My back is feeling much better. It still gives me fits every now and again. Rest seems to help along with using a cane for long walks. I also purchased a pair of walking poles to use for greater stability when walking on uneven ground. They are probably one of my better acquisitions as far as price and use. People are touting them (walking poles) for their great exercise benefits. They seem to give you a better workout when walking because they use the upper body and strengthen the back muscles.

My father had a hip replacement in July. He is still using a walker for balance and seems to be coming along slowly. He and Eileen are planning on going to Zephyrhills Florida again this winter. I don't think he will be able to drive but we will see. If they do go, I will probably fly down in January for a short break. Hopefully, I will be able to see my old friend Jeff while I am there. I missed him this summer when he was here.

It has been a glorious summer in Western PA.....Lots of unusual sunshine and lack of rain has made for many warm and sunny days to spend out on the porch or patio. Joe's garden was (and still is) full and green. The tomatoes are at their peek, so lunch today was tomato sandwiches!
We have had several batches of fresh salsa and I hope for more.

Next weekend, my friend Janet is having a weekend party at her campground. I will be taking the usual jug of margaritas and salsa. Oh, and Margaret wants some mint julips! I turned her on the them back in May for the Kentucky Derby. It just happened to fall on May 5th, the same as
Cinco De Mayo, which commemorates the defeat of the French army by the Mexicans at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. We drank both margaritas and mint julips that night. And, as word spread around the campground, out little party turned into a 20 person bash!

Yesterday, Joe and I went to the Crawford County Fair. We had not been there in years. It was okay, but not great. The food didn't look interesting at all and I love fair food. I did buy a caramel apple and candied apple to bring home for later.

On the way to the fair, we stopped at the Marketplace in downtown Meadville. There, we bought honey, incense and wine. Noel (used to work at the Herald) was there and he told us we should go next door the the old bank building that is now a coffee shop/internet hot spot. I walked over ahead of Joe and looked around and decided that we should have some coffee. I saw these two women sitting at the bar when I walked in and when I turned around, I looked again and one of them was Joe's sister, Maryann. We had a good laugh and decided we would see how long it took Joe to discover her when he came along. He looked around, ordered coffee and was walking away when I pointed her out to him. How funny to run into her in Meadville, of all places. A friend of hers was in town for a weekend wedding, so she drove up to meet her in the afternoon. We had a good chat over coffee and continued on to the fair.

Last month, I drove up to New York City for the day. I left early on Saturday morning and went to Chinatown and bought tea and ate. Found a great parking lot in the basement of a city building on a side street that charges only $20.00 dollars a day! A bargain for NYC. I had to go to Essa Bagels and buy the usual garlic and cinnamon raisin bagels. In the evening, I drove up to Times Square and hung out for awhile. After dark, I drove up Riverside Drive to the George Washington Bridge and bid my favorite city farewell. Every once in awhile, I just have to have my NYC fix!

Tricia, Merv, Jacob and Luke are vacationing in Hilton Head SC this week. Jake was looking forward to laying on the beach and golfing. Luke couldn't wait to get there to go play tennis at Van der Meer Tennis Academy. http://www.vandermeertennis.com/ The kid is relentless!!!

Just 2 months since my last post! Summer is glorious. The flowers are in full bloom, the grass and trees are brilliant green. Today is a near perfect day...not a cloud in the sky. And NO humidity! The only thing that would make life better would be to have Jake & Luke nearby. But, that is a whole other story.

Delee's wedding is next Saturday and I pray for the same weather we are having today. The ceremony will be outdoors at McConnell Mills. http://www.cheesemanfarm.com/barn_gallary.html Good luck Delee & Kent!

As usual, Joe is puttering in the garden on this lovely day. I had planned on going shopping, but it is too nice to waste this weather, so I am going to sit on the back patio and read. When the sun gets farther to the west, I will move to the porch and read and drink homemade lemonade.

Old Fashioned Lemonade
Simmer for 5 minutes
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
Rind of 2 lemons, cut into strips
1/8 teaspoon salt
Cool syrup
Meanwhile, zest (optional) one or two of six lemons. Juice lemons through a stainless strainer.
Add the juice to the cooled syrup.
Optional: At the end of the recipe, add zest and some of the pulp -- and a few pips -- to the syrup.
Strain and store in a covered jar
To use: Add 2 tablespoons syrup to a glass of ice and fill with cold water. Serve with a sprig of peppermint

Well, I'll be. Three months since the last post... Spring has arrived...for the second time. Most of the tulips were killed by the cold and snow as were the lilacs.

My neighbor, Karen, and me, we are having a yard sale on Saturday. Trying to get rid of some of the junk around here. I spent most of the weekend cleaning the bedroom closet and I have a large pile of clothes for the sale. Just some of the items are a table umbrella and stand, old sewing machine from 1950, microwave, white roll up blind, old carpet remnants, several plastic end tables, make-up, hand lotion, sheets, pillowcases, blankets, bedspreads, throw rugs, chest and dresser, bookcase headboard, mattress pad bed warmer, picture frames, old audio tapes, records. By God, it had better not rain. And, there should be nothing left at the end of the day!

Let's see....I went to Florida in February. It was a little colder that I would like, but it beat the snow and cold here. Dad & Eileen picked me up at the Tampa airport, and we promptly went to a Waffle House for breakfast. It has been quite a long time since Jeffrey & I used to go to the Waffle House 0n the way to the Ft Myers airport. It wasn't bad. The one in Tampa was so awful! It was dirty, the food was terrible and the coffee was undrinkable. Now, when you are in the waffle business, don't you think that your waffles should be at least cooked? Mine was mush in the center and not a speck of brown on the outside. It looked like a piece of white bread! Pretty much sums up the experience that Joe & I had at a Waffle House in WV years ago. We couldn't even drink the coffee that time, it was so bad. The moral is stay away from Waffle House! We then went to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino and gave and took a little money. It was fun and I can see how people get addicted to gambling.

A week after my trip to Florida, I had surgery on my lower back. There was lots of scar tissue from the previous surgery that had to be scraped from the spinal canal. While doing that, the good doc nipped the sack that contains the spinal fluid and had to patch it up with some glue and a little mesh. What was supposed to have been a 3-4 hour operation turned into an eight hour surgery. I wonder how many scheduled surgeries had to be changed because of me????
I now have 3 cylinders in my back that the vertebrae will eventually fuse to so my back will be flexible and not fixed. It hurt. It hurt like hell. For 3 weeks, every move sent searing pain to my head and feet. I insisted that something was not right and Jennifer ( Dr Gerszten's perky little secretary) just kept telling me to give it more time......yea, yea... It has gotten better and I have returned to work after being off 7 weeks. It still hurts and gets very tired, but it is much better than before surgery. The doctor told me 2 weeks ago that it is not unusual to have lingering pain for up to a year. Just what I wanted to hear.

John & Leslie and Tess & Robert were here last month. It was John's parent's anniversary, so Tess & Robert came along to visit the Wiercinski clan. We had a surprise Baby Shower for Miss Tess. I truly think she was surprised, which is always fun. She got lots of nice clothes, bath items, toys, and baby must haves. That was a fun weekend.

Bedtime...Later.

MORNING COFFEE

Sometimes, this blog feels too much like work!

Winter has finally (not that I was waiting for it) arrived. I have had enough. It can go away any time. I am contributing to global warming by purchasing spray cans any chance I get!

Getting a new bed on Tuesday. It is rusty looking iron. Can't wait to get rid of the bookcase headboard that collects too much junk.

Went to Pittsburgh to see Dr Gerszten about my back on Thursday. He is going to clean it up and insert a coil on February 27th. Had to put it off until after I return from Florida.

Jake bought a guitar and is taking lessons. He sounds like he really wants to learn to play. Luke is mystified that the Steelers would want anybody from the Vikings. He says they stink!

It is bedtime. Catch you later.

MORNING COFFEE

I would like to think that my complaining about the care I received for my procedure on 12.26.06 @ UMPC Horizon did some good. This week, I went for a second shot, and I had a private bed and relaxed before and after the injection!!! Even had some ginger ale.... The shots have provided some relief, but the back still hurts.

Last evening I met Eleanor & Faith at LaIsla for margaritas and dinner. We had an enjoyable two hours of catching up on the last couple of months gossip. I miss our weekends at the campground. We had a great time when we worked at Junction.

The bedroom is fabulous! Still have not gone looking for furniture...Don't know what I want. I would like shutters for the window and Nick said he will install them. He needs to install the rod and shelf in the closet and then I can move my clothes.

I found a ticket from PIT to TPA on 02.15.07, returning on 02.20.07. $185.89 total! The weather better be warm and sunny. My luck, it will be cold and rainy the whole weekend.

Promised myself that I would read a book a week this year. See how long that lasts! I am on my second so far. It is a very interesting murder mystery with rich folks, lawyers, business owners, sex, and corruption. What every book should contain.

MORNING COFFEE

Alas, it was back to the old grind today. And my birthday. Shouldn't have to work on your birthday. I got lots of cards and a pumpkin candle and a new Carly Simon CD, Into White. There are some fabulous songs like You Are My Sunshine and Over The Rainbow. It is a great CD.

Today was not quite as warm as it has been, but it was sunny and 44. God, I hope this lasts until spring. Where is it written that it has to be cold and _ _ _ _ _ in the winter?

The bedroom is almost finished. The floor (Pergo) has to be installed and the trim & baseboard put on. I am going to sit in the middle of the floor and read and listen to music. Until I get around to purchasing a bed, I am going to put my wicker porch furniture in there and maybe my cafe table and chairs. It can be my sitting room. What I should do, is make that room my livingroom and make the livingroom the bedroom. That would be a huge bedroom! At least I have options now with the room redone. It will be worth the drywall dust and dirt.....

Just ran to Staples for some CD-R's, cases & labels. 55 dollars!!!! Holy cow..... but, I shouldn't need any more for the whole year. OH, I also bought a TEACH YOURSELF TO PLAY THE GUITAR CD for Jacob.
He got a new guitar last week and reason is...."Just want to rock!" Okey dokey...I hope he does. Was only gone to Staples for 15 minutes and Trey called while I was gone. Sorry I missed him.

I am looking for an airline ticket to Florida in February. Dad & Eileen have been after me to go visit them while they are there this winter. The prices are ridiculous. If I can get the total price, including all fees and taxes to be under $200.00 I am in business!

Time to balance the old checkbook and get ready for slumber. Ta, ta.