Weekend Update

To start with, the Cubs are forcing me to abandon the "W" flag thing. They just keep winning and I'm running out of unique ways of flying the flag every day. Let's just say that they're providing this old fan with a whole lot of excitement. Only one more mention of their heroics and then on to other things. Friday, they came back from being behind 9 to 1 and ended up winning 10 to 9. Enough said. (Except that they swept their entire homestand, 7 straight wins)

One real highlight of the weekend was the annual "Race for the Cure" breast cancer run/walk. This year JoAnne was the coordinator for the Lands' End team. She managed to recruit 120 participants. The weather cooperated and the turnout for the "Race" was around 11,000. To celebrate her 28th year as a survivor JoAnne ran/walked in the 5K event. At this time we haven't gotten her official time but, I'm sure that it's somewhere between 43.01 minutes and 43.03 minutes. Even if she had run in half that time I'd be just as proud of her although, if that would have happened, I wouldn't have gotten to the finish line in time to take this photo. The very pregnant Jeanna participated in the 1 mile fun walk as Derek and the granddogs cheered her and Jo on.

As soon as the race was over we were back in the car for a quick trip to Chicago. There were two reasons for that trip. First, my Mom celebrated her 96th birthday on Friday and second, my oldest son Rick was in town. Seeing my Mom is always a treat because she's so alert and full of fun. She still kids about the old people at the nursing home even though she's older than most of them. And she usually has some smartass comment about my age. Rick, who lives in California, dropped in to surprise Grandma on his way home from Minneapolis where he attended a seminar and met up with Uncas and Sally for dinner earlier in the week. Daughter Elaine and grandkids Elizabeth and Catherine stopped by to wish Mom a happy birthday as well. A quick "Hi!" to my sister Mary and her hubbie Jim and it was back in the car to cap off a whirlwind 19 hour day.

Sunday was another adventure in "Hosta Heaven". In short it was a day of yard work. (Jo claims that she enjoys the weeding, planting, trimming and digging) I plan on covering the whole yard experience in a future posting so for now, we'll just say that everything is growing like crazy.

Two last bulletins, tomorrow (Tuesday) we are moving Jo's Mom once more. (Hopefully the last time) A room became available at the assisted-care facility in Dodgeville which will make it much more convenient. (Five minutes from Jo's office and about 30 miles closer to our home) Jo's brother Verne and his wife, Diane came up over the weekend and helped Vi pack her things for the move. And, Sally reported (with photos) a major hail storm in her Minnesota yard. Two waves of large hail left the place looking like mid winter. Fortunately no damage. I might add that driving down to Chicago I did pass a place where guys were playing with hail-sized golf balls. (I've been wanting use that line for so long)

Got to get an afternoon nap now to prepare for a late Cubs' game tonight.
See ya!