M U D, G L O R I O U S M UD

Here's some blog fodder from Ken:
Although it probably only happened a couple of times, but it did happen. The Rummlers had this great planter box in their backyard with a tree in the middle. There may have been plants in there, but all I can remember was that there was dirt. And when you add water to dirt you get something magical, MUD. I think on one trip the Agle boys and the Rummler boys had some magical times in that planter box. In any case, I've always wanted one of those. This winter I was thinking about what I would do in the spring and it came to me. I would build the planter box in this area that we had pretty much open. So, with help of Mayra, Davis and Steven (oh and JP and Sophie) we used old rail ties that we had from long ago and added some newer materials and have built this homage to Rummler box. After nearing completion, I told my kids and our neighbors to come play in the mud. They thought I was crazy at first, but mud is magical and they played for an hour before I had to go to  a meeting, and are still there as far as I know. Its the mud. 

There you go Mom, I'm all about giving more stuff for the blog. Love ya, Ken 

MY LIFE THE LAST FEW FEW MONTHS

No one has sent in anything, so I share with you what has consummed my life the last few months.

R E H A B!

Three times a week (until last week, now it's two times per week) I drive up to a physical therapy place called of all things, the Taj Majal.  I kid you not. It is a grand building, but I thought they were kidding when they told me the name.

It's a large building filled with various medical services. It was built in 1964 and is now getting a $3 Million facelift to be completed in the next month or two.  Just a little trivia for you!

I rotate between two PTs, and both are excellent.  It takes a good hour to go through my routine ending sonar pulses, laserings and then with heat on my shoulder with electric pulses.

Sitting:  PT Maihri (from Scotland) and Jennifer (USA) and (standing) receptionist, Claudia.

I used to come home and hit the recliner and live my life mostly there, but I'm well on my way to full recovery (fingers crossed) and will soon have my life back.  Here's some pictures.

This is where I would be basically until the next visit.

Not a happy camper.

The rest of the pictures were taken just yesterday.  You can see I am a happier camper now.  I'm on the upward trail. . . . .ta dah.

Reception area

Pulleys

Bicycle with my arms.

Climb the ladder with my fingers.

Come back down the ladder.

Dust the wall.

Stretch

Lift the "bar bell", (hey!  it's a 2# weight!)

Rotating circles with two, 2# weights!

Pull the elastic band down and let it go back naturally.

<>There are about 4 more exercises that I do, but you get the idea. <><><><><>

Getting ready for heat, sonar, electrical pulses.



One of the machines.

F O D D E R

I have no fodder for the blog!  Pictures anyone?  Stories?  Sharing a "RAsK" moment?  Anything?

Here's what I know.

Danielle has a BIG benefit event coming up that will be amazing and I'm sure I'll have something about that when it happens.

Ashlee is going to go to Spain to do a walk.  That's got to be some walk.  Hopefully we'll get pictures and dialogue when that happens

Zaynzley Carlton is going to be blessed in a few more weeks and there will certainly be pictures of that event including a 4 generations of women picture:  Me, Carol, Rhiannon and Zaynz. 

The "E-AGLES" annual family skiiing trip is coming up.

Ruth's book is progressing wonderfully.  Coppelia's too.  Talented ladies.

Kristin's term of PTA Prez is coming to a close.  She's done a magnificant job.

These are just a few things coming up.  Let me know of others.


A word about "comments".

When you are featured in the blog, it's kind of fun to read the comments that people make.  I would encourage all to make comments as it is a great feed back.  Dennis jr. made an adjustment to the blog awhile back that makes it easier.  All you have to do is click on the "comment" and write what you wish.  It then asks you to prove that you're not a robot (or spammer) and copy a squiggly word or two.  That's it, folks.  Couldn't be simpler.

And on a last note, the ides of April minus 3 is coming up! 

A lot of you remember our friends the Bielers who moved from the most northwestern part of the US (Bellingham, Washington) to the most Southeastern state, St. Augustine, Florida which is on the Atlantic side just below Jacksonville and was the first European settlement in America, founded in 1565 and is the oldest continuously occupied european-established city in the continental US.  Lot of history there.
 Merrianne got a new job at a nearby college.  They sold their home in Washington and moved last year and lived in an apartment for a 6 months while their new house was being built.

They recently sent us some pictures you might enjoy. They took a short trip to Savannah, Georgia, famous for its beautiful old Southern homes.

Doug

Merrianne

They took a weekend trip recently to Savannah, Georgia and snapped these pictures of historic homes.

A VISIT TO DISNEYLAND

Last weekend we had a visit from the newlyweds, (5 months now) Katie and Daren, Daren's brother and his brother's friend. It was spring break for them, and they didn't have to work, so down they came. It was supposed to be one day at Disneyland and two days at the beach but they picked the wrong weekend. The weekend before it was in the high 80s. This weekend was mostly rain. Thursday at the big "D" was good weather, but the beach was out for Friday and Saturday so it was back to Disneyland where they had basically no lines to stand in because of the rain and so they had free "reign". (hee-hee)

Brandon (friend), Ryan, bro-in-law, Katie and Daren

Katie and Grandpa

Katie and bro-in--law Ryan (who is buying the tickets)
at the 'happiest place on earth".

SOPHIE'S AIRPLANE RIDE

Sophie is having the time of her life in Kindergarten.  Recently her teacher told them they were going on a "trip" to see some special sites, like "Mt. Rushmore", "Washington Monument", etc., and learn about their history.  She suggested they make a "car" in which to make the trip.  Sophie being Sophie decided she wanted an airplane so Dad got the word and the rest is history!

Now that's an airplane!

Good looking pilot.

Steals the show.

And the pilot's hat caps it off!

UPDATE ON SUZANNE'S HAND

Oops! I posted the picture of Sue's "before" hand. No wonder it looked so good. Sorry. Here is the "after" hand.

One week after pciture

At least it provides a good comparison!





I asked to Sue to give me an update and picture on her hand.  WOW!  This is quite the picture.  (I think they  "slit" her wrist and also did a cut in the crease of her palm).

The before picture

After 1 week I think the hand is doing well. The palm of my hand is still very bruised as is my wrist but the stitches have dissolved and the incisions hardly visible. That is the beauty of your hand surgeon also being a plastic surgeon! I can now shower without a bag on my arm and the warm water feels wonderful on the wound. I can use my fingers although they don't have agreat deal of strength in them and the same with the hand.

Occassionally, I get a shooting pain down my fingers and into my wrist as the nerves continue to get back to normal but I have tingly feeling in my fingers which is great. I haven't had feeling in those finger tips for several months. We are hoping that the tingling changes to normal feeling over the next few months.

The bruising is sore and feels like a horse has stepped on my palm when I touch it but I am ok with that. Any feeling, in my mind, is good!

My family, as usual, have been terrific, so helpful and very kind.

Brannigan went to the puppy boarding house for a week so that my hand would have a chance to heal. He is home with us now and other than a couple of minutes of sniffing and investigating my hand's dressing, when he came home on Friday, he has completely ignored it and he and I are back striding out on walks, morning and afternoon.

Thank you to you all for your care and concern. All is well.

Wer'e glad things are progressing, Suzanne.  Keep up the good work!  

 

I witnessed a R A S K (Random ActS of Kindness)

As I was driving to my appointment this morning I thought about something that happened last week and decided it would be fun to share it with the family.
Last week Ken was working in Irvine.  Ususally when he works in California he will spend a night or two at our house but on this assignment, he was being paid by the hour and time is money which you don't want to spend driving back and forth on the highway.  However, he did come down on Thursday evening to take us to dinner and visit for awhile and of course play our long running game of Rummy which has been going since 2011, (wins: Dad 7, Ken 5, me 3).One game is played each time he comes to visit which is about once a month.

The condo behind us has been sold, and new owners, we were told, will move in around the middle to the end of March, so I've been thinking I would be meeting my new neighbors soon.

Ken arrived about 6p and we visited for a few minutes and then headed out the back to go eat.  At the new condo, we saw a Mexican couple with a 4ish year old daughter moving a sofa.  I said, "Oh, are you are new neighbors", but thinking, they are way to young to be living here (55+ requirement).  They sort of smiled and sort of nodded.  Ken immediately went over and took the other side of the sofa that the woman was trying to lift, and we realized they weren't moving it in, they were moving it out.  The man's pickup was close by but they couldn't get the tailgate to let down, so Ken propped his end up on the truck, hopped into the truck bed (with his nice slacks and dress shoes) and they lifed the sofa on the truck.  I am quite sure it would have been extremely hard for her to have done that.  Ken by far did the heavist part of the work.  Far more than the other man.

It was very apparent they did not speak any English.  The owner had obviously given them the keys to take the sofa away.

They said, "muchas gracias" many times as they drove off and we went to a delicious dinner.

That was a R A S K, Random ActS of Kindness and my sweet son did it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB SANDERS

Sunday was the perfect day to celebrate Bob's birthday since almost everyone could be there. Januuary fixed a Mexican feast that took 3 days to prepare and was enjoyed by all which included Robert, Melissa (and her dad), Blake, Grace, London and Claire, Derek (Jeanine had to work), Mark andLiz.

.Bob blowing out 60 candles (or maybe two, a 6 and an 0)

This is one happy fella playing cards. There is no one quite like Bob.
Happy birthday, Bob.

Ivan the Terrible, But Adam the Great

Here's an Adam you didn't know. The report is great, but if you know all you want to know about Ivan the Terrible, don't miss the special victory dance at the end (3:23) or the credits (3:41). !

Well done, Adam.

NATHAN AGLE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Looks like Nathan Agle had a super birthday party to celebrate his being an official "teenager" at 13.
Thanks for the pictures Mayra.

All geared up and ready to go.

Looks like good balance is a necessity.

Looks like Sophie in the background.

Davis, Mayra and Steven?????

BOB AND JANUARY

Recently January and Bob went on a cruise and this was a picture taken at tat time.  Nice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COPPELIA

Happy Birthday to Coppelia. Super Mom & Wife!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTT

Happy birthday. It's been a tough year but that just means that this coming year will be G R E A T ! You're on the road to recovery. Yeah!

Always with the smile.

Very soon you're going to lose those boots . . . .

and will be wearing shoes like these again . . .

and doing one of your favorite things.

12 in '12 - The March Drawing

HERE IT IS FOLKS, FOR YOU ENJOYMENT! I WISH YOU COULD ALL GET THE $50 BUT IN MY BOOK, YOU ARE ALL WINNERS.

MARCH 12TH IS COMING . . .

Zip went another month!  Tomorrow will be March 12th and time for reporting how you are doing on your 2012 goals.  Has a slump hit you?  Are you going gangbusters?  Are you somewhere in between?

I suspect, the odds for winning might be a little better this month, (as a few birdies have whispered in my ears) but I could be wrong.

Brush off that goal list and let me know how many sticks and for what should be entered for you.

As I said before, the easiest way for me to tally is something like this;
"I get 3 sticks this month.  One for Temple attendance, one for reading a book, and one for practicing my Spanish every day." 

The deadline to report will be midnight, but keep in mind, my computer is a tad slow at getting my emails, so earlier is better.

A "Grant" may be heading your way.

The drawing will be Tuesday afternoon.







Davis told me that he used his money to buy a new martial arts uniform.  I think we need a picture, don't you???????  Until I get one this one will have to do.  How about it Davis?


I look forward to hearing from all of you. xox

AN OPERATION FOR SUZANNE

Sue has been having a lot of pain many places, but especially in her right hand. It finally got to where the doctor said an operation is not really an option any more so today she went under the knife. We'll all say our prayers for a speedy and relatively free of pain recovery. Keep us posted Suzanne.

This is the "before" pciture.

The anesthetist administering his magic juice

The blue thing lower left is her hand.

Post operative recovery. Really sore fingers.

A treat for a good patient.  A shake.

She'd been fasting for quite

awhile  and this is what she was craving.