We have had a lazy type day. We got up and went to the usual, then Mom had physical therapy and did alright. It took some doing but she finally finished her exercises. She was having a hard time with the left leg for some reason. Some days are good, some days are not and it all depends on her. I cooked a roast in the crock pot and Mom didn't want any. I plan to separate it up and put it in the freezer now that it is cooked. Mom likes beef but who knows what is going on in her mind. I was disappointed that she didn't like the meat. I think it was a bit chewy for her, but still, I thought she would like it.

I took a long nap today even though I didn't sleep that badly last night. I was reading at the table last night so we ended up going to bed a bit later than usual. Mom slept in too. We tried the baby monitors that I bought last night too. It is so loud! I mean, really, really loud! White noise, so for about 2 hours I couldn't sleep until I was exhausted and turned it off, which is probably why I am so tired today.

It is nice and cool today, not hot at all! I love it. This is my kind of summer weather. Supposedly showers and massive heat wave next week during the week. Yuck, I can't wait until fall. I am such a fall girl so is Mom. Mom is putting a tissue on her head right now. I don't know why. Her head isn't sweating or dirty. I meant to get her hair cut today, but I fell asleep instead so we will go next week. I want her hair cut before we go to my uncle's. No special reason, just want it done by them.

Not much going on this weekend, we don't have any plans except our usual. I, hopefully, will start some of the Christmas ornaments that I have been meaning to start. My hands have been very painful lately so I haven't started anything. I wonder if Tillie would like to do any. Hmm, or Maia? Maybe, crafting with friends are so fun. I can't wait until Monday when I get to hear all about the camps Calli and Frank have been attending!

It is really nice out here today. Hope it is for you too!

I went grocery shopping by myself today! Yup, all by myself. It was really nice that I didn't have to worry about how Mom would walk through out the entire store from one end to the other. She stayed home with Carolyn. I got Mom some new colored pencils and coloring book. I got me a Star Wars coloring book! I just love Star Wars. Mom is playing with the table cloth again. I don't know why she does this, as long as she doesn't land stuff on the floor I will be fine with it, I guess.

I watched Oprah today, it was an interesting show. I have seen similar ones and the second part will be on tomorrow. It was on hoarding. One of the first symptoms of Alzheimer's is Hoarding. It isn't talked about much, but it is. Mom was a hoarder. Our house looked pretty bad. Cleaning in wasn't the issue, we could clean it up, it was getting rid of what we didn't need. She wouldn't get rid of anything and grew angry when people tried. I gave up because I figured she would eventually get rid of some stuff. Every so often she would just throw stuff away in anger and then she would start over again. I had no idea it was Alzheimer's so that I could have gotten her help and we wouldn't have the amount of stuff we have. Tillie and Maia have cleaned up and donated a lot of stuff. Yes, some stuff should not have been donated (like all of Mom's dress clothes, a couple of tools for the kitchen and a couple of pans) but mostly it has been a good thing. Mom is so far gone now she doesn't know it is her stuff that is gone. I have a lot of stuff too that I am going through. I have a bit of a problem with hoarding as I don't like to get rid of any of my stuff. I don't know if I am ready to have the family room done because a lot of that stuff is mine and some of it is crafts kits. I do crafts when I am feeling better and sometimes I do them with my students so I want all the kits. I plan to have a craft day in November before Christmas and we will do the bead crafts which will get rid of one of the bead kits if not both of them. My office just needs to be organized, my music needs to be put away. Katie was going to help, but she hasn't been able to yet. I am hopeful she can do it this month because I need to know what I have and it is difficult for me to stand to put away the amount that is out. I am not getting rid of any of my music as I still teach and need it. I also want to put up my other computer in the office and the printer and hook up the scanner so I can scan pictures and be able to post them.

Other than shopping we are going to get me a new pair of tennis shoes. I really need a new pair so we are going in a few minutes to go and get me some. We are also going to stop at Toys R Us and pick out a new backpack for Mom. The one I got is too big now that I think of it. I want something a bit smaller. I want to return the one I bought, but I can't find the receipt right now. I am hoping to find it this weekend.

We don't have plans this weekend. I plan to read the book club book and finish another book I bought. Mom and I will probably watch more of Walker, Texas Ranger season 7 and then we have season 8 to watch too. Next weekend is my Uncle's! So this weekend will just be quiet which is fine by me. We have new coloring books that need to be broken in. Maybe we will go out eat one night, or at least do take out as Mom doesn't eat much anymore and going out to eat with her is a bit of a money waster as she doesn't eat enough. We do have a busy week planned for next week though, which I am excited about. We will be meeting with Georgette and with Wendy a couple of days for lunch and tea. How cool is that? I can't wait to hear all about Wendy's camping trip with the family. Calli and Frank will both be back from camps so that is awesome and I can't wait to hear all about it! We may be visiting my friend, Laura, too. So a very busy week with friends is ahead of us! Fun times!

Well, we are off to get me a pair of new shoes before it rains again! I hope you are staying dry and cooling off!

A rather boring type day. I am not complaining, just pointing it out because around here, an exciting day is not always a good thing. Last excitement? Mom was in the hospital! Although I would say that going to Kalamazoo was exciting! Mom had physical therapy this afternoon. She did okay, not too good. She just couldn't do much today, she is very wiped for some reason. I had her in the living room for a rest and she took one, but I don't know how long she slept because I was sleeping. I don't know how much she slept last night either. I do know she was awake around 8 am because I had to go to the bathroom at that time and she was awake. I didn't go in though because I wasn't ready to get her up, I thought maybe she would go back to sleep but maybe she didn't. She is playing with the Kleenex box and tablecloth. As long as she doesn't rip it, I don't care. She can, however, shred the tissues as we have another box that we use. This is here play box that surprisingly is still full.

She is crying a bit more this afternoon than usual. It has been like this for a couple days. i don't know if that means her medicine needs to be changed. We have an appointment next week so I will ask. We accidentally missed the appointment in July. Oops! Not good on my part. Fortunately, we were able to get an appointment right away. Tuesday, we will be going to lunch with my friend, Georgette, so that is going to be fun. She was away up north a lot last month. I know she tries to spend as much time at her cottage as she can in the month of July. She takes the entire month off from teaching. I only take off when I am on vacation out of town. I find with the students vacations that is all i need to do although if necessary I would do the same. It just hasn't been necessary for me.

I filled out an application for a website that promotes lessons. I hope they add me to their list, it would help me out a lot. Of course, my own website will help even more so that is what I am in the process of doing. I get to have the first look at it next weekend. I am very excited about that. I hope it brings some new students my way. I am looking for about 7 more regular, weekly students.

In September, Maia, Danielle and family, and Mom and I will go to the zoo. It has to be on a cooler type day because otherwise Mom and I will melt. If it is too hot, we can't go. But I figure by the time Maia wants to go (near the end of the month) it should be perfect zoo weather. I am excited about it because both Mom and I love the zoo.

I was going to get some of the craft kits out but I took a nap instead. I was so tired that I had to go and lay down, while sit down in my chair with my feet up and my blanket and I sleep for about 3 hours. I don't usually take short naps, usually they last anywhere from 3 to 5 hours. Sometimes it is the best sleep I get all day.

I have a bit of a bad headache which I expected since it is so hot and humid out. I think it is about 90% humidity out today which makes it feel like it is over 100 degrees. Ugh, we only went out for our usual, and we drove through because Lori was on her way. I didn't want us to be late. Mom finished her donut in time for Lori to begin. It is supposed to be cooler and less humid tomorrow. I am going grocery shopping tomorrow by myself and I can't wait! it shall be great because I won't have to worry about Mom getting tired out while I am shopping. It is our monthly shopping. I just have to get a other things to like new crayons and coloring books for us. They are on sale right now. I do plan on taking her with me to pick out a new backpack, I don't like how big the new one is. I am going to get her a small cloth one like the one I carry. Or I may get me a new one and let her use the one I use. Either way, it will work out well. I am going to look to see if they have sweat pants out for sale yet too, because I need to get Mom a new pair in case of an accident and she needs to change her pants. I am going to get her a black pair since black goes with almost everything. I am looking forward to shopping on my own. I won't have to worry about Mom getting tired or walking to slow or fast because she does both. Sometimes she walks so fast she almost falls. I found that out when we went to get a few things the other day. Several times I thought she was going to go head over heels but she didn't. It was rather scary. Walmart is just too big for her to walk in. I won't have her do that again.

I hope you are having a good day.

It has been an interesting day so far. Mom had MAJOR meltdowns in Tim Horton's today. I asked what was wrong because I knew she wasn't hungry as she was eating and she said she felt "ashamed". I asked why and she didn't know. I assured her she did nothing wrong and has no reason to be ashamed at all. She, of course, is over it now and doesn't remember it, but wow, can you imagine? She feels ashamed. Today is a definite I HATE Alzheimer's day. Mom has no reason to be ashamed, she doesn't do anything wrong and what she does wrong is usually a symptom of her Alzheimer's (like her temper tantrum last night by throwing a fork with chicken at me). She doesn't do anything wrong. When we got home I immediately called my friend, Donna, who knows a lot of this disease, and she said it was probably the part of Mom that is still there trying to get out and can't. Donna said I did the right thing, but man oh man, poor Mom, in tears and upset because SHE feels ashamed. Fortunately, she is fine now and doesn't feel ashamed at all. This broke my already battered heart. She is in the living room sleeping now.

My pain level is pretty high in my head because of this upset, but the pain pills are kicking in. I tried to sleep a bit in the living room with Mom but head won't shut up so I can't sleep. We didn't get up too early today, noon, so Mom is probably rather tired as she wakes up early and just lays there waiting for me to wake up. I have no students today because Zachary can't make it this week and Charlie is at band camp so it will be really quiet today. I am reading the book club book and it is good so far. I don't usually like short stories because I always want more but these are good. It is the "Ford County" by John Grisham. I like his books, they are always entertaining. We are having book club at the end of the month. We will possibly have to miss next month because Bob and Maggie will be out of town for 2 weeks, one being the usual week we have book club, so we will just go straight to October. I have the perfect book that I just finished and loved. It is called "Cleopatra's Daughter" and it is wonderful. It is new to paperback and I got it in Kalamazoo when I went there for vacation. I am ready for another vacation, but I think we are done for now. Okay, I KNOW we are done for now, but still, can't blame me for wanting another one. I know both Mom and I would love to take a vacation from our illnesses, especially the Alzheimer's. I would like a vacation from being exhausted all the time too, but hey, I can still do some stuff so that is good. As long as I can teach, I am a happy camper. Without teaching, like would be awful, so I won't think of that now.

It is really really hot and humid out today. It is supposed to possibly rain and thunderstorm today and tomorrow and then it will cool down. I can't wait for the cool down. This weather is just awful and I can only think of my friends who live in hotter places than this! What they must be going through! Stay cool and try to have a good day!!

What a day!!! After spending some time reading some of the posts I am following, I follow some pretty amazing people!! I love reading other people's blog and about their lives, I love reading crafty blogs, and the amazingly cool stuff they create, I just love learning about other people. It makes me rather happy.

Mom is in the living room for her daily rest. I put her right in when we came home from the usual because when I asked her if she wanted to rest she said yes. It was a bit earlier than usual, but that is okay, if Mom is tired, then I will have her rest. No need to wait until "rest time". I only have 2 lessons today. 1 is a make up from Saturday, and the other is a regularly scheduled lesson. Both Frank and Calli are at either camping with family or band camp, so they are both absent. I can't wait until next week to hear all about Calli's time at camp and how Frank did with his first year of band camp. I remember band camps and I loved it even though it was so hot on the football field. It is a rather quiet week because Charlie, also, has band camp so he won't have his lesson this week either. But that is okay because I plan to get so craft stuff from down stairs and start on some Christmas projects. I also am going to go and get a memory card for my digital camera so that I can take pictures of the painted violins and violas for the giveaway this month. I am giving away 2 violins or violas and the rest I am going to sell at a place near here. I really loved painting and I plan to paint a couple of signs for mine and Mom's bedroom doors.

Well, I am now done with teaching for the day. Aggie had her lesson and so did Bob. Both are doing well. Aggie finished 2 pieces and started a new one. As it turns out, I don't have the classical piece she wanted. We thought I did, but I don't. I checked my catalogue and it isn't listed. I have all my music catalogued and boy, does it make it easier to check for music. Bob is working on a 2 part invention from Bach and a Sonata (K545) from Mozart. He has just started both pieces a couple of weeks ago.

Mom was a bit talkative during Bob's lesson. I don't like when she does that, but I also can't really tell her to be quiet because she doesn't understand so I end up sometimes just nodding at her and then going back to the lesson. Fortunately, Bob is VERY understanding about Mom and doesn't mind. She wasn't that talkative, just a bit. I was able to get her to sit down and listen near the end. I was glad of that, but still, it is annoying when she does this. She has been more talkative this last week than before. She even tried to tease Bob, but we were talking so he didn't hear her. She didn't know that though so she didn't get upset when he didn't answer.

It is really hot and humid out today so I am not feeling super well. I can't say anything in particular hurts more, I just don't feel too well all over. I have a feeling we will be going to bed rather early tonight. My breathing is a bit harder today. It is supposed to be hot and humid with thunderstorms for the next couple of days. Thank goodness it is finally August when is should cool down soon. I hope you are doing alright!

We were at my cousin, Lia's, baby shower. It was in a bar/restaurant type place. At first, it was really loud that frightened Mom. Luana, my cousin, Lia's aunt, asked Lia to turn down the music because it was so loud and frightening for Mom. Lia did right away. Mom was nervous at first, we were in a strange place and there were more people around than usual but once the guitar players started calming down. She was very tired though because she is usually asleep between 2 and 4 or 1 and 3 and we didn't have a rest today. The shower was at 2 pm, so no rest for Mom and she didn't sleep in the car ride there. I had hoped she would, but she didn't. She doesn't sleep in cars much anymore. I don't know if it is because she isn't tired at the time or if she is too nervous to sleep.

Tillie didn't stay at the shower very long because Luana had to go to a BBQ and Tillie rode with Luana. She missed the opening of presents and that is about it. She wanted us to stop by after the shower, but by the time the shower was over and we took Danielle, Elizabeth, and Maia home, Mom was wiped so we went straight home. As it was, we got home about 6:45 pm. If we had gone we would have been home even later and that would be bad for Mom.

I have a bit of a bad headache now. It is really annoying. I took a pain pill so I hope it kicks in soon. Well, time to give Mom her nighttime medicines. She did pretty well with taking it at that time with taking her medicine but she is pretty tired tonight.

I can't believe the day has gotten away from me. Yes, I did sleep in until noon, but then we got ready and Mom ready for Tim Horton's. Right when we got there, the phone rang and it was Lori, the physical therapist. I quickly put Mom back into the car and went through drive through for our lunch. I got us soup and sandwich combos, but naturally, Mom ate 1 /4 of her sandwich and was full and none of her soup. I will be saving the soup for later when she is hungry. She has finished 1 ensure so far and is finishing another one now. I am very happy about that.

The best thing that happened today??? I talked to my Laura, who I haven't talked to in 24 years about so many things, but also about the important website she is going to design for me! We talked about so many things, it was really cool. I messaged her this week asking if she designs websites and how much would it cost. She sent me back a message that said Yes! and gave me the costs. It isn't going to cost too much, so we can afford to do this. I am really excited about this because the web is now how most people look at things so that works for me! I did google last night to see what websites for lessons are out there, I emailed a couple to see if I can be added for lessons so we shall see what happens about that. I am excited about fall because it is the beginning of a new season and summer hasn't been too bad now, it was in the beginning with Mom so sick, but now it is okay. It is supposed to be hot later this week. I think Mom and I will stick close to the house and stay inside after our usual morning/afternoon trek. Mom hasn't taken a nap today, she seems rather awake for this time of day without a nap. I may put her in the living room in a bit to rest.

We just got back from Walmart. We needed to pick up a few things, like Lia's baby shower present. We got the cutest little outfit for the little one. She has named her Esther Ruth. Her mom, Maia, is coming to our house so she can catch a ride with us to her house. She comes over every weekend to visit her boyfriend. It is rather interesting that he lives a couple of miles from me. Isn't that amazing? Out of all the places in Michigan she could have met someone, she met someone who lives near her cousin (me). Such a small world we live in! I also got Mom some snacks for me to carry with me in case she needs them. I got both string cheese and granola bars, the chewy type. She started to cry when we were checking out, I know she was tired but she was hungry too so when we got into the car I gave her a chewy granola bar and she ate it and stopped crying. It is amazing! That is twice today that she cried for no reason and I gave her food and she stopped. I also picked up 2 boxes of tissues, one for her to play with and one for us to use. She hasn't played with it yet, maybe she won't. One can only hope.

I have discovered also that sometimes when we go to bed she is too tired to take her medicine and has a rough time doing it. It took 15 minutes for her to take 4 pills, I gave up on the 5th. Tonight, at 8 pm, I will give her her medicine for the evening. She doesn't take any sleeping medicine so it doesn't matter that if she takes it right before bed or not. Since we go to bed sometime between 9 and 10, I think her taking medicine at 8 is okay. It will just be hard for me to remember. I will though, it will be easier for her to take it because she will be more awake.

It has been a good day today. We are watching Walker, Texas Ranger, season 7 disc 4, episode 1. We will watch a couple more episodes and then we will head for bed. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow at the shower.

My bloggerette Society picture is now on my blog. Thanks to Connie! for helping me! I couldn't have done it without you! I am now waiting for the sitemeter.com people to email me my log in and password so I can have one of those on my blog too. I would like the Christmas countdown too, but we shall see. I love how people's blogs all look different with all sorts of pictures and things like that. I am just learning to do this stuff and it will take a while to do. The one tool Connie uses the most is not on my operating system and is not available on a G4 mac. Too bad, I could have used it a lot for things. Anyways, I got the Bloggerette Society up and that makes me happy! I am so glad about that.

The physical therapist didn't come today. I haven't heard from her so hopefully she will be coming tomorrow. Mom is in the living room sleeping. Poor thing is exhausted today. I wonder what time she woke up? Probably early knowing her and she woke up with her legs almost off the bed which causes her to get a back ache. It looked like she was trying to sit up but didn't get that far. Her head was completely off her pillow which is never good for the little lady. She needs to stay on her bed properly while she waits for me to wake up. When we went into the living room she said her back was sore and she had shooting pains up her back. I gave her a pain pill but I will keep an eye on her. I don't know what is up with this, hopefully it is a one time deal with this. She doesn't need any new pain.

Well, check out the picture! It looks so cute!

It is a good day so far. We are waiting for the physical therapist to arrive. She hasn't called to say she is coming yet and as far as I know, she is supposed to come today. Mom is awake right not, so now would be good! Mom is alert today better than usual so I am happy on that.

We don't have too much planned for the day. I need to copy some CDs for teaching and email a couple of friends about lessons, but other than that, not much. I am going to have a new website for lessons. My friend, Laura, (from high school no less!) builds them and she is going to build mine. I just have to decide what to put in it and that is that. I am so excited about it, it won't cost a whole lot to host, under $50 for a year, which I have enough to pay, and the domain name and then her costs. I think I only need a couple of pages, I don't see needing more than 2, I want a simple site. I will look at this later today and decide what I want. I haven't really seen any sites like this, so I am going in blind. I am going to research on the web to see if other teachers have done this. I really want to be up to date on advertising techniques. I tried the newspaper and it didn't work too well, so now I will try both for fall. I only need a few more (about 10) students and I will be tapped out. With that money and disability, we will be doing alright. Of course, I still want to be with Richard and family but who knows if that will ever pan out. Right now he has so much to deal with. I just want to be closer to him and the family because I miss him and his family so much and I think they are missing out on Mom. Eventually, Mom will not be able to communicate or have fun and now she can so you got to take the opportunity to be with her now, not later. But with this economy, and he looking for a job, it just isn't practical for him. He has to take care of the family and I do understand that, really I do. I just can't help missing him and wishing we were closer to him.

Mom is trying to play with the mouse again. She does this all the time. It is kind of both funny and annoying at the same time. I think she thinks she needs to move it to its place and doesn't realize it is already there.

I did get a very brief email from Richard yesterday. He only sends brief ones, extremely brief but at least I got the answer I needed from him.

Mom was about to put my purse (backpack) on the floor. I rescued it in time. I hate my purse or backpack on the floor. It is just a cloth one so it is small but fits what I need in it. I can carry Mom's ensure and all my stuff in one bag. Mom has a new backpack for her now too. I plan to use it this weekend, although, now I am kind of thinking it may be too big and I want a smaller one for her. We will be going to Toys R Us this weekend to look at the ones they have. Kathy said they have the cloth ones up and they have princess ones. I may get her that one for when we aren't going out very long and then she will have one for the car and one to carry. That may be the way to go.

I am not sure what we are doing tomorrow, we may go and see Ramona and Beezus, that looks so cute and I loved those stories so much when I was a child. We'll see how it goes. I am not taking her to see Eclipse,although I really want to see that movie a lot. Wendy's daughter said it is a bit scary and she thinks that it would scare Mom too much so we aren't going to see it together. I may get a sitter and go by myself, or maybe I will wait until it comes out on DVD. It isn't that bad if I have to wait. They come out pretty fast now, not like a few years ago. I am, however, really looking forward to the new Harry Potter movie. If I have to get a sitter, I will, but I AM going to see that one in the movie theatre. I just love Harry Potter! Mom has enjoyed the other movies but they, too, are getting darker and I don't know how she will deal with that now that sometimes she thinks what is happening on the TV is real. She does alright, still, with NCIS, but that will end sometime soon too, I have a feeling about that. We watch some cute shows that she likes a lot, like the Say Yes to the Dress on TLC and the DC cupcakes on TLC. We watched HGTV last night and she enjoyed the real estate shows we were watching. So she can watch some TV and enjoy it still. I don't know for how long though but I am glad it is happening. I don't know what we will do for entertainment when she can't watch anything anymore. Maybe I will move her chair so she can't watch it. Who knows? We will deal with that when it happens.

Anyways, it is rather nice outside again today. Not to hot, not to cold. Unfortunately, I have a really bad headache again, second day in a row, and it is not the weather's fault. Stress and drama is. I have started a new rule. I will not be friends on face book with new students or their parents. It isn't worth it. I am not unfriending any of the students I am friends with right now, but I will not be adding any more. I think this is for the best. If they need to get a hold of me, email or phone will work so it isn't like they can't get a hold of me at all, I just don't do drama. I need to have calm in my life because drama causes extra pain and headaches and upsetness in general, so no more drama.

I hope you are having a good day.

I almost forgot about my blood test this morning. Fortunately, I remembered in time to get there without being too late. I was only 5 minutes past the appointment time. I hate blood tests, but I have to get them all the time because of my blood disorder. Stupid blood disorder. I got the results, they are really quick, I get them in the afternoon when I get tested in the morning. I have to increase a day by 2.5 so now I have 4 days at 7.5 and 3 days at 5. It changes all the time which is why I have to be tested so much. If I don't take the medicine I will end up with another blood clot and I don't want to go there. I didn't enjoy it the first time, don't think I would like it again.

It has been a quiet day other than the blood test. Mom's physical therapist, Lori, didn't come yesterday so she came today. Mom was really tired so she ended up leaving early because Mom just couldn't do the exercises. She is coming again tomorrow but earlier in the day. That is good because between 2 and 4 is Mom's nap time and she is exhausted right now. She tires so easily now. I have to go and get a 3 pound weight so that when Lori is done next week I can continue the exercises with Mom so she won't lose her muscle that she gained. We just can't have that. I need Mom nice and strong, well, as strong as she can get. She even climbed up the two front steps to inside the house on her own today. I was surprised. I told her to wait a minute while I took stuff in, and in she came all by her little self. Rather shocking, truth be told. I was like, wow, you can do that. She was like, yeah, of course I can. Now we all know that normally she needs help because she has balance issues but not today. We won't be trying it out on anything else today, that is for sure. And when we come home again, she will get help unless she pushes me away, which she doesn't do.

So far, we have had an okay type day. In a few minutes, Zachary will be here for his lesson and then we are heading to my friend's house for knitting. I am letting Mom nap as long as possible because we will be leaving about 3:30. It will be a short session with Heather B-T, but still fun and we will have a good time. I wonder if they have heard from Calli yet, she is at camp, hopefully having a great time. I will hear all about it in 2 weeks, because next week the entire B-T family will be camping up north. That will be fun for them.

We don't have anymore vacation plans for the summer. I plan a nice and quiet August with lessons, knitting, sewing, and watching TV. We will be going to my uncle's again in a few weeks. Andrew is planning to be there. I hope with Angie, his really really nice girlfriend. I really liked her. I think Mom and I will plan a short jaunt to go and visit Andrew one day next month. Kathy will be here for one weekend at the end of the month so that is something I am really looking forward too. It shouldn't be so hot next month. Richard will be coming sometime in the future. Yes, I still wish we lived near him so I could see them more often, but we don't always get what we want. I do have plans for us when he is here for a visit. I don't think the entire family is coming. The last time the entire family was here was summer 2007 and that was 3 years ago when they lived in North Carolina. I do miss them living there as I didn't appreciate how close that was until they moved to Seattle. Now I appreciate it. Too little, too late, as the saying goes.

I do plan on working on more writing in August. I think with it being (supposedly) cooler, my head may not hurt so bad and maybe I can concentrate better and be able to work on a new story. I don't have any ideas in mind yet, but that is because I haven't even started. I have the time to write and I would like to have something solid started so that by Christmas I have a good handle on the story. I also am going to go to the storage unit and get some of our stuff in order. I need help with that so I plan to ask Katie or Aggie to help. Both are really nice and I think, if they have the time, they will do it. They are the generous type like that. Katie is also going to organize my music and put it away by the end of summer. I have some new stuff because Heather' mom, Pat, had a client who was a teacher and she gave Pat some of the music and Pat passed it along to me. Wasn't that really sweet of her? I just need to catalogue it and then it can get put away too. I have 3 filing cabinets filled with music for my students. 1 is for voice, and the other two for clarinet and piano. The clarinet music only fills 1 drawer while the rest is for piano. It makes it nice for choices for my students. I can't believe I am going to have to think of Christmas music soon. We start Christmas music October 1 every year. That way it gives all the students time to practice for the concert. Our concerts are so short now, compared to what they were. It sure does make a difference having 10 students instead of 50. I miss those days, but then, if I had that many students I wouldn't be able to take care of Mom like I do. I would need a sitter for her during the afternoon and evening hours. This way, she just sits through the lessons and listens quietly. Well, mostly quietly. She was rather talkative at first during Charlie's lesson Tuesday, but then she fell asleep and was quiet. I am hoping she sleeps through Zachary's lesson. She needs the rest before we leave for Heather B-T's. house.

Well, it is so beautiful out today, not too hot, not too humid. A perfect summer day. A gift from God. I just love life on days like this, despite the problems and illnesses we all face. Life is just good on a day like today. I hope yours is too!

The nurse discharged Mom today from home health care. The sore is gone and healed. Because she had a sore I have to put cream on that spot every day so that she doesn't get another one. I don't ever want her to get one of those again. They are just awful. I am glad hers didn't hurt her, because in stage 3 or 4 they do hurt, bad. She is rather restless today and I don't know why. She keeps playing with the receipts I need to shred. She just put one in her pocket. I don't know why she fiddles with stuff like that but she does. She doesn't really play with the toys I bought her. I am disappointed in that. I had hoped that the toys would capture her attention and give her something to play with. She likes to play with the Kleenex box and the Kleenexes. I had to throw away about 1/3 of the Kleenexes because she played with them and they were a mess. I was kind of mad about that because we went through a brand new box in a week and now we don't have any. I will be getting more but I am not putting them on the table for her to reach. I have to move everything away from her so she doesn't play with them. She also likes to play with my mouse and mouse pad, especially when I am on the computer. That actually annoys me because she pulls on the cords and then pulls on the computer and sometimes even pulls on the screen. I am afraid she may break my screen someday. The other computer may be put up soon but there won't be Internet because it won't reach downstairs. I just thought of that. Ugh, oh well, still have the little laptop which I love.

It is going to be a quieter type day here. I have to print off some stuff for the store paperwork that still needs to be done. I have to file the 2007 and 2008 sales and use tax return and I have to send the August 2008 sales and use tax return too. It is on the other computer and I don't think about doing it. I have needed to do it for 2 years now and I haven't. No, the State of Michigan doesn't forget these type things unfortunately. I also have to send some paperwork into the social security from the store. I have that paperwork handy so I am going to do that today too. It will be a semi productive day as far as paperwork is concerned. I also have to call in my payment of the sales and use tax that I still owe from the store. I really hate dealing with the store stuff, I mean I lost it 2 years ago, can't I just be done with it? I will be soon enough except for the payments, that will take a long time to pay because I don't have a lot of income to pay it off. I hope the paperwork I owe will be finished this weekend though so that part is finished.

Mom still has physical therapy left to do today. Lori should be here shortly. Her timing varies from day to day depending on her schedule. Mom has this week and next week left and then she is done with physical therapy. I plan to keep working with Mom on the exercises after she is officially finished with physical therapy. This way, she will keep getting stronger and not weaken after the end of physical therapy.

It is hot and muggy out because it is supposed to storm out later this afternoon. We aren't going anywhere so I am not concerned about the storms. We will be hiding inside from them. We are supposed to get some pretty severe storms too. Mom has been okay about storms. I keep the drapes closed so she doesn't see the bad weather and I don't have her in the living room during the bad storms. We stay here in the dining room during them.

I hope this finds you doing well.