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!

Looking Back to the February Trip

A little more on our February trip!  It was so much fun and with all that is going on now, 

we love looking back on the photos and fun!

As I mentioned earlier, when it was 8 degrees in Nebraska, 

it was 88 in Orlando.  Can I just say that both Maddie and I loved feeling the warm sun!

  It was THE BEST!!

We spent time at the parks and on rides - but also had to 

visit the pool on that 88 degree day!

We stayed at a different location at Disney this time since we booked so late. 

 Mr. Tennis and I had stayed there many years ago with the boys.  

It has totally been rebuilt and is a huge resort/convention center and even more beautiful!

Huge waterslide off to the side.
We did not try it this time.

Even though we had a bit of rain here and there and 

my hair frizzed up (as usual), it was still loads of fun!

February trip!

Hello Friends!

After we (I mean me) recovered from our exhausting 

bus trip, Maddie and I made a plan to 

take a quick trip to our most

favorite place - 

you guessed it  - - -  Disney World!

Arrived at the Orlando airport and put her ears on!

She had a couple days off from Pius (her regular Catholic high school)

and could miss a couple classes from the public school she

attends for dual credit.

With different days off and breaks, it's a little tricky to schedule.  

It was definitely a last minute plan that worked out!

Anyhooo --- we were off for warmer temps and a break

from the cold!

Teacups -- Always a favorite ride!

Disney did not disappoint!  In fact, one day it was 88 there

and it was a brisk chilly 8 degrees in Nebraska!

Since it was Valentine's day and President's Day 

weekend - Disney was overbooked, so

we had 2 nights at Disney and then had 2 nights at 

Universal.

Disney is definitely our favorite!

More later!

February Update!

Greetings!

When I last posted, we were recovering from the 

pilgrimage to Washington, DC for the Walk for Life that
happened at the end of January!

Friends -- that took me about 2 weeks to recover!
I was exhausted.

The bus ride there and back took 24 hours each way!

Oy -- riding in a bus that long got a little painful.

Maddie and Mia - Nighttime tour of the Monuments

And our days in DC started at  6:30 AM and we ran all

day until 10:30 PM with no breaks for naps!!

WHAT?!?! 
 I love me a good nap.

Anywho - it was an amazing trip and I'm so happy that I

was able to attend and witness so many young people

speaking out and standing up for their beliefs!

Gives you hope - especially in these days of

fractured politics and crankiness on so many levels!

After we recovered from that adventure,

Maddie and were off on another.

Yes, this time we took a plane!

More later!