I got home this afternoon about 5pm and let Mona outside.She was so excited to see me that she ran directly to the garden and dug up her most prized posession and brought it to me.A gift?Inbetween the day lilly and the lilac bush she had buried a mole.What a good girl that she had caught a mole.They make tunnels all over the yard and she always wants to go after them but she is not allowed to dig.They usually get away in their tunnel.Thank you Mona!

I went back to the dentist.I got the one permanent cap and then they told me that they remembered that they forgot to put it in the computer for my “forgotten” second tooth.That was a circular way of telling me …..sorry, only one tooth today. grrrrrrI told them that I only had two days in town and then needed to go back and take care of my mom.So, I told them to start calling other patients and cancel somebody Monday or Tuesday because it had to be done.The receptionist just stared at me like I was a little wacko and I just looked back at her like I was perfectly sane.She went away for 10 minutes, then returned and said I could stay and a different dentist would do the second one in about 45 minutes.I had been wanting to try this other dentist because of the recent problems with my regular dentist.She was wonderful and even told jokes.I hope it holds up for two weeks until I get the permanent one.I am off to take care of mom.She will be discharged from rehab on Thursday because she could go up 13 steps and walk 50 feet round trip with a walker.She makes more progress everyday. How do you like the temporary cap from the new dentist? My lip is a bit swollen, but the new dentist said that will go down in a few days.

You know how things just don’t get done when you are out of town.Well, we have been catching up like crazy since I only have a few days before Mom gets out of rehab and I need to be back there to take care of her.

It has been really hot here.  This week it will be way over 90 degrees F everyday.We have a skylight in the bathroom.The sun beats in there and heats up the house.Last year we put some window tint on the skylight and it really helped.It is not something most people do but we(by that I mean Blips, of course) crawl up there and put the clingy tint on the window.You have to stand on the top step and reach really high.So, only Blips can reach that high.

Here (left)he is from a human point of view……the top of his socks are even with the ceiling and his legs disappear into the skylight.And here (right)is the other shot from the assistants view.He did a perfect job and it really makes a difference.In the fall we take it off, since the sunshine is welcome in the winter.

There were some ups and downs in the hospital but in the end, they handled everything with a lot of skill and her surgeon is very good.Mom does not really want me to put details on the internet…. so here is the one picture she allowed me to take just before going into surgery.It was her 85th birthday and the anesthetist said he just might give her a navel ring for free.He asked if ruby(July birthstone) is ok.That made her laugh. 

My brother Dave and niece Gina drove over on Tuesday.Mom was glad to see them.We had a wonderful surprise when mom’s sister Lorraine and her daughter, Loretta, stopped by.They were in Sioux Falls for my uncles cataract surgery.That was so nice of them to stop by. From the left, Gina, me, Lorraine, Loretta, David.

With each meal, mom got an orchid.At least she kept calling it an orchid.She said it was edible and kept trying to get me or any other visitor to eat one.(she saved the flower from each meal……they were stacking up)  Mom convinced Gina and Dave to each take one as they left.  And I convinced them that they would never regret their picture taken, passport style, with the lovely flower.See it there behind their ear.Maybe they thought I had lost it, since it seemed like the highlight of my day to get this picture.

This was a Christian hospital.There was an inspirational garden that had a statue of Jesusand lots of flowers.It was remarkably peaceful and comforting.The picture does not show how lovely it was.So, now mom is back in her home town getting rehabilation.She gets physical therapy twice a day and occupational therapy once or twice a day.OT is things like getting dressed…the business of life.PT is for the knee and mobility. 

After getting mom set up in rehab, I came home Friday night because I thought Blips was going to Boston on Sunday.I had a nice surprise…..not until the 30th is he going to Boston.I go to the dentist tomorrow, Monday and will go back to take care of mom when she is discharged from the rehab facility.We don’t know when that is because it depends on her progress.

I am at the hospital with my mom for her knee surgery.She is the proud new owner of an entirely new left knee.The surgeon said it was an “easy knee” to do because she was not overweight.It was a complete success.She just needs to recover from the surgery now.

This hospital gets an A+.They have cookies(6 different kinds of fresh baked ones) and coffee…douw egbert!And ice water and an internet room and couches to sleep on for those waiting.They also have valet parking for free.We just drive up and get out and go in the front door.BUT the best thing in this hospital in the TP holder design.Yes, the toilet paper dispenser is not installed at elbow level so that you have to put your head on the floor to get a piece of tp.The dispenser is installed above shoulder level so the the paper hangs at the level of your hand.Just swing your right hand just 5 inches to the right and…..walla, toilet paper.It is not rocket science.But somebody in Public-toilet-design finally got it right.

ok, I went to the dentist at 08:30 and sat in the chair for 35 minutes until he got there.This is a good dentist that I have been going to for 35 years.He is never late.But Blips had 3 appointments cancelled this spring and it took him 5 months to finally get to see him.grrrrrrr.Well, the dentist did not look well and I asked him about not looking well, and he described some childhood illnesses that have returned now as an adult.bummer.

He worked on my teeth for an hour and it was done.I was surprised since I had a 3 hour appointment and it was 1/2 hour late getting started.I then realized that he did only one tooth and not two.The assistant who was glueing on the temporary cap went to ask him about it.He said he just did not see the notation to do two.hmmmmm he usually does not make these mistakes.I think he did only one because it would solve the problem of his schedule being 1/2 hour behind.He also was a little shaky(not normal) so maybe two was too much for him.ok, they will do the second one when I return on 7/23 for the permanent cap.Then I do have to go back on 8/6 for the second permanent cap.Good thing I am not working and my mom should be well enough that I can arrange for others to check on her.

My tooth does look better than this one.

Last Thursday I worked just 3 hours and the project was done.So, I have been off work since then.That makes me officially unemployed.I had so many plans to fill each day but it has been very hot here.It was 97F or 98 F here yesterday and I think the low overnight was around 80F.Today was just as hot until it clouded over and rained.Then it dropped to 73F in just 45 minutes. 

Tomorrow I go to the dentist.I am getting two crowns and it will take 3 hours the first visit.I go back in two weeks for the final fitting.Then I have plans to get a lot done around here that got let go while I was working so much.Next Sunday I go to stay with my mom who is getting a new knee.I will be staying with her the whole time she is in the hospital to make sure her physical therapy is implemented properly and she is given the correct medication.There are many many mistakes made in hospitals, so I will be there to check on things.

The other news in town is that Prince gave 3 concerts yesterday.He is our hometown boy.The papers said he was fantastic, as usual.

Wow, I can’t believe how long it has been since I blogged.I certainly thought about it alot but after sitting behind a computer for 8-9.5 hours a day, it just never got done.I sat down here to blog a ‘catch up’ category but all the news seems so old.I think I will just blog a new idea I have.

I call it Serendipity.Now, I have used that word a few times…..and try to explain it to anyone who does not use English as their first language.It is rather difficult.Blips better understood it after many examples.I first blirted it out when I was at a red light and the license plate to the left , right and across from me was 426.Yeah, all three were 426!!!It was just a moment in time, since the traffic to the left and right was moving.I guess I took that book, Enjoy The Little Things In Life(or whatever it is called) seriously. 

So, I am proposing, to all those who play The Game, a bonus category.  Serendipity starts when you reach your goal of 100, of course.   I have found that Serendipity is everywhere but I just never noticed it with license plates.Here are two for you to enjoy from when I had my camera with me.

Just in case the plates do not show clearly enough, the first on reads….AREDCAR.The big white van from Abbie Lake Kennels(see the doggie) says, TAILWGN.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.