Happy 4th of July and life update

   I have been missing so long, I wanted to check on and let you all know why while I was thinking about it.

The end of January my mom had a left occipital stroke.  I went to see her at her house, and she answered the door like normal, but the more I talked to her, the more confused she seemed.  I figured it was another UTI, so I packed some of her things and we headed to my house.  I took her to the ER, and they said her MRI showed a stroke and she also had a UTI.  She was in the hospital for about a week and then she was sent over to a skilled nursing facility.  Just as a reminder, I am an only child, and she had not had a power of attorney done.  I took off work for about 6 weeks.  She was still at skilled nursing when I went back to work.  I had to make the decision to send her to assisted living.  She has lost her short-term memory and her peripheral vision in her right eye is gone.  She is actually doing pretty good.  She enjoys the activities at the assisted living facility, she doesn't remember them, but I see pictures, and she looks happy.  She is closer to my house, so I visit as often as I can.  It has been hard.

In February, my husband took my car to get looked at and they told us the catalytic converter was likely going out.  This car was my Granie and Papa's car that I got when they passed away.  It is a 2002, but drove like a dream, so I was upset.  We decided to go ahead and get a new car, since I was driving a lot to see my mom.  We decided to keep my old Camry.  In fact, Josh is driving it until it cannot be driven anymore, but since we had it looked at, the maintenance light in the car has gone off.  I got a 2025 Toyota Camry and all of the new things cars have, I had to get used to.  I do love it though.  Here is a picture.  There is a church across the street from our house, so that is what is in the background.  I snapped this picture after we got it in February to show my sister-in-law.  I don't think I have taken any other pictures of it.  It sure is a nice car though.  I am enjoying it.

I finished my school year end of May and had started doing some curriculum work with another teacher and our curriculum director.  We got that done the week after school got out and I got a call from the assisted living place my mom is at and she was sick again.  I met her at the E.R. and she had another UTI.  No new stroke activity, so that was good.  She was in the hospital almost a week when they started the antibiotics, she got C-diff and she also had a little pneumonia and then went back to the skilled nursing facility she was at in the winter and last week she was able to go back to assisted living.

That brings you up to date.  I was able to get my mom to her accountant to get her taxes done the end of March and finally in April got a power of attorney.  We went through an attorney and it did not cost as much as I thought it would.  We have also started cleaning up my mom's house.  We were doing that in the Spring, it is too hot now.  We will work on it some more in the Fall.  She has a lot of stuff just all over the place.  She is messy.  I have stopped working on her house, but I have been working on our bedroom this summer.  It is much cleaner.

I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July.  I am going to go visit my mom and then come home and be here with our dog Meisha since she is afraid of fireworks.  My husband's sister and her husband are having a 4th of July picnic, so maybe Karl and Josh can go to that.  I want to be here for Meisha and close just in case something goes sideways with my mom.  I am hoping to start blogging again soon.  I hope you are all doing well.

Tuesday 4 Meme- Weathering the Storm...

 

Weathering the Storm...

Weathering the Storm

 Hello .. This is Toni's Tuesday  4 where we strive to get you thinking and blogging and connecting with others.

 The saying used to be on my blog as a description: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

This was important to me when my spine went south on me.  I was born disabled  and became a dancer.  Now I am disabled again. Que sera, sera, whatever will be will be.   But we keep on going. and turn the lemons to lemonade...or we should I think.

Let's talk about it because we have all been there, done that.

1. What/who is your rock through the storms of life?

What beliefs do you have to stand on?  God/Jesus.  When I am 

experiencing a hard time, I go to Him in prayer.  He always gets me through

and gives me strength.

2.  Do you take precautions for bad storms? What precautions do you take?  

We get groceries to last us.  I always have our snow removal things ready

to go by the door.  We make sure we have plenty of propane and also gas in our cars.

3. The Sheep are caroling in the snow... do you sing during the tough times?     What things, what activities pull you through?  Sometimes I turn on music that makes me happy and I sing to that.  I watch tv or play my games to take my mind off of things.  I mostly pray about problems though.

4. Whatever we do, we should be there for others in the difficult times.

What advice can you give to those who are going through a difficult time now?

I would say be sure to pray about it and talk to people you trust.  It is good just to get it out by talking and having others pray for you too.

Saturday 9: Careless Whisper

 

Careless Whisper

Saturday 9: Careless Whisper (1985)

    

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

 

1) In this week's song, George Michael sings that, when it comes to relationships, "there's no comfort in the truth." Have you ever learned something about a friend, lover or relative that you wish you didn't know?  Yes, many years ago when I was in college.  I learned some things about different boyfriends that actually turned out to be deal breakers for me.  I ended things as soon as I found out.  I do not wish I didn't find out though.

2) Though this was the top song of 1985, George wrote it years before, when he was still working as a dj at a restaurant outside London. He recalled the moment the sax solo popped into his head. It was while he was on the bus on his way to work. If you go to work, how do you get there (car, bus, train, etc.)? If you don't work outside the home, tell us about a trip you make regularly.  I have a 20 minute drive (one way) in my car everyday.  I pray in the morning on my way to work and I listen to music and think about the day on my way home.

 

3) The video for this song was very expensive. It was filmed on location all around Miami, including the luxury Grove Towers Condominiums, but then much of it had to be reshot because George didn't like his hair. Are you having a good hair day today?  yes, pretty good.

4) 1985 was a big year for George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. As Wham! they had three songs on the charts and became the first Western pop music act to tour China. Have you ever visited China? Would you like to go?  I have never visited China.  I would love to visit, but I do not think I would feel safe.  I feel that way about a lot of places though.

 
5) When he wasn't working, George was a creature of habit. For example, he never tired of Cocoa Puffs for breakfast and roast chicken for Sunday dinner. Is there a menu item you find yourself eating again and again?  I eat cheeseburgers a lot, burritos, fettuccine.

6) George enjoyed living quietly in Highgate, North London. It wasn't until after his death that his neighbors learned he was the "anonymous resident" who had been funding Highgate's Fair in the Square for years. Held in June each year, The Fair is known for its dog show, arts and crafts booths, music and food. Tell us about one of your community's annual events.  I live in a really little town.  The population is 911.  We do not have many events here, but we do have our annual Christmas parade and it goes right in front of my house, so one of my friends comes every year with her family and watches in our driveway and we visit and watch the parade.

 

7) According to Car and Driver, when "Careless Whisper" was popular, so was the Chevy Cavalier, a compact car. Nearly 40 years later, the vehicle landscape is very different. There are fewer compacts sold and last year, the most popular Chevy was the Silverado, a light duty truck. Do you drive a car, a truck, or an SUV?  I drove a Chevy Cavalier, in fact I had two when I was younger.  I drive a Toyota Camry now (car).  Most of the gals I work with drive SUV's.

8) Also in 1985, Bill Shoemaker's earnings reached $100 million, making him the world's most successful jockey. Do you follow horse racing?  I watch the big races,  but that is all.

9) Random question -- In which race would you do better: the Iditarod, with sled dogs in Nome, or speeding in a race car at the Indy 500?  neither, but maybe I could love on the dogs in the Iditarod.

P.S.  I LOVE George Michael and when I hear his music come on the radio, I still stop and listen.  He was so talented....handsome too.

Tuesday 4 Meme- Winter Musings

 

Winter Musings

1. Do you find yourself a bit more lazy or tired as the nights get longer or does it not 

seem to do much to you? In general how are you doing this winter?  

It feels like bedtime at 7:00PM to me.  I head to my bedroom around 8:30 and

 start getting ready for bed and then watch a news show at 9PM and then go to sleep.

2. Do you appreciate the extra hours of dark that allow for more sleep, more leisure, less travel and hurry or not?  I guess so, especially since I get up early for work.  I think it would be hard for me if it were light out to want to go to bed.

3. I know I love a hot drink on a chilly evening and the quiet of the streets outside as people stay inside more on cold nights.  I feel more relaxed in the winter.  How about you?  I think so.  I at least have the opportunity to stay home and rest when we have snow days.

4. Do you ever gaze out of your window like Miss Kitty in the picture just watching the world go by? How do you find yourself relaxing on a chilly evening?  I look outside a lot when we have snow.  It is so pretty.  When it is cold, I mostly try to stay warm and watch tv or bake.

Saturday 9: Calendar Girl

 

Saturday 9: Calendar Girl (1960)

    

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) How will you keep track of your days/weeks in 2025? Do you have a desk planner? A wall calendar? A pocket planner? Do you use the app on your phone?  Mostly the app on my phone, but I also have a wall calendar.

2) Consider your typical week. Which day tends to be your busiest?  Tuesday.  I do most of my lesson planning and copying on that day.

 

3) This week's artist, Neil Sedaka, is one of pop music's most prolific singer-songwriters, but his first love was classical music. He was so good that he trained at Julliard and won the accolade, "Best New York High School Pianist." Recall one of your passions from your high school years.  I loved singing in choirs in high school.  I was in concert choir, show choir and all district honor choir.  I missed singing in college and so I went and tried out for college choir and made it.  I was also in church choir for several years.  I have not been in any choirs now for over 20 years, but I love to sing.  

4) Elton John has always enjoyed Sedaka's music and in the 1970s, when Elton was one of the world's top stars, he requested a meeting. If you had the power to contact and then meet anyone in the world, who would you choose?  Oh geez.  I would want to meet my online friends.    I do not really care about famous people...not meeting them anyway.  Josh and I are opposites that way.

 
5) Sedaka appeared as the musical guest during the second season of Saturday Night Live. What's the most recent show you watched on TV? Was it live, from your dvr, or did you stream it?  I believe it was Brilliant Minds.  It is on live tv, but I streamed it.

6) His daughter Dara sings on TV and radio commercials. What advertising jingle sticks in your head?  Nothing is coming to mind but trust me, I sing crazy things all of the time.  I was singing a commercial jingle from when I was a kid the other day.

 

7) In 1960, when "Calendar Girl" was popular, To Kill a Mockingbird was first published. Have you read it?  Of course!  It is one of my favorite books of all time.

8) Also in 1960, John F. Kennedy, Jr. was baptized in the Georgetown University Chapel. His godparents were Charles and Martha Bartlett, the couple who introduced his famous parents. Do you have any godchildren?  My husband is godfather to one of our nephews (his sister).  The godmother is on our nephew's dad's side of the family.  

9) Random question -- Which did you enjoy more: the last week of 2024 or the first week of 2025?  I loved both...here's why.  The last week I was able to spend time with family and do some reading.  The first week I was able to take Christmas down and clean the house.  It makes me feel so good to have a clean house.

Saturday 9: Something New

 

Saturday 9: Something New (2017)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2025.

 

 
1) We're beginning the year with a song about new beginnings. What is something new you'd like to try in 2025?  I am not very adventurous, but maybe a new to us restaurant or go somewhere new.  I was talking to Josh about how I used to go to comedy clubs in my 20's.  That might be fun...not new, but fun.

2) The lyrics recall what was said "in the mist of the midnight hour." Where were you when the new year dawned?  In my living room watching the celebrations on tv.

 

3) The Axwell of Axwell and Ingrosso is Axel Hedfors. He began as a drummer and moved on to experimenting musically on the computer, eventually mastering music sequencer software. Do you consider yourself more a technophile like Axwell, who loves technology and digital devices, or more a technophobe, anxious about learning new programs?  technophile for sure.  I love learning new programs on the computer.

4) His musical partner is Sebastian Ingrosso. Sebastian became interested in dance music when he accompanied his father, a choreographer, to the studio. When you were young, did you ever go to work with either of your parents?  I went to their place of work, not necessarily when they were working...my mom.. I went for a short visit every so often, she is an accountant and was busy.  My dad was a teacher, so he took me to school with him when no one was there (teachers do this a lot).  I suppose when I was in high school I went to work with him since he was a high school teacher and I was in school.  I loved that so much.

5) Axwell & Ingrosso gave their premiere performance at the 2014 Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City and their last concert at the 2017 Ultra Music Fest in Miami. Looking back on 2024, did you attend any outdoor music or theater performances?  no...Josh and I watched the solar eclipse...sun performance outside. ;)  That was so awesome.

6) In 2017, when "Something New" was released, we lost the TV star who could "turn the world on with her smile." Without looking it up, do you know who that is?  Mary Tyler Moore

7) Also in 2017, Today Show anchor Hoda Kotb announced she had adopted her first child. Do you know anyone who is adding to their family in 2025?  I work with teachers, I believe there are 2 having babies.

8) Have you made any New Year's resolutions for 2025?  no, I don't make them, but I did see a meme on facebook that said my NewYear's Resolution is to read more books.

I found it!  This is as close to a resolution as I will make. I totally plan to do certain things, but I do not make them resolutions. 

 
9) What was the first thing to make you laugh in 2025?  Josh was helping me take the Christmas tree down and said something funny.  He always has something funny to say.  He has a really dry sense of humor, so things just roll off his tongue.

Tuesday 4 Meme- New Year's Eve

 

New Year's Eve

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 and the eve of 2025.

Growing up New Years Eve was one of my favorite times of the year. 

Everyone would come to our home for snacks and drinks before

heading out to parties.  And  I do mean nearly everyone we knew.  

All dressed up in formal clothing they would join in the fun. 

My father would play ragtime on the piano, our German friends 

played German music and everyone would dance to it. My mother

made  hors d'oeuvres on tiny bread rounds and crackers... bayberry candles 

burned down for luck. Guy Lombardo was on the TV in the background.

                  

1.What memories of New Years Eve do you have?  We did not stay

up when I was a kid.  I attended parties in my early 20's and after I 

got married we pretty much just stay home and watch the ball drop. 

It has never really been a big deal. It is actually a scary day now that

I am older wondering what bad things could happen in the new year.

Have I ever mentioned that I do not like to get out and drive on

"drinking" holidays?  I stay in on New Year's Eve, the 4th of July, etc...

at least at night.

2. Do you go to bed early or stay up until midnight to ring in the new year?  

We stay up, but go to bed shortly after midnight in our time zone.

3. Do you have special foods or customs for the New Year?  not really.  My

 mom used to make black-eyed peas when I was a kid.  I think she still may.

4. Will football and New Year parades be on your agenda for New Years Day?  

I will definitely watch the Rose Parade.  Maybe start taking down Christmas

decorations.  It is kind of tradition for me to clean house on New Year's or

shortly after (before I go back to work), so we start out with a fresh clean house.

 I hate taking down the Christmas decorations, but I do love a clean house.

Happy New Year 2025!