My dad has passed.

Today my father passed into eternity. He was peaceful and comfotable at the end. I will miss him.

A difficult decision

I've have been so negligent lately about blogging here. Since my farms at Farm Town came on the scene I spend more time there. Not good. But they are fun.

Yesterday morning I received an email that my dad is again taken a turn for the worse. He no longer fan swallow and they are giving him "days" again. I really expect a call any time.

Also yesterday, I had an appointment with my doctor. My blood sugars have been out of site despite the med, I've been having some dizzy spells, I'm tired all the time and all I want to do is sleep. On top of all that, I have a sinus infection. I felt so lousy yesterday that I stayed home from work. My doctor, a patient soul, was not pleased with me since it had been awhile since I had seen him. He changed my diabetic med back to Actos and I left with an antibiotic, a script for blood work and a return appointment for 3 weeks.

With everything going on, I contacted one of my cousins and together we made the decision that I am not going to Texas for the funeral unless things happen much later than we anticipate. I have been putting my health on the back burner for years - taking every one else's problems on to myself and my body is finally rebelling, I guess. The stress of the trip, working things out for pet care, working out days off from work - I've decided would be more than I should do right now. It would be a whirlwind trip and I feel overwhelmed just thinking of what it would all entail. I was able to say "goodbye" to Dad last week and I know he would want me to take care of myself. He had a sister he was very close to die of diabetic complications and he was always concerned that I would be affected as well. I've been agonizing about what to do, and now that I've made this difficult decision, I feel at peace about it all. I guess it's time for Melanie for awhile. Does that sound selfish?

Today, in spite of rather staying home on the couch, I have to get my hair cut. My appointment is long overdue. I also have to run a quick errand for my mother. And then it's back home for the next two days.

Hope you all are looking forward to a great weekend. Hard to believe that Labor Day is almost here again! Until later...

News on my father.

I spoke with two of my cousins yesterday. Apparently, Dad has rallied a bit and yesterday took a bit of milk shake and some mashed potatoes. It may be the final rally before the end. I've seen it time and time again with my patients. So, he's still holding his own. He always was a tough guy. I'll let you all know more as I know.

Not much else going on around here. I feel like I'm in a waiting pattern with Dad's condition. I'm thankful that our temps are down a bit. It's not that oppressive heat when you walk out the door, at least not early in the morning like it was.

Well, this is a very short post. I didn't have very much to say but wanted to keep you all posted. Have a great week!

Sad news

I received a phone call from my half-sister yesterday evening. My dad is near death under Hospice care and she wanted me to be able to talk to him. She put the call on speaker phone and I talked with him a bit. He wasn't able to answer back but she said he indicated that he heard me. By what she described, he sounded very dear death - no more than a couple of days and so I've been waiting for a phone call. I wish so much that I could be there right now but it's not to be. My three cousins are getting together to get me a plane ticket when it comes time for the funeral and for that I'm so thankful.

For those of you who don't know our history, my father and mother divorced when I was just a toddler. I grew up not knowing my father and we lost track of each other until 1983 when I was about to deliver my third child, Michael. We've visited several times since then and each visit was so precious; each one another puzzle piece fitting into the larger picture. It's sad that I'll not be able to visit with him again but even with the little time we actually had together, I've been back in touch with my roots and realize that I am actually a Midwesterner at heart.

This has been coming for a long time. I've known that since Dad's health has not been well and he just lost his wife about a month ago. Please keep the family in prayer. I'll let you know how things go.

How funny!

I have a site bookmarked on my home page that I really enjoy. It's called Cute Overload. It has hilariously funny photos of animals with ever more hilarious captions! The other day, they introduced a site where you can "squirrelize" your photo on the internet. For example:
My friend at Disney's Wilderness Lodge suddenly has an added friend -

If you want to "squirrelize" your own photo, visit here.

Nothing much else to report here. Weather is still hot although there is a cool breeze once in awhile. My mother's van is needing repair so I'll be taking her for some grocery shopping tomorrow. Other than that - not much planned.

Hope you all are having a great week. Until later.

Back to work today.

Yes, I guess all good things must come to an end. I'm back to work today after 5 days off. At least it will be a short work week.

My beach vacation was very relaxing. I went to the White Orchid Inn and Spa on Flagler Beach. My room was large and decorated in an Oriental/art deco sort of motif. They have a small pool and also a heated mineral pool which was heaven. They have a full service spa and I had a facial and manicure and pedicure while there. I felt so pampered! The weather was hot during the day and in the evenings we had rain and thunder storms. I was in the room and cozy by then anyway, so it didn't matter. One evening I was at a restaurant during one of the storms and I watched the rain and waves from the window at my table. I love the beach during a storm!

Saturday, a friend of mine from work went to the Disney area and we had tea at the Grand Floridian. It was very nice of course, but somehow it felt a bit "stuffier" there than when I took Mom. It was a nice experience though for Maura and we had a lot of fun just touring some of the resorts there for the day. She hadn't seen any of them so it was fun for me to "show her around". We went over to Animal Kingdom Lodge where they have outlooks for animal viewing. They have their own animals there, separate from the Animal Kingdom Park and it was the best animal viewing I've seen there. Here are a couple of giraffes having lunch.



Here is a photo of the beach at Flagler.



And here is Maura at the Wilderness Lodge where we had breakfast.




Whenever I go away, Doc goes to his "pet resort" and seems to enjoy himself. They told me this time when I picked him up that he "plays well with other dogs". I guess a doggie Mom couldn't ask for better than that! He always comes home dressed up in a bandanna. Since Doc isn't a very good poser when it comes to photos, here's one but it doesn't show off the bandanna very well.




Hurricane season is now actively here! TS Claudette arrived near Ft.Walton Beach last evening. TS Ana will probably be a TD later today and may not even survive the day. Bill is our first hurricane out in the Atlantic headed perhaps to Bermuda. Forecasters say it could become a major hurricane. Here's hoping it stays out in the Atlantic and away from the US.

I certainly have been neglecting my time here. I spend so much time on my farms on Face Book. I've dabbled with a couple other games such as Roller Coaster Kingdom and Sorority Life but don't see me continuing with them. My main project is to be able to obtain a gazebo on Farm Town. Farmville is about maxed out until I can find another neighbor so that I can expand. Right now, we're all pretty crowded there - animals, crops and trees. I'd like to get a house but have no place for it.

Well, I'm off to visit some of you and catch up on your lives. Have a great week!

Amazing things about me!

I've been tagged!

My blogging and Face Book friend, Joyce has tagged me with "7 Amazing Things About Myself"

Don't know how amazing they are but here goes....

1. I was named for "Melanie" in Gone With The Wind. My mother saw the movie as a teen and said if she ever had a daughter, she would name her Melanie. And here I am!

2. I lived about 100 miles from Mount St. Helens in Washington State when she erupted in the 1980's.

3. I used to dance in a Messianic Jewish dance troup until I gained weight.

4. If I was young and could make different career decisions, I would become a meteorologist.

5. I graduated top in my LPN nursing class. However, my rival Peter, beat my state board test scores.

6. I would love to learn sign language perhaps to be used as a ministry some day.

7. Throughout my life I have lived in the following states: Kansas, New Mexico, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Massachusetts, New York, and Tennessee.

I am tagging:
1. Susan
2. Kathy
3. Marge
4. Bee Jay
5. Suzanne
6. Darylynn
7. Tracey

Just some chit chat.

This cartoon seems to be the story of my life! I am, indeed, a planner. I plan vacations, diets, house cleaning schedules. I make posters, notebooks and the like and on paper, I am a model of efficiency! But, often times, that's as far as it gets, especially with my plans for losing weight. I find that the planning part of any project to be the most stimulating. When it comes time to actually put it into motion, that's a different story. Maybe that could be my new vocation. You could give me your problem or task and I could plan it all out for you and then leave it up to you to carry it out. I then can move on to the next planning project. My fee would be very reasonable!

I'm still working on my farms. My goal for Farm Town is a farm house. Later, when I achieve the level where I can get a gazebo, I will convert some of my planting space to a garden.
Farm Ville is a bit of a challenge. I need 3 more neighbors to expand my farm and until then, things are pretty crowded. I now have a barn but when I'm able to get my cottage, I'll have to either give up some planting space or sell some animals. I hate to do that - we've become so attached to each other!
My (Lil) Farm Life is still in its infant stages. Crops are coming along slowly and it will be ages before I can achieve my dreams there. Same with Gardenhood of which I may let go by the wayside.
As far as urban life, Yoville has me completely stumped! I get things cute gifts but can't figure out how to get them to actually get into my home. I report to the factory and I'm told I have to wait ___ hours to report to work. And besides, all that, I keep getting bumped off the game. I may just not be cut out for city life!

Now, in case you thing I live my life through FaceBook, there are other things going on. Last night, my daughter and I went "shopping" online for her airline ticket to come to Florida the end of November for my birthday. We are going to spend 4 days at Disney together and I can't wait! We talk on the phone several times a week but it has actually been 3 years since we've seen each other. I can't believe it's been that long!

I have to run into town today to check up on Mom and to stop at Walmart or K-mart for a summer dress. I want one for my mini vacation next week and I hope I can find one I like and that won't break the bank. I really don't want to spend much on clothes for myself right now.

So you can see, life is quite interesting for me right now! I really feel sorry for people who live in virtual worlds when our present life is so interesting! Anyway- gotta go so I can get to town and back before I have more crops ready to harvest in Farm Town! (sigh)

Have a great weekend!

Yikes!

There have been a lot of stories lately in the Florida news about pythons turning up here and there. The first that I remember was one of a toddler who was crushed and killed by one in his bed. That one just broke my heart. Now, people are finding them in their yard - big ones, little ones. Somehow, I may be wrong but I didn't think that pythons were naturally indigenous to Florida. It seems that people on a whim buy these exotic pets and then when they become bored with them, or they distasteful to them or whatever, they are discarded. I know that I would have some serious reactions if I were to open my door and find one on my doorstep. All this reminds me of the stories of alligators in the sewers in NYC. People buy things that they think would be cool or unusual to own, but later have second thoughts. There is no doubt in my mind that if I thought about owning a python or alligator (or a tarantula or other such thing) that I'd have second thoughts. I can guarantee that that second thought would come before I plunked down the money and brought it home.

Or maybe that's just me.

I'm very thankful that this is my last day of work until my "weekend". We've had some of our regular staff on vacation with others from the pool substituting. The flow is just never as comfortable or efficient as when the "regulars" are there. By the time I come back to work on Sunday afternoon, we'll all be back in place. That is - until I take my mini vacation mid week. Our census is down to 7 right now and our most problem patients have gone back home or have been placed in another facility. We had a couple of "wanderers" that kept you on your toes but they are gone and that has given us a break.

Not a lot going on here. Life is passing by pretty much as usual. I'm going to the beach for a couple of days next week which I'm looking forward to. Doc will go to his "pet resort". Thelma, being a cat, is perfectly happy to be alone for a couple of days. I'm looking forward to the time away.

Well, I guess I'll close this and do some last minute things before I head off to work. Hope you all are having a great week. Until later...

Agricultural report

It all started with myFarm on Facebook. Then it progressed to Farm Town, Farm Ville and now (lil)Farm Life. On top of that I've dabbled with Yoville (which I can't make sense of at all) and Gardenhood. And it's not just me. I have several friends and we've sort of followed each other around to different farms. When one finds a new one, she sends out an invite and before you know it, we all are there too plowing, planting and sending gifts to each other.

We are very prolific farmers as well! We grow potatoes, watermelon, peppers, pineapple, carrots and rice to name just a few. We can also grow cotton and coffee. I figure between us all, we can keep the world fed, clothed and caffeinated for years to come!

And it's not just the thrill of ending world hunger that has us hooked. It's being able to decorate our farm with houses, and barns. We grow flowers and raise animals and even carve rivers into our property. If we can't sleep or have a few minutes to spare, you will find us on our farms, tending to the crops, harvesting, plowing or planting. We not only tend to our own farms but often visit each other's farms and help them out as well.

My real house is collecting dust and my dog is lacking Vitamin D from not going outside but my farms are looking terrific! Where is your will power, you say? Your discipline - your priorities?

I think I buried them under a crop of corn somewhere on Farm Town.

Facebook has a lot to answer for! Have a great day!