering down with Numb3rs and a good movie. Maybe this one.
This afternoon was supposed to be me-alone-in-the-house time, but there was a communication gap and it didn't work out. But I understand, and I'm OK with it.
Then the little people came over. Jay and Kris brought the kids, and they showed me their new Book Fair books. Seems the school at Zion is having a book fair every other month these days; a sign of the economy, I suppose. Schools need more money, and this is one way for them to get it. I'm just glad that the kids are wanting books!
Tonight is Karaoke night, but I think I'll be hunkering down with Numb3rs and a good movie. Maybe this one.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
In Memory
In May of 1944, a local boy, Joseph Obinski, was flying The Hump in Asia. His plane and all aboard were lost. Recently, (2004?) remains of the plane were found. Mr. Obinski's dogtags were the only recognizable remains. On Tuesday, with Patriot Riders, Air Force and Army brass, the high school band, and members of the American Legion, Joseph Obinski came home to Marengo when his dogtags were returned to his only surviving sibling, his brother, Eddie. (Another brother, a pilot over Europe, was also lost in WWII.)
Sadly, I forgot my camera, so I have no pictures to share. And, frustratingly, the local newspaper didn't see fit to send a reporter, so I can't even direct you to a web article.
But thank you, Obinski family, for your courage and sacrifice. The Petermans remember.
Sadly, I forgot my camera, so I have no pictures to share. And, frustratingly, the local newspaper didn't see fit to send a reporter, so I can't even direct you to a web article.
But thank you, Obinski family, for your courage and sacrifice. The Petermans remember.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
--Groan--
I have been dealing with tennis elbow in my right arm for about two years. This year it developed in my right arm, too. I will never again snicker silently when someone complains about their tennis elbow. I will never again think, "Yeah, like THAT'S dire."
This HURTS. It hurts all the time, most especially when I wake up. It makes for one more thing on my list of Things That Make Me Pull The Covers Back Up Over My Head. I never realized how many things I do with my forearms, at least how many things I do that stress them. I've become very friendly with our bottle of ibuprofen. I also have brand spankin' new forearm braces, which are supposed to help while I do chores, but I think they help because it's really difficult to DO chores while wearing them, so I just pass some off to Mary, getting some rest in the process.
There's just SO much to DO!
This HURTS. It hurts all the time, most especially when I wake up. It makes for one more thing on my list of Things That Make Me Pull The Covers Back Up Over My Head. I never realized how many things I do with my forearms, at least how many things I do that stress them. I've become very friendly with our bottle of ibuprofen. I also have brand spankin' new forearm braces, which are supposed to help while I do chores, but I think they help because it's really difficult to DO chores while wearing them, so I just pass some off to Mary, getting some rest in the process.
There's just SO much to DO!
Monday, March 1, 2010
And So It Begins...
John calls it a congenital disease. All the women in my family enjoy gardening. Flowers, veggies, fruits, trees...we don't care. We like to grow things.
I have had a vegetable garden in our yard for the past 25 years or so. We like fresh vegetables, and nothing tastes like a veggie you grew in your own garden. The past two years have been terrible gardening years; cool and wet. We got a grand total of one tomato last summer. Two falls ago, there had been so much rain that, when it came time to dig the potatoes, we pulled the pitchfork out of the ground and the potatoes ran through the tines like mashed potatoes. They smelled vile and it was really disappointing. I tend to like the early parts of the garden; planning and planting. I don't even mind weeding so much, at least in May and June, when the mornings are cool and things are under control. As the summer heats up and the weeds begin the invasion in earnest, well, I can find lots of excuses to stay inside and let them. John prefers the later parts; harvesting and preserving.
I really like to have a plan for the garden, kind of like a cookbook. You know, what to do when. It makes it more likely that I'll get everything done. More likely; not a guarantee! This year I am following someone else's plan. It came from this book, looked sensible, and I wanted to try it. I decided to jump into it at the first of March. I'll start getting the beds ready and also start seedlings for cool weather plants.
This morning I went outside and saw this.
Last fall, we built raised beds in our garden, filling them with compost. (You gotta do something with all the poop and bedding we collect around here.) The very next day, the chickens descended, scratching and pecking through the compost. We re-filled the beds, and covered them with straw and wire to hold it all together.
This morning, I pulled off the wire. That was much tougher than it sounds, as the wire was frozen to the snow cover, which was frozen to the straw, which was frozen to the frozen ground. Did I ever mention my tennis elbow? Well, it got quite the workout. But I finally got the stuff off. Then I covered it up with black plastic. Hopefully, this will hold the heat in and warm the soil so I can plant things like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, peas and lettuces. In the end, it looks like this.
(Those things lying on top of the bed that look like ladders are tomato supports that The Medic built for me about four years ago. They work great for keeping tomatoes up off the ground...and also for holding things down during the windier parts of the year.)
And the gardening season has begun!
I have had a vegetable garden in our yard for the past 25 years or so. We like fresh vegetables, and nothing tastes like a veggie you grew in your own garden. The past two years have been terrible gardening years; cool and wet. We got a grand total of one tomato last summer. Two falls ago, there had been so much rain that, when it came time to dig the potatoes, we pulled the pitchfork out of the ground and the potatoes ran through the tines like mashed potatoes. They smelled vile and it was really disappointing. I tend to like the early parts of the garden; planning and planting. I don't even mind weeding so much, at least in May and June, when the mornings are cool and things are under control. As the summer heats up and the weeds begin the invasion in earnest, well, I can find lots of excuses to stay inside and let them. John prefers the later parts; harvesting and preserving.
I really like to have a plan for the garden, kind of like a cookbook. You know, what to do when. It makes it more likely that I'll get everything done. More likely; not a guarantee! This year I am following someone else's plan. It came from this book, looked sensible, and I wanted to try it. I decided to jump into it at the first of March. I'll start getting the beds ready and also start seedlings for cool weather plants.
This morning I went outside and saw this.
Last fall, we built raised beds in our garden, filling them with compost. (You gotta do something with all the poop and bedding we collect around here.) The very next day, the chickens descended, scratching and pecking through the compost. We re-filled the beds, and covered them with straw and wire to hold it all together.
This morning, I pulled off the wire. That was much tougher than it sounds, as the wire was frozen to the snow cover, which was frozen to the straw, which was frozen to the frozen ground. Did I ever mention my tennis elbow? Well, it got quite the workout. But I finally got the stuff off. Then I covered it up with black plastic. Hopefully, this will hold the heat in and warm the soil so I can plant things like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, peas and lettuces. In the end, it looks like this.
(Those things lying on top of the bed that look like ladders are tomato supports that The Medic built for me about four years ago. They work great for keeping tomatoes up off the ground...and also for holding things down during the windier parts of the year.)
And the gardening season has begun!
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