Another Twin Blast from the Past!

My twin found this news clipping a few months ago and posted it on FB

so I thought you all might enjoy it too!

I know I loved seeing us so young and in the school stairway.

How many times did we go up and down those stairs from 

kindergarten through 8th grade? A lot!

Look at how many sets of twins there were that

year at St. Cecilia's.

Can you find me and Judy?

I remember how much I loved that dress -

it was pink and white!

I just noticed my name was listed first - probably alphabetical!

Otherwise, since Judy was born first, 

we were always referred to as Judy and Janet.

Every single year, the birthday cake said . . . 

HB Judy and Janet!  :)

Did You Know???

Hello Friends!

We are not doing a whole lot or going many places

due to the pandemic and for that reason, I haven't had a whole lot to post about.

Guess it's been a pandemic-influenced blogger's block.

Since I hate a post without photos, I'm putting in a random one.

So, how about some little tidbits of info about me?

Judy and I having a laugh at Tom's expense!

Did you know that I helped my brother deliver Sunday

newspapers when I was a little girl?
Yes - I did!  We got up at 4 AM and my Dad drove us 

to the newspaper joint where Tom put together the Sunday papers.

Then, my Dad drove us along Tom's route and we'd run the

papers to the doors. 

Tom amassed a small fortune from his paper-route!

He paid me Fifty Cents (yes $0.50) to help him.

If it was really cold out, he increased my pay to $0.75 or even $1.00!

He made the decision if it was cold enough for an increase

in wages.

. . . 

It was never cold enough! 

I may have already mentioned this one -- I won a bicycle-safety-riding

contest when I was 8.  I came in second the first year I competed

and then won first prize (an awesome trophy) the next year.

We headed to get ice cream to celebrate.  

Tom climbed over the front seat to the back, 

kicking my trophy and breaking the bicycle right off the top.

Many tears ensued.

It was a huge trophy and my claim to fame!

One day, Tom and my twin sister were in a battle over
something important, I'm sure!

My twin hid under the bed.

Tom figured that's where she was and he jumped on the bed.

It broke -  falling on top of her

and breaking her nose!
My parents were not home.  They were not pleased.

Tom allowed us to go with him to an outside ice-skating rink one time.

We walked (yes, we did) and it was about a mile from home.

I couldn't get my shoes back on after skating, so walked 

home in my socks.  Ouch - I swear a couple toes froze!

And that is why I'm not a huge fan of outdoor winter sports.

One year, I got a Jack-in-the-Box for Christmas.

Tom took it! 

 The photos from that Christmas are

hilarious! 

He's gleefully playing with my Jack-in-the-Box and I'm

sitting there looking very, very sad.

Why, oh why, didn't I punch him and get it back??

 When Maddie was just a little girl, I'd tell her

stories at bedtime of my growing-up years.

She always wanted to hear more about Naughty Tom!

Stay tuned for more installments!

Happy July, Happy Weekend, Happy Independence Day!

Are you all ready for some fireworks??

Bee Balm or Bee Bomb? 
Whatever -- it always blooms around the 4th of July
and reminds me of firecrackers!

The 4th of July weekend has scared me for 

a very long time!

When my sons were young, they were always blowing up

something! 

Every single year, I worried it would be some body part!
Lucked out and all fingers and toes remained intact.

They did start a smallish fire with some

fireworks exploding and torching a table umbrella and

leaving a burn mark on the table one year!

Recycled photo from July 2011!

We've been having super hot and humid weather

in Nebraska and that is a little unusual for so early.

I'm just happy that it's not snowing!

However, you know how I am about my hair!

The humidity is doing a number on it

and I have a frizzy crown of hair when

I get home from my morning walks! 

OY!  Thank God for flatirons!

From 2017!

We're not sure how our puppy Frannie will do with the 

4th of July noise.  So far, it hasn't bothered her.

No worries, I have doggie tranquilizers on hand just in case.

Hmmm - I wonder how those work on humans!!!

Kidding . . . maybe?!?!

From 2013 - maybe?

Hope you all have a safe and Happy 4th
and some yummy S'mores Dip!
These are definitely on my list!

The Grad Walk!

Since the 2020 Graduates 

all had their graduations postponed 

(most likely to late July or August),

our City had a Grad Walk on the 

weekend that the public schools would

have had graduations.

Pius X Colors - Green and Gold

All graduates were invited to wear their caps and gowns and

parade around their neighborhood at  8:20 PM (military time 2020)

so neighbors could hoot and howl and celebrate them

in a totally unexpected way.

Maddie and Mia

Does that sound a little corny?

I believe our Mayor came up with the idea because her

daughter was graduating from high school.

The Mayor got all choked up and teary when she announced

the 2020 Grad Walk!

It was SO. MUCH. FUN!

I got balloons and noise-makers.  Maddie's friend, Mia,

came over to join our block.  There were about 4 other graduates

on Stratford Avenue and it was a blast to see them 

being cheered by all the neighbors!

Maddie and our neighbor, Harrison

Thanks Mayor - that was much

appreciated!

She definitely gets my vote when she runs again! :)

This and That and Whatever

Hello Friends!

Oh my word -- how did it get to be the end of May already?

Sorry to be sooooo slow to update.

Happy to report Mr. Tennis is recovering well from his ailments 

and hospital stay.

Online learning during this covid time

of life and final semester of senior year has been challenging
to put it mildly.
Imagine your final high school semester and all the fun stuff
cancelled all of a sudden!
Meanwhile, teachers loaded on the homework assignments!
Not fun!
But, Maddie focused and finished strong even
with the challenges of at-home learning.
One of the hardest parts (besides the excessive classwork)
was not being able to see classmates and friends.



She really enjoyed the TCA learning which involved half-days at her
home high school (Pius X) and half days at the
community college. She would highly recommend that to any
students who have the opportunity.  Great chance to get out of your
home high school and expand horizons and learning!
Graduation is currently scheduled for early August.
We wish they would have it sooner - like in the football field?
That would allow for ample social distancing!

Our city had a fun neighborhood grad walk last weekend
and I will tell you about that next!

Oh . .. and our pup Frannie has been growing fast!
More about her later too!

A Perfect Storm of a Week!

Hello dear friends!

Hope you are all doing well and healthy during 

this incredibly difficult time.

So  many things came together last week to make it a "perfect storm" when
 a rare combination of circumstances joined together and resulted in a semi-disaster,
 and caused lots of worry, stress and aggravation.
It was a week to remember . . . or maybe someday forget?

Last Friday evening, April 24, Mr. Tennis

a/k/a The Rickster collapsed at the barn where 

he was taking care of his horse.

Luckily, there were others nearby who were 

able to call 911.  He was whisked off to the hospital 

where I met the doctors caring for him in the ER.

He was admitted, sedated and intubated while they tried to determine
what the heck happened???

No, he did not have Corona virus and was tested for

every other potential medical event known.

Without going in to too much medical detail, turns out

that his electrolytes bottomed out and crashed impacted by his Crohn's disease

and other auto-immune ailments.  He was one very sick guy.

So happy to report that he is getting better everyday and

is now doing rehab to gain his strength back.

In addition, since there are covid restrictions in place, we have not seen

him since April 24th - - no visitors at all. 
We are able to talk to him on the 

telephone and he sounds good!  He's working hard 

at rehab and we hope he will be home in the coming days.
Maybe even today!

It was a bit of deja vu all over again from 22 years ago
in April when he had a sudden heart attack!  That was a Friday night spent
waiting in the ER then too.

In other news, Maddie's second semester of senior year

has resulted in more homework than during regularly held classes.

 More stress! And now finals are approaching.  UGH.

Let the seniors go already! :)

And our stinker puppy Frannie has found a space to get out of the backyard

fence and visit the neighbors and their three little boys!

Trying to figure out how to barricade that area.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed around here.
Yep - a perfect storm!

Good thoughts and prayers are appreciated.
Looking forward to a better week.

xoxo

A Little More

Oh dear.

I never finished telling you about our trip

to Florida in February!

Luckily, we went before the virus blew 

everything up.

After Disney, we hopped over to Universal Studios for a couple nights!

It's also fun -- but not Disney!

Our room had a great view of  their water park Volcano Bay!

The weather turned cooler though, so no chance

to go down that volcano slide!

You know I would have done that, right!

HAHAHAHAHA 

There are some fun rides at Universal too

though we don't know our way around that well.

There were at least a couple times, we went in a circle!

This goofy police officer has something to do with the Simpson's!

The Simpson ride is a crazy one and I was totally dizzy after I got off that one.

So dizzy in fact, that I took a photo of Maddie

with this character holding beer!

One of the fun street performances was with Marilyn Monroe!

Sweet!

I'm a little out of practice in blogging so 

will try to add more later as I am

trying to reset myself from this dreadful Corona time period.

We haven't had it or anything, but mentally, it's been a strain, hasn't it!

Hope you are all well and healthy!