Not much happens on Saturday after College football ends. The Lionel Club had a special open house with a visit from Santa. I have to start venturing down there if I am going to start paying higher dues. I'll have to look at my paperwork. There are three payment plans. Number 1 is the entire $150 up front ($140 if paid early). Number two is two equal payments of $75.00 each and number three which spreads the pain out a bit is three equal payments of $50.00 each, the last of which is due in May There was a lot of TV hype once again about impending weather. It was to begin in the evening and last until Sunday night. We thought briefly of 4:30 mass and then decided to take our chances on Sunday since we had arranged to meet the Krajewski's for breakfast. So we basically hunkered down most of the day and watched the weather.
When we awoke Sunday morning in time for 9:00AM mass, the world had turned into a glazed donut. In hindsight, which of course is 20-20 we decided that 4:30 mass would have been a viable alternative. Even in our younger days, we might have ventured out. However, at this age the logistics of deicing the car, not to mention navigating parking lots and sidewalks appeared daunting. So, while Mary called Mary Ann to let her know what was going on, I watched the Sunday Mass from Mercy Home to which I contribute regularly. Once again, like last week we had breakfast at home and spent the day watching our usual Sunday football. Unfortunately the Steelers were marked by a dumb comment from on e their players that they were guaranteed to BEAT New England. Anyone who knows anything about human nature realizes that was a dumb mistake. Of course, they paid dearly. Sunday Night I watched Extreme .Makeover Home Edition. This is a program you definitely need to watch if you are feeling just a bit sorry for yourself. It is also a great example of God's people coming together to do his work. Each week the design team, lead by Ty Pennington, formerly of Trading Spaces and currently the Sears' and Bayer Aspirin spokesperson joins with local volunteers and sponsors to build a new home for a family with special needs. As I said, it is a real eye-opener about doing for others Then I watched "For One More Day" a dramatization of a novel by Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie). Albom, a radio talk show host in Detroit and a "Sportscaster" (name of show) on ESPN Sunday AM. He steps out of those roles as a novelist writing inspirational stories about real life.
Monday I joined the Legion guys for coffee and delivered the Post Newsletter in advance of the meeting/Christmas Party Wednesday Night. Normally I create three color copies to be delivered to the Mayor, Chair, and Secretary of the Veteran's Commission. The rest are then run in black and white to be passed out at the meeting. However, since most of the newsletter was night shots of Orland festive decorations I printed 50 copies on my color printer. It had been icy on Sunday but by Monday morning the Village had the roads in good shape and the slipperiest pavement was my driveway. However, we went to bed Monday night in anticipation of another ice storm on Tuesday. As a matter of fact I got an email Monday night that cancelled two events for Tuesday in anticipation of the storm.
Tuesday I had volunteered to assist the choir director with Christmas carols at the Young at Heart Lunch at St Julie's. I was also scheduled for a Communications Committee meeting Tuesday night. The Monday night email had cancelled both events in anticipation of an ice storm that did not materialize in our area. However, since it appeared that there might be icy conditions southwest of us I opted not to go to a train club meeting in Joliet. That also turned out not to be a problem. Anyway the only thing of significance I accomplished was my regular weekly meeting with my personal trainer (the last before leaving for Florida). The other "big" job was to upload the St Julie bulletin after the late news so my cohort Don would have it greet him Wednesday AM.
Wednesday started a string of medical type appointments. However, first I needed to visit my hair stylist at Sport Clips and get a haircut. I then went to get my teeth cleaned and ran into a Christmas miracle. For the first time in a while, the exam connected to the cleaning turned up no cavities, hence the Christmas miracle since leaving for Florida would get in the way of any filling appointments or vice-versa. Anyway the miracle occurred and Wednesday night we went to the Legion Christmas Party at the Orland Chateau. Following the opening formality of a meeting, activities were suspended so we could have the dinner consisting of pork and dumplings, baked chicken, mashed potatoes, sausage and sauerkraut, preceded by soup and salad. Santa showed up with gifts and called the numbers for our gift exchange. About nine most attendees took a pass on the dancing and went home. However, the party received great reviews, especially since we were not served the usual mostacolli, beef etc.
On Thursday I had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Lim my back specialist. One of the things noted the week before by the Neurologist was a limited lateral movement in the right hip. He suggested I have Dr Lim x-ray it and the x-ray turned up a great deal of arthritis, almost bone on bone. I am to follow-up with one of his partners upon return from Florida which may lead to a bionic hip. I dashed of from there to my urologist to follow-up on BPH (commonly know as an enlarged prostate. He has a procedure he recommends to correct the situation. Not wanting to have any procedures before heading for Florida I inquired about pharmaceutical solutions. His response was that the choice was medication for life or a 20 minute office procedure. Guess what else will happen in April. I went from there to the Sportsplex for a short workout. I cut it short because the arthritis was a little painful. It was my turn to fix dinner. My fixing dinner amounts to a stop at Subway for a choice of one of their foot longs which Mary and I then share, a very inexpensive and casual dinner in front of the TV. Once again, I had a meeting (of the Veteran's Commission) cancelled so I spent a bit of time on the computer What else would you expect? That left me only the appointment to have my head examined on Friday.
Friday morning Mary went for coffee with friends and I with the Legion guys. She called to say that when she arrived home, there was a message on the phone saying that they had to cancel my appointment to take care of a hospital Stat patient. I have watched enough medical shows to know that STAT means ASAP. I said a short prayer for the patient happy to step aside for someone who obviously needed their services more. When I called back they apparently had no immediate openings. However, when apprised that I was leaving Tuesday for Florida they managed to get me in at noon Monday. I will leave with a positive attitude that they will find nothing serious since there is not much they can do if the arterial plaque has increased slightly, The Neurologist indicated that no stronger blood thinner than aspirin would aid the situation if it existed. I am not so sure if I need to go but it would be good to know what is going on. I have long contended that there is nothing up there anyway. So I will need to wait until later to find out.
