STILL don't have my computer back, and it's so damn frustrating using the library one. After checking and responding to my e-mail, I have only eleven minutes left, so must rush.
Went to Aunt Claire's burial in Conshohocken, PA yesterday; took me 2 hours to get there and I arrived at 5 of 11:00, just 5 minutes before I was told it would start. Did it? No--when we got there, we were told it was actually at 1:30. Not sure how the confusion arose, but oh, well. Actually, it turned out all right, as I was invited with my cousins John and Tom and his wife, Helen, to Sonya's house for lunch. This is where Uncle Frank had worked and lived (hired by Sonya's father) from 1942 until about the '50's. The main part of her house was built in 1787 and boy,is it terrific. Not at all ostentatious, but lovely and filled with antiques. Anyway, we had a great time, then went back to the cemetery.
The ceremony was very brief. There were only 9 of us there, plus the funeral director and the deacon from Tom's church. Aunt Claire's ashes were in an attractive wood box and on a kind of little stand next to the gravestone. After she died, we were at the assisted living facility where she lived and we came across a tiny baby shoe--Judy's first one, which Claire had kept all these years. Nobody wanted it and I couldn't bear the thought of having it thrown away, so I took it. At the grave site, I asked the funeral director to bury it with Claire, and he immediately agreed.
Anyway, it we freezing cold--we were freezing our asses off, as my genteel husband would say--and we didn't stay long. It was a melancholy, but oddly satisfying day. We had said goodbye properly, and Calvary is a beautiful place.
Not much else new. SIL Marybeth sent me a copy of the Johns Hopkins magazine which features a piece on her and brother Frank's son, Patrick, and the reconstruction he did on the soldier's nose that was on CNN. What fun to read it!
When I went to pick Susan up this morning, she gave me a lovely potted primrose. I like them so much and what a wonderful neighbor to have.
Speaking of neighbors, Leslie and I went to Weight Watchers today and enjoyed catching up with each other's lives. BTW, I gained 2 tenths of a pound--so I'm now at 58.8 pounds off and 140.8. Hmm...if .5 is a half pound, I guess .2 is a few ounces. No matter, I'll lose it next week.
Betty called this morning and we had a good chat. She's "working" today, so was off to Carolyn's.
Ray invited Pat out for lunch with him and Gary L. He went and had a good time. OF COURSE, he had a grilled ham and cheese and Ray had grilled cheese and tomato--these guys are in a rut.
Gotta go--am being timed out. If anybody is still checking my blog, please let me know.

Still at the library, but will jot down a few words. Good thing nothing much is happening--am in a lull. Have done lots of boring domestic chores; talked to Betty this morning; and have just been hanging out. I had tentatively planned to go on a hike either yesterday or today,but reluctantly decided against it. I'll be gone most of the day on Thursday, as I'm going to Aunt Claire's burial in Conshohocken, so don't want to leave for so long otherwise. Pat didn't get up until 9:00 today, very unusual for him, and he had heavy "sweats" during sleep. This has happened a time or two before, but doesn't seem to have any particular significance. However, because he goes back to bed for an hour or so after breakfast, I stripped it, and just temporarily put a new bottom sheet on--didn't want him to have to lie down on damp ones. Also changed the pillows and will wash them.
I'm being timed out, so will close. Whoops! Was just told because there's nobody waiting for computers, I got an extra 10 minutes--but I'm not going to used them just rattling boringly on, so will close.
Added on April 17, 2008: Take note of the incredible "comment" following. If typed out, would probably fill fifty pages. Must be from a religious nut. Have no idea who left it, how, or why.

Well, I'm not "back." I'm at the computer at the library and am about to be timed out. Unfortunately, my computer is still in the hospital--at Dr, Mike's, my son-in-law's house and Alison called last night to say poor Mike has the flu.
Therefore, all my myriad comings and goings will not be recorded for posterity, at least not in any coherent manner. A coupla noteworthy (to me, but maybe nobody else) things: I went to an opera class conducted by my friend, Mary Ann Van O.; signed up to attend an all-day course on the Pinelands at Burlington County College on March 1 with Barb H.; bought several blouses and pants in size SMALL; have finished Michael Pollen's book In Defense of Food, which is even better than The Omnivore's Dilemma--I strongly urge everybody to read it.
Lost another pound for a total of 59 and a current weight of 140.1 (damn, that one-tenth of a pound is annoying!). At this point, of course, people are saying, "Don't lose any more," but they can never come up with logical reasons to support their belief that I shouldn't.
And, oh yes, I intend to lose more. To the point of emaciation, sickness, or danger? Certainly not. I intend to lose more, but to retain the energy, good health, and positive outlook I have now.
Have no idea when I'll be able to resume the blog--soon, I hope.

Just got back from getting my (routine) blood work done. The tech had to use both arms, as the right doesn't seem to have any blood--or something. Actually, when she put the needle in, I knew something was different because I felt a deep ache, not the usual sting. Could that mean she hit a muscle? Anyway, she got enough with the other and I was outta there by 7:45.
Yesterday, got the mammogram and bone density test with no problem. Went down the street after to Santori's and stocked up on goodies: acorn and butternut squash, 4 pounds of broccoli, lettuce, feta, and so on.
After lunch, I dropped some things off at the thrift store, then went to Kohl's looking for a royal blue turtleneck. Aunt Claire wore size 14 and cousin Helen had urged me to take a few of her clothes. Well, why not? She had good taste and bought good things. Among them is a spring jacket with checks in shades of blue; I think it will look spiffy with a matching top. Didn't find anything, but I enjoyed looking.
When I got home, I opened the mail and was touched to find a beautiful "To My Sister" valentine card. Betty had added a newspaper clipping about why people make snide comments to others who work hard to stay healthy. Dear Abby replied that they "fail to appreciate that (it)...takes discipline and is an ongoing progress." Ho, ho, so that's it. I do get a few such remarks, but mostly people are very encouraging and flattering.
Called Betty right away--she was on the job, watching Claire outside--and we had a good chat. Our talk even veered to the political and, although we're poles apart, we do agree on some things. Betty said if McCain and Obama run, she'll vote for O. I said if McCain and Clinton run, I won't vote at all.
Soon after, I got a big package from Mike, Paula, and Vivian. It's a beautiful azalea plant in a deep rose color. I put it in the foyer for now and will be able to plant it outside in the spring.
When Pat came in from the bay, he said he had stopped (the car; he can't go in stores) at three different places, but was unable to get me flowers. I don't care, I don't need flowers--just knowing he tried is enough for me.
Just opened my e-mail and got a message from Alison: She's been accepted into the New York Marathon--yowee! It's not until November, so she'll have plenty of time to train. Not sure if Mike will run it or not. I think they're going in the Atlantic City one tomorrow--will check and I may go down to cheer them on.
Alison just called. She's has a 4-day weekend and asked if she could come down and pick up my computer for Mike to took at over the weekend. She'll also do any chores I have lined up for us (what a doll). Of course, I'll be glad to see her and will--reluctantly--let her take my baby. So-o-o, guess I'll be incommunicato until Monday at least.
Running off to Weight Watchers now, as I didn't get there yesterday.
Later: Interestingly, I gained .8 of a pound (about 10 ounces?). I'm okay with this, and even more than okay, as it reinforces the truth that I overdid it in the calories department twice last week: at Pat's birthday party, and at the luncheon after Aunt Claire's funeral. I'm now at 142.4, and 57.2 pounds down, but will adjust next week, I'm confident.

Yesterday, Susan, Mary Ann Van O., and I went on the Ocean County Van Tour, their "historic homes south" excursion. The rain came down in sheets and torrents the entire day, but that wasn't going to stop us.
We were first taken to what had been a tavern in the early 18th century, 'way, 'way out in the pine barrens, down a dirt road that had originally been a stage coach road. The rain made it interesting, to say the least, for the van driver to navigate, as there were deep ruts and puddles most of the way. It's occupied, so we didn't go in, but looked pretty much like an unpainted shack.
We then drove to Manahawkin and spent an hour at a small, thoughtlessly "improved" house called "Cavalry Cottage" that hasn't been lived in since 1985. It was built in 1740, and most of the time, swarms with historians, according to the tour guide. They're trying to remove the various additions and multitude of other changes to get it back to its original condition. Very interesting, although cold and we had to be careful not to fall in the large holes in the floor, as it's a work in progress. (We went upstairs and found a dead bat, which elicited squeals from a few, but what the hell, it was thoroughly dead, so wasn't going to hurt anybody.)
We stopped at a newly opened salad place, got coffee and ate our lunches, then went to Island Heights, a part of Toms River I had never seen before. Hey, Nelly, it's a gorgeous place! We stopped to observe the architecture of one huge house after another while our tour guide (very knowledgeble and well-spoken) pointed out their various features. We didn't go in to these, as they were all private homes. Most were early Victorian, an era which is so varied it's divided into periods itself. The Philadelphia Wanamakers' house was included--very large and elegant--and almost all were right on the picturesque Toms (no apostophe) River.
We were also taken to more modest, but charming, homes, that had been built as summer cottages for the Methodists who came here from up north to have religious revivals. These had originally been small, two-story cottages, only one room wide, but most had been added to and/or modified in other ways.
Our last stop was the Victorian Museum, where we spent about an hour and were given a tour. The house was set up as it would have been in the 1800s and, being a sucker for anything like this, I loved it.
Got home about 3:30 and had time to clean up the kitchen, set the table, and put in a wash before Pat got home from the bay. I was sorry to hear Old George is back in the hospital, this time at SOCH in Manahawkin. He developed hiccups and now must have surgery for--a hernia? Boy, I just don't remember, but maybe we can visit him soon.
This morning, I'm going to Atlantic Imaging for my annual Mammogram and bone density test.

Thanks to Alison, our family was enhanced five years ago by a gift beyond measure: our son-in-law, Mike. That sweet guy had yesterday off and spent 5 hours of it down here working on this infuriating computer.
He said it doesn't have a virus, as Don throught, but is the victim of "system clutter," along with "hiccups" that prevent, for instance, the spell check on this blog from working. Also, in Outlook Express, Comcast just arbitrarily switched the standard of "25" to "597"--for their own Machavellian purposes, I guess--and I had to resort to Comcast's own. That's what caused my Outlook Express to first, stop receiving messages, then stop sending. Anyway, he took care of that, but there are some other problems and he wants to bring the machine (yes, that's all it is, a machine, and it isn't really looking out at me and taking notes, I fervently hope) up to his house because it needs more extensive doctoring. I can live with the other stuff for now, because it's just annoying, rather than crucial. One is that the thing refuses to "remember" me, so I have to sign in with I.D. and password each time I open e-mail or write in this blog. That's not too big a deal.
All this, of course, is a very simplified version of what MIke discovered; I'm simply parroting a few pieces of his remarks, and out of context, too. I find it very hard to follow and understand the workings of the computer. Guess I'm more the dreamy romantic than the analytical type (oh, what a surprise!).
Mike is a programmer analyst for N.J., so doesn't do this for a living, but he's very, very bright and knowledgeable. He has a whole "doctor kit" of disks that he runs for various problems, and he knows all the inner workings as throughly as I do my BP level.* He has built several computers entirely by himself, including the ones at his and Alison's home. (One reason for the addition is the fact that their second bedroom is his office cum workshop cum command center, and so on.)
Anyway, for all this, he just got lunch.
* Which, incidentally, was 110/76 yesterday. Took Pat to the endocrinologist later in the day and asked the nurse to do me when she did him (tee-hee).

There were about 40 people at Aunt Claire's funeral. Just a few other relatives were there: cousins Charlie Renz and Joe Byrne and their wives; Tom and Helen with their, son, Tom; cousin John and me. Sonya Driscoll and her son came, of course. Sonya is the daughter of the man for whom Uncle Frank worked as a farmer and handyman so long ago, and she's been a good friend to them ever since. Sonya, who still lives in the big house on that farm in Plymouth Meeting, lost her husband to a heart condition a few years ago. Ironically, he was a cardiologist.
There were three choices for lunch and I had the salmon. That's the third day in a row I had salmon, but so what? I like it a lot and, while this wasn't as good as Alison's, it was pretty tasty.
After lunch, Tom, Helen, John, and I (along with a few Spratts, Aunt C.'s nieces and nephews), went back to the assisted living facility to remove some of what was left. I took another of Uncle Frank's paintings, and a few other things. Although my SIL, Mike, had lent me his roof rack, nobody thought it was a good idea to try to transport the bureau I wanted on the roof. Luckily, the maintenance director came along and said he'd store it until I could come for it. I'm going to ask Joel if he can take me there with his van and get it.
Didn't get home until almost 5:00 and boy, I was ready to just relax. I was getting Pat's dinner when Patrick called to wish him happy birthday. Pat said Natsue came on and said, "Happy Birthday," which she's been practicing for some time. Sweet girl.
I called Mary Ann Van O. and asked if she'd like to take Barb's place on the "Historic Homes Van Ride" we signed up for tomorrow. She was delighted, and will come with Susan and me.
I have a lot of energy, but last night, I was tired. I slept like a log, but before I did, I thought of Aunt Claire. She lived for 97 years and although she had suffered some real tragedies, she had always risen above them. From all accounts and from what I remember, her years at Artman were happy ones. She participated fully in activities until just a short time ago and didn't seem to dwell in the past.
Aunt Claire was laid out in a pretty pink suit and she looked very nice. What brought several people close to tears--including me--was the pin in her lapel. Judy, the daughter she had lost, had given it to her when she was a little girl. It read, "Mother."
What a bitch life is sometimes.