got today's to-do list done, and some of tomorrows.

Kevin finally made it to the deer stand today. season started Saturday.

Saturday we drove to Wichita for the Joe Walsh VetAid concert.

on the way we saw a buffalo ranch. some beautiful huge old houses. oil derricks. our hotel was absolutely beautiful. with a grand name....Hotel at Old Town. a 1906 former warehouse on a brick street. within walking distance of our concert venue AND Old Chicago and Eggs(something) where we ate breakfast. parking garage next door. the leaves were absolutely beautiful. very quiet, peaceful hotel. elegant mirrored elevator. smooth ride and soooo quiet. a window seat. Gustavo haunted Room 203. did not feel haunted. but looks like it possibly could be. the spookiest part was walking home from our concert after midnight with dying phones and a vague idea of where we were going through throngs of young people out partying. I felt old and frail. just a matter of numbers. seeing Joe Walsh perform in person was fun. Life's been good to me so far....

Izzy came over today 'cause Mommy was sick.

we had a fun day (I think???) probably should ask Izzy...

speaking of Christmas....

every year when I drag out the ornaments, I find the Hallmark 1998 baby photo frame ornament someone gave Katie for her first Christmas. that I never put a picture in. I need to find a tiny one and remedy that. I also realize that Koren's baby ornament is missing. there HAS to be another Christmas Box! or I'm missing a tiny little wrapped ornament every year. (double checked the boxes I found. then triple checked.) and KJ never even had a baby ornament. what kind of mother am I? jeepers.

update. ordered KJ and Koren vintage ornaments off eBay. now to find teeny tiny pictures....

this just in....breaking news....we interrupt your previously scheduled program...I'm being told that deb went. to. the. basement. and. found. 3. baby. pictures. and Katie is NOW on the TREE. KJ & Koren will follow when their respective ornaments arrive. we now return you to your previously scheduled program, already in progress....

another message from dr.

she won't see me until I get my weight 'under control.' or lose AT LEAST another 20 lbs. whatever. it is what it is. at this point, I will most likely eventually die with a hiatal hernia. or maybe die from it.

a hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes up into the chest through a small opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest. A hiatal hernia results in retention of acid and other contents since the stomach tends to get squeezed by this opening in the diaphragm. These acids and other substances can easily back up — reflux or regurgitate — into the esophagus. usually not fatal. and of course... caused by obesity. common over age of 50. yadda yadda yadda. I really would like to find another dr. I don't care for this ones attitude. maybe eventually I will ask for a second opinion. of course this would be AFTER I lose at least 20 more lbs.

anyway. had a productive day. to Girdners to buy items on my list. started patching the holes and cracks in foundation. taped and did a coat of paint on ledge endcaps. started on Kevin's surprise Christmas present.

I remembered where my 1986 Heavenly Blessings Nativity set was! they've been 'missing' at least a couple of years. I started collecting them when I was an Avon Lady, using my discount. as the years went by, I'd buy one or two a season from Avon until they were no longer listed in catalog. then I'd buy a random one or 2 on eBay. I set them under the tree tonight and googled how many there are....13. I had 12. found my missing kneeling angel on eBay for $11.00. so, in a few days....my collection will be complete. A collection started in 1986 and completed in 2025. 39 years. (insert heart emoji here). I don't have any of the original boxes or packaging. Josephs head has been glued back on countless times. mama and baby sheep are no longer attached. but they still snuggle up just right. there are scuffs and chips. they've been moved 5 times.

still can't find Koren's first Christmas ornament with her baby portrait on it. so, there is another box somewhere....it was a gold teddy bear with her picture on the tummy. it used to be on the tip top of the tree.

replanted the free bulbs that I put in front of house last fall. now in day lily bed.

Wednesday post.

beautiful sunny day.

when I went out to scrape dirt away from house to paint, the hole is huge now. I think it needs fixed. therefore, no action was taken. took Ann to dr. then we went to truck stop and Walmart and McD drivethru. Izzy was delightful today. got a call about next test. it doesn't sound fun. and is same day as Ian's Christmas concert. finally got a MyChart message from surgeon. no surgery till AT LEAST under 200. I am sure she said 220 previously. me loosing 35 lbs. doesn't count for anything. will I ever lose 20 more lbs? probably not. this hiatal hernia can't be all that serious, anyway, the way I've been put off and all the conditions. (insert eye roll here.)

lights were supposed to be even better tonight. didn't see anything. oh well. I did see them through my phone last night, although my pictures aren't much proof.

update: Kevin did some googling, and gave me list of stuff to fix hole. so, that's on tomorrows list.

put up Christmas Tree, Christmas Robot, and Bumble. stockings are hung on the closet door with care.

Charlie Brown Tree and Plastic Santa are in place. warmer today. people were posting about Northern Lights. (or something lights.) I went out to look...a saw a pale pink swirl. nothing as dramatic as what people were posting. I guess there's always tomorrow...if I remember...

heard a plane go over house CLOSE and instantly....Red Dawn. The Russians Are Coming. it's my generation. I know it's a crop duster, but my first thought is always Red Dawn. the original. NOT the remake. all Xmas presents thus far are wrapped.