Thursday - May 15

 Wow....10 years ago today, we closed on our Jackson Street house and became Nomads!    Still having fun....

I felt good this morning and so Mark took me to town (I was not to drive for 24 hours after the anesthesia).    Claire and I met at Egg Republic for a late breakfast and 2-hour visit.    So good to catch up over our hearty omelets!   No picture - 😒

Then Claire drove us downtown to Ivy Lane Bakery for one of their delicious cookies and more visiting.   She dropped me off (with a big hug) at MODA for a haircut with Ashlyn.    I usually see Morgan but she and her family are visiting her Mother in Bonita Springs, FL this week.

Mark picked me up and back to KK where it's crazy windy today.

License plates tonight (new) are Ohio and North Dakota

We had a nice chat with Brady tonight.    He leaves Saturday for 5 weeks in Rome studying Theology and Philosophy thru Notre Dame.   Wishing him safe travels, a wonderful adventure and hopefully, a blessing from Pope Leo XIV.

We were in the 90's today - crazy weather and some areas got some nasty weather tonight including large hail - nothing here at KK.

 

Wednesday - May 14

 My crazy kidney stone saga continues.....last night Dawn (Dr. Tolentino's scheduler who's been with him for 20+ years) called to say my procedure was moved up to 11 instead of noon.    Yeah....we'll be at St. Joe's at 9:15.

I checked in at registration and they did not have me in their system- no surgery scheduled!    Another "WHAT???    (been using that word too much lately).

On Monday, Dawn saw there was an opening for today, set it up with me and got info in computer but never hit send to go to hospital.   REALLY....how does this even happen?  She was very apologetic but now has to find an OR, Dr and laser machine all available on short notice.   We drove across town to BroMenn for 1:30 procedure.    Had 4 hours to just do whatever.....hung out in the "Arium Cafe" (no eating or drinking for me).    

Both hospitals were great - St. Joe's so apologetic they couldn't fit me in....not their fault - Dawn totally dropped the ball.    And BroMenn able to do their best to fit me in.   So, got the ole stent out, lasered the stone and new stent put in for 1 week.

Oh so ready for this day to end....I could write a book about this fiasco which all started 5 weeks ago today when Linda (sister-in-law) and I were sitting on our patio at CT playing rummikub and my back started hurting,    Then so many more issues to come with the medical folks in FL, NC and now IL.    ARGHHHHH    I just want this to be over - yesterday!    Ha...

Nighty night - thank you so much for your prayers and kind thoughts!

Tuesday - May 13

 Sun, clouds, rain, warm, cool....a little bit of everything today weatherwise.

We had a quiet morning here at KK and then left for town.   Stopped at the Normal post office and then met Bob and Martha at Medici.   Haven't been here for ages....good food and a wonderful 2+ hour visit.   So much to catch up on after 2 days short of last being together (5/15/24).    Martha is a great cook/baker and she's so thoughtful to always bring us cookies.....today, chocolate chip and snickerdoodles!   A real treat for we nomads.   Said our goodbyes and left in the rain (it poured while we were inside).

Bob and Martha

It had cooled off too, so Mark and I thought some hot coffee sounded good.   We went to Gloria Jean's only to find out their espresso machine was down?   WHAT?   That's a big No No for a coffee shop!    Ha!  So drove across the street to Starbucks and I went in to order while Mark went to Schnucks for some K-Kups.   We enjoyed our drinks + a Martha cookie on our way back to KK.  😋

Very little rain here and a few sprinkles after we got home.   Anne had 2" at her home.

Luke on his rappelling and hiking weekend with his adventure club

Our very adventuresome grandson

We did a short walk around the campground doing our license check....New Hampshire and South Dakota are new tonight!

Monday - May 12

 We were off to Bloomington at 8:30 to meet the Monday morning group for breakfast at Times Past.   I decided NOT to eat as there was a slim chance I would have my procedure this afternoon.    Pat, Brenda, Ken, Sigrunn and Sue were there.    Mark and I left at 10 and decided to go straight to Dr. Tolentino's office and talk to Dawn, his scheduler to see if she had any luck rescheduling me?

We chatted with her and she was working on it, but all things have to come together - find an available hospital or SurgiCenter and OR + the laser machine, and of course, the doctor.    So, Dawn told us to run our errands and she would be in touch.   Still a possibility later today, but most likely not going to happen.   We got Ruby's oil changed and a much-needed car wash and picked up a Rx at WalMart.

Dawn called around 11:30 and said we are all set for Wednesday at noon at St. Joe's and be there at 10:30.    We drove to Uptown Normal and I dropped off my rings at Solid Gold to be checked and cleaned.   Then we walked to Windy City Wieners and shared a gyro with fries - very good.   Picked up my rings and on home.

We saw a video today of Fort Myers and all the flooding on Palm Beach Blvd (street we use all the time) - 2-3" in less than 24 hours.

The past few days brought RV's from Washington, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

I went to town and met Ruth, Sue and Marsha at Tobins for dinner (had not been here in years)!    Pizza was good; Ruth had chicken/spaghetti.   And of course, great visit.  

Stormy weather tonight - as I was coming back to KK and traveling west, the sun was shining, but the sky behind me to the east was a very dark navy blue.   I got a warning on my phone about severe weather for McLean County and several other counties.

We did get some rain (naturally after we had Ruby washed - never fails)!   But I'm sure the farmers were grateful.  

Mother's Day - 2025

 A beautiful today to celebrate "Mother's"!    Last night Anne told me that Scooter's drive-thru was open and the newest coffee shop in town!   Yeah.....we've been to the one in Mendota and also Iowa City (sit-down).    So Mark and I left early and stopped (busy place) but enjoyed my hazelnut latte before going onto 10:00 Mass where we met Anne and Connor.

Beautiful Mass with Father Loftus and Holy Trinity's outstanding choir.    Onto Shannon's for very hearty brunch - HUGE crowd but a great array of breakfast and lunch items and yummy desserts!   Said our good byes to Anne and Connor and on back to KK.

Mom and Daughter

Pat, Connor, Anne

We had a quiet afternoon till 3ish and then drove to Carlock to walk again in the park - such a lovely day with the birds singing, flowers blooming, corn and beans popping up, and all the lush greenery from bushes and trees.

Heavenly scent of lilacs in Carlock

So thankful for my 4 children and 8 grands....(soon-to-add Erin and Tessa)!   So nice to receive many texts from family/friends, phone calls, gifts, etc.   It was a wonderful day and I am sooo blesssed!

Zoom tonight was small and short.    Karen, Theresa, Tom, C, Tom H and us.   Most still celebrating Mother's Day.  Big surprising news from Tom C was that there is no longer any mail service in Denmark or Sweden - all electronic mail for these folks.    They also no longer use cash.   Interesting!

Have a great week!