Finally! Getting back to my Blog!

 Looks like it's been over 2-1/2 weeks since I posted anything. I just wasn't in the mood. Felt so tired and achy and worn out I knew that all I would do is complain. I'm going to keep it down to a dull roar today. I was dealing with a sore hip,leg,neuropathy in feet, and dizziness.  The dizzines (which is a complete mystery) is still around but not as bad as it was.  It isn't vertigo dizziness but there is definitely something out of place somewhere. I figure it's eyes or ears contributing but who knows.

I went to the pain clinic yesterday morning and got an injection in my right hip and low back. I was in so much pain and worried sick that the shot wouldn't help and I'd have to rethink surgery. The last shot was the day before Thanksgiving and the pain was gone for only one day. Depressing to say the least. I've got high hopes that this one will be better. I've still got a small ache in the hip but nothing to worry about and my foot neuropathy has eased too. It's amazing how your personality changes when your body quits giving you pain. I'm so much better spirits and I'm even able to maneuver around the apartment house without my walker. I do love that I have it handy, though.

I woke up super early this morning (4:45 a.m.) and guess who couldn't get back to sleep. My appt yesterday was early so I had to get up so Barb Shaw could pick me up at 7. It was all I could do to crawl out of bed at 6. Stupid body clock!  But I know a nap is available to me later so I'll deal with it.

My to-do list today (if I continue to feel peppy) is to go by cousin Bill Arey's house and visit with them for a bit and maybe even hit North Beach to pick up a few rocks for painting. We'll see...  Here at home I have a jigsaw going (half done, 500 pcs) and of course, a couple of small sewing projects I can turn to when I'm in the mood. Also need to get going on my obit book. I know I'm not well when I can't get to the computer to write.

On impulse (and I've got to quit doing that as it's a complete waste of money) I picked up a Leader yesterday. This morning I see a neighbor lent me her copy. I did want the obits, though, as Mary Gaboury's cousin was listed and I new she wanted a copy. One thing I've noticed about the Leader besides the lack of anything that interesting to read is how lousy the pictures are. Blurry and dark. Horrible. You can see them better online. I also hate the tiny print they use for the crossword puzzle. I do miss having the old Leader.

I stopped by the American Legion last week and borrowed four of their old scrapbooks. He had to dig in the basement for them but I was appreciative as I wanted a photo of Ken and Lena Tyler for my book. I took them home and decided to scan in a few of the pics and articles for Facebook. Some didn't copy that well but they were still fun to see. I'll attach here for those of you who don't know FB. I don't have IDs for many but will add what I know.

                                                                         Tony Sofie

Bob Wilkins, Lena Tyler standing in back. Boys & girls state reps at table

                                                               Sheriff Smith

                                            Red Dodge in front of Harper's gas station

                                        Norm and Polly Rogers in back. Billie Roske in front

George Cadero's mom, Loretta Cloud (and a friend of my mothers)

Dot Little

my 7th grade teacher George Brown

I think that's Blair Hetrick's Richfield in background

                                                    Bill Cable and Bob Wilkins

                                                                     Lee & Elaine Arey

I took this paperback book I bought on Thriftbooks.com recently written by George Jones. What a waste of time. All he did was talk (brag really) about all the drunk things he did throughout his career. Sometimes I enjoy celebrity bios. Robert Mitchum's book was pretty good.  My favorite tv shows right now are on Paramount+.  The Good Fight I'm streaming and 1923 I watch on Sunday nights. It's really good! Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford. Disturbing at times, though.

I came across an old Leader blog I wrote 13 years ago about old teachers. I'm going to include it in my book, I think. Here's an excerpt:

Agnes Robb was born in Crookston, MN. She taught school in Port Townsend from1946-1954; then substituted in Seattle until 1964. She died in 1968 at the age of 78.

Hulda Munn was born Dec 4, 1902, in Irene, SD. She died July 10, 1983 at the age of 80.

Tollie Tooker was born Dec 27, 1890, and taught 1st grade. She died in 1979 at the age of 89.

Annie Jarvis was born Oct.31, 1896. She came to Port Townsend at age 7, graduated from PTHS in 1916, and married Stark Allen Howell. She died Nov.11, 1987, at the age of 91.

Esther Klasell was a lifelong Port Townsend resident.. She graduated from Bellingham Normal, and taught school for 30 years. She died Sept.3, 1986, at the age of 88. 

Randall Thompson was born in Ednor, MD. He was a teacher at Fort Worden, and then taught U.S. History at PTHS. After retiring, he worked in the Jefferson County Assessor's office. Randall was a choir singer and was in a barbershop quartet. He died in 1986 at the age of 73.

Earl Baugh was born Nov.25, 1902, in Sprague, WA. He taught math at PTHS for several years. He was also a master woodcarver, who made violins. In his younger years, he had a magician act and performed for the USO. He died in 1984 at the age of 81.

Grace Baugh was born Oct.24, 1904 in Central City SD. She taught 6th & 7th grade in Port Townsend from 1927 to 1967. She was a gourmet cook, an avid bird watcher, a gardener, and a student of natural history. She died on Jan. 15, 1995, at the age of 89.

Dorothy Meyers was born Sept.26, 1900, in LaGrande, OR. She served in the Woman's Army Corps in WWII as a captain. After the war, she returned to Port Townsend to teach Latin and World Literature. She was also the school librarian. She loved to play golf and bridge and was active in community plays. She retired in 1965 and moved back to Oregon. Dorothy died March 15, 1993 at the age of 92. She was survived by her sister, who was a nun.

Leila Harms was born June 28, 1914, in Aberdeen, WA. She was raised in Westport and graduated in 1932. She taught English at Camas High School, and in 1940, she helped run Guilford Packing Co, a shellfish cannery next to the old ferry dock in downtown Port Townsend, with her husband, Bill Harms. In 1954 she began teaching business education at PTHS. She retired in the 70s' and was killed, along with her husband, in an automobile accident on April 17, 1991. She was 76. 

Lois Easton was born June 3, 1906 at what is now known as Chevy Chase Inn on Discovery Bay. She attended grade school in the one-room schoolhouse there (which her grandmother built and then donated to District 50). She graduated from Santa Cruz HS in California in 1924, and graduated from WA State Normal School (now WA State University) in 1929. She did substitute teaching in Chimacum and Port Townsend Schools and then became a 6th grade teacher at the Lincoln Building. She died in Portland, Ore on March 27, 2000, at the age of 93.

 Gael Stuart was born March 9, 1919 in Twin Falls, ID. He was raised in Bellingham and taught school in Lacey and Mt. Vernon. He was also a grade school principal in Tenino. In 1946 he became the grade school principal in Port Townsend. In 1953 he was PTH principal and in 1955 he became superintendent until his retirement in 1974. He enjoyed gardening and bird hunting, and died May 16, 2001 at the age of 82.

Helen Greiner was born Oct.13, 1922, in Quilcene, WA. She graduated from QHS in 1940 and taught PE and 8th grade for four years in Port Townsend. She then taught at a Christian girls' school in Beirut, Lebanon and then Lake Washington school district for 20 years before retiring in 1981. She was an avid sports fan, and enjoyed traveling and gardening. She died Nov. 22, 2001 in Bellevue, WA, at the age of 79.

Dorothy Wallace was born Feb.6, 1911 in Scottsbluff, NE. She came to Port Townsend in 1943 and taught school from 1958-1975. She was instrumental in forming the Jefferson County Humane Society and was an avid bridge player. She died Nov.16, 1995 at the age of 84.

Cecily Nyberg was born May 4, 1909 in Sprangle, WA. She graduated from Cheney HS in 1927 and graduated from WSC (now WSU) in 1931. She moved with her husband (a forest ranger) to Quilcene in 1954 and began teaching home economics at PTH. She retired in 1973 after 19 years. She died June 10, 2005 at the age of 96.

 Robert Balcom was born Feb. 17, 1923 in Grand Rapids, MN. His family moved to ND, Idaho, and then Seattle. In 1949 he began teaching chorus and band. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, and flying radio-controlled airplanes. After retiring in 1979, he and his wife moved to the Seattle area where he managed a condominium complex for 20 years. He died Sept. 17, 2008 at the age of 85.

Jack Freeman was born May 18, 1925 in Lewiston, IL. An athlete all his life, he excelled in most sports, including diving and water skiing. He served in Italy during WWII and was a combat rifleman. In 1950 he became director at the Port Townsend Recreation Center. Later he hired on at the high school as a health and PE teacher, retiring in the 1970's. He enjoyed golf, fishing, crabbing and clam digging. One of his goeduck hunts was featured in a 1954 Life Magazine pictorial. He died Feb. 17, 2005 in Port Townsend, at the age of 79.

 Don Barrett was born April 24, 1920 in Bremerton, WA. He served in the navy during WWII and received degrees from WWU and EWU. He taught industrial art classes at PTH and in Snohomish, Everett, and Alaska. He worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska until his retirement in 1983. He died Dec.20, 1993 in Ellensburg, WA, at the age of 73.

Edward Hanson was born May 3, 1927, in Bryant, SD. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University and served in the navy during WWII. He taught 8th grade and was principal of Lincoln School for a period of time. He organized the first Head Start program in Wash. State, and was a real estate broker in Port Hadlock after retiring from the school district. He died Dec. 11, 1995 at the age of 68.

 My brother, Dana, who now lives next door to me at Avamere, recently put his house on the market. It's in the process now of being sold already.So glad for him. It's out on Four Corners Road. MLS# 2020754 if you want to see it.

I pulled out my b/p cuff and have started to take my readings daily now (doctor asked me to) and so far, they've been okay. I needed some good news about my body for a change. I set up my humidifier in the bedroom last night to see if it would help my stuffiness any. Too soon to tell but I'll continue to use it all week.

Was in the mood for cooked choc. pudding yesterday so I made up six bowls (with Cool Whip) and then promptly delivered to four neighbors so I wouldn't eat them all. I love pudding. The landlord was at my neighbor's apt a few days ago and I was asked to take a picture of her and her granddaughters. They were going to a New Years event down at Pope Park.

Granddaughter Catie might come visit this Saturday or next. I'm already making a list of computer things I need help with. Both her and her husband are good at that sort of thing.

Daughter Mary gifted her hubby a fabulous trip for his Christmas gift. His bucket list includes visiting all 50 states. She arranged a plane ticket Boston so they could rent a car and go to Vermont. They're hoping to see some of his family while back at that part of the country too. That just leaves W. Virginia on his list.

Barb Shaw and I hit the Denny's in Poulsbo after my shot yesterday. Been a long time since I've been to a Denny's. It was so good but not cheap. No place is cheap anymore so I don't go out much. OJ was $4.29 a glass but I was thirsty. Got a poached egg with Hollenaise sauce and hash browns with coffee. Yum!

My poor sister continues to have her problems with her electric chair. She needs a new battery but usually has to wait and wait and wait for Hovercraft to send it. She needs a better chair too but isn't sure where to get one.

I bought this book on dieting to cleanse your body (suggested by a nurse) and I'd like to give it a whirl but man, it's going to cost at the grocery store. Started off with a list of foods to put in your pantry. Getting through that list is going to be very expensive. I intend to take it to QFC, Safeway and Grocery Outlet to check prices. The list contains:

OILS:
AVACADO
COCONUT
FLAXSEED
GRAPESEED
EX.VIRGIN OLIVE
NUTS:
ALMONDS
FLAXSEEDS
PUMPKIN
WALNUTS
SPICES:
CINNAMON
CUMIN
GINGER
OREGANO
ROSEMARY
TUMERIC
GRAINS:
BUCKWHEAT FLOUR
LEGUMES—black,chickpea,navy,pinto
QUINOA FLOUR
RICE FLOUR

I did get three Safeway gift cards for Christmas so following this is possible but I'm not sure I want to. I'll think on it.

Well, I guess I've made this post long enough for now. Maybe I'll go look for a video to add and call it a day.  Found two I liked.....