New Medicine

REG: my new medicines.

I have had a cough/cold since my last trip to Fla Oct 15.

Finally my dr sent me to a lung dr after a chest xray showed problems.

My name is Werner, that is W E R N E R....in that GERMAN accent...so cool and scary. He looks like that German Tank Commander in the movie The Longest Day.

He told me to spend my winters in warmer climates like Arizona.

Hey, How about Fla I screamed. Yeah Sure, with accent.

He said and told me so muchi'm not sure of all the things wrong with me.

I think he meant I have a tenacy toward Alergic Ashma and inflamed lungs and collapsed FLAT diaphragm and puffed-up lungs and scar tissue low.

Nothing that will kill me today.I just got done taking my NEW lung medicine.

So I took 2 different inhalers, One twice a day,

and one once a day some pills that I'm supposed to take 6 today, 5 tomorrow then4 then 3 then 2 then 1

Then another pill once a day.

$95 thank you.

I want to be healthy in fla so badly, I actually READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.

I hope to be better in a few days so I will be able to make mytrip around the 8th --- 10th.

Until the end of the month...yahoo..

Oh, on the way home we decided to stop for a wonderful prepared meal at McDonalds.

2 double cheeseburgers, $1 salad

2 senior drinks. $4+, not bad

So c'ya all I hope AND YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR....jim

Its Just Not Right

Last night I was waiting in line at the grocery store.

I noticed the bagger was in his 40’s and looked exhausted mentally and physically.

I joked that its tough for the manager as he has to bag besides his other responsibilities.

Alex, said no he was just starting out.

I asked his story.

Alex came from a small town in southern Illinois not close to anything. The town had 300 residents and sports was the only activity left. Even Dairy Queen left the dying community.

Alex was a baseball nut. He could hit the ball a mile and run like lightening.

He dreamed of making the majors and supporting his family and maybe return something to the community.

Instead of college he entered baseball camp as another hopeful.

All the boys were like him, good athletes and fine young men.

He was a little better than all of them. He hit the ball further.

The coaches had the boys for 4 weeks. They were all told to put on weight and get stronger by lifting weights.

Alex played ball during the day and lifted weights until his body screamed. He worked harder than the other players.

But no matter how hard he worked, he noticed a couple boys gained weight and developed muscles he could only dream about.

The final trials began. Alex was able to hit the ball a mile. But those other boys were so much bigger. They hit the ball 2 miles and ran faster than the first day at camp.

Alex would hit long flies that came short of being a home run.
The other boys hit long flies far into the stands.

They were kept and he was let go unless he joined a low minor league team.

Each year he thought about college but was so close to making the majors. He tried until it was too late.

Now he’s a bag boy. And yesterday discovered that the others cheated.

Those other boys not only cheated on breaking records but also cheated him out of his future.

This is how I feel about steroids in sports. Its cheating.

How about Alex and the others that were cheated out of a chance to play ball because they played by the rules?

Cheaters shouldn’t be forgiven by saying:
Oh, steroids were not against the rules then.
Oh, everyone was doing it.

It meant money for the owners, its their fault too. Maybe more so.

Bullshit…cheaters hurt other people. My hero’s Ernie Banks, Ted Williams, Roberto Clemente, The Mick, Roger and
Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox.

How about Maury Wills the base stealer. Now his records are beat every year.

I'm upset with baseball again.

The McGuires, Sosa, Bonds and Clemens.

Lied and cheated us too.

Screw them.

How about all the home runs they hit off pitchers that didn't cheat.
How about all the strikeouts of batters that didn't cheat.

Throw out their records with no asterisk....remove their names and photos from baseball history.

No, ok put their faces on a wall behind bars like at the post office.

c'ya
I’m sorry, its just not right. Throw them out of baseball.

Changes keep a Changing

Tonight we went to Kmart. It was 50% off many items and some 75% plus
an additional 20% today.

Today was the first time I’ve been to Kmart since they purchased Sears.

The last time I visited Kmart, few of the employees could speak English.
They all looked at me as if I were from Immigration. They were short little Hispanic looking folks.

Today, they were all white, which seemed odd to me and working really hard.

They were constantly and quickly folding clothes, picking up merchandise off of the floor. Wow, where did they get such good hard working American workers.

Also, the music consisted of Christmas tunes. I heard English being loudly spoken. Kmart has given the country back to the English speaking Americans.

I was listening to someone speaking English and realized it was over the loud speakers, this was suddenly interrupted by some foreign tongue.

I passed some more employees and asked where the sweatshirts were. None of them could answer me. They looked at me as if I were a foreigner and no English—poposki…

WHAT!! Yes, they were not Americans. Just because they were Caucasian I took it for granted they were citizens.

At the cash registers, it looked like little Europe. Men & women that looked and sounded like they were relatives of BORAT….from the movie.

Four registers were going constantly with payments into the hundreds of dollars. Each one complaining about some overcharge.

We spent a few hundred dollars and only had 1 ½ baskets of stuff.

I remember $300 would have bought the entire Kmart franchise a few years ago.

I guess there should be a point. Ah, let me see….I’m an idiot… nope…racist….hmmmm, I hope not…. nothing else.

So Never mind…talk to you soon.

A Quick Panera Exit..

DON'T FORGET TO DOUBLE CLICK THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM



That would be an interesting story for your blog, Mark remarked.

After thinking about it maybe, yes it might get me writing again.

This Morning I got a late start to the front window at Panera.

I walked in just after the 9am services folks arrived and the lines almost went out the door.

I grabbed a chair and placed it as a third chair in the aisle. Took off my jacket and listened to sideshow Si say Jim you’ll be blocking the people. Then he laughed as he realized he spoke in public for the first time in months.

We all started joking and talking when something started to smell. No not Front window Commander Ron, but something in the store.

We all smelled it and saw smoke creeping from the heating vents into the store.

I might be slow but I’m not stupid. Smoke appearing in a public place is a good time to leave.

They all laughed as Panera is always burning their bagels. But we’ve never heard a smoke alarm.

Anyways, I left and stood outside with my jacket and they all pointed thru the window and laughed at me.

I took a few photos thru the window and then assisted some female Samaritan with jamming open the doors.

Then it was my turn. First Roger the Job Dodger walked out, complaining of the smoke. Big John was right behind him. But Commander Ron held off as long as he could.

Even Sideshow ran out before Ron. And of course Lawyer Jim, who is recovering from 2 heart attacks and a Carotid Artery problem, crept slowly out before our Commander.

We all stood outside until Ron said “Why don’t we go across the street to Starbucks.”

We all moaned…it’s too expensive.

“Well, I tell you what, I’ll buy. I’ll buy you one of those caramel drinks.”

That’s good enough for me. So, we all ran across the street, grabbed a little table and sat with folks that ordered drinks with foreign made up names.

We were laughing at how Commander Ron is a school teacher and leader in our community. But he had to be lead out of a smoky Panera.

The fire trucks came and I took photos and videos. Soon, fresh air was restored to Panera and the trucks left.

We still talked for awhile and I had to leave to pick up Karolyn’s bday cake for later tonight.

We all said its time to go and Ron was the first to run out of Starbucks.

We must all be old and senile. We walked across the street to get to our cars and re-gathered in Panera. Again, the laughing continued.

We left after a few minutes while the smell of burning wire was still in the joint and it was refilled with a new batch of customers sucking down coffee.

A Grand Day With The Bo-peeps

What causes our memories to flash back to a picture of a previous fun time?

How about the weather! Yes, the 26 degree temps this morning.

We were at Panera and talking to so many friendly people when I started coughing.

The front doors opened for awhile and chilled air hit me.

I looked out the window and thought of the past summer and especially of my sister-in-law Bobbie’s 65th bday party in July.

Karolyn and I started north on I-294 toward the Wis border. A short distance after Milwaukee we turned down a road toward Lannon. It was 2 lane and we passed a few small towns.

We drove past several quarries when Karolyn told me about Lannon decorative stone, which apparently came from the area.

After a few minutes we arrived at nephew Keith & Kristine’s house. We were greeted without a word but the warmest smiles that scream Hi Uncle Jimmy & Aunt Jolly, are we happy to see you.

That’s the way it is with the Bo-peeps. Yes, we have a nickname for Aunt Bobbies and my deceased brother Ed’s family. The Bo-peeps.

My brother had a nick name. Boppie (bow-pee). It’s a long story how he got the name.

When he was alive and all the cousins were young we would get together for the Christmas holiday.

I would just say, lets get going to the Bo-peeps. They would always be ready to go and never complain about the drive.

My kids remember it as the high point of the entire year. When all the laughing and teasing would continue until the last possible minute we were together.

Unfortunately the kids are all grown and with commitments all couldn’t make it. We did and as usual had a great time.

Bobbie was surprised. She is so quiet, having a relaxed look to her that just her eyes told the story of how happy she was to see so many relatives.

Everyone talked at the same time for hours, only stopping to stuff our mouths with food.

Camera’s were flashing especially when the presents were opened. I don’t know if Bobbie actually had seen the presents but always seemed to be pointing to someone and lipping Thank You for coming.

I know, I know it was kornie.

Another kornie was greeting all the Grand nieces/nephew. The parents (my little nephews/nieces all grown now), were all so proud of their little ones.

Everyone stayed to the end of the party and were all standing by the cars talking. No one wanted this to end.

Plenty of hugs & kisses and we finally drove away.

I want to ask: How can we be so happy and yet feel so depressed while driving thru Lannon.

Anyway, it was great seeing Bobbie and the Bo-peeps again.

For photos:
http://www.geocities.com/jimelliot@ameritech.net/Bobbies65th.html

Another Check Up

Have you ever:
had glue stuck on your skin.

Well, thats what it felt like along side the sideburn by my left ear. That and a little tingly, numb.
So what would you think.

Dam it those carrots are plugged up andI'm going to have a stroke or whatever it is that happens.

I went to Dr. Heart and he said my heart is weaker and gave me a script for the carotid test & an x-ray script for my chest cold.
I've had pneumonia a couple times and it worries me.

So this afternoon at 2pm Darren gave me the sound carotid test--see photo.

Dr. Heart said my cholesterol is up and i have to cut back on bread stuff.

I then went and had my xray for the lungs...see photo sort of.




By that time it was after 5pm and in the middle of the rush hour.

I would be leaving his office in Evanston, near the lakefront and driving about 5 miles west on a mostly single lane road Oakton to home.

I got home in less than 20 minutes. I made almost every light which is impossible.

Karolyn got home and cooked taco/burritos.

I ate and decided on finishing the bottle of margarita's from Thanksgiving. 2 glasses later and I don't know if I am making sense in this email.

Time to lay down on the couch and watch OH NO, Dancing With The Stars..

Panera Front Window Boys Photo

I just love group photos.

This morning the boys were spread out.

I asked if they would pose for a group photo.

Most said yes, Sideshow Sy jumped from his seat and ran.

Mexican Tony
...leaned back and hid from view.

The other regulars just were themselves
and even Commander Ron had his eyes open.

After the photo, I noticed Rodger was sitting by the sign.
We all laughed.

Some of the pretty ones were missing. Next year.

Prepare for the winds of Winter

Karolyn asked, Would pizza be ok for supper.

Geez, of course. She's been working full time and then comes home and super cleans and cooks in preparation for Thanksgiving.

I ordered a large pizza from Dino's which is a few miles away.

I walked outside, jumped in the car and started driving. Suddenly I saw trees being pushed around and flags waving straight out.

I thought nothing of it until I got out of the car and the door kept shutting on me. My hat almost blew off and my jacket filled with air like a life jacket.

It was windy alright. I got the pizza, (using a $2 off coupon, I know Matt likes that) and walked out the door.

The box acted like a kite, and took 2 hands to hold it.

I ran across the street to the car with my hat pulled over my ears. Ok maybe not over those big things but tight down.

Do I hold onto the pizza or open the car door?
I pushed it into my belly. My belly acted like a vice, wrapping stored energy around the box like an extra hand. Wow the benefits of big gut syndrone.

I got home and somehow got into the house. It was tough. The winds growling and the 3 dogs growling. No the pizza was mine. My belly was growling too.

While eating the wonderful pizza, the center pieces were so good, I pondered on what I had experienced.

Chills, wind, rain, and cold. Winter is almost here.

Looking out my window now I see that funny white stuff covering grass and my porch. Its cold....very cold....and snow is predicted to be 1 to 4 inches by tomorrow.

Just starting. Winter that is.

Don't forget while you're pushing those oversized hockey pucks on those concrete slabs, in shorts and tshirts,what you are avoiding.

As the winter gets deeper, I will take photos and send them.

In the meantime,
BE THANKFUL this Thanksgiving for the gift of living in fla. while Jim is stuck up in Chicago. Ah, life is good for some who prepare.

PS: you might have your warm weather but we have real Chicago Pizza.
nah, nah nah nah nah.

c'ya jim

The Boyles Wedding

Saturday night, our good friends Jim & Barb Boyle celebrated the wedding of their daughter Betsy to Larry Law.

I only took 160 photos and videos as I wanted to enjoy the experience and they had 2 great photographers. A husband and wife team that must have taken a few thousand photos. Of course none as good as mine.

We have been close friends with the Boyles for over 40 years. We have celebrated all births/deaths, christenings, bdays, holidays, parties and summers together.

The wedding was held at The Barn In Barrington, about 25 miles from our home.

When we saw Jim & Barb, they were so spruced up with his 3 piece tux and the beautiful Barb dressed so perfectly.

Barb had tears in her eyes from the start.

When Little Betsy started the walk down the aisle to meet her man, both Barb & Jim got up to give her away. But not without the help of a box of kleenix.

You could have passed a few boxes around the room.

The vows were written by each other.

You know Traditional Vows.

How they would respect their Little Kitty and movie tastes.

Of course we ate a great meal, and danced the night away. Sometimes to music we didn't understand. Apparently, it was from the olympics as the youngsters were all jumping in sinc.

Our kids were there with us. Jimmy&Lori, Jim& Thomas, Jack & ?

We had a wonderful time sharing another slice with the Boyles lives.

Thanks Jim & Barb for all the special memories thru the years

I Need More Therapy--its lots of fun..

About 6 weeks ago, I somehow agitated my Piriformis muscle. Its on the right hip. Next to a nerve.

I couldn't walk, ride my bike or sit. That cheek just started to ache and then it got painful.

Well, the hip dr said Your hips are ok, the back dr said its not your back or sciatica but recommended Physical Therapy.


So, thats how I met Allen Mazur. He would be my therapist at Athletico. For several weeks he started twisting my body. Mostly my right leg into positions I never experienced.

On graduation day I had him pose with me. This time he was the one bending. Bending his 6'05 frame down to my level.

Today, I can just say thank you Allen, I have no pain. I just miss our conversations. Go Cubs.

-----------------------------------------------------------

As I was leaving Atletico, I met a really good guy that broke me in on the Job in 1966.

Ray Malcynski. My first day working he took me under his wing. Com-on Cadet, ride with us a month or two until you get the hang of it.

Ray is only 2 yrs older than me, but he was so much wiser. Too bad, he had a knucklehead with me.
I'll never forget his kindness and warmth. He still is a great guy.


-------------------------------------------------


Finally, I met Tom Swain at Athletico.

As a cadet in 1963, I was assigned to Shakespeare as a Cadet. A civilian in uniform.

I worked inside the Secretary's office and alongside Tom Swain. Tom never had a bad day and was the most competent man I ever met.

He could Type, talk on the phone, write notes, laugh and eat a donut at the same time.

He's another old timer with a new hip.

So Therapy was more than just physical. It was like visiting my youth. Well, I didn't feel so bad when other coppers were falling apart too. WOW, did that make me feel good. Its ok to say that isn't it.

A Lot of Sunshine...in the Form of Friends.

A lot of sunshine into Big Jims life.

This past week has really been busy.

I was sitting outside Panerra talking about my old (1984) partner Ed Valkanet.
The phone rang and it was Ed himself.

Hey Jim, I'm with my wife and cousin in Chicago from ft Myers.

Would you like to meet us at Panerra in Park Ridge?
I'll be waiting for you Ed.

I called my wife, picked her up and spent a pleasant few hours with Ed & Judy.

Ed looks meek now, but he was one of the toughest roughest police on the job.

Strong as a bull.

He had a change of life and became man for Jesus. First Bible studying for many years.

He retired from the police dept and started working on Jesus' team.

His wife Judy and him have been on many missionary trips and just returned from the Phillipines.

We had a great time talking. Promising to visit them in Fla our next trip down
--------------------------
As some of you might know I was Officer Friendly in the Shakespeare Police District back in 1970. During the summers I would be assigned to Neighborhood Relations and spend the summer doing terrible work.

Like taking neighborhood youth to Wrigley Field, the museums, swimming pools, and other

places around Chicago.

When we were walking out of Panerra, we heard someone say Hey Officer Friendly, Elliott.

I turned and one of the kids had grown up and recognized me after all those years. Ok, he recognized my voice. It was Herman from all the trips

My spirits were so high. I felt great. Another,day with a lot of sunshine provided by friends and my wife.

-----------------------------

Bad Day at 7 yrs.

--Response to a friends bad day--


7 yrs.

Isn't that when you review the past 7 yrs.
At least Tom Ewell did it in the 7 yr itch.

You put the cards on the table.

Positive and a negative.

Sometimes, it just gets to us.

Instead of looking to the future, we sometimes remember the past.
sometimes our past feelings,
the hurt feelings,
broken promises,
lost dreams.

Maybe we look across the street or next door.
Is the grass really greener. The smiles bigger.

Maybe we should look to the future.

Re-plan our spirit.
re-plan our dreams and expectations.
Does every moment have to be like out of Father Knows Best,

I'm 63.
The few mornings I have left could lead to special days.

New memories/new stories.
Or I could wait for something good to knock on the front door.
Yeah, sure..

I love life, I love the blue skies, I love the characters I know.

Once, while visiting a dying friend who was drugged up,
he started reaching above the bed trying to catch falling leaves.

I pointed out there were no leaves falling in his hospital room.

He said he knew that. That it was a hallucination.
But that he wanted to enjoy the experience.
To go out with a smile.

So, he laughed and smiled as he reached up, closed his hand and smiled again as he opened it.

I hope your smile returns and you experience it, enjoy it.

A smile and hug with your husband might just bring his smile back and add to yours.

If not tonight, there is always tomorrow.
Tomorrow. Another beautiful day, another chance.

I will for sure hug and kiss my wife tonight.

mr e.

Therapy Does Not Have To Be Boring...

I don't know if I wrote you or not but I somehow hurt my piriformis muscle and nerve.

If you go to your right butt cheek about 2 inches below the (my) pants belt,
deep inside the fatty part, it is where the piriformisa muscle is.

6 weeks ago it started hurting and got so bad I could not walk or ride a bicycle.

I went to the hip dr who sent me to the back dr who sent me to the sciatic dr(same as back).

Who sent me to a physical therapist. Allan knew what was wrong and has been bending me and twisting me since.
Actually he calls it stretching.

Today I finally feel good enough to maybe walk this afternoon.

From sitting and moaning these 6 weeks I gained 2 lbs
but look so flabby I am embarrassed.

My legs are starting to firm up. and even my butt. I never thought I would have any tone or muscles in my butt cheek again but sure enough they have returned.

I started stretching at home and even did sit ups. Yes, 10 last night...

I lifted weights at brooks park and hit the heavy bag last night.

I hope to start a little jogging and dribbling the bball at the gym.

Today I was on the treadmill which I usually only do 8 MINUTES.

The machine was near the window and I couldn't help but look out.

I saw a window washer and that kept me going for 12 MINUTES.

It was so interesting watching the window washer.
A good distraction from the boring treadmill.

Even my trainer found it interesting. Then some of the other patients.
It take talent to do a good job.
And let me tell you, this window washer had talent.

I took a photo and the windows were so clean.

After Therapy, some other old men and the therapist suggest I drive over
to the window washer and explain how we found the job so interesting.

So I did and said thank you for the distraction. We both turned toward the
therapy windows and waved.

c'ya

jim

40 Years Today

That day Aug 5th, 1967
Today, Aug 5th, 2007

A beautiful young girl and a dopey, slightly haired young man entered into something they had no idea what it was about.

40 yrs ago Karolyn and I met at the front of Immaculate Conception's main Aisle.

We looked at each other, passed the rings and said I do.

The party was at Builders Hall on central ave. It was during the Viet Nam war and some friends could not attend.

We did a couple stupid dances together and danced a lot with friends.

Had fun and stayed the entire night. I think we were the last to leave.
40 yrs of having fun and being the last to leave most parties has been our routine.

Today, downtown Chicago, they have a musical extravaganza called Lalapaloosa with 10 band shells going at one time.

The professional beach volleyball is going on.

Tonight, 4 children--3 grandchildren, sons and daughter in laws, will get together at Navy Pier. Which is between the above two events.

Our event will be celebrated at BUBBA GUMPS SHRIMP HOUSE.

Remember Forest Gump. Yep, that's it.

Too bad it can't be another 40 years. Its been a interesting fun ride.

THANK YOU KAROLYN.....I LOVE YOU, Jim

Driving Thru Model Years

I heard Commander Ron and Broken Biker Pat say "Then we'll meet Tuesday at 9:30am here at Panera." Thats how I got involved.

Hey whats going on. We're going to Volo Auto Museum, do you want to join us.

Hell Ya, it sounds better than golf. Count me in.

Today Tuesday we met at coffee and asked Shy Roger if he wanted to join us. Sure, I'm not doing anything.

Pat volunteered to drive as he has a monster Ford 250 4dr cab, extended bed truck.
Roger, Me, Big John, Ron, and Pat

The 5 of us sat comfortably for the 25.2 mile ride. Ron won the guess of how many miles from his home in Mt. Prospect.

The ride was quick and so were the wise cracks. Seems like each of us took the brunt of others humor.

Before any world problems could be solved we were in Volo IL. A really tiny town or we saw a small part.


We paid our admission and didn't ask for the Senior discount but still the cashier asked me if I wanted the senior discount.

Why did she ask me? She didn't ask Ron or John or that gray hair shy guy, Roger.

Look at the photo. Do I look that old. Just because I cut my hair short. HELL NO I told her. I'm only 62.

By the way, how much is the discount. 2 bucks huh.

oh, do I qualify.

Nope 65. I know I don't look 65. Maybe Ron does

Soon, we started our trip.

Thru the specialty cars from the movies.

The BatMobile

Dr. Seuss' vehicle.

The Flintones vehicles.

The Ghostbusters car

Then to another building where maybe a hundred cars were lined up.

They're almost all for sale and had the sale price on them.

$10,000--21,000---69,000 up to $250,000 for a Mustang l, I believe.

Corvette's, Chevelles, 442's, Barracuda's, Carmaro's, 55-56 T-birds. You name it and if it were a muscle car, it was there.

We moved out of that building to bldgs 2 & 3 and the antiques.

All were enjoyable and brought back so many memories. Mostly about how Ron's first car had a seat that after pulling a hidden wire, the passenger seat back would drop back flat.

None of us could understand why a teenager would want a seat like that.

After a few hours of bursting smiles and leaving our fingerprints
on cars with "Please don't touch the cars" signs all over them.

Yes, the old guys remembered these cars from a part of our lives long gone but not forgotten.
Pat, 44yrs, remembered these cars from stories his father and uncles told him.

So many of our favorite cars were older than Pat.

They all looked in good shape or like new. But I'm sure they had their hidden problems.

Sort of like us.

The old guys, we're nice to look at, but who would want to take us for a ride.
c'ya
jim

Another Friday Night In Another City--Niles

Park Ridge, home of Hillary, has a fine arts concert each Friday night. As a group we have been attending for a few years.

Fridays are busy. Today a little more than usual. Talk at McDonalds at 7am, Breakfast at Sunrise, followed by Panerra.

During breakfast this morning, with the Neighbors. We all discussed if we would see each other at the concert tonight. I knew of other concerts that weren't so long hair. Tonight it was Mozart. How many years do we have to listen to this guys music.

I mentioned that other very close cities have more lively concerts. You know like oldies or rock & roll.

Some eyes rolled and Jerry Murphy jumped in and said he would check out the local paper.

At 4pm we got the call. Niles is having oldies night in the park about a mile from the house.

At 7:30pm we walked past the playground where 50 young kids were climbing the monkey bars and other devices.

Thru the greenery we could see the crowd and the stage in front.

This must be the place.

A short distance ahead we could see our friends just sitting down.

We joined them and discovered that our friends had brought treats.

A cheap bottle of wine $4 from Trader Joe's that said it beat the expensive wines in some national contest.

Yes, even I thought it was good.

Then Peg brought out some Pretzel bread with a little cheese and turkey wrapped up inside.

Gail Powers brought Spicey Liversausage on crackers. Karolyn thought it was the best.

Me, with a name like LIVER SAUSAGE, gave it a pass. Just let me enjoy the music.

Sure enough soon THE RAGTOPS started to play and they sounded good. We started to get the urge to get up and start swinging.



But first we have to get into the mood.

That cheap wine sure helped put the smile on us.
Then it was get out of our way.

Peg and Karolyn were ready for some action.

Soon the ladies were dancing. And picking up men and women. They ran over to Phillip and dragged him over to dance with them.

The old guy did a great job. I had my camera and took many photos. It was dark but some came out ok.

Another women Pat came running over and jumped into the dancing folks.

She had the biggest smile on her face as did the crowd.
Seems like more concert goers were turned and watching our group than the band.







Yes, Big Jim could not help myself and did a little hip shaking, arm swinging and singing.

Hey, who could hear me with the loud music.

I thought I sounded good.

They played about an hour.. all of our favorites from the 50's and a few from the 60's.

From the Big Bopper -- the Beatles --Neil Diamonds "Sweet Karoline" -- the twist and many more sweet tunes.

Yes, we all had a great time except for those who don't like to dance. NOT ME....

I really enjoyed the night, the music and friends. I wondered "Life is Great".

c'ya
jim

Was that Tammy Mae Baker

Visiting
Everyone is visiting so we went to Vandalia in S ILL

We've been here before with our crazy/wild friends Judy and Bob.
Friday we arrived about driving 260 miles from Chicago.

Judy should have been an entertainer. She sings like Patsy Cline and her "Crazy about you" song is fantastic.

Friday night she dressed up like Tammy Fay Baker and called herself Tammy Mae and Timmy

Her friends were having a family reuniion and asked her to do the character.

It was a 50's theme & Bob dressed up as Jimmy BakerJuly has a mouth and brain to go with it.

Yes she's a brunette...just kidding....

Anyway, for 40 minutes she ab libbed in front of 80 folks in a small room.

She told the group that she was the lost relative. The twin of Terri.

Terri's parents whom Tammy Mae had stand in the front of everyone, went along so great, it was almost magic.

Of course Tammy was the good looking sister and Terri the ugly one.

She rewrote the words to some song I can't remember, and applied it to the parents.

So what seemed like a small fun gig, took her months to prepare for.
The skits, songs and dress.

Everyone was laughing and gave her a standing ovation. So the effort must have been worth it.




We then went to a senior home and visited with Bobs 93 yr mom (Helen)who did not recognize Judy







When we arrived and asked Helen "Do you know who this is"

She said NO, but I had blonde hair like her when I was young, long down my back.


We told her it was Judy, but I don't think she could see her daughter in law under the wig, plastic strip eyelashes and 50's outfit.

Afterwards, Judy changed and we went for Margarita's at a small little Mex restaurant with a pitcher of Margies for $12.

I only drink/enjoy Margies so a buzzing was in my head soon. I slept good.

Whats up for today, tomorrow we can only imagine.

Except I will start with Judys brother Robb for a round of golf.

c'ya
jim
PS: We just read that the Real Tammy Fay Baker passed. She was a character.

I'm Back, from a lot of excitement

Hi everyone,
June 19th..
I did make it to fla and back. The back is the tough part. I really love it there and after awhile I don't miss the family. Ok, I do but could travel back and forth if I lived down south in Paradise.

We arrived in Fla during a heat wave that felt more like a sauna. As soon as we got off of USA 3000 flight 659, we felt the humidity.

What were we going to do get back on the plane, nope we were here and no matter how difficult it would be, we would tough it out for the 12 days.

We stayed at our condo in Sarasota. The reason for the trip was Great Grampa Ted's 89th bday.
Our daughters Jill & her Sara, and Jessie joined us. Jill left Thomas at home and Jessie let Mark do his mountain climbing. As you might know, that did not go well.

We spent most of the time together going to Teds house or touring the area.

One trip we drove thru ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE...(which I compare to Rodeo Drive in Calif). It smells of money. Then turned right and drove thru Longboat Key where all the big politicians visit.


We ended up on Anna Marie Key. We were surprised where years ago it had tacky beaches that were blown away by some hurricane.

Now the beaches were great and we found a wonderfull restaurant that borders the beach.....THE SANDBAR....at the north end of the key.

After Anna Marie we returned to Sarasota and jumped in the pool, sauna--yes a heated sauna. And visited Gramps several times.


We ate on St. Armands at Columbia, expensive. Carrabbas in North Port--almost as expensive.


And of course my favorites: Sam Selzer and McDonalds.

One night we went to Sara's favorite restaurant near downtown Sarasota. Its on the water in Sarasota Harbor.

Yes, its Marina Jacks and we ate outside on a new like boardwalk. I think I had a French Dip beef sandwich $12.

I'm cheap and this sounds expensive but it was as good as one of those $15 prime ribs. A good choice made by Sara.

We all had fun everyday and it was time to leave. Gramps thanked us for the bday celebration and we all cried as we said goodbye.

USA took us back on July 1, 2007.
c'ya
jim

Owens Bday, an exciting affair

While we were driving to the bday party at Jimmy's, we had enough rain to make me turn on the wipers. Twice they swept the windshield and not another sweep was necessary.

It cooled the air off by 5% degrees and that was good.

The party was mainly outside until dinner.

The party had plenty of children running around, in a wading pool, on swings tied to super high braches of a tree, maybe 40 feet high.

a bubble machine that made Lawrence Welk look like he did it himself.

Kids playing in the toy room. In the train room (formerly the dining room), and the basement toy area. It was so exciting. AND NO CICADA'S BY THEIR HOUSE. Everyone noticed.

Opening of the toys was another exciting time with Owen opening the toys, screaming with joy and then giving them to guests to play with. Interesting kid.

Food consisted of plates of cookies by Karolyn. She did a terrible job she thought. Everyone kept eating them. We just laughed.

Bday Boy Owen thought the frosting was the best. It was his cake and mom wasn't looking.

And pulled pork from Robinson's ribs in Oak Park. The pulled pork looked like a slurry.I mean you couldn't see pieces of pulled pork. Its as if they put it into a blender before serving it. Another interesting food. It didn't look interesting and many just passed it by. I thought it was great, and we brought a big bag home.

Fried chicken from Jewel grocery store, last week it was perfect.. this week a little dry.
.

Food was late being served and a few started chewing on their own tongues. For others the evil red eyes appeared.

Everyone started to leave after 7pm. These are all the families with Kids who must be in bed early

One thing I observed. When the kids entered the house and all the adults were standing like those big redwoods, the kids were apprehensive and a little scared.

When it was time to leave, all we heard was: "Can we come back to this house,with all the toys, its so cool." This was from 3 to 5 yr olds.

From the adults, this was such a great party. Everyone had fun, thank you!

I took a few photos and videos' I think the camera counted 198. So it will take time to reduce and send them out.
c'ya
jim