God's Plan

We had a new priest arrive at Blessed Trinity this past fall.  His name is Father Bill, and he has a unique path to the seminary as he was once married and had a daughter.  God called he and his family in a different direction, however, and he was ordained last spring.  

I thought a lot about Father Bill's life story this past week.  I couldn't relate to the call to the priesthood, but I definitely felt many times in my life that God's plan for me wasn't what I originally thought it would be.  In fact, I couldn't even count the number of times that my life's trajectory changed from what I thought it would be.  

No path was ever different than the one that we had when we moved to Ocala.  Our plan was for Doug to work ten minutes from our home with the goal of leaving when he finished his time at Champion, maybe moving further south or trying a whole new state.  God, however, led us to a church that we loved and a community that we felt at home in almost as soon as we moved.  He helped Doug to find a job that was not only less stressful but provided the income and the challenge that Doug was looking for in a career.  Even though it wasn't in the perfect location, He helped us navigate that as well.  It wasn't the path that we were planning for or even looking for, but through prayer we found a life that helped bring peace to our family.  We couldn't ask for more than that.  

Festival of the Arts

Doug and I went to the Festival of the Arts today and wow was it crowded.  We still had a lot of fun as we hadn't been to Disney since Thanksgiving.  Meg and Nick were able to meet us there for lunch which made it even better.  I believe that the large crowds were due to the beautiful weather.  It definitely has been a colder than a normal winter in Central Florida, so I believe the nice day was the reason for the holiday size crowds.

Even with the long lines, the four of us were still able to walk through the countries without any issue and look at all of the art booths.  There were a lot of Disney themed paintings, and several done by AI this year.  All were extremely cute, but none of us bought too much.  Meg did find the perfect gift for Maggie's birthday.  

The food at the festival was fantastic.  We tried several unique dishes with Doug really enjoying the mushroom risotto in Canada.  I liked the General Tso's dumplings from China the best.  We headed out after the festival as the ride lines were way too long.  Meg and Nick went to Magic Kingdom next while Doug and I stopped at Port Orleans French Quarter.  We had hoped to try their Valentine beignets.  Everyone else must have had that idea as there was at least one hundred people in line.  After seeing that, we decided that it would make way more sense to skip the Disney treat and stop at Publix for dessert.  I was glad that we did as it gave us time to watch IU's overtime win against Wisconsin making for a wonderful end to the day.  

The Winter Olympics

Doug was very excited that the Winter Olympics were starting tonight and really wanted to watch the opening ceremony.  That lasted about ten minutes as he didn't remember that it had really changed from when we were younger.  Although the Olympians still walked in together waving their country's flag, the majority of the night was filled with dancing and singing.  Doug definitely wasn't interested in that.

While Doug was talking about all of his favorite winter sports, such as bobsledding, curling and skiing, I was focused on finding out when speed skating would take place.  There were two women from Ocala participating in those events. Although it was hard to believe that Floridians would be very good at winter sports, each had won a medal in 2022, and I was hopeful to watch them win again.  Either way it will be fun to follow these next few weeks.  

Starting a Family vs. Joining One

I read a really great article recently about marriage.  It stated that you should always remember that when you get married that you are not joining another family, you are actually starting your own.  I had never thought about it that way, but felt it was great advice for newlyweds.  In-laws and family dynamics are very hard for anyone to navigate, but especially for young couples.  

Even though Doug and I had gotten married over three decades ago, the article really resonated with me especially after watching Brett and Karen and Meg and Nick work their way through the first year or two of married life.  It reminded me of when Doug and I started our lives together almost thirty-five years ago.  The hardest part was figuring out our places in both our families as individuals and as a couple.  It wasn't easy, especially since we came from such different backgrounds.  

I wish that I could tell twenty-five-year-old me to look at life the way the article suggested.  It would have made everything easier.  I hated having family obligations with a group of people that I really did not know very well.  Back then, I felt as though I should understand the family dynamics when I had no idea what they were.  I went to events that weren't important to me and felt extremely out of place.  Instead of making me feel like I belonged, I became bitter and felt extremely unappreciated.  

Thankfully, I have really come to understand this past year that the biggest family obligation I have is to my husband and my children.  I have to put them first, especially Doug. It is he who I have built my life with and supporting him is my number one priority.  Hopefully, we have thirty-five more years together, but even if we don't I want to know that I gave my all because starting a family with him has been the best part of my life.

A Trip to Orlando

Doug stayed at Meg's tonight, so I decided to drive up and meet them both for dinner.  Meg has been very busy with work, crafting and hanging out with her group from church, so I haven't seen her a lot.  It was extremely nice to spend time with her.  The three of us went to one of Meg's favorite restaurants in the area which had a lot of different choices for me to choose from on the menu.  I really appreciated that as that is not only the case.  I also really enjoyed the atmosphere and had fun catching up on the "drama" at Meg's work.  It is so nice to know that she has found a job that she likes and that she is doing very well at already.  

When I left at 8:30, Doug was already hanging out in the papasan chair.  That has been his favorite spot to fall asleep in before he officially goes to bed.  The drive was super easy.  They have opened up part of the Turnpike which has shaved ten minutes off of the trip.  Doug was still awake when I called to tell him that I was home.  He and Meg were listening to music.  It was a great night, and I was glad that I decided to join them even if it was only for a few hours.

A Visit North

While we were having a relaxing weekend at home, Cameron spent his two free days in Syracuse visiting Grandma and Grandpa.  My mom was worried about the snow on the roads, but thankfully all was clear and he made it with no problem.  My parents enjoyed watching the IU basketball game Saturday night and ordering dinner out with him.  Cameron was able to get his laundry done and to help do a few small projects for his grandparents as well. 

I really appreciated him visiting them. The winter can feel very long in the Midwest and having something fun to look forward to makes it go by a lot quicker. Cameron also hadn't been able to visit much last semester, so it was nice for him to get a break from Bloomington as well.  He even had time to go to brunch with Samuel and was happy to report that his friend had no lingering issues after his emergency gallbladder removal in Ecuador.  Overall, it was a great weekend for all, and I am glad that my children prioritize their grandparents as they were such an important part of their childhood years.

We Have a Working Septic

On Saturday morning, I noticed that my shower drained very slowly.  I thought that maybe there was hair clogging the drain, so I cleaned it out right after I was finished.  Yesterday, however, I realized that there was more to it than just a clogged drain.  Not only did my shower drain slowly, but the toilet started making a gurgling noise when the water was running.  After Doug said that his was doing the same thing, I decided to do some research and became instantly worried.  Everything that I read said that it was a problem with our septic.  We had never had this happen when we lived in Syracuse, so I feared the worst.

Thankfully, we were able to get a hold of a septic company relatively quickly even though it was Sunday morning.  They wouldn't be able to send someone out until this afternoon but assured us that this was normal for a full septic tank and as long as we didn't overuse it, we would be fine.  Doug and I spent the afternoon avoiding the drainage system as much as possible even dumping our dish water outside in the rocks like The Wilders did on Little House on the Prairie.

The company arrived promptly at 3 p.m. this afternoon and were able to tell me within fifteen minutes that there was nothing seriously wrong with our tank or drain field.  Their plan was to pump out the tank and change the filter and all would return to normal.  There was one minor hiccup when the water still wouldn't flow correctly after that. Once they unclogged the pipe from the house to the tank, everything began working perfectly.  I appreciated all that they did and even tipped them enough to buy lunch for all of their hard work.  

Oscar Movies

The Oscar nominations were recently announced, and I was surprised by how many of the movies that we had either seen or at least heard of this year.  That hasn't been the case in quite some time.  Since there were also a lot of actors that we knew, Doug and I decided to look at the list and try a few nominated movies that we hadn't seen or that Cal and Cameron had recommended.  

The first one on our list was Sinners.  I knew that it was scary and that there was a twist that involved vampires, but even when it happened, I wasn't ready for it.  Overall, I liked the movie and thought that it was well done, but didn't move it past One Battle After Another, Marty Supreme or F-1 for my top choice for Oscar.  The next movie that we watched was Jay Kelley.  I had never heard of it until we watched the Golden Globes.  It had gotten good reviews and starred George Clooney, so Doug and I decided to give it a try.  It was the story of an actor past his prime who was having a midlife crisis.  Doug really enjoyed it as he could relate to several of the themes in it.  

Our last film choice wasn't nominated for best picture, but it was definitely our favorite of the three.  Cameron had been talking about Weapons since he watched it at the beginning of Christmas break.  Doug's not usually one to choose a horror movie, but since Cal and Jim had also recommended it, he was ready to see what all of the hype was about.  It was extremely scary, had a unique plot and was very entertaining.  Both Doug and I loved it and couldn't stop talking about it the rest of the week.

A Weekend at Home

For the past six weekends, Doug and I have either hosted someone or have traveled somewhere.  Although we have had a lot of fun with our family, we were both exhausted and truly appreciated a weekend at home just the two of us hanging out and enjoying Ocala.  We had a few small projects that we wanted to complete and we did make it out of the house to go shopping a few times and to attend mass, but mostly we had fun watching television and playing Ticket to Ride. We also talked with each of our children and were happy to hear that they were enjoying their weekends as well.  

When we moved to Florida, I thought every weekend would be just like this one - quiet and just the two of us.  I am glad that it didn't end up that way.  I love visiting everyone and have a great time when our family is here with us.  If we didn't exhaust ourselves keeping up with all of our children, we would never appreciate the solitude of being empty nesters on those rare weekends that it happens.  

A Bonus

When Doug worked at Champion, the thought that he would ever get a bonus became a family joke.  Even when he was promised one for helping after he left the company, nothing ever came to fruition.  Thus, I learned to never believe in promises from a company even when made in writing.

Because of this, I only half listened when Doug talked about getting a bonus from S.I. Goldman after he worked for them for a year.  I was just happy that he found a job that valued him, respected his time and paid the bills.  Imagine my surprise when Doug came home with a bonus check in hand this past week.  Not only had had S.I. Goldman honored their promise, but they restored my faith in the business world as well.  

Today, Doug put the money into our savings account.  We plan to take a real vacation this spring and spend a week in California.  The money will really help pay for that and the times we travel back to the Midwest to see our family.  I feel truly blessed and couldn't be happier.  

Back to the Dermatologist

When Doug went to the dermatologist at the end of December, she biopsied another spot on his head.  It was near his last melanoma and was a lot smaller, but it still came back as melanoma in situ.  I was really disappointed when I heard the news.  His last one was very traumatic for both of us with an open wound on his head for ten days that was bigger than a half dollar and deeper than one as well.  Cleaning it out and taking care of it was one of the worst medical experiences of my life and wasn't something that I was looking forward to doing again.  Doug felt exactly the same way that I did and neither one of us were looking forward to his doctor appointment this afternoon.

One change from last spring was that they sent us to a plastic surgeon instead of a dermatologist.  She did not have the greatest bedside manner and made me worry a lot more than last time, but there was one positive.  This surgeon would be able to get the biopsy back in a day or two which meant that I did not have to clean out the wound as Doug would be on the mend at least a week quicker than the last time which was a relief.  Hopefully, this will be the last time that we have to do this, but if not, we at least have a better option going forward.  

IU vs Purdue

Tonight was the IU vs Purdue men's basketball game and all of us made plans to watch it.  Cameron had the best seat front and center behind the basket, but the rest of us had just as much fun watching it from home.  It was fun to see the crowd dressed for "stripe out" at Assembly Hall and I was glad that Cameron was wearing his favorite longtime Hoosier jacket to match the theme.  I don't know if I truly believed that IU could beat the #12th ranked Boilermakers, but I was hopeful.  Mostly, I wished for a close game and a full stadium.  Thankfully, I got both.  

The Hoosiers started off hot in both shooting and rebounding leading almost the entire first half going into the locker room up 40-29.  I waited for a big run by Purdue or a cool off in shooting by IU, but neither really happened.  Our defense rattled their star player and our offense held strong.  The Boilermakers did cut into IU's lead, but the team held strong and ended up winning the game 72-67.  

As much fun as I had watching the game and seeing Cameron in the stands high fiving the players afterward, my favorite part of the evening occurred when the game was over.  Cal texted our family group chat "Beat Purdue at our hobby sport, sorry Nick."  Meg followed that with "I'm just remembering football season when you said, "wait until basketball season comes" and now it's even more embarrassing for you."  Both texts made me laugh out loud.  I definitely thought about saying something, but Nick had just gifted us Diamond level at Hilton, so I kept my comments to myself.  Either way, it was a fun night and a great win by the Hoosiers.  Maybe there is a chance for us to make the tournament after all. 

A Cool Down

While we were in Indiana freezing, Florida was enjoying an atypical eighty degree weekend for January.  It was still really warm Sunday night when we arrived, but all of that changed yesterday as temperatures dropped at least twenty degrees.  When I went to Bible Study this morning, I actually regretted that I didn't wear a coat as it was in the thirties and even my sweater wasn't warm enough.

The unseasonably low temperatures aren't supposed to change anytime soon.  Meteorologists are actually calling for windchills in the teens on Sunday morning meaning that our weekend trip to Epcot would have to wait for another day.  Even though we had to change our plans, wear jackets in Florida and find a semi-permanent home for the outdoor plants in the garage, neither Doug nor I are complaining.  After surviving one of the worst storms in Southern Indiana in years, a little bit of cold weather is nothing to whine about here.  Thankfully, this type of weather doesn't last long in the Sunshine state and gloomy days are rare.  We will just enjoy the extra time inside and spend it watching some of our favorite shows.

Thankful We All Made It Safely

While we were flying back to Orlando last night, Cal and Maggie arrived safely in Chicago around 5 p.m. They said that the roads were pretty clear after they passed through the northern part of Indianapolis and there was no snow to speak of in Lincoln Park.  I was thankful to hear that and glad that the storm didn't interfere with Cal's work schedule.

Brett called this morning to let me know that he and Karen had a pleasant night at the hotel last evening using their food credit to purchase "dinner" at the hotel snack bar.  Monroe and Bartholemew County were still in the red for travel, but they decided at 8:30 a.m. to try driving it.  I was extremely worried about their trip as I find the drive to be difficult even on a clear day.  Fortunately, Brett had a lot of experience with that stretch of IN 46 and had no problems getting back to Columbus.  The roads still had snow on them, but for the most part were drivable.  The only problem he had was the spray of snow from other cars on his windshield as they passed by.  Neither he nor Karen made it home in time to go to work today, but that didn't matter as most businesses in their area including Extra Space Storage were closed for weather.

Doug stayed in Orlando last night at Meg's while I made the trip home.  It was nice to sleep in my own bed and to spend today unpacking.  I have been traveling a lot since last June, and I was glad that I was done for a while especially after yesterday.  I do not think that I will ever forget this weekend.  Although there were some very scary moments, it was wonderful to spend Cameron's 21st birthday together in a town that we all love, and I thank God for safely bringing us all home.

Winter Storm Fern

Unfortunately, Winter Storm Fern arrived just as predicted and left Bloomington with fourteen inches of snow in less than twenty-four hours.  I tried not to think about it last night but only slept about three hours worrying about how we would all get home.  Cameron obviously wasn't an issue, but Meg, Nick, Doug and I had flights that left at 3:45 today.  Cal and Maggie had to drive all the way to Chicago, and even though it was the shortest distance, Brett and Karen had the worst trip home as the roads to Columbus from Bloomington were extremely hilly and windy.  

By the time that everyone woke up this morning, I had checked the weather channel and the Indiana Department of Transportation road map hundreds of times.  Between the information that I had gathered and the fact that the roads were pretty bad outside our window, we all thought the best thing to do first was call the front desk and ask for a late checkout.  Thankfully, they were very helpful and told us that we didn't have to decide until 1 p.m. on whether or not we would need the room for one more night.  They also let us know that the hotel was open for breakfast until 11 a.m. which we really appreciated since everything else in the area was closed.  

Over breakfast, everyone started to make their plan.  Brett and Karen were definitely staying one more evening as all of the counties in between Bloomington and Columbus were in the red for emergency travel only.  Cal and Maggie wanted to try to leave at some point today and thought that they would wait to see if the snow subsided at all.  Doug asked me to change our flight to the last one of the day with the hope that some of the roads would be clear in the afternoon.  

I called Meg once we got back to our room and she said that they were going to go ahead and try to make it to Indy.  They felt that I-69 would be clear enough to travel on and that their SUV would be able to handle it.  I asked them to call me once they got on the interstate so we could then make a better decision on what to do.  The INDOT cameras were still showing a lot of snow on the roads in Martinsville, but there were a few cars out.

As soon as I got off of the phone, the snow stopped.  We waited about fifteen minutes but didn't hear from Meg, so Doug and I decided that we would just try driving it.  I was very nervous as I knew that I would have to drive due to his tremor but also wanted to get home if possible.  On our way to the van, Meg called to let me know that they had picked up Cameron from Cora's and dropped him off at his place and were heading out, so they would be behind us shortly.  

There was a clear path on the side roads, but only one lane.  The intersections and the exit ramp were a different story as they were extremely challenging to drive on since all of the snow from the plows and the cars that had traveled earlier were piled in the middle.  I wasn't sure that we were going to make it the few miles to I-69, but thankfully, we did.  Cal called as soon as we go to the interstate and decided that they would try it as well.  The weather had not impacted Northern Indiana or Chicago, so he knew once he got past Lafayette, they would be fine driving the rest of the way.

Our trip to the airport was definitely scary with some sections being a lot worse than others.  I drove no more than thirty-five miles the entire way. It was hard to see the road for most of the trip, but I could make out the tire ruts from previous drivers which did help.  There were a few times that a pile of snow would grab my tires, but since I had a lot of experience driving in bad weather, I knew not to brake, to let my foot off the gas and to hold on to the steering wheel.  The worst part of the drive was the several cars that ran up on my bumper going well over fifty miles an hour before passing me.  We hoped that I-465 would be clear, but it was actually worse with piles of snow on the exits and in between lanes.  The toughest part of the drive was the last five miles on I-70.  Doug counted ten cars stuck in the snow on just that section of I-70.  Thankfully, a semi was in front of me and Nick was behind me so I followed the one and knew that the other would not ride my tail.  

As soon as we pulled into the rental car parking garage, I immediately changed our flight to the 3:45 one even though there was only an hour until boarding as there were plenty of seats and very few people in the airport.  Meg and Nick got Shake Shack for dinner while Doug and I took our time getting through security.  It was by far the scariest drive that I had personally ever made, and I was extremely glad to be sitting in the airport waiting on the plane to be de-iced before we took off for home.  

Celebrating Cameron's 21st

Doug and I had a wonderful day in Bloomington.  We started our morning shopping for National Championship merchandise with Maggie.  Cal was busy working and everyone else had plans, so we really appreciated her spending time with us.  We didn't buy a lot, but Maggie and I each got a shot glass commemorating the win, and she and Doug picked up free posters at Upstairs Pub just missing out on the shirts that they were giving away.  We ended the morning by giving Maggie a driving tour of our favorite places on campus.

Cal had just finished working when we got back to the hotel and we were glad to hear that he was able to join us for lunch at Nick's.  Brett and Karen arrived right as we were seated and the six of us had a lot of fun talking and watching the National Championship ceremony on television.  We thought about going, but the cold weather and the fact that it was being held outdoors at Memorial Stadium was a huge deterrent.  In the end, we really enjoyed the atmosphere at the alumni bar while the program was playing, and we were glad that we had chosen to watch it there.  

After lunch, Cora, Cameron, Meg and Nick met us at Oliver Winery to begin our official family celebration of Cameron's 21st birthday.  It was cold on the back patio, but it was enclosed which did help quite a bit. We were all impressed to hear that Cameron and Cora had watched the football team's celebration outdoors at the stadium and enjoyed hearing about it from them.  Before everyone started wine tasting, Cameron opened his gifts.  They were all alcohol themed and Maggie even created a drinking around the world at Epcot gift that highlighted each of the countries with a small bottle.  It was really cute.  Besides bringing a gift from her and Nick, Meg had gotten decorations and dessert for the party and which we appreciated very much.

The snow started to fall on our way back into town.  Meg and Nick decided to take a break at their hotel, but everyone else went to Heartworks Brewing Company.  It was new and Cameron really wanted to try it. Those who ordered a beer really enjoyed them and the atmosphere was a lot of fun.  It reminded us of Infinite Ale Works before they added food.  From there, we traveled to the hotel to regroup before going out tonight.  The snow had definitely increased, and we knew that whatever we did, we would have to Uber.

Meg and Nick had a living room attached to their hotel room, so we decided to meet there at 6:30 this evening.  Several restaurants and bars had closed due to the impending storm, but that didn't change too much for us.  Doug and Cameron walked to Pizza Express to get pizza and breadsticks, and Nick and Brett went to Big Red Liquors for drinks.  We had fun a lot of fun eating dinner and playing games with everyone for the next few hours.  

Thankfully, the two bars that Cameron wanted to go to were within walking distance of Meg's hotel.  It was cold and snowy, but we weren't outside very long.  The first one, Kilroy's, was packed so Cameron decided that Upstairs Pub made a lot more sense.  We had fun hanging out there for several hours while Cameron's siblings bought him a few drinks.  Cal talked several in our group into trying a Malort shot.  It was made famous by the bartenders in Chicago and everyone who tried it agreed that it wasn't terrible but definitely wasn't a favorite either.  There were several football players celebrating at Upstairs as well.  That didn't surprise us as many of the seniors were enjoying their last weekend in Bloomington since most graduated in December. We all enjoyed singing along to the song Fernando in their honor.

Cameron, Cal, Maggie, Cora and Nick wanted to go to Brother's Bar next.  Doug and I decided to opt out as it was already after ten.  We had enjoyed the night out with our children but realized that we weren't quite the college bar crowd anymore.  No one seemed to mind that we were leaving, and we enjoyed hanging out with Meg for a little bit longer before catching a ride back to our hotel.  Brett and Karen also decided to skip out on Brother's and beat us back to the Hilton.  Overall, it was a wonderful day, and I was incredibly happy to spend it together as a family.  

Let the Party Begin

I spent the morning at my parents helping them where I could, packing a few items that I still had stored in my closet upstairs and coloring my hair.  I was glad for the extra time to visit as I wasn't sure that I would be able to return to Indiana until the end of March at the earliest.  Doug and I both had surgeries scheduled in February and Cameron was going to be visiting in March for his spring break.  I wish I could do more, but for now I will just be happy that I was able to visit and do a few things for them such as setting up a Ring camera for their front door.

I left early as I as I wasn't sure what the roads would be like on the way to the Indianapolis airport.  Thankfully, they were extremely clear and since there wasn't any traffic to speak of, I went ahead and drove all the way to Bloomington.  That way, I could get settled at the hotel and buy a few groceries before picking up Doug.  I couldn't believe all of the people at Kroger.  I shouldn't have been surprised as the news of this weekend's Winter Storm Fern was everywhere.  I hoped that it wouldn't be as bad as the meteorologists were predicting but made sure to have food and water just in case.

Doug's flight was on time, and we were back in Bloomington by 8:30 p.m.  Cameron had plans with his roommates tonight, so I was glad that Meg and Nick were interested in joining us at Upland Brewing Company for dinner.  We made the mistake of walking the six blocks to the restaurant.  It was absolutely freezing and my eyes hurt really bad when we arrived.  Thankfully, it was warm at Upland, and we had a great time with Meg and Nick.  He took us back to our hotel and we hung out with them in the lobby bar until 11:30 or so.  We all got a kick out of a guy sitting at the bar.  When we arrived, he told us that they had just closed a minute earlier.  I looked surprised and said that we had checked with the bartender before we left for dinner and that she had told us that the bar closed at 11 p.m. and it was only 10:04.  The guy at the bar got extremely embarrassed and said that they were just customers and he had read online that it closed at 10.  We laughed about it most of the night and the guy ended up buying three of our drinks because he felt bad. He didn't have to do that, but it made for a great way to end a fun evening.

A Visit to Syracuse

I watched Chicago Fire with my parents last night and caught up on how they have been doing since my mom broke her hip and my dad started radiation.  They both looked very tired and their situation seemed overwhelming, especially since none of us were close by to help.  I didn't sleep very well thinking about them last night as I wasn't sure where they could get consistent daily help or even if they would except it.  I was afraid that my dad would wear out driving to and from Warsaw every day for treatment along with taking care of my mom.  I also wasn't sure how long it would take for her to recover.  

Getting out of the house today for a haircut at Amanda's and visiting with Harlan when he stopped by to check in on my parents helped me feel a little better.  I knew that they were two people that we could count on to lend a hand or look for help if my parents needed it.  I also realized that there were others as well.  No one could be there constantly but maybe could help until my parents decided what they wanted to do long-term.  I know that they really like living in their home, but I am not sure that will always be possible.  I guess time will tell and for now all I can do is pray for them and trust in God's plan.  

Happy 21st Birthday Cameron

I flew out this morning for a few days in Indiana.  My plane arrived on time and there was a van waiting for me when I got to the Indianapolis Airport.  My first priority was to take a suitcase full of items to Brett and Karen's that they had left at our place over the holidays as they did not have room for them.  I was glad to help, and we all agreed that next time they would have to bring an extra suitcase in anticipation of the gifts that they would receive.  I didn't get to see Brett as he was at work but spent some time with Karen before leaving for Bloomington.

My main goal in arriving today was taking Cameron out for a late lunch/early dinner for his 21st birthday and buying him his first legal beer in the United States.  He was done with class early, so we were able to catch up before picking Cora up and heading to Buffalouie's.  This was the first time in quite a while that I had walked into the restaurant without their being a long line to order food.  We sat upstairs and talked a lot about Cameron turning 21 and their time at the National Championship game.  Cora and Cameron were two of the few that returned yesterday as a lot of their friends had to wait until Wednesday to fly out.  I had a great time with the two of them and was very glad that I was able to spend the afternoon with Cameron on his momentous birthday.

After dinner, I dropped everyone off at their apartments and started my drive to Syracuse.  The temperature remained in the 40s and the roads were clear, so it was a very easy drive.  I also listened to a Netflix series called His and Hers that Meg recommended.  It was a small-town thriller and kept my attention the entire three-hour drive.  This morning at 5 a.m. I wasn't sure that I would be able to make it to Syracuse tonight but arrived around 9 p.m. glad to be able to sleep in tomorrow.  

One More Piece of the Puzzle Answered

It was a hectic morning getting out the door as I had to finish packing and also wait for our security company to arrive to fix our monitoring system.  It had gone out yesterday morning, and I really wanted it to be fixed before I left for the rest of the week.  Thankfully, they were able to repair the system and replace all of the batteries in the smoke alarms before I left for Orlando.

Cameron's train was a few minutes late, but I didn't mind.  It gave me time to look at all of the reels from last night's victory.  I still couldn't believe that IU won the football national championship.  Watching all of the Hoosier fans walk out of the Brightline terminal helped it to sink in a little bit more.  Cameron was definitely tired from his whirlwind trip to Miami, but extremely happy.  He had brought Doug and I a program from the game which we really appreciated.  He also showed me all of the other souvenirs that he was taking home.  I loved listening to his stories from yesterday.  He had definitely enjoyed the experience of a lifetime.  We had just enough time to eat lunch from Panda Express before he headed to TSA.  I waited with him and talked some more during his half hour wait.  Between the football travelers and vacationers from President's Day weekend, it was definitely a packed airport.  Thankfully, Cameron made it through without any issue and was well on his way to Indianapolis by 4:45 this afternoon.  

After Cameron left, I was able to sit in on a virtual appointment that Doug had with his neuropsychiatrist late this afternoon.  She went through all of the testing that he had done (700 questions) and talked about the pictures that Doug had to provide a detailed story for. I think that was the part that Doug found most interesting.  The good news was that the questions and pictures pegged Doug's personality 100% and let us know that he sees life as a man and woman coming together to solve a problem.  That didn't surprise me at all as that is the way we have always lived our life.  The doctor's report also told us that Doug's tremor was not psychosomatic.  Neither one of us were surprised to hear that either.  At this point neither Doug nor I believe that we will ever know what officially caused the tremor, but at least today's visit did help us answer one more piece of the puzzle.

The National Championship Game - Unbelieveable

If you would have told me that IU football would win a National Championship, I would have never believed it.  Even after we finished 10-2 and made it to the CFP last year, I wasn't sure that we would ever make it back.  At the beginning of this season, I would have just been happy to make it to a bowl game.  Tonight, however, the Hoosier football team that Doug and I had followed for the last forty years made the impossible happen beating Miami in one of the hardest fought games of the season finishing perfect at 16-0 and this year's National Champions.  Even as I watched the confetti fall and the trophy presentation happen, I still couldn't believe it.

While Cameron was sitting in the front row of Hard Rock Stadium, Doug and I were seated in our living room glued to our television.  Neither one of us were bummed to miss the game in person as we were both too nervous to watch it anywhere else.  We weren't the only ones watching the game on the edge of our seats as Meg, Cal, Maggie and Karen were all home as well.  Nick had to fly to Miami but arrived in time to catch the game from his hotel bar.  Only Brett opted out of watching from start to finish as he practiced piano for a good portion of the game secretly hoping that Coach Cignetti could pull off the improbable victory.

Although I hoped that the game would be as easy as the previous two with IU taking control early and winning by a large margin, in my heart, I knew that would not be the case.  Miami had several players on their defensive line that were first round NFL draft prospects, and they were playing at home.  In the end, I was correct as the game was challenging from start to finish.  Even when we took more than a one score lead, Miami would answer with a nice play on offense keeping the game close throughout.  Thankfully, an unbelievable touchdown run from Mendoza, a blocked punt that led to a touchdown and a perfectly timed interception in the last minute of the game put IU on top making this a season that none of the IU faithful and maybe even the rest of the college football world will ever forget.  

Da Bears

We spent the morning and afternoon with Cameron before he caught the train to Miami.  He was excited about the trip and I was extremely glad that he was able to go albeit a little nervous since none of us had spent much time in South Florida.  The nice part was that Aunt Jan was staying close to where his hotel was and I knew that she could help if anything went wrong.  Cameron was also meeting twelve other SAB members tonight which made me feel even better.

Before the three of us left for the train station, Cameron had time to exercise and do some homework while Doug and I ran to the store to get him some snacks for the trip. We also met Meg at Rock N Brews by the airport for lunch before leaving for the Brightline.  Neither Doug nor I had ever been to the station before and were extremely impressed with it.  It was easy to find and security was a lot quicker than the airport.  We headed home once Cameron made it to his gate.

Doug and I spent this evening watching the Bears game.  They had won their first playoff game in fifteen years last weekend and we were hoping for another victory tonight.  Cal called before he left with Maggie and his friends to a local restaurant for a watch party.  He was nervous and excited.  The entire town of Chicago was lit up orange and blue all week in anticipation of tonight.  Both Doug and Cal were hopeful that the Bears would win but nervous as the Rams with Stanford at Quarterback were very good.  It was a close game throughout and went into overtime on an outstanding play by Caleb Williams.  Unfortunately, a slow run by the tight end led to an interception ending the Bears storybook season.  The best part was that there was now hope for future seasons as the Bears were young and their quarterback had lived up to the hype surrounding his selection in the draft.  

He's Back

When Cameron decided that he wanted to go the National Championship in Miami on Monday, he and I had to get creative in how to get him there.  Cora was traveling with her friends and had plans to stay in Miami.  Cameron and his group talked about driving, but once they realized that it was a day and a half drive, they changed their minds.  They did agree on an Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale near the airport so that they could fly-in there instead of Miami as it was just as close to the game and the costs were more reasonable. Cameron opted out of purchasing the $1000+ round trip flight to South Florida, as he and I found a much less expensive route.  The good news was that his flights were free.  The bad news was that it would take him a little bit longer to get there.  The best part was that we would get to spend twenty-four hours with him on his way down.

Cameron arrived in Tampa tonight and we were there to greet him.  On the drive home the three of us talked about his first week of class, the game and plans for his 21st birthday on Wednesday.  Cameron chose Beef O'Brady's for dinner, and we had an awesome time.  The bar was filled with Bills fans, and we had a lot of fun watching the game with them even though Buffalo lost a heartbreaker.  We made it home in time to start the 49ers game which ended up being a blowout and instead rewatched the first half of the Peach Bowl capping off a fantastic evening with Cameron back in Florida.  

The Rip

When Doug and I got Netflix in December so he could watch the NFL on Christmas and I could watch Stranger Things on New Year’s Eve, we saw an advertisement for a new Matt Damon and Ben Affleck movie to air in January.  As Matt Damon is definitely Doug’s favorite current film star, we marked today’s date for the film’s premiere.  Cal was a little afraid that it wouldn’t be worth watching since it was coming out after the first of the year and was direct to streaming, but thankfully that was not the case.  Doug and I started it right after dinner and absolutely loved it.

Neither one of us knew anything about the movie, but soon found out that it was a crime thriller set in Miami based on a true story.  It was action packed from the beginning with a lot of twists throughout.  Doug doesn’t feel the same about Affleck as he does Damon but has changed his mind in recent years and we could both agreed that each were fantastic in the film.  We were also both surprised by the ending and could definitely highly recommend the movie to our children.

There have been a lot of remarks from Hollywood recently strongly encouraging films to stop coming out on streaming services first and return the premieres to the movie theaters.  I definitely believe that nothing in our home compares to seeing a film on the big screen.  In saying that, however, the cost of tickets and concessions have kept many people from attending.  I currently spend as much on one month of Netflix streaming services as I would for only one of us to go the theaters.  That coupled with the constant talking of many in the theater and the fact that I cannot pause the movie and come back to it has made watching movies at home a lot easier, cheaper and more convenient.  From what we saw at Best Buy last week, I am also no longer positive that the big screen is a lot better than current televisions.  For now, we will continue to watch movies through both avenues and be thankful for nights like tonight with a good movie, great actors and an enjoyable evening for both of us.

God's Blessings

Instead of focusing on the negative, I have really been working on being more positive.  It has helped and lately I have been able to see God's blessings in several instances that I might have missed in the past.  Today was one of the those and I was extremely thankful for several things that happened that may have really previously really bothered me.  

First, I had noticed that there was something on the side of the door on my car when we returned from Atlanta over the weekend.  I didn't think much of it until I took the Pilot to the carwash on Monday and it didn't come out.  I was extremely afraid that whatever it was had stripped the paint off of the door.  Since it was very noticeable, I decided to ask our Honda service department what they thought.  Instead of telling me that I was being obsessive or that I had ruined the car, they told me to bring it back and they would have their body detailer look at it on Thursday.  Today, they not only got the chemical off of my door but rewashed the Pilot as well.  The car looked fantastic and I was extremely impressed with the whole process.

Next, "lunch bunch" was held at Crazy Cucumber today and it went very well.  I was one of the few women who had eaten at the restaurant, and I was pleased to hear that others had enjoyed it as well.  I also had fun listening to all of the conversations and got some fantastic advice about a few issues that I had concerns about recently.  The lunch was also a great reminder of how nice the group was even if there were a small few in the organization that were unpleasant to be around.

Lastly, I found out that Cameron would not only be getting a ticket for the front row at the National Championship game on Monday, but that he wouldn't have to pay for it as a company had stepped up to comp all of the tickets for the student section.  Between that, the points we used for Cameron's flights and his sharing an Airbnb with friends, his trip to Miami would be a lot less expensive than we thought meaning that he would now have more money for fun items like concessions and souvenirs.  What a wonderful way to end my day of counting God's blessings.  

I'm Home

For the first time in a long time, I never left my home yesterday except once to check the mail.  I had planned on going to the recycling center and to Lowe's but just didn't feel up to it.  Neither Doug nor I had felt well for the past few days, and I finally decided that the best thing that I could do was rest.  We both had been sick with cold like symptoms in December, so I was surprised to feel this way again so soon.  At first, we thought that maybe we had caught what Cameron had over break, but then we heard that Cora's dad was also sick, so it made more sense that we had picked up something from the Peach Bowl.  It really didn't matter to us how we got sick, but more importantly that we each felt better soon.  

I used my down time to binge watch The Pitt.  I couldn't believe how good it was and struggled to turn it off even when I found out there were new episodes of Chicago Med, Fire and PD on tonight.  I also had plenty of time to work on our 2025 HSA medical receipts as I had quite a few to organize and turn in for reimbursement.  This was our first time having a Health Savings Account and I will know better how to keep records for next year.  The good news was that we would be getting back $250 for everything that I turned into today.  

Although, I still didn't feel great at the end of the day, I did enjoy my "house a rest."  Having time to talk to my friend Jim, read, relax and watch Jeopardy were all a nice break from how busy our past few weeks had been.  Hopefully, I will feel better tomorrow so that I can go to Lunch Bunch.  I am sure that I will also sneak in a few episodes of The Pitt as well.  That has definitely made feeling under the weather a lot more fun.

She's Home

 After two weeks in the nursing home, my mom was sent home yesterday.  Once the insurance found out that she could walk sixty steps with her walker that was all they needed to release her.  My parents and my Aunt Vicky were completely shocked, but in the end, my mom was glad to be in her own home with her seventy-five-inch television in front of her.  It took my parents some time to get her from the car, up the walk and into the living room, but they made it without incidence.  

Today, my mom had an electronic chair delivered that would help her get up from a sitting position and would also allow her to sleep without having to go upstairs.  Home health and physical therapy should start soon, and Aunt Vicky made arrangements to stay with them for a few days.  I know that it will take some time, but hopefully by the time my dad finishes with radiation, my mom will be able to move around the main level of the house easily.  

The Golden Globes

After a weekend of football, Doug and I decided to watch the Golden Globes last night.  We hadn't seen all of the movies or television programs that were up for awards, but Doug really liked One Battle After Another and we had just watched Marty Supreme, so we knew enough to stay interested.  We had also heard of many of the films and programs from Cal and Cameron, so that helped as well.  The one person that we had never heard of was the host, Nikki Glaser.  She was funny, however, so we didn't mind and I felt a lot better when Cal told me that he had never heard of her until last year's Globes either. There were a lot of celebrities in the crowds including many from our generation, Julia Roberts, Sean Penn and George Clooney just to name a few.  None of them won, but their attendance also made the show more relevant to us.  

In the end, I enjoyed the program a lot more than I thought that I would, so today I searched for a podcast about the Golden Globes on Spotify.  I found one hosted by two people that I knew from the Rewatchables and I enjoyed listening to their takes on last night's ceremony.  After it was over, I realized that the best part about watching the Golden Globes and listening to the podcast was that it helped to keep me involved in current culture.  It gave me something to talk to my own children about that they are interested in as well.  As I am aging, I know that I cannot physically keep up with them, but if I can keep up with their interests that will go a long way to helping us maintain a great relationship.  

How About Pitching In for a Change

I was very tired yesterday when we got home but still enjoyed having Nick and Meg stop by on their way back from Atlanta and even made it up for Cal's late night phone call after the Bears won their first playoff game in fifteen years in exciting fashion.  Unfortunately, I did not sleep as well as I wanted to last night, and I woke up absolutely exhausted.  I don't know if that was a factor or a couple of things that happened over the weekend with Doug's family, but this morning I was extremely frustrated with several of their recent behaviors. Today, I spent quite a bit of time reflecting and trying to figure out what exactly was bothering me.  In the end, I think I came up with what I was mad about and finally naming it made me feel a lot better.

When Doug first developed health issues several years ago, I felt that there were a couple of people in his family that could have helped him and didn't.  I thought one was helping at first but soon realized that was I wrong.  I was surprised by their lack of support and empathy, but I guess that I probably shouldn't have been.  Doug and I had always been independent and had solved our problems on our own.  We both had grown up that way, and I always thought that it was our choice to be independent.  I have come to understand now exactly why Doug has always done everything for himself.  He had to.  

Even when Doug's tremors first began, he tried to take care of the problem on his own or with my help.  When I finally encouraged him to ask for outside help from those closest to him with the resources to help, he was rejected.  I was surprised and hurt by that then but had completely gotten over it until this past month as those two same family members have come to Doug for help even though they know that he doesn't have to ability to do so anymore.  They both made this weekend about themselves and their needs totally disregarding anything that Doug had going on in his life good or bad.  

The best part was that Doug didn't drop everything to help them out as he would have years ago.  Circumstances had changed and the reality was that he actually couldn't help them.  As hard as I am sure that is for him, I was glad that he finally put his health needs above others' trivial issues.  He deserves to put himself first.  He's done enough over the years.  It is time for a break.

Still in Disbelief

Even though I went to bed before 2 p.m. last night, I was still up and ready to go when Cameron and Cora called to say they were on their way to the lobby to meet her parents for the drive home.  I was glad that Doug and I got to see them before we left and that we had an easy drive through Georgia stopping once for gas and another time for Arby's.  Since it was such a beautiful afternoon, we decided to also stop at Swamp Head in Gainesville before finishing the drive.  While we were there talking about our night, a Florida grad stop to congratulate us on IU's win and talk about the amazing transformation of the IU football team.  

On our way home, I thought a lot about the Hoosiers.  IU football had been an important part of my life since 1987 when I arrived on campus my freshmen year.  My cousin, Krystal, and I went to every home game and were there when they tore down the goal posts after beating Michigan that fall.  At the time, we didn't realize that a winning season and going to bowl games were an anomaly for the Hoosiers.  After 1990, there wasn't a lot to cheer about, but Doug and I still remained loyal going to at least one game every year after we graduated and even having season tickets for several years when Brett, Cal and Meg were in Bloomington making for some wonderful Heinisch family memories.  

The love that we had for the team only grew when Cameron became their number one fan during high school.  He knew every player on the team and completely adopted Tom Allen's philosophy LEO.  We went to more games than I could count and even sat in the stands putting up with inclement weather to watch them play Ohio State never giving up on them even when the football players had obviously quit on themselves.  Sometime during the fall of Cameron's freshmen year in college, when it was apparent that IU football would be parting ways with their coach, he asked me if I would rather have the Hoosiers win another national championship in basketball or one in football.  I didn't hesitate when I said, football.  Even though it had been over 35 years since they won their last championship, I had already seen basketball rise to the top.  I thought that it would be a lot better story and more fun to watch if it was football playing in the national championship game.  At the time, I never even dreamed it would be possible.  Now, next week, they have a real shot at going 16-0, erasing the past and making history as the biggest turn around by a sports team ever.  I still can't believe it.

The Rose Bowl

What a day!  It was crazy, exciting, stressful and most of all amazing.  Atlanta was definitely not ready for all of the Hoosiers in town which made navigating the area, checking into our hotel, and finding a spot for lunch challenging, but in the end that didn't really matter.  Cameron found us a wonderful Italian restaurant for our noon day meal and an awesome front desk clerk helped us get into our room early.  From there the rest of the day was absolutely unbelievable.  

Cameron and Cora spent the morning and early afternoon with us touring Centennial Park before heading to the Fan Fest at the convention center next to the Mercedes Benz Stadium where the Peach Bowl would be to play.  Thankfully, everything was walkable, so we didn't have to worry about driving or taking an Uber anywhere.  Meg and Nick arrived just as we were checking into our room which worked out perfectly as they were able to go with us to the Fan Fest after a short rest at the hotel.  The walk over as crazy.  We passed the IU sponsored ticketed event, which was packed with fans, John Mellencamp songs and "Hoo, Hoo, Hoo, Hoosier" chants everywhere making downtown Atlanta feel a lot more like Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington.

As packed as the streets were on our walk over to the Fan Fest, it was nothing compared to the convention center.  There was so much to see and do including games, food booths and a lot of football fans.  After meeting up with Cameron, touring the area and getting something to drink, Doug, Meg, Nick, Cameron and I headed to the stadium.  We were definitely early, but that gave us a chance to see the football team arrive by bus and navigate the entry points.

We parted ways with Cameron once we got into the stadium.  He was seated in the front row with the other directors from SAB while we were in the tier right above him.  I was extremely pleased with our seats.  We could see very well and had the Jumbo Tron above us to catch the action in the other endzone.  We spent the eighty minutes before kickoff talking about the game, watching the warm-ups, trying out the snacks (Nick's favorite part) and enjoying the Chick-Fil-A cow mascots.  It was amazing to watch the crowd file in as we estimated the percentage of Hoosiers in attendance to be well above 80%.  The cheers and the enthusiasm grew as game time drew near and exploded once the team ran out of their football helmet.  

I know that we all really thought they IU would win tonight, but there were still moments of nervousness throughout the day.  I was definitely worried when Oregon took the field as the hype around their defense and their quarterback who many felt would be the number one pick in the draft over Mendoza was everywhere.  I told myself that we were playing extremely well and had already beat the Ducks once, but the media was getting to me, and I was losing starting to lose confidence.

In the end, I had nothing to worry about.  On the first play of the game, Oregon threw a pick six and from there the Hoosiers dominated the game.  My fears of a tense, down to the wire game like last nights were gone and we all had an awesome time watching the Hoosiers do what they do best - win.  Without the stress of a tight game, we instead made enjoying the game a priority.  During the next few hours, we listened to Nick rank his favorite snacks, watched Cameron do the Chicken Dance on the Jumbo Tron, joined the crowd singing IU's fight song and waited with over 50,000 other fans for the trophy presentation.  The only downside to the evening was walking to our hotel in a downpour.  

Although the Peach Bowl was a lot for Doug and I to manage, we were both so incredibly glad that we went.  It was an experience that neither one of us will ever forget.  I thanked Cameron, Nick and Meg multiple times when we got back to the hotel for helping us make this journey.  Neither one of us plan on going to the National Championship game in Miami next week.  Instead, we will just enjoy it on our television and hope that we get to see Cameron on national TV just like all of our friends and family did tonight.