Basically Betty

This evening, after the RAYS WON, I took a short nap, then woke to find that Joann was going upstairs to cook a few things, getting ready for Bill's lunches this week.  He's in a training program to be certified as a detention officer and is gone all day every day for the next three weeks.  But Bill was here to talk with me and call Joann should I need anything.  Well, did we ever get in a good chat.  We reminisced about the time Freddie won that award and we all went to Washington, D.C.  We speculated about which team we'd take on in the playoffs.  And we talked about how Bill approaches his work, which can be dangerous.  Sometimes I worry, but he is always careful and I know God looks after him.  All in all, we had a good visit and it didn't seem long that Joann was back.

Yesterday, in the mail came a box from the Tampa Bay Rays.  Becky sent them a photo of me and they sent me some goodies.  A few things I didn't have.  A white cap, a T-shirt, and best of all, a cow bell.  Thanks to them and to all of you who have sent me collectibles over the years and recent articles from the papers.  I enjoy every piece and I'm so proud of my team, oh, our team.

I'm looking forward to Becky arriving Tuesday evening.  We will write again soon.

Until then, love and prayers from here to there

Today, my dear friend Jo-Anne and her husband, John, visited for a few hours.  Years (I won't say how many) ago I babysat for Jo-Anne, so I guess you could say I've known her all her life.  She was able to come see me and I am so thankful.  They made the trip from Maryland and not without problems, construction and trouble with windshield wipers, so they started back today.  That way they don't have to make the entire trip tomorrow.  Lovely to reconnect and I hope they will visit again. That was a win.

The loss - well as you probably know, my Rays lost for the third straight night to Detroit.  Joe must know what he is doing, but I would have made a pitching change.  My phone never rang asking my opinion, so I guess I'll just watch and hope they win the final game tomorrow.

Love and prayers from here to there

The last few days have been busy.  I'm in my hospital bed so daughter Joann is typing for me.  About an hour ago, she set me up with the keyboard and mouse on my lap and I typed part of my blog, but a careless stroke of a key, which one I don't know, made the entire thing disappear, so we are starting over.

There is always someone from Hospice coming out and the door to outside is getting a lot of use.  One thing that has bothered me since moving here is that most people come down from upstairs, after coming into Joann and Bill's home, to see mine.  I really like when people walk right in from outside into my place.  A mirror my dear friend Barbara M. got for me greets those who enter there.  But a lot of the time the bug population is a factor, so it is just easier the other way.  Now, with Joann down here with me most of the time, we can't hear the doorbell upstairs.  So she asked all the Hospice people to please walk around and knock on my door.  Looking for the positive part of any situation always has value.

And I'm very excited because dear friend Jo-Anne K. is right now traveling down from D.C. to visit tomorrow.  I have not seen her since 1988, when Freddie got an award and our family all went to Washington to see him receive it.  We were friends in Ohio and I named my Joann after her.  I know, I didn't spell it the same way.  Why?  I cannot tell you.  I will try to write again soon and tell you about our visit.

I sure hope the Rays win tonight.  And thanks all of you who have written to say you are watching the Rays, rooting for them, and for me.

Love and prayers from here to there

Greetings Basically Betty readers, this is daughter Becky writing to let you know Mom is resting comfortably mere inches away from where I sit to type, she's tired from a long day of baseball and movie watching, and best of all, a long lovely visit from one of our oldest friends from Steubenville days.  Mom's eager to tell you all about it so I'll keep you waiting on the details until the eponomous Basically Betty goes on record. 

I leave tomorrow for Seattle, where I'll close the month at the studio and try to meet some deadlines before I head back to North Carolina on September 30th for another week with Mom. 

We've got Mom's medications adjusted to the new levels of pain she began experiencing coincidental with my arrival (hmmmm) and after a rough go of it, she's on an even keel again and seems well prepared to close out the Rays season as their #1 fan for these last 8 or so games.  Her Rays are playoff bound and she couldn't be happier. 

Today's loss was televised but yesterday's game, which clinched the Rays playoff berth, was not so I bought a day's worth of audio from MLB.com, set the computer speakers on either side of Mom while she rested in bed, and just for good measure, I put on her chest her souvenir Devil Rays seat cushion she's cherished since she got it on Opening Day of their very first season. 

As Pooge says, sometimes it takes a full 90 minutes after the game has ended for Mom to remove her palms from her cheeks.  She's a "scream, squeal, writhe and flail" type of fan - it's often more fun to watch her than it is to watch the game.

If our morning goes as planned, she'll be dictating a Basically Betty post to me to post before I head to the airport but if things spiral out of control as they occasionally seem to do immediately preceding my departures, I'm sure she'll get something up through Pooge in the next day or so. 

Thanks for your prayers, kind thoughts and best wishes,

Bec

Today did not start out too well but as the day went on it got better.  I had a lot of pain, which I have nto experienced before and had to take Tylenol.  It did the trick. I will take another one before going to bed and hope for a pain free night. 

Becky is here, arrived  just before noon.  The Chaplain was here from Hospice and brought us Communion which was good because I have not had Communion since April. 

Hope you all saw the Rays game tonight.  We beat Boston 10 to 3.  We are through with them for the season unless we make the Playoffs which I guess we will.  We lead them by two games.  The rest of the games are on the road which is too bad because the Fans are really coming out and supporting them.  That has not always been the case.

I have an appointment with the Cardioligist on Tuesday and hope I can get out to go because the leaves are starting to change and the drive into town is something to see.

Hope all is well with you all

Love and prayers from here to there

This was a Banner Day.  My Grandson and his friend flew in from Los Angeles and my Grandaughter flew in from St. Petersburg.  They are special in addition to being my only Grandchildren buy they were both born on the same birthdate as me.

The Chaplain with Hospice came and we had a nice visit and he helped me with some questions I have had.  He is easy to talk with and is very understanding.

The Nurse also came and even my BP was nearer normal than it has been.  It has been running low.  Oxygen level very good.  Lungs clear. 

Tomorrow James will cook my favorite meal for me.  Macaroni and cheese and thin steak.  Oh so good.  He is quite a cook.  Must take after his Mom. 

In between all this activity had two calls from Daughter Becky.  One of the calls was to check on the Rays game.  They were to play in New York but all games on the East coast were postponed due to Ike.  Ike is making more noise than he ever did as President. 

My dear friends Marge and Elliott e-mailed that the storm was headed for them. Pray they will be somewhere safe. 

So that is my day.  Hope yours was equally as wonderful.

Love and prayers from here to there 

I have just watched the most exciting game of my life.  The electricity was out, again, and we didn't tune in until the 2nd inning.  Sure glad it came back on because I would have hated to miss this one.  We were ahead, they caught up, passed us, and in the top of the 9th, a recalled player who I don't remember ever seeing before, hit a home run to tie the game.  Turns out he was stuck in traffic on his way to the ball park and got into uniform just in time for the 9th inning.  We got another run, then held them in the bottom of the 9th and WON THE GAME!!  5 to 4.  So my Rays are back and I'm hoping they can do it again tomorrow.

Yesterday, I went on a nice outing and saw some early color change on the trees.  Today, four ladies from Hospice were here.  Two got downstairs just as it began to pour rain outside.  Maria had left her windows open and she went up to take care of that while I talked with Lu, who volunteers to visit me every week.  She lives nearby, came from Pittsburgh and I'm sure we have much in common to discuss.  After a bath and blood work, I took a long nap. 

So, all in all, a good day.  Made even better by seeing five deer in our backyard this evening, including the fawn.  She sure is cute.

Love and prayers from here to there

We have a new electronic device in our home.  It is a monitor which allows Joann to hear what is going on downstairs in my apartment when she is upstairs. 

This is very helpful and makes me feel safer as I know she will rush down those steps to assist me whenever I need her.

And she can go up to change her laundry, start the dishwasher, take the puppy out, etc.  At first, I was walking right up to it and yelling for her.  This blasted her ears and, turns out, was totally unnecessary, because she can hear me from way across the room. 

Today, she was upstairs cooking for me and watching the Rays, but she didn't turn up the sound because she could hear my TV through the monitor.  So, really, we watched the game together.

Tomorrow I'll tell you about my trip into town to have my pacemaker checked.

Love and prayers from here to there

What is new and interesting?  Well, let's see.

Becky was watching the Yankees play the Mariners and the score was close going into the ninth inning.  I was in bed but not asleep and at 1:30 AM, she came in to tell me she had watched every pitch of the game until the 9th, when she fell asleep and missed the end of the game.  Jeter's home run that put the Yankees ahead in the top of the 9th was all she remembered. 

Becky at first thought she was going to have to wake Joann to find out how to access the scores on DirecTV, but then remembered the trusty Internet, where she found out the bad news.  Another loss for her home team, the Mariniers. 

With the Rays losing the last three games,I know just how she felt. 

Tune in tomorrow for news of our latest electronic device.

Love and Prayers from here to there

Another one of those days.  Becky is here with us.  We went to S.C. today to an Open Air Chapel.  It is actually on the YMCA Camp Grounds but open to the public.  The girls wanted to take me in a wheel chair and there is no ramp and twenty steps to get up and down.  Well, with Becky in front hoist me up in the wheel chair and Joann lifting the back of the chair over the steps they got me up.  I hated for them to do that but the alternative was to leave me there.  I think I could have made it with a walker but they would have none of that. 

The view is absolutely breathtaking.  There are mountains as far as you can see one after the other.  There was a gorgeous breeze.  We took pictures that will be a treasure. 

This was my first trip out in a while and I enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine.  Being with my girls and we met our friend Barbara B. up there so all in all a great day.

I am sure of a good nights rest tonight making the long trip up the mountains of S.C., seeing all the beauty in this world, and that fresh mountain air. 

Another plus today I had a Hot Dog with mustard and onions for dinner.  I am on a low sodium diet and we have decided I can stay within my limits if I have a Hot Dog once a month.  What a treat it was. 

Had a call from my dear friend Jean H. It is always a joy to hear from her.

Even losing the second game in a row to those Yankees can not dampen my spirits after such a wonderful day.

Hope your day was as good as mine.

Love and prayers from here to there