Not much time on the computer lately..........

Derek celebrated his 8th day of sobriety yesterday with us. We are thrilled to pieces for him and we took him out to dinner to celebrate at Cheddars before we went to the meetings. We have found a great location at a church across the big street from our subdivision, they have a very good Al-Anon meeting along with an AA meeting Derek can go to. I finally spoke a little last night at the meeting and that felt good. All these meetings so far Tony and I have just sat and listened. Several in the room have kids with alcohol and drug problems and some people talked to us about their kids last night after the meeting. It is just the hardest thing in the world to watch these kids do these things, but it really helps to talk to others about it.

Derek has been on the computer a lot looking for work and looking for meetings and programs. We have one computer until he gets the new router hooked up and the wireless connection working so I've been doing other things while he uses it. I did read all the posts yesterday but just didn't have time to respond yet.

The pic up top we took yesterday in our running around. We were waiting for the custard shop to open and Derek was showing me how to use my phone to take a picture while the phone is closed and you can see yourself in the little outside window of the phone. He is always so amazed at what I don't know, lol! Anyway the pic came out so cute of him in the background looking on! He is such a good kid, a real joy to be around when he is clean and sober. We have missed a lot of time these past many years with him being crazy with his addictions, it is so nice to just enjoy him. Makes me happy to be at home now and able to give him a place to stay and recover.

Got to get my hair colored today so you all take care, big hugs and love!
Di

This is cool

Yesterday Derek and I went to see this show of canned goods put on by the Dare to Care food drive. These are some of the entries. All of the designs are done in cans and there is nothing gluing the sturctures together, very cool!

Very good day yesterday.........

This is our lil man that will be turning 3 on March 6th, my how time flies!! Amy is planning a birthday party in the condo club house, should be a good one as I am making most of the food, lol! She is ordering the cake from Buskin, so that is handled. The theme is dinosaurs. Don gave Jake a set of big life like dinosaurs for Christmas and he is just crazy about them. I hope to be able to locate some dinosaur cookie cutters before then and make him some special iced cookies, we will see.

Friday night Amy and Jake came down for a few hours visit. We took Derek and Amy and Jake to dinner at the Bristol, an awesome restuarant. My Mom had given us a gift certificate for a wedding gift and that was the perfect time to use it. Then we all drove to a little pizza joint some 15 miles further down the road to hear Tony's sister's boyfriends new bluegrass band play. Rick is a very good bassist and the band was awesome!!! We will have to be sure to catch them again sometime.

Yesterday we tried to take Derek to his detox program but he was too far along in the detoxing stage on his own and they wouldn't take him. But this was good because that means he is doing that part on his own. He is saying he is very committed to doing it this time so we do hope that is true. He will call them on Monday and see if he can go to the next part of the program there or if he needs to find another program. The man there said he would help him find a good place. And he can always go to a counselor with Tony's employee assistance program too.

Tony and I went to a another new Al-Anon meeting last night and that one was one we will pass on next time. There was too much going on there that was not in line with our needs. Tonight we will go back to the AA and Al-Anon that we went to last Sunday, Derek can go to his meeting and we will go to ours.

You all have a great Sunday afternoon.

Love and hugs,
Di

Today is a better day.........

What a gorgeous coat this goat wears everyday!! He is from the Henry's Ark that we took Jake too awhile back, that day it was 11 degrees and windy. We had the zoo to ourselves, go figure!!

Yesterday was a range of emotions for me. Derek texted me and called me several times. I woke up very weapy about him and went to bed very encouraged. Tony and I went to another Al-Anon last night and that one was the best so far. They work the 12 steps and we worked on Anger. They passed little slips of paper to everyone with a question for us to answer and share on Anger. It was a great exercise since I have been so angry at Derek lately. Everything you see and hear is anonymous at these meetings but when you go with your husband you can discuss it all among yourselves, how awesome is that!

We have a place all lined up for Derek to go to detox and then to a half way house that has counselors and physicans and AA meetings everyday. They will take him, and he can live there, an answer to a prayer for sure. Of course he can leave that program anytime he wants to, just like any place else so it is all up to him. I am getting out of the way of God, he is free to do his work with him.

Today is my day for lunch with Tony. We are going to the little restaurant we went to for our Dare To Care day where we had a little breakfast, Wagners. They have great fish and mac and cheese on Friday's so we have to try it.

Peace and love and hugs to you all,
Di

Tony's contribution for today..........

Tony started off our day with this limerick:

An odd looking bird is the pelican

His beak can hold more than his belly can

He holds food in his beak

Enough for a week

But I don't know how in the hell he can

I know............he is adorable!!

Peace and Love,

Di

Doing things to keep busy

These wrist warmers are almost done, this one is finished and the other one is a few rows from being done. Of course when I finish them the weather will be warm and toasty and I won't need them until next year!

Scott came over tonight for dinner and to watch the Louisville BB game with his Dad. I made dinner, cleaned up the dishes and then headed out for a new Al-Anon meeting. It turned out to be a great group, all were very friendly and had an awesome topic. It amazes me at what God puts in front of me when I ask Him for His help and guidance. These things these folks share are the very things I need to hear. Several ladies talked to me personally and had ideas of other day time meetings that I might like in my area. This city is very friendly, not something I always found to be true of the Northern KY/Cinci area, people are more reserved and to themselves up there.

I called my sissy Deb on the way home and told her of Derek's events these past few days. She has gone to Al-Anon for years and she is always very good at listening and giving the advice I need to hear. I am doing what I can do for him and now I need to make sure to take care of myself, he will be my undoing if I don't . She is an awesome sister!

Nite all, have to get to bed. Tony is playing soccer at a 10 p.m. game tonight so I didn't get to see him.

Peace and joy!
Di

I am feeling better today.........

I wasn't feeling well last night so Tony made us dinner and brought me a tray to the bedroom! How sweet was this? He brought his plate too and we ate in the bed. The rice and veggies were awesomely yummy, he put in some rosemary grass in the stir fry and it was really good. Made me feel better too to eat. I took a long hot soak in the tub and the nerve pain in my face and feet really settled down. All this stress of Derek and his goings ons had me really physically hurting.

I did get a lot of yard work done yesterday and that made me feel good to be outside and working at something. We had passed out just 12 sets of food at the racetrack yesterday morning, a very low turnout. Our truck was late with the food so 4 of us went over to a really neat lil Mom and Pop restuaruant that I guess has been there for years and years. We had the best visit and had coffee and a little breakfast sandwich. I learned so much from this little old couple and one of the other volunteers about Louisville and great places to eat! I could not have stood there in the cold on the cold pavement not moving or working but just waiting on the truck.

I did get my kids to meet at the Meijer up in Northern KY and we changed the phones to all new 502 prefix numbers and now Tony joined us too. And he now has text!!! He did it and now I think I have created a monster as he has texted me several times this morning from work.........naughty boy!!

You all have a great day

Big hugs all around,

Di

Gone in a flash...........

Derek couln't handle the "heat" of recovering here at our house so while I took a nap yesterday afternoon he took off for his apartment in No. Ky. Didn't take anything with him, not even his medication, nothing, just took off. God only knows what condition he will be in when I hear from him next.

Our Al-Anon meeting was very good. The topic was expectations and everyone shared about Valentine's Day, what happened with them, good - bad or indifferent. These meetings always amaze me. I felt very strongly that I "had to go" just to get a different perspective on the Derek issues. And I came away with so much insight into how people handle crisis and conflict and yes of course the alcoholic in their lives. It did help me to set the "problem" apart from me and detach myself a little. Tony hadn't been to Al-Anon in many years (his ex-wife is an alcoholic) so it was a real refresher for him and so great to have him there with me.

This morning when I woke up I felt very weapy and Tony said some prayers with me. He always seems to know what will help at the right time. I asked him "how on earth do people deal with kids like Derek" and he answered me, "not very well" and that was the perfect answer.

I help pass out produce at Churchill Downs today at 8:45 so I'd best get moving. Thank God I have something productive to do today and no time to sit and veg and feel sorry for myself.

Di

Lots going on.....

Lots going on here at the Englert household. This is a pic of Derek decorating the valentine cookies, we made lots and had fun decorating them in cute goofy designs.

Friday Derek moved into Warrens old room and rearranged things, the arrangement of furniture is much better. Tony and Derek and I went to an open AA meeting at a big church down the street and it was a great meeting. A young person talked and it was very timely for Derek to hear her speech. He talked to a few people and got a listing of meeting times.

Christy came down Sat. afternoon to see Derek and left Sunday morning. We went up to No. Ky on Sunday and spent a little time with Jake and Amy. Johnny was over to see Amy and we saw him for a few min. Then we watched Jake for her while they went out to play frisbie golf.

When Amy got home we all went to the party for Aleck and had fun, it was very crowded, lots of folks there to wish him a 1st birthday. After the party Tony and I went to dinner with Patty, then we headed back to Louisville. Derek had spent the day pretty much vegging in bed in front of the TV feeling bad for himself. He has a very hard time with free time on his hands. It is going to take a great deal of self discipline for him to make it here.

Today we got up early and made a list of things Derek needs to do while here. Got most of the list done including his new phone plan and new drivers license and changing his address to here. He even applied for a job online for UPS. The Clerk's office was closed so we will register his van tomorrow. He will go to an AA meeting tonight and Tony and I will go to an Al-Anon meeting at our church. The biggie was that he found a place that will give him an evaluation apt. for tomorrow. So each day is a challenge for him that is for sure. Laying in bed and feeling sorry for himself is not going to be an option, not if he wants to live with us anyway.

I have really taken it for granted that I have an "up" personality and don't easily let myself get down. Being around Derek makes me really happy that I have made it a habit to be happy. Depressive illness is a very tough thing to watch someone go through.

Derek is here!

Aleck and Catrina and Jeremy were here last night and we had a great time. The dinner turned out good and they left with exact directions on how to make it. She is not a cook but she can do this one, very easy and good for her as she is pregnant with baby #2!! Lil Aleck was so fun and he is very mobile now, crawling and walking everywhere. It was fun to see them and get to visit a little.

Derek got here this am just after Catrina and family left. He has a plan for his time here and hopefully we can get him enrolled in a drug treatment facility or an outpatient facility. He has a good attitude and hopefully is really serious about getting better. We are looking on line for AA meetings, he has to attend 5 a week if he stays here with us. Those were the Dr's orders when he left the Mental Health Unit and a very good plan for him.

We have Aleck's 1st birthday party to attend in Northern KY on Sunday and a Valentines Day hike for couples tomorrow night so it will be a very busy weekend. But with Derek here we will have some help with cooking and chores anyway. One thing he is not is lazy and he is an excellent cook.

Keep us all in your prayers friends!
Di

Almost ready for guests!!

I know this is not a very exciting picture, but I spent all day in this "guest room" yesterday so I wanted to show it off somewhat. I stripped out everything from the room, boxed up all Warren's "junk" and I mean "junk", this kid had old nasty containers of beer in there, remains of old juice box wrappers, etc. Anyway I scrubbed every wall and door as he works at Jiffy Lube and can't seem to wash his hands after work, there were greasy prints on everything in that room, even the bed posts!! If you know me, you know that I hate filth, so I had a fiesta yesterday getting it straightened up. The dust ruffle and sheets are new from Target and the comforter is mine from my twin at the condo, I was right it fit nicely, although could be a little longer on the sides.

The boys came over to print something for homework on our printer as their Mother's doesn't work so we had the opportunity to have them take the bags and boxes of his stuff to her house. Oh, I found 2 guns and ammunition in the room too, GOOD GRIEF!! I prefer guns to be locked up in a gun case, so now those are at her house too, thank heavens.

We found out yesterday that Tony's ex is taking him to court for 1/2 his retirement. This was something that was not done during the divorce and he is upset about it. He of course took a good sized hit on his 401K just like everyone else did and he doesn't feel too great about losing 1/2 of it to her. Especially as she has lots and lots of inheritance money from her father. I told him to pray about it, give the problem to God and let Him instruct him on how to proceed. We say the Scriptural Rosary daily so I am sure the answer will come to him as whether to fight it or not.

I am so excited to see lil Aleck today. Catrina called yesterday and said they won't be here until after 6. That is fine as I have my first session at the church at 10:30 to learn how to make the prayer blankets. Share emailed me a nice thank you and I have another person that I'd like to give one too but that one I'd like to make myself. There is a printed tag that you sew into the blanket on the underside with the prayer blanket logo and I need that to get started.

You all have a great day! Hopefully the winds will calm down, we had 62 mph winds yesterday and our yard is back to being a leafy mess..........

Di

Cleaning, Cleaning, Cleaning and more Cleaning

Ok, I couldn't find the picture I wanted to post today but I found this cool pic of a shirt that I made a couple years ago. This is hot wax and dye, called batiking, really fun to do. I want to do more of this when it gets warmer outside, I can't melt the wax in the house, waaaay too smelly.

I am cleaning Warren's old room for Catrina and Jeremy and Aleck's visit tomorrow. This boy is really amazing, I found something quite weird under his bed. Guess he was trying to get high off of some seeds from flowers in the back yard. I found this weird home made pipe and a container of seeds.....................GOOD GRIEF!!!! I cannot tell you how happy I am that he is now living with his mother.

I bought new bedding for the bed yesterday and washed it all up. I am using the comforter from my bed at the condo since it is a full sized bed and my comforter is really cute and a huge twin, hopefully it will look ok. I want them to be comfortable in there, so maybe they will visit again!!!

You all have a great day, I'd best get back at it and stop playing on Facebook and sending Lois flowers, Lois you are making me a slacker!! ha

Di

Lemons Photo Challenge

I saw Lemon's photo challenge on Lo's comment page so I had to try it. This is my 6th album and 6th pic in the album, just happened to be my wedding photo albumn. How awesome is that!! As many of you know Tony and I got married this past Dec. 20th and my sissy Deb did my flowers and our wedding cake. She came all the way from Albuquerque NM to cold and frosty Louisville KY to be with us and help us have an awesome wedding day. These flowers are white roses surrounded by white spider mums!! Very pretty and perfect for our day!

How here is the challenge from Lemon:

Post the 6th picture in your 6th photo album on your blog. Write about your photo and share it with 6 new people. It is cool to see what photo you hit on and to see what everyone else posts.

Lil Doggies and Iced Cookies

Our lil doggies, left to right: Molly, Lilly and Gizzy, and up top is Rocky. This is "their couch" our spot is on the floor! lol! With the warmer temps we have been taking all 4 for walks around the neighborhood, they are loving it. We keep three of them on leashes and let Lilly chase the ball. Last night we walked the doggies and visited with several neighbors who are still cleaning up their yards from the storm. One older lady hired a man to run a chipper and cut down the trees in her back yard, really looked good, maybe we should have done that and not had to deal with the mess.

Our friends Catrina and Jeremy and their lil baby Aleck are coming to town for a convention that Catrina is attending. They are staying with us Thursday night in Warren's old room. We are sooo excited, we get to see lil Aleck and get to visit with Catrina. Aleck turns one on Valentines Day and he has a party on Sunday, hopefully we will make it up there for that. Cross your fingers that the weather holds out. You all might remember that I babysat lil Aleck for some months last year. I have missed him and Catrina sooo much!

Today is my day to start making my Valentines cookies. I make the rolled and iced hearts and give them instead of candy for gifts for the kids. I have a neat bear shaped copper cookie cutter that makes a great big cookie, so cute all decorated with icing. But alas, I can't find this cutter anywhere. It will show up, when I don't need it I am sure.

You all have a great day, I have some shopping to do for meringue powder and cookie stuff.

Di

I've been shrunk!

This pic is so funny, makes me look like I've been shrunk! We had a great day on Sat but worked our lil tails off yesterday. The magnolia is now all piled up and cut up and out by the street waiting for the big pick-up effort the city is doing. Our neighbors really had it much worse than we did and their entire yard is full of chest high piles of branches. It looks like a war zone in this city. And how about the little old people that can't possibly clean up their own yards and can't afford to have it done. The city will come around once with big dump trucks and claw lifters to get the debris and if the folks don't have their piles out they lose out on curb side pickup.

Today I will do my taxes as married filing separately as Tony can't do his until later, he has info coming that will take a while to get here. I can't stand to wait any longer, I am too anal, I have to get them done.

I have more clean up to do with all the magnolia leaves to add to the big pile. I don't want to bag them so I'll just dump them on top of the big branches. But we have another warm day here so it will be fun to be outside.

Happy day for all of you!
Di

New twist on my Medicare problem

My gal with SHIP called me on Friday and told me something very interesting. Apparently my appeal was responded to on Jan. 20th. It said that Nat. Govt Services asked for my records from the hospital and they did not respond to the request within 60 days. So now National Govt.Services is holding THEM responsible for the $6500 bill!! Can you believe that! She said that the hosp will more than likely appeal that determination but WOW what a change of events this is. Gives me a little hope anyway.

Tony and I went to Glassworks in Lousiville yesterday and he bought me a really pretty glass ball for my collection for Valentines Day. We watched them hold a class and blow some neat glass kisses, very cool. Then we went to the Slugger factory and later we went rollerskating. That was so fun, I am a terrible skater but Tony is really good and it was fun watching him skate circles around me.

Today I am cleaning up the tree mess while he hunts the birds. My legs are too tired from skating to do all that walking in the hunt. He walks for a couple of hours straight and that would exhaust me too much.

Derek is thinking of coming to visit us for a few days. He wants to leave the band, that is a good sign. He knows he has to give it up to be completely free of the temptation to drink.

What a day yesterday was!

I had a very successful trip to the condo. After my apt and time with Derek I took lil Jake to shoe shop with me at a sale. We found these awesome little "Cars" shoes for him for only $10. This pic is of lil Jacob sleeping with me with his new shoes, he wouldn't give them up. He obviously got this trait from me as I LOVE NEW SHOES too, well not quite enough to sleep with them...........lol!

The apt with Legal Aid was awesome!! This gal is the contact for SHIP, those are the folks that help people with Medicare problems. She is an attorney and very young and sweet, but does she ever carry a BIG stick. She is helping me with 2 different plans to rectify this problem. Hopefully it won't be long and it will be taken care of, it is great to finally have someone that is familiar with this type of thing to help me. And someone that has a functioning memory, lol!

I did Amy's taxes while I was there yesterday, she is getting a bundle back this year and that is good. She needs all the money she can get taking care of Jake and living alone now. She was happy it was all done and now she can apply for her financial aid for next year at NKU.

I had dinner with Derek while up there. He and Christy are on the outs again because he went drinking while on his medication. Goodness, it is hard to watch this child of mine do this to himself. But I have to "detach" as they say in Al-Anon, it is his life and if he chooses to do this to himself he has every right to. Much easier said than done.

I hope to get caught up reading blogs today, I've missed all the goings on of you all. We are expecting 52 degree weather today and I am sooo happy! Tony and I go hunting tomorrow with the birds, they haven't been out in weeks it has been so cold so that will be fun.

Di

Off to Cinci today

I am off to Cincinnati today to go to an apt regarding my unpaid hospital bill and my Medicare claim. I have contacted Legal Aid and I am meeting with a nice gal that hopefully can help me get this appeal jump started and looked at and maybe even paid by Medicare. This operation was done Nov. of 07!! I have been through the 3 appeal stages and none of them has made a determination because the first appeal place never responded. I say it is a scam that our government backs to keep from having to pay all the claims that Medicare should legitimately be paying. This bill is over $6500 and I WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR IT out of my pocket.

The dinner for Tony's Mom was really fun last night, this family of 7 kids is just like an unleashed band of zoo animals when they are all together. They tell the funniest stories about their life growing up. All these kids are great friends to this day and that has to be the best testament of a great upbringing. One of my SIL asked if we would throw her son a wedding shower as Tony is his Godfather and another asked if I'd like to help with a Mom and Baby room at Catholic Charities so it looks like they will be keeping me a little busier this spring.

I will see Derek and Christy for dinner tonight as well and I am happy about that. I have to see him in person to see how he is "really" doing. Please keep praying for Derek that he can give up alcohol once and for all!!

Have a great day guys and stay warm!
Di

Fun morning passing out food

I am hoping I haven't posted this pic before, guess I should have checked. This was taken last weekend as we were driving around the park area in Louisville on the way to picking up Scott from a friend's house.

I helped pass out food to some folks today at Churchill Downs, it was really cold but lots of fun. We were out there from 8:30 to noon and only had about 50 people, they represented around 200 family members so we thought it wasn't a bad turnout for a day with such awful weather. This is the Dare to Care program and our church is spearheading an effort to get food to those working the backside of the track. We will do every other week on tues. for 2 months and then other churches will help us. It was fun and I got to meet some new people, which is something that I have to do if I am going to thrive in my new town. We gave each person a ton of food, they should be very happy tonight, lots for dinner!

We have a dinner to go to tonight for Tony's Mother's birthday. I have been making 3 kinds of cookies and a batch of peanut brittle for her for her present. She loves cookies so this will be a good gift for her. I gave her peanut brittle at Christmas in her tray of goodies but her sister ate almost every single piece!! That has irriated her so she has her very own batch coming tonight, that should bring a smile to her face! lol!

Stay warm guys and have a great evening.

Hugs, Di

Here is a pic Amy took of us right before we left for our benefit dance. We had the best time, the music was amazing, a huge band with bongo drums and regular drums, trumpets, sax and trombone and all the regular guitars and basses and 4 amazing singers. I can't say enough about how awesome they were, so fun to listen to and to dance to! We danced like crazy, had a great time and saw lots of friends. Very fun to see everyone dressed up and enjoying themselves. We stayed the night with Amy and Jake and took them to First Watch for breakfast on Sat. then headed home.

Our storm is still causing a lot of trouble around the city, lots of people still out of power. We cleaned up the big magnolia tree yesterday afternoon as it got to 57 yesterday and all the ice and snow melted off the tree. We have a huge pile of branches and it left the tree 1/2 of what it was, very sad to see this gorgeous tree in this wounded state.

I have tons of chores today and haven't been feeling completely up to par so I'd better pace myself.

Big hugs to everyone!

Di