Sunday, November 23, 2025

117.8

The gangs all here! DSD and husband arrived about 1/2 hour early at the airport here and other DSD and grandchildren arrived in Orlando about 1/2 hour late. Everyone was here by 10:30. Late night getting settled in so it was 11:30 before we went to bed.

Terrible tragedy in our little town right next to our beach club on Friday. A young man with mental health problems was being served an eviction notice at the request of his mother who was afraid of him. He shot 2 deputies and a locksmith, killing one of the deputies, a 47 year old mother of 2. The killer died later of his wounds. The mother was there when it happened and had no idea that her son had a gun. Just a terrible thing - only the 2nd time in the last 100 years that a law enforcement officer in our county was killed in the line of duty.

Today we will be at the beach club most of the day so the kids can lounge around the pool and watch the football game at the bar. We also have reservations for dinner at the restaurant there after we all get cleaned up. But first the bus leaves at 7:30 (with only the 2 usual occupants). A Justice walk will follow.

Have a safe Sunday!

Happy Sunday!

204.2 - holding steady. I forgot to take my shot on Thursday and Friday, but finally took it yesterday evening. Sheesh!

Auntie Kathryn's mom is in the hospital. Doesn't look good. Edema in the chest cavity compressing her lungs, a mass on her kidney, another on her lung and a spot on the spleen. I've known her since I was 4 years old, so I'll go with Kathryn to visit her today. Will probably be the last visit. She's 89, a self imposed shut-in, doesn't eat much (weighs 87 pounds at 5'2"), and is ready to go. She will go on palliative care and hospice now.

Liz, horrible story about the mentally ill man.

It started out beautifully sunny this morning with a bit of ground fog. Now it's gray. Blech... No rain forecast, though.

Costco, hospital visit and dog grooming will fill up my day.

Very sad about Auntie Kathryn's mom. Sounds like where my Mom was in her last couple of weeks. Sad for those they leave behind but they are ready at that point.

I'm glad you will have a chance to say goodbye to your elderly friend. I hope palliative care keeps her comfortable in these last days.

I'm betting that she has weeks, if not a month or two. I'll help Kathryn find a hospice home for her mom nearby. She does not want to die at home.

Kathryn and her brother have not yet met with the attending doctor. All the tests and results were on her online chart. When they chart suspected renal malignancy and metastasis to the lung and spleen, one can only surmise the prognosis is not positive. I'm thinking the fluid in the chest cavity is something else altogether, but who knows. I am only guessing. I know they can treat the fluid build up, but there is no apparent cause, so they can only treat the symptom. It took about two weeks for the fluid to build back up to a level beyond where it was at the beginning of November.

Liz your house is no doubt rocking and rolling. terrible tragedy in your community. That poor mother, who probably tried to do everything she could for her son, and still the outcome is this. And the deputy's family, what a loss. All gave something, some gave all. May she rest in peace after giving her all to the service of others.

This morning we attended a graveside service for a wonderful man, on the 5th anniversary of his death, as is the Jewish custom. The cantor had readings encouraging us to value the time we have. Our friend was the father of DH's best friend, and a mentor to us in the 30 years we knew him. He was a highly intelligent, wise and kind man who took us in calling us his chosen family. How incredible to be chosen by someone for whom we had such regard.

Later this evening we are going to a fun jazz club in dowtown Minneapolis. Always a good time. We've heard the main act perform in other concerts in Minneapolis, but we've never been to a show where she is the headliner.

My war with the gnats in my houseplants continues. I bought little sticky traps that you stick in each plant, so now I know which ones are infested. Yesterday I bought Neem Oil, which I am applying daily to every plant whether infested or not at this point. There are no swarms of gnats, but the sticky traps have more on them than I expected. But it seems whenever I sit, there is one, and only one gnat that flies around me. So annoying. But at least it seems controllable. In all my years of houseplants, I've never had this issue.

DD should be home on Wednesday, if all goes well in airline world. DS is on his way to Palm Springs today. The holidays are upon us!

I just started a recipe, White Chicken Chili that involves opening a lot of cans and dumping them into a crockpot

Shredded Chicken ( I use about 2 cups)

1 can each of black beans, navy beans, sweet corn, and rotel tomatoes

packet of ranch dressing mix

8 oz cream cheese

drain all the cans except for the tomatoes. Stir, wait for it to be warm enough to eat. I think you could leave the cream cheese out if you wanted, it would be more like a soup. I figure the cream cheese isn't super bad though, because there is probably 10 or so servings involved here, so less than an ounce per serving.

You can up the spice index by using spicier rotel. Being a Minnesotan, I always choose the mild version : )

I am so saddened to announce that I have to buy new winter coats. LOL!

Every last one of my winter coats is like a tent and hangs down half way down my thighs. Started with a new puffer jacket with a hood from Costco this morning - on sale for $30, so I couldn't resist!

Since I bought the the tan puffed bomber jacket at Disney, all I really need is a basic kick around puffer in black for everyday and dog shows.