"The Babe"

Monday January 4, 1993

I have alot of problems with sweating and getting ready to go get my nails done. At 10:30 I take a pain pill for my chest pain. It makes me so drowsy I can hardly stay awake while Cary Lyn works on my nails. Later I do some shopping and get gas. I have a chili dog for lunch.

I rest in the late afternoon and evening. We watch a movie, "The Babe". We go to dinner at Hudson's. I eat 1/2 an Oriental chicken salad.

I'm surprised Mom could stay awake to watch a movie, and then still have the energy to go out to dinner. It's amazing how women can find the energy to go out to eat when it means we don't have to cook or clean up.

Belgian Waffles, Chili Dog & Pizza

Monday April 13, 1992

We are both awake at 5:00 a.m. (8 a.m. Miami time). After messing around awhile we decide to get up and go out to breakfast at Eggs & Things for the early bird special. It's great! Belgian waffles.

At home I clean up myself, Frank vacuums the house. It's lousy with cat hair and Smokey has peed on the couch and small segments of his poop here and there. Frank leaves to check out the empty Marvel house here in Simi and then he'll go help Gary. I go to get my nails done. Afterwards, I have a chili dog.

We order pizza in. At 7:30 we leave to go square dancing. We have a really good time. I'm surprised I don't tire at all, and I don't sweat too bad but I do blot alot between tips. Everyone is sooo glad to see us back. Afterward, we go to Hudsons Grill with Judy and Dave Dowd.

Wow, just back from a fattening cruise where she gained 10 pounds, and instead of going grocery shopping for some nutritious low-calories foods she can prepare at home, she goes out for Belgian waffles for breakfast, chili dog for lunch, and pizza for dinner. Then to top it off, they go out to a restaurant with friends after square dancing. I'm not as concerned about the calories as I am about the nutrition, or lack of it. Mom is battling cancer. She needs to give her body good fuel.

I remember how annoyed Mom and Frank would get with their cat Smokey. Whenever they left him home alone, he would "punish" them by peeing on the couch and pooping on the carpet instead of using his litter box

This webpage has a feature that shows how many people have looked at my blog. Over the last week I have watched the number approach 12,000, and today as I write, I have had 12,007 "hits" on my blog. It's exciting to know that someone is reading it, and I hope enjoying it half as much as I enjoy writing it. My blog is a tribute to my mother as well as a legacy of her life and mine I leave to my children.

Walking to Hudson's Grill

Wednesday February 19, 1992

I feel pretty good today. I slept in til 8 a.m. Frank went visiting in the valley in the morning. At noon we walk down to Hudson's Grill for lunch. By the time we walk back home, I'm tired but feel like I could do it again tomorrow. Maybe I'm finally ready to get back to our 4-mile walks. I know I'll never lose this weight if I don't get back to walking.

My fingernail that broke off is still very tender and my right wrist is still in alot of pain. My hips ache alot if I stand too much and when I walk but only the first 15 minutes. My hair is back to normal. It is as thick as it was a year ago and looks pretty good.

Hudson's Grill in Simi Valley was open from 1986 until 2006 and was located in the Sycamore Village Plaza. That's about 1-1/2 miles from their house on Ambergrove Court. To walk there and back would be a 3-mile walk. At a fast pace, that's good exercise. I try to walk about 3 miles per day, which takes about an hour. Walking is such great exercise and does help to alleviate alot of those aches and pains that Mom is experiencing.

I Have No Will Power

Monday December 16, 1991

Up and doing the wash most of the day. Frank works with wood in the garage all day. Feeling pretty normal. Eating too much these days and gaining weight daily. I must stop but seem to have no will power.

We go square dancing. I dance every dance, no problem. My biggest complaint today is my arthritic thumbs and wrists. We go to Hudson's Grill later and I eat again. Food I don't need.

Square dancing every night will certainly burn the calories, but if she is eating dinner before dancing and then going out afterwards, she is eating 4 meals every day. Hudson's Grill seems to be the restaurant that their club frequents the most. According to their website, they closed down in 2006.

Square Dancing Club

Monday May 20, 1991

Ready to walk again but too busy with lots of wash to do. Big mistake, I brush Daisy in the house and fur flies averywhere. Big vacuum job.

My appetite seems to be getting back to normal, just in time. I've gained back 2 pounds. No more!

Sally arrives for an impromptu visit and helps me put the spread on my bed. We have a 2 hour visit during which Frank arrives home.

My chest doesn't hurt today so maybe that was from vomiting but my back and legs have started to hurt again like before my stay in the hospital. A few stomach pains but no problem.

After a taco dinner we dress for square dancing. Last class. We do well at class. Then go to Hudson's Grill with 16 for chocolate malt.

Mom was blessed to be able to retire from a stressful job when she was 52. Even though she had a busy social life, after her retirement, she wanted to expand their circle of friends, so she and Frank took up square dancing. They took classes, they joined a club and danced several times a week. They went camping with their square dancing club several times every year. After mom died, the ladies from her square dancing club came into her home during the funeral and set up food for the reception after the graveside service. I really appreciated their helpfulness.