Cool Blog........

Danielle & Zach ran in to these people at the Dunes State Park in Colorado. Danielle got some fantastic shots from there, but I'm not sure how to grab them from Facebook. Oh. I figured it out.

Back is better!

I see Lori Flint , my magic fingers masseuse tomorrow to get a better idea of just what I pulled, but judging from how much less pain I am experiencing I'm pretty sure recovery will be quick.

This was a true wake-up call. I'll be focusing on strengthening my core the rest of the summer.... no excuses. Soooooooooo relieved!!!

FLASHG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two read books a disappointment!

The Girl's Guide To Hunting And Fishing &

The Stone Diaries

both started out great. Both held my interest through the first two thirds of the book, then they dropped my interest like a rock in a lake.

I'll try Deception Point, The girl With The Dragon Tattoo, About Schmidt or The Eight next.

That is after Dan & I go take a walk.

M

Discourageing or inspiring?

Well, I did something really, really stupid yesterday. I dropped the Vulcan which I've done on a couple of occasions but this time I tried to lift it using incorrect technique and pulled something in my back. I'll be glad if it will just be healed enough in 4 weeks so that I can continue some assemblage of lower body strength training which for me lately mounts to just some pilates & stretching.

This is he 2nd time I've injured my back.. the first was about 4 years ago when I fell out of a tree.

I'm trying to look at the bright side... I can focus on upper body work, go to Jessica's Fri. morning water aerobics in Becker, and in the mean time let the back heal.

I DON'T have to let this discourage me and it CAN serve as an inspiration to continue with "training". I really can't believe I am in such poor physical condition. I used to be so physically fit... But I have to stop lamenting and get on with regular routine...

Flash.

Nine Day Summer Adventure 2011

So Day 1) Picked up rental car at 2:30 pm. to drive to Rochester to visit the Haradens.

Day 2) Left in the morning for Adair, IA to Mom's. There was construction in Des Moines and a girl no older than 14 (that's what she looked like anyway) merged into the passenger side of "our" car. The state trooper was cute anyway...on to Mom & Bill's. Stayed overnight.

Day 3) Visited with Mom & Bill. BIll unfortunately but predictably will need to go to a nursing home by Fall. Mom & Bill's son, Shane, are starting arrangements.

Day 4) Left Adair at the wee hours of the am. and got to Denver by 4 pm. We ate something good..not sure what but everything we ate there was good.Buster thought so too. He ate Danielle's cat, Chello's, puke.Niiiiiiice:( Stayed overnight.

Day 5) Danielle took the day off work but we went there to meet some coworkers and she showed us around. Then we went to Red Rock Ampitheater. Home. Ate supper. Chicken. Danielle made a delicious salad.

< from here on I forgot the camera ... I need to get a pocket-sized camera >

Day 6) Zach, Danielle & I went to the ARC... a thrift store... we bought things. I know ..I am so descriptive. I stayed at the 1157 Adams and made a couple of salads for super, laid around and snooped through all of Danielle's stuff while everyone else went hiking in Evergreen. I washed a pair of underpants and dried them over a fan. Dan fried fish.*** Danielle I did not snoop :) But I did use your fan to dry my underpants sorrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyy***

Day 7) 1)We walked to the Arboretum. 2) Ate the best ribs I've ever had & that is without a beer first.... Zach made them. num num 3)We walked to Jazz In The Park in the early evening...a salsa band was playing. Very cool. I really enjoyed that time alone by the band/dancers with you Danielle. 3) Back to 1157 Adams then walked to get a cone of homemade toffee nut ice cream just before the shop closed at 9 pm.

Day 8) We got up at 5:00 am to leave for Adair. Arrived there at 5 pm. Bill was having a "good" day so visiting was more meaningful:) Mom looked tired though:( Ate supper. Dan went to Casey's to get each of us a Casey ice cream bar. Ever have one? They are great! Stayed overnight.

Day 9) Got up at 5:30 drove home, cleaned the car & returned it. I got lost. Seriously. I forgot where the rental place was in St. Cloud. But then I remembered. Dan & I laughed and laughed and laughed about that.

Leaving...not on a jet plane!

Tomorrow for 1) Jamie's 2) Mom's 3) Danielle in Denver... then home.

Gone for 8 days & Buster is coming with us!

Later,

F :)

ALMOST unbelieveable twist to this strange "family" of mine.

The thoughts of a "reunion" evoked:

The few of you who read this, including you Danielle Mary , may be astounded and almost tempted not to believe that which I tell you regarding my family. Yes, Danielle, how I (we) managed to raise three beautiful human beings amongst all of this angst and revelations that occurred for me as you grew up is beyond me. Literally "beyond" as in why I believe in God even though he ( or she/it) was rarely mentioned in my childhood.

But there actually IS a part of "me" that I have yet to explore and that is the Jewish part of the family. Quick & brief:

In 1985 I went to Florida for a Housman reunion. Donna & Lisa, Dad & Cigdem, Charlotte ( Dad's nudist sister) & I THINK David, Dad's brother were there although I can't remember for sure. That trip truly is a blur for me. I cried uncontrollably and was inconsolable for nearly 9 hours on that day. It is the one part of my life's story that remains an entire mystery ... one that would take a lot of work to solve. Basically I have relatives everywhere who are an extension of my grandfather... Robert L. Housman's fam and I met some of them in 1985. I don't remember any of their names...oh Milton ... was Robert's brother, a retired pharmacist, and sooooooo looked like my Dad! He was in fact Dad's uncle... Robert's brother.I'm sure Milton has passed.

Robert married a gentile... my Grandmother ( the FIRST Mary C. Housman!) and so was literally kicked out of the family..... a jewish thaaaaaaang. One day I'll get to finish that story... but I'm not ready and there is no time.

But in case there are skeptics.... Google Robert L. Housman. You will find that he was a professor at the U of Montana...Missoula. And the first man in this country to earn a PhD in journalism. THAT I know because I personally corresponded with a man who worked with (taught with) him in Montana. I didn't believe this guy Robert existed myself so had to confirm. He was not a very nice fellow, having literally abandoned his own children ON THE STREET ... David tells that story. Oh. And after my Grandmother divorced him, he married a woman named Lillian & hey had a child , Mickey, whom I met at that reunion. It is STILL too much for me to process & I very conveniently throw and stash all of this in the back recesses of my brain and hope that some day I can "reconnect" with some of those offspring I saw through a veil of tears in 1985. But if I never do, I think I will be ok with it.