VisionWalk

I've been slacking on trying to get donations for VisionWalk. It's a walk that I plan on doing every year. A lot of my family participates with me. I'm not sure but I don't think many of them actually donate. I don't think they "get it". Their support there, means the world to me (donation or no donation). Its a pretty 3 mile walk around Lake Harriet. It's the end of September. The morning starts out cold, then usually warms up. I do wish it wasn't on Sunday. The Vikings have always played that day. Of course they do again this year at noon. We're just finishing up with the walk about that time. In the past, we have either brought food for afterwards or gone back to my brother's (since he is the closest) and provided food and a TV. In the past 2 years, not VisionWalk has been providing a free brat and chips and water afterwards, entertainment. I'm going to say this year whoever wants to stay can. I just felt last year it was just a lot of work with the food when we didn't need to.
I'll see if I can find some pictures from last year.

Rutabega Weekend

This past weekend at the cabin was Rutabega Festival weekend. We really don't do a whole lot of the actual Bega but it's the fact that just about everyone is at the cabin. I wanted to run the Fun Run Saturday morning, my brother said he'd do it with me. I know why I don't do it much. The race is at 8am. That meant we set the alarm for 6:45am, voluntarily! We both pre-registered, which saved us each $4. We were in line to get our bibs and shirt (now they give them out with the bibs instead of after the race). My brother was next, got his, then I heard him tell the lady my name. So I jump up there. She's looking and looking. I said "It's L I N N", emphasising the I. Then my brother said "oh my god!" He had told her we were both Sotherns. That's why she couldn't find mine, she was looking under S. I've only been married 7 years, lol! That's the second humor of the morning and it was only 7:30. The first humor was, before we left the cabin, I made me some toast. I felt like I needed something small in my stomach. My mom has a container of butter sitting on top of the toaster oven. I spread the butter on. My mom comes over and says "what is that?". I don't know mom, it's your butter. Turns out she pulled the wrong container, although the exact same container, out. I was spreading mash potatoes on my toast. I made new toast. I should've tried it, might be fine.

While we were driving into town, all of a sudden it started pouring! It only last about 5 minutes. When we were in the group to start the race, about 5-10 before the start, it started raining pretty good again. Lots of people moved to the side of building, which was right there. There was an overhang. Finally we moved over there. I was standing there with my hand cupped over my ears, my hearing aids can't get wet. Mom and Lyle's girls have already left. They went into town, it's a spot my mom always takes a picture of whoever in our group runs. About mile marker 1. I figured if it's still raining, I'll give them to her there. Luckily it stopped raining about 2 minutes before the race and never rained again. We ran together the whole way. I really enjoyed running with him. I worry though since I like to run MY speed and don't want to walk if I don't want to. My rule was no walking at all, except to drink the water at the one table. That's only a few steps walk. My brother hasn't been running, hasn't ran since Mother's Day. He stayed my speed. I told him if he feels the need to go ahead, go for it. Afterwards he said that was a great speed. My time was 35 minutes. I told him, "I didn't say I run fast!" The shirts this year are nice. My mom got some good pictures. Hopefully she'll bring her camera with her when she comes over this week, then I can download them.

That night we had a campfire at our cabin. Then SIL wanted to go to bed, my cousin's baby was sleeping on their bed. She didn't want to move her to the other bed because it's smaller. She wanted to go back and I guess swimming got brought up. I was like "nooo", since that meant one of us was pretty much going to bed. Roger refilled my beverage and told me to go. We went down to the little lake, had a fire there. Then decided it's swimming time. I couldn't believe how cold that water was without the sun out. This was maybe 1am. I declared it was probably a good thing I can't see well at night, no fear of seeing someone's junk. We all had suits on but to change out of them. Lyle and I ended up getting back to the cabin around 3am.

So yeah 2 of my favorite people. There's my cousin Pam (my mom's sister's daughter). She was my maid of honor. There's cousin Jonny (my dad's cousin's son). Pam and Jonny are NOT related at all. They're just both related to me. Well they've been on a bags league together this summer. Friday, I had text him about when he was coming, he said he was half way there. He hitched a ride with Pam. He did beat us by 2-3 hours, my mom was there. Anywho, Saturday night Pam, talked to me privately and asked about her and Jonny, if that'd be a problem. I love the idea! They're both great people, both people that I want to be happy. My ONLY concern, which I didn't say, IF they ever break up, would that cause any problems. It very well might be ok, but I'd hate for Jonny to not want to come up to the cabin again. He loves that place.

My Grandpa

My main blog is on opendiary. I try tell myself to take the time to c/p the posts onto here afterwards. I wonder if I have any readers. I really need entries to build up/keep readers!
Since OD is down, I'll post here!

On the 22nd, my dad and grandpa headed out west to Southern Idaho, where my Grandpa is from. He wants to be "home" and see some people. My dad being retired, said "let's go!". They drove out there, bringing the 5th wheel. On a good, yet sad note. Grandpa's nephew from Oregon/Idaho, passed away (that's the sad note). The good note, they were having his service in Idaho and my dad and Grandpa were there for it. Even if the trip wasn't planned, he would've flown out there for this, and probably would've been my dad going to. So it worked out nice for them that they were already there for this. They had him cremated and they went somewhere on top of the mountains (above the tree lines). They put the ashes in 3 of his cowboy hats and each son threw the ashes into the wind over a cliff. I'm not sure if they threw the hat or just dumped it into the wind. I sure hope that he can view the world again with his eyes. He had lost his sight many years ago, due to an accident.

Our family has been going to Wyoming many years. Seems in the past 10 years, it's been kind of falling apart. Not everyone wants or can go. I've been there close to 10 times. That trip was happening and my dad and Grandpa were going there from Idaho. That means them two are on a month long vacation. I choose not to go. Roger wasn't going to be going due to work. I didn't want to go alone with a 1 year old. Maybe if he slept better thru the night. I just didn't think tenting, the cold nights, would be enjoyable. I know my mom would be there to help me but that's not the same as going with Roger.

I don't know the whole complete story. Turns out after a couple nights in the mountains (Wyoming), my dad and cousin decided Grandpa needed to go to the hospital. They called an ambulance for him. He was bleeding all over, from the inside out. They're not close to town. I can't remember how long away it is, an hour or 2. Turns out that they said "thank God they called an ambulance, he might not have made it". Even if somebody drove him. He needed the ambulance care. He ended up needing surgery for a stomach ulcer. My dad has been spending everyday with him and my uncle Ted has been spending every evening with him and staying in a hotel til my dad gets there in the morning. Kind of puts a damper on their vacation but really that does NOT matter. Grandpa needed to receive platelets. Once he got that in him, he perked up. They had a second batch of platelets be shipped to them. Had to come from Billings, Montana. Once that came, they decided he didn't need them. Which is great! (My brother has been donating platelets and got my mom on it too, now I want to go with them and donate myself). My dad said that Grandpa ate his broth and whatever else easy yesterday. Breakfast today they were going to give him solids. I'm assuming soft solids like scrambled eggs and maybe toast. I hope that went well.

The family trip is coming to an end, today is the day everyone leaves the mountain. Stay in town at the KOA. This is usually the "yay a shower! A pool!" day. In the morning they'll head back home. My dad will stay in Sheridan with Grandpa until they release him, which maybe Monday. He can park the 5th wheel at the hospital at no charge.

If you know me, my Grandpa means the WORLD to me. It has me so worried. I didn't realize at first that it was that serious, that we almost lost him. There's very little phone service there, so the updates are limited. Then now that he's doing better, I've heard more. Keep getting better Grandpa, none of us are ready for you to leave us!