January 29, 2026 Birthdays

Birthdays

My three sisters each had two sons and one daughter.  About 4 years ago when sending out ecards I noticed something kind of interesting.  Each of my nieces' husbands had January birthdays.  All three were in the last 3 days of the month.  What are the chances of that!  Two of the nieces have May birthday, only 3 days apart.  The youngest niece was born in September.  Youngest is probably 20+ years younger than the other nieces.  So, they did not all fall under the same sign to influence those choices.  Just a freak coincidence.

Each month I have a goal of sending e-cards to everyone in my PEO group.  In addition, family members and close friends are included in the greeting sending out.  There is a variety of choices so no one receives identical cards.  I cannot guarantee that the next year someone might get one I sent out last year.  They received a greeting cause they are on my Luv Radar.  If you read this blog, which no one is since I was radio silent for so long, and do not get a greeting there is a reason.  Usually it is either I do not have a good email address or I do not have your birthdate on record.

Last December I reached 79 years circling the sun.  Well, outside the womb.  Hubby reached 85 in September.  Those six years difference made little difference until about the last 5 - 10 years.  These days the difference is showing a bit more.  Some days I think how hard I pushed him when he was just too tired to keep going.  I work to not do that any more.  Yes, age does have an influence on how well our bodies serve us.  All the years of not lifting correctly, carrying too much body weight, rotating shifts at work, the air we breath, and our inherited DNA are huge determining factors.

In the US and Canada it will be interesting to see if births rise in about 9 months.  Blackouts and other events that cause folks to stay home are like some sort of love potions.  During my recent hospital stay I was in the maternity wing.  I had to giggle at the irony.  One of the nurses and I were joking about that.  Then we drifted to the effects of blackouts, etc on birth rates.  She noted there was a huge surge in births following the Covid shutdown.  Now I am wondering how many births are a direct result of boredom.

Regardless of what circumstances surrounded the conception of the children in my sisters' lives I am glad.  Lots of fun memories to recall on a cold winter day in January.

There are 41 folks in this photo.  All but two are members of my sisters' and my families.  And there are at least 2 buns in the oven in the group.  BTW this is only part of the family.  

Take care,

Janice

January 28, 2026 Doctors and Memory of My Mom

 Doctors and Memory of My Mom

Today was a follow up day with the eye doctor and my GP.  Follow up for what you may ask.  You have no reason to know as I have been silent for years.  Let me catch you up on the happenings of the last few months.

Following about 4 years of inner thigh pain and what appeared to be muscle atrophy.  My right leg would just collapse while I was trying to walk.  The symptoms seemed to be similar to issues from 1985 when I had a ruptured disc, l4/l5.  I set up an appointment with the spine specialist at my ortho clinic.  He sent me to a pain specialist.  After more x-rays, CT scans, shots, 12 weeks of physical therapy a decision was made.  The pain was not improving and the issue was the hip joint.  So back to the ortho group  to the hip and knee specialist.

The hip doctor had replaced my left knee in 2016.  Had worked with me on muscle and adductor issues.  He even had done surgery on Hubby after his bicycle fall.  We knew each other.  The first words out of his mouth when he came into the exam room, "Your hip is a disaster!  Oh, hi, its been a while since I saw you."  The leg collapsing under me was the bone spurs catching on each other then giving away.  Well, good to know.  June 9, my hip was replaced.

That same day the elevator in our building died.  We live on the fourth floor.  I walked down to go to the hospital for the surgery.  After surgery I was to return home the same day.  I had to explain to the doctor and staff that to send me home meant my climbing 3 flights of steps.  I was not prepared to do that no matter who was going to lift/help me up those steps.  Nope, please, let me stay over night.  They did and Medicare paid the bill.  The elevator was out for over 2 weeks.

Cousin came to help with my care for the first 10 days.  What a blessing.  Hubby was in no shape to care for me at the level I needed.  I will say that hip recovery is soooo much easier than knee recovery.  I did all PT from home than released back to the same PT tech that had helped me before.  All went great and now I can climb the steps to the 4th floor apartment!

Last spring I was 78 and the eye doctor had noted cataracts in both eyes about 4 -5 years before.  We had been letting me wait till driving was a bit iffy to schedule the surgery to correct the issue.  It was time in early 2025 but hip issues and surgery caused eye surgery to be postponed.  Finally, August 19th the right eye was done.  The was d left eye was done one week later.  I chose not to pay extra for dual vision lens so reading glasses are used.  Distance vision checked at 20/20.  My vision was the best in decades.

Except for floaters.  You know those irritating blobs of protein that float on the inside of your eyeballs.  So hope you do not have to deal with those things.  I even had developed a dark one in the left eye.  It would float in from the side and look like something was stepping out in front of me while driving.  With a hybrid that already is a problem as folks do not hear my car moving when in electric mode.  

On the final day of my cataract surgeries I mentioned that I had heard there was a surgery to remove floaters.  Yes, there is a surgery and the eye clinic has a surgeon on staff.  In mid October I was given the all clear from cataract recovery. An appointment was set up with the floater surgeon for evaluation.  It was December 3 before he was available.

Once Dr. Fisher, the floater surgeon, gave the go ahead January 8 surgery was scheduled.  Arriving before 5 AM made for a short night's sleep.  I was home with an eye patch by noon.  In hand was a schedule for eye drops and the do's and don'ts for the next 3 weeks.  Today was the follow up.  All is good to go to  schedule the right eye floatie removal.  The left eye was and is so crystal clear.  I can hardly wait.

So why a follow up visit with a second doctor today.  Severe abdominal pain that radiated into my back sent me via ambulance to the ER.  I was alone when the pain had me in its grips so I called 911.  Basically an early diagnosis of a kidney infection changed to maybe bladder.  I was admitted for 2 days for IV antibiotics and morphine shots to manage the pain.  By the next day the diagnosis was no infection anywhere.  The follow up today leaves us all puzzled.  None of the commonly tested bacteria were detected in the cultures.  All I know is I no longer have pain.  Only one antibiotic pill left and I am done.  "Just watch yourself!" sweet Dr. Daniel said.

One last thought on this January 28.  This is the anniversary of the morning in 2015 following a night I spent at my Mom's bedside.  She begged me to make the nurses quit hurting her by putting clean bandages on her sizeable bedsore.  "Jannie, make them stop!" That was about 3 AM Those were the last words I remember her saying to me.  Around 6 AM I stepped out of the room for a bit of a break.  When I returned, her soul had left her body.  The night before she had angrily said, "In the morning I'm gonna standup and walk out of this place."  As with everything Momma did through out her life, she stood by her word.  She was 96 years 4 months and 17 days old.  Her life is covered more here.

Mom holding her youngest great grandson.

So there you have it.  Some of the not so fun things over the last year and a memory of my Mother, Mary Helen Rogers.

Y'all stay safe and warm,

Janice

January 27, 2026 Lunch

 Lunch With Grandson #4

Lila

With Son and DIL in Australia, we are to be checking on GS#4.  We are, also, cat sitting Lila, DIL's 15 years old American bobtail.  She sleeps either by my head or Hubby's head at night.  When I sit down she will get in my lap.  Other times, if she is on the sofa and I get up, she claims my chair.  I put off visiting the loo so I so not lose my seat. But, I digress.  This post is about sharing lunch with GS#4. 

Youngest Grandson will be 20 in about 3 months.  He moved from his mother's home to Son's home a couple of weeks ago.  He is attending a nearby community college.  He chooses to live there as there is bus service nearby at Dad's place.  You see, GS#4 chooses not to drive. Why?  According to him, "..it's the other people on the road.."  Wish I had noted those same folks are on the road if he is just riding with someone else.  

GS#4 is the only grandkid within 200 miles.  The other 4 are spread from Waco, TX, to Arkansas, to Colorado, to Melbourne, Australia.  So our Son and DIL were empty nesters for about 2 months or less.  GS#3 moved out in August.  On and off Arkansas came to visit with her German Shepherd.  The last visit was for about 3 weeks.  She left and GS#4 moved in with them within two weeks.  So technically Son and DIL are still not empty nesters.

Now, there is another side to the empty nesters.  That's grandparents.  We moved to this area to be with our grandchildren.  We spent weekends travelling from one soccer field to another to cheer for our grands.  We sat in 100 degree temps to watch swim meets.  We bought bleacher seats to watch football games, basketball games, and track events.  We attended plays and choir presentations.  Hauled kids to practice.  Brought or made meals when the parents had business meetings or travels.  

Some days we were tired from the activities. At times, it took most of the week to recover.  Especially as we aged.  Thankfully, GS#4 chose to leave sports for the fine arts.  Well, except his senior year he tried football.  He hated it.  It was one of the hottest falls on record.  We took our stadium seats.  He ran less than 10 plays the entire season.  We were there.  Because we love him.  We donated the stadium seats the day after his last game.

His last year in high school my 84 year old Hubby took him to lunch at times.  Every Tuesday and Thursday he picked the boy/man up from school and took him home.  Often they stopped to grab some ice cream or other fast food.  Grandpa would purposely do things just to aggravate GS#4. Grandpa was there for him.  GS#4 came to appreciate the quite, gentle man. Grandpa became his safe place.

So today it was time to take GS#4 to lunch.  Even with the possibility of slick sidewalks, we made our way to the car.  We drove to him.  Then we drove to Haymakers for lunch.  Burgers and tater tots.  A double order of tater tots so he would have them to reheat in the air fryer "back at home".  We chattered about football, Super Bowl, new coach for Pittsburg.  Stuff I don't really care about but he loves.  After lunch he guided us to his school.  Cause Grandpa may drive down to pick him up some evening.  

Not sure what we will do when this last grandchild truly leaves the safety of his parents' nest.  Only time will tell.

Thanks for stopping by.

Janice 

It's Time.

January 26, 2026       IT'S TIME!

I am still alive and kicking.  Just took a break from blogging for quite some time.  It seemed that there was nothing to write about at the time.  The muse had disappeared.  There were trips with Son and his family.  There were funerals, reunions, health challenges, hip replacements, cataract surgeries, grandkids graduations, and Son and DIL wedding.  I know, there was plenty to inspire my writing.  It just did not happen.  If you are a blogger you know the dry spells.

And then there was the first year of Trump.2.  The defects were not worked out during the 4 year absence.  Deep sigh.  I just cannot even go there tonight. 

So I will let this post go with a hello to all.  Welcome back.  Hope I can come up with some fun posts for you to enjoy.

Take care,

Janice

Hubby, Granddaughter, DIL, me, Son.  12/24/2025

BFF Trip, Part 2

Looking a bit weary?

Day 5, May 24:  Friday morning arrived and time to check out of the hotel.  I had used the Hilton app to check in and get my digital key.  The key was simply pressing a button on my phone.  Checking out amounted to waving bye as I carried my belongings to the car.  I headed straight to Beth's Bake Shoppe.  I knew where it was located from previous experience, ie eating there!  Best news was Kathy and Devon were meeting me to share lunch and a gab session.  

The food was deliciously fresh.  The company made it all the better.  Since Beth's has lots of decor for purchase, we did a bit of a walk through before going to Kathy's house for the rest of the afternoon.  You would have thought we had not seen each other in almost 11 years as much as we gabbed.  Grandkids, kids, even great grand kids.  A bit of politics but not much as the verdict was not in at that time.  It finally came time for Kathy to take one of the two dogs she was sitting at the time back to its owners.  Devon was needing to get home to pack for her trip to visit her family in Kansas City and Colorado.  

Devon has the best laugh ever!

Kathy, we've been through a lot
together thru the years.

I did not purchase anything except a wee gift for my DIL.  It was not the signs though.  And why only the DIL, it is a girl's trip. 

These two friends have shared so many holidays at our table in Springfield.  There were tears shed at our parting. It cannot be another ten years before we visit again.

Once pooch was delivered to its home we headed back to Kathy's for more visiting and of course a meal.  How did I not gain 10 pounds on this trip?  Juicy, thick porkchops and slaw were delightful.  We could tell the trip was catching up with me as I was dozing mid sentence by 10:30 PM.

Day 6, May 25:  A lazy morning with no appointments till 5 PM.  Did not even get dressed till after breakfast and at least 2 cups of coffee.  Kathy and I have shopped together for so many years.  I was with her on trips shopping for furniture for her home.  It is so lovely.  She is a collector of all things for holidays.  As it is spring here are a few photos of her extensive bunny collection.

Bunny quilt, lots of bunnies and other collections.  Maybe my finger, too.

Kathy set this one up as a park complete with slide, hammock, see-saw, a painter, and a picnicking family as well.  She has a beautiful collection of striking clocks including a grandfather clock 

Bev and Kathy

After a relaxed day catching up on our lives, we met with three other of our sorority sisters (ladies meet, eat and drink).  Again, more food as it was evening by now.  Wonderful friends as we enjoyed more gabbing about our adventures over the last 8-10 years.  A couple of the ladies and their husbands had visited us in Texas.  

Bernie and Fran

As with any reunion after several years, there had been losses.  One lost a grown daughter to complications of MS.  That left a 16 year old person to continue living in the care of the family that had cared for his mother.

Two ladies had lost their husbands.  One just this year.  Her husband and my Hubby shared the same hobby of amatuer radio.  Jerry apparently never disposed of a single screw, bolt, nut, nail, piece of wire, etc for the last 2 decades.  

In spite of the sadness, we found ourselves giggling like school girls over all of our escapades.  Shopping trips, baby showers, meals, and movies.  Good times. Well, the ones we could remember as we are all in our 70s and 80s.  There were trips all over the world for Bev with Devon.  Kathy just returned from a cruise in the Caribbean earlier this month.  Fran and Bill would be attending his 60th high school reunion.  Bernie was working to get her IDs in order for a trip with Bev, Devon and another sister later this year to Europe.  BTW Bernie was an army nurse in Viet Nam.  Again time to leave brought big hugs, tears, and smiles for being together one more time.

Back at Kathy's it was time for more visiting.  Enjoyed looking at albums of Cason, her 30 something grandson.  He and his mother lived with Kathy during the early stages of her MS.  Saw those two frequently.  It was Cason's mom that died earlier this year.  His half sibling is the 16 year old person.  Kathy keeps herself busy dog, cat, and even horse sitting for folks.  Well, the horse stays in its stable.  She goes to that location daily around 6 AM.  Yep, Kathy is quite a woman.  Again, I kept falling asleep as Kathy and I visited.  Ugh.  How rude but she understood.  She sent me to bed.  

Day 7, May 26:  Up and at 'em as it was time to move back to Aurora.  But not until Joy, another sorority sister brought her pooch for Kathy to sit for a few days.  Joy's first husband passed in 2007 shortly after my Hubby had the near death lung hemorrhage.  It is wonderful to see her happily married again.  The sorority sisters do a lot of travelling and Joy is no exception.  She and her hubby were on their way for a few days on a lake I think.  I do not remember the location. 

Once Joy left, it was time for me to load up and leave.  More hugs, more wet eyes and waves goodbye.  I took Republic road back to Hwy 60.  That was the old road used by Hubby and his dad back in the day of Carl's Radio and TV.  Like everywhere else, changes.  Senior apartments less than 2 miles from our home.  Guess we could have moved there.  But, no, grandkids, son, even my mom before she passed.

This was an empty intersection 10.5 years ago.  Now home to Russell Cellular home offices.  Our
home was 2 miles north of this building.

Next stop Aurora's Hog Tide BBQ and, you guessed it, lunch with friends.  The restaurant is owned and operated by the grandson of a long time family friend.  The grandson was in school with our son.  Connections everywhere.  The barbeque process that is used by Drew was given to him by his grandfather.  

Judy, she used our son's baby bed for
her two children.

Time to get with another long time BFF, Judy, who just returned from a trip to see her son's family in Colorado.  Dingmans, Feers, Hiltons, and us would gather every year for Christmas.  Our kids even remember the gathering.  Unfortunately, Ed had passed in 2021.  That was our last trip to Missouri.

For a real change I was the first to arrive.  Next was Judy.  She had changed her planned return date so we could see each other.  A true friend.  Feers and Hiltons arrived.  Food ordered, eaten, more gabbing, and time to leave.  The guys left for their homes.  Us 'girls' headed for Judy's home out in the country north of Aurora.  This gab session included updates on our grown children.  The 'kids' are all settled successfully into their careers.  An Army ranger that is now a commandant.  Another ranger that is nearing retirement.  An archivist, a human resources VP, and an investor executive.  Last but not least is the doctor of political science that works in the University of California system as a manager.

To end the day we ladies drove to Judy's home and talked about whatever came to mind.  It was so wonderful to catch up with these three very dear ladies.  Then it was time to start the leg of the journey after spending the night with Feer.

I started a bit earlier than usual on Sunday.  There were two more things I wanted to do before leaving for Oklahoma.  A tornado had passed just south of Aurora very recently.  I wanted to view the area.  In that same direction was another couple to see, Penny and Ed.  We had commuted together for a while as we all worked the same shift at ACD in Springfield.  Ed was gone for the day but Penny recognized me even though from a distance.  Quick hugs and a bit of visiting.  I had to be on my was as 350+ miles still had to be driven that day.

One home damaged by the tornado

I wrote this post on the above date.  Now it is January 2026.  Guess I should publish it.

I did finish the trip by going to my sister's home near Lawton, Oklahoma.  I took her and hubby to a doctor visit the next morning.  That trip took me back to Oklahoma City in a heavy downpour about 75% of the time.  Dr. visit, lunch, and back to Lawton.  That added an additional 200 miles to the trip odometer. 

Oklahoma Sis and BIL

After a couple of days I headed to younger sister's home near Dallas, TX.  Again, the trip of 175 miles was made 95% in a heavy to blinding downpour.  I was soooo glad to arrive at that Brooks Court home and Baby Sis.  As it was then Youngest BIL's birthday, we met with niece, her children and celebrated!

As you can see the kids were so excited.  Lol

I did finally make it back home.  My Hubby was ready to see me.  I rested with my swollen ankles raised up to help.  Now 20 months later I can still remember the warmth with which I was welcomed in each home.  BFFs for sure.  I am blessed.

Hugs,

Janice

BFF Trip

Some stories are best told in photos.  

How many days will I be gone and
do these colors work together?

Day 1, May 19:  No pictures of the drive through Texas, Oklahoma, and into Arkansas. I was late leaving as I had to return to our apartment to get my hearing aids.  LOL.  Yes, I hit a deer on the trip.  I had driven through all sorts of areas one would expect a deer.  One appeared in a small town outside of Ft. Smith.  Was able to almost stop. Only a broken headlight cover.  As it was 11 at night I did not check the condition of the deer.  As it flew through the air in a cartwheel, I suspect it did not survive.  I continued to Fayetteville where I spent the night with my Bonus Granddaughter and her beautiful shephard, Maker.  It took longer than the 8 hours shown on the map.  Old bladder. . .

Day 2, May 20:  Began with a cup of coffee before leaving my Granddaughter.  The drive took me through the towns Hubby knew from his growing up years.  Later Hubby, our son, and I visited through the 38 years we lived together in Missouri.

Ready to leave for Aurora after night with Granddaughter and Maker in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

My BFF from 1976 beginnings.

Hubby High School Bud

I arrived to a home that held one of my very first friends in Aurora.  The husband had known my Hubby since high school days.  Hubby and Son both graduated from Aurora high school.  One in 1959 the other in 1991.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

New Mexican themed sports bar, Aurora, MO.  We had our dinner there.

Day 3, May 21:  After spend the morning on the balcony visiting with BFF Hilton, I went to visit the next friend I met in 1976 and her spousal unit as he calls himself, the Feers.                                               

Ms Feer hates to have her picture taken!

Both BFF 1 and BFF 2 are artists.  BFF 1 does paintings and other crafts.  BFF 2 does painting, silk painting, pottery, wood carving, glass molding, spinning, weaving, and about any other craft she wanted to do.  Unfortunately, these days she is limited by arthritis and fibromyalgia pain.  These photos have a couple of the baskets she has woven.

Woven seaweed

Thrilled Spousal Unit

Coffee with Cousins in Republic

Day 4, May 22:  This was a whirlwind day.  Up, dress, breakfast, pack car, and meet cousins in Republic.  It was coffee time with the Youngs, Hubby's first cousin and his wife.  I had not seen these two since a wedding in 2019.  They are both amateur radio operators.  They enjoy doing transmissions from parks.  Most especially parks where no other Ham has made contacts. Love them so much.  

The drive from Republic to Springfield was somewhat of a shock.  I had not driven this particular section of road in over 10 years.  As I drove closer to our previous home it was obvious the area was still experiencing tons of growth.  The following photo was an intersection that even Hubby's father used to go to suppliers in the 1960s.  It was two lane in all directions at that time.  And fields.  

Now apartments, businesses, and even an emergency care facility of one of the major hospitals.  There were new roads and roads that were new that were now just plain rough, worn roads.  I did not stop at our old house this day as it was a really full day.

                                                    

     

MM and Highway 60

                                                  

After leaving Cousins, it was lunch with the folks in the Pre Production group.  I worked at Litton ACD with most of the women for 20 + years.  Some I had not seen since leaving that company in June of 2002.

Checked into my hotel around 3.  Rested for a few hours then joined friends Mickey, Ernie, and Pam.  We had dinner at Mickey and Ernie's home.  And we gabbed into the late hours of the evening.  It was almost midnight when I returned to my hotel room.  My phone had lost its charge, so sadly no photos of these three friends. 😪😥   I made certain I did not make that mistake again.  If you haven't already noticed, there is a lot of eating on this trip.  Lots.

View over Glenstone and places we knew.

Day 5, May 23 did not go exactly as planned.  Bob C. was unable to meet for coffee as he was leaving on a bike trip.  That was okay as I had a throbbing headache and swollen legs.  The leg swelling has been a thing since pregnancy in 1973.  Worsens when driving and sitting around.  By early afternoon with the help of a heating pad and several cups of coffee I was ready to visit the old neighborhood and some neighbors.         

Our house was second from the corner

As with the previous day things had changed.  The first friends I planned to visit, I was not certain if I had the correct house.  So I drove on to the street where we previously lived.  I pulled up to the Powell residence.  They were home and we visited till almost 7 pm.  I left after a couple photos of the area area.  In fact it was more than a couple of photos.  There was an entire new shopping center with new access roads to the center.                                                                                  

Even a Texas institution!

I headed back to the hotel on Sunshine.  Not as many changes as it was already full.  There were facelifts to familiar places.  Having had a busy day after all, ordering in sounded so much better than having to carry food in myself.  I know more food.  And more coffee, please.  Free coffee in the hotel lobby as I had used all the pods in the room that morning.  PJ time, food, and early bed cause tomorrow would be another busy day.

There are still 7 more days so I'll leave you where I was on Thursday, May 23, in my hotel with my feet up with swollen ankles and all.

Y'all take care!

Plans

What's the saying, "Man plans and God laughs".  To make certain I had that correct I, of course, googled.  “Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht” is an old Yiddish adage.  To the end that I have spent the last month or so planning what I am calling a girls trip, I do hope God and the universe are smiling, not laughing.  The trip is to visit some of the friends I made during the 38+ years we lived in Missouri.  The trip will last from May 19 through May 29 or 30.  The final date depends on how worn out from driving I find myself on May 29.

Unless God and/or the universe decide on different plans this is a sort of list of when, with whom, and where:

• May 19, drive to Fayetteville, AR.  Overnight at Riley's apartment.
• May 20, drive to Aurora, MO.  Two nights, 20 and 21, at Donna Rea's.
• Visit with Donna Rea on 20th
• Visit with JoAnna on May 21st
• May 22, drive to Springfield, MO.  Two nights, 22 and 23 at Hampton Inn
• 22 nd, 
• Lunch with Pre Production crew from 20+ years at Litton
• Check into hotel
• Dinner with Mickey, Ernie, and Pam
• 23 rd
• Coffee with Bob Cole
• Open time for visit with maybe Sharon Freidhoffman
• Coffee with Mendy Rutledge.
• May 24, Move to Kathy's home for nights of 24 and 25
• 24
• Lunch with some of sorority friends
• Time with friends
• 25
• Lunch with Charles and Brenda
• Dinner with Sorority sisters
• May 26, Back to Aurora overnight
• 26
• Lunch with Judy
• Sleep at Feers
• May 27, Drive to Suzie's
• May 28, Take Suzie to doctor appointment
• May 29 or 30 head back home

Now I am just tired thinking about it all.  I actually have spent quite a bit of today texting, emailing, and phoning folks confirming all the plans.  Still a few that are a bit loose.  I suppose having a few hours to just relax would be pretty good for the old body.

Since there was not enough going on I decided the grandsons needed some cinnamon rolls.  From scratch.  Cause that is how I roll some days.

Peace,

Janice