Earth Day Planned Obsolecence

   Jane and I have gotten both covid-19 shots at Meijer's in March and Lukas and Simon have got their first shots in April. I am going to the Y twice a week and Jane will be going in May. On March the 18th it was very windy and the tree behind the garage blew down taking out the fence and fort. On Saturday the 27th some guys who knew Luke's friend cut up and took most of the tree for free. Jon, Sharon and the boys got here on Friday for Silas' birthday so they got to see the tree disappear. Sunday was Jon's birthday and we had dinner before they left around 2:30 and he fixed the hallway bathroom's toilet for my birthday present. I had to replace a tire on the Equinox and Roto-Router had to clean roots from the outside drain that week. The insurance company cut us a $2,400 check for damages. We went to visit the boys in Valpo the weekend of April 16th as Elidia and Jim watched Gramma for us and all went well. Other than 2 falls Gramma has been doing well and had 2 doctor appointments that showed her to be in good health. The country overall is doing better with over 2 million getting their vaccine shots and Derek Chauvin behind bars being found guilty on all 3 counts in the George Floyd murder. Worldwide there are 145 million cases, 3.1 million deaths, U.S. 32.6 million cases and 584,000 deaths, 810,000 cases with 17,140 deaths so we will continue with our masks in public and social distancing and pray for God's protection. 70 years are now on my calendar and life is what each day brings as I willing accept my role on Earth. The weather has been mild all spring and the end of winter with above average temperatures and only 2 days with an inch of precipitation and everything is green. 

Winter of 20-21, Waiting Longer

   December was mild with little snow. We sold Simon's car for $200 salvage towed away on a flatbed. Jon and Sharon came for Christmas here on the 20th-22nd and we had a great visit as they stayed at the Quality Inn and there was room for all of us with Gramma spending a part of Monday with Elidia while we exchanged presents. The boys loved being at Pa Pa's and Gi Gi's as Paul had never been here and for Silas being 3 years. We got a new LG washer and dryer on the 28th and had Brad hook up the new electrical for us and are very happy with them. The New Year came in silently and until the 6th of January hope was rekindled. But trump would not go quietly into that goodnight and rallied his troops to take over the Capitol and congress during the Electoral College vote causing the most disgraceful transition of government in the history of the USA. Gramma had many appointments with the podiatrist, dentist, hearing aid and Sparrow for ultrasound on her left foot for concern about circulation. Biden became our 46th president without trump's terrorist's disruptions as the National Guard was deployed in D.C. and still having some presence there. I started going back to Silver Sneakers at the YMCA on the 20th, 2 days a week. We have had 3 snows of 7",4", and 8" to make up for early winter's calmness. From February 5th until the 20th the high temperature stayed in the lower 20's or less with many single digit lows allowing for that snow on the ground to stay at 19". Gramma has got both of her Covid-19 shots and Jane her first as the world total of cases going to 112.5 million with 2.5 million deaths while in the USA 28.3 million cases and 503,055 deaths, and in Michigan 583,000 cases and 15,400 deaths. Jane and I both got teeth cleanings at Rashid's and the cats shots and nail trimmings at Miller's Animal Clinic. Life has been so much peacefuller since trump exiled himself to Florida and Biden has actually shown what a president should be! Trump also was impeached for the second time but the Senate with 9 Republicans voting for impeachment did not finish the job.  May our country be forgiven for trump's sins against humanity!

Home for Thanksgiving

   We were going to Valpo for Thanksgiving but due to the Covid-19 and the CDC's guidelines we stayed home and zoomed with the boys. Andrew was over and we had a 22 pound turkey and carrot cake and all were well fed. There have been 60,900,000 cases worldwide with 1,430,000 deaths while the US has had 13,000,000 cases and 268,000 deaths and Michigan 325,000 cases with 8,800 deaths so we are taking this seriously here.   I was able to take Silver Sneakers classes for 4 weeks until the Governor shut down group classes again. We were limited to 11 in a class and the first 2 weeks there were only 5 or 8 people there and Gary was  the only instructor. We had a 8 day stretch of warm days that allowed me to organize the garage so we can put the car in on the side where the door works this winter. I took bikes to Delta Recycle along with other recyclables. On November 5th I took my brother Jim by the house on Everett Drive and then we went to Grand River Park and walked along the river through the area by the railroad tracks about a mile and to the old neighborhood which he really enjoyed. Gramma had appointments with Sparrow Senior Health, Dr. Rodiguez and Elite Dental keeping Jane busy but better now than when it gets cold. Lukas began working at Celink by the airport the beginning of November and has liked the job. The election left us in doubt for days as to who would be the winner with all the mail in votes that had to be counted and the president thinking because he was ahead the night of the election that he had won but NOT! Trump still has not conceded and has lost most of his lawsuits on the results and has hunkered down at the White House pouting and doing little but golfing away his inner tears. It looks like Biden has beaten trump by the same Electoral College numbers as he had in 2016's election. Pray for positive change and a brighter future for our nation with politicians working together for US like they were elected to do!

Waited Long Enough

   September has come and passed. Summer ended and autumn has set in with shorter days. Gramma had a tooth pulled and teeth cleaned along with a good check up from Sparrow Senior Health. Her doctor agreed to take her off Xanax that she was put on for the anxiety created by Petra and Gloria. Lisa and Elidia have come over to visit and agree how much better Gramma is doing despite Petra's false reporting. On the 9th we had our vacation in Grand Haven. This year we stayed at Antony's House which was much bigger being on 2 levels and stayed until the 17th. Everyone was there for a time with Phillip and Stephanie coming on the 10th being picked up in Grand Rapids. Stephanie left on the 13th but Jon and Sharon were there from the 11th through the 13th so everyone had some time together. Phillip flew out on the 16th but not after losing his wedding ring in Lake Michigan. Fortunately he called Ringfinders and with the metal detector and Simon staying in the area where it was lost. Phil lost it as he tried to catch a football but they were able to find it in about 20 minutes. Simon though found out he had left his cell phone in his shorts and lost it also but was able to retrieve his info from the cloud when he got his new phone. The weather and the smoke in the sky from the wildfires out west gave us hazy sunshine that also kept the temperatures down and it being after Labor Day not as much to do especially with the covid restrictions. Uncle Andy stayed with Gramma at our house and they survived the 8 days. I replaced the garbage disposal and the bathroom fan in the week after vacation. I had new tires put on the Malibu and the oil changed. On the 30th we had our zoom meeting with Eaton County on Gramma's guardianship and Shine Advocacy was given approval from us and Petra to takeover. We visited Uncle Angelo and Aunt Lenny at their house and had dinner with Gramma and he also brought over a cherry pie. Finally we're into October and Gramma had her hearing aids fixed at Accuquest and had her toe nails and callus removed by Podiatry Plus. Trump has the covid virus and had 3 treatments and hospital stay after his embarrassing debate debacle. We all voted by absentee ballot and pray that our country will survive the election! World wide there are now 36,353,000 cases and 1,059,000 deaths, in the U.S. there are 7,600,000 cases and 212,500 deaths while in Michigan there are 132,000 cases and 6,900 deaths. So much has been put off while struggling with the new life we are learning. God help US please! 

 

Summer in Strange Times

    Gramma has been living with us since the 20th of July when Andrew picked her up at Petra's after she called because she was being mistreated by them. There has been a person assigned as her guardian through protective services and we hope to met with her soon to get Gramma the services she needs. On August 3rd I started getting the Eucharist for Gramma from church on Sundays. Lisa and her boys came over for dinner that night and visited with Gramma as has Elidia twice.  I had my wellness check up with Dr. Huhn on August 4th and everything looked good. On the 12th of August I helped pass out chrome books at Elmwood from 10 to 1. We went to Valpo the weekend of the 14th and Andrew took care of Gramma here at our house. Silas is going to school and has completed a week and a half now in Kouts.  On Monday the 17th while Jane and I were on a walk and I got bit by a pitbull boxer at Betty Shaheen's on Mar Moor Drive. I went to Urgent Care and am healing well but not happy about the experience as because if the neighbor hadn't seen what happened things would have been much more complex. We are in another streak of 88+ heat days creating true dog days of summer. Covid-19 deaths are at 176,000 in the U.S. with 5.7 million cases, Michigan has 6,400 deaths and  97,000 cases while schools here including colleges, are starting mostly online  with sports being cancelled on all levels and for football with the NBA playoffs being played under a bubble at Disney World Complex in Florida. MLB is a 60 game season with games being cancelled for different teams due to positive tests for different teams that will have to be made up as double headers that are 7 innings and then the playoffs. Hockey is playing their playoff games and we'll see what the future holds. Last week Biden and the Democrats had their virtual convention and the Republicans will do theirs this week with Trump-mania. GOD bless the USA and save US from damnation and give US redemption!

New Account

   Yesterday Andrew and Jane took Gramma to LAFCU and she opened a new account while closing out the one set up last October that had an ATM card issued to Gloria that Gramma did not want. As of now they have not reacted but tomorrow we will find out when they take her over to Petra's for the weekend. We need Gramma's SS#  to open the account and have her checks direct deposited in it. Gramma has been staying with us Tuesday through Friday since she got back from Florida. Last Tuesday Jane requested of them to show us and Gramma her LAFCU statements but instead of complying Gloria started attacking Jane about it and we left with Gramma. On Thursday Andrew reported them for elderly abuse and Eaton Co. called to talk to her but Gramma could not hear or understand the questions so Jane gave her the story and they are investigating. The case worker suggested changing Gramma's account and we had Gramma sign permission for them to investigate her finances and health records. Gloria and Petra had a whole week to do the right thing but their coldness sealed their fate.  I had my teeth cleaned at Dr. Rashid's on July 6 as Midwest Dental is no longer in Lansing. We had a visit with Jim and Betty on Friday the 3rd and on the 12th went to the Turner-Dodge mansion for a get together for Gregg's son Alex and future wife Molly as they had planned this to be a meet and greet for them when they were going to get married in May but had to postpone it. We took Peg as Lori had to go to the U.P.  They had stopped by during the week and we told her we would take Peg and the weather was just right after the long 10 day stretch of 88+ temperatures. I have been going to mass Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:10 and Sundays at 7:30.  Covid-19 is spiking again this time mostly in the south and the worse in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. Many states are making masks mandatory indoors and in large crowds to help stop a new wave of devastation. Globally cases are at 13.7 million with 586,000 deaths, in the U.S. there are now 3.5 million cases and 138,000 deaths, and in Michigan 72,000 cases and 6,100 deaths. Meanwhile our president still dismisses its danger and finally wore a mask in public while spreading his misinformation and division!

The Beat Goes On

   I had my final zoom meeting Monday the 1st and they will not have building subs next year. On Tuesday I went to Elmwood to turn in my key and give Ronisha a plate of Jane's cookies I promised her as she will be going to U of M next fall.  Buddy's Pizza opened June 8 and we tried their pizzas but were disappointed and had to call in about it and got 2 more for free the next week. They were better but still overrated. I've been going to mass at St. Gerards Sundays and now there is mass on Wednesdays at 8:10 also. Richard Dunlap started working on the hallway ceiling last Wednesday and finished this Monday.  We went to Valpo this weekend as we had not been able to go for 3 months so we had Father's Day with Silas and Paul. Monday the 22nd I got my first haircut since March 5th. My hair was the longest it had been in over 30 years, all wavy at the back corners. Gramma is back from Florida and we picked her up Tuesday  from Petra's and we will have her until tomorrow as she and Gloria got back on Friday when we left for Indiana. The restrictions are slowly lifting but the new normal requires caution and distance with new procedures for what we took for granted before Covid-19. Trump had his first rally against the advice of medical experts over the weekend and only had 6,200 show up when he said there would be a 100,000 and the arena in Tulsa held 19,000. Worldwide there have been 9.3 million cases and 479,000 deaths while in the US 2.3 million cases and 121,000 deaths, Michigan has 62,000 cases and 5,800 deaths with some Southern states hitting peak levels now. It is serious and we have a president with little ability to deal with reality and that is not fake news!