Thursday, August 4, 2011

Ken and I joined the Fort Worth Quilt Guild this year, and I've been getting things ready for the annual show. I've made several small quilts, including one for one of my daughters using the left over fabric from her Christmas dress from 1990. Had to have all of this ready to be delivered to the show place yesterday between 4-6 p.m. I've worked like a wild woman gettng it all done. Then when I get there some witchy woman at the check-in desk attacked me because I hadn't done something right on the tags identifing them! Well, I picked them up, packed them back in the big bag, said, ok, I'll just take them back home. The other ladies sitting at the table said, no, no, let's check them in. So, I said ok, but Iwill not deal with this person - is there someone else? So, I worked with a wonderful person who helped me. As Ken and I were walking out of the room, several fellow quilters came out and told Ken and me that they had not know she was going to work the table, and that she is just like that and to let it go.

we had intended to stay as volunteers for setting up for the show, and it's a good thing we did. The high school boys that were hired to unload all the heavy bases and steel rods left. Ken and one elderly gentleman plus some of the ladies had to unload the trucks - piece by heavy piece. In the horrible 110 heat. They nearly died. It took a couple of hours to do. We finally left, Ken had to have food and drink. We ate at Red, Hot and Blue and then we went back and Ken helped set up poles and hang backdrops, etc., etc. He was exhausted and we left. I don't think he's going back tomorrow to help!!

To continue the saga of our spring and summer thus far...

Since the beginning of the year we have battled financial difficulties, fought law suits that were unwarranted and won, faced several times when we thought about throwing in the towel and separating, rediscovered old friends and high school friends, renewed many acquaintances and been living life. Ken has become very involved with his Arlington Heights High School class of 1966, has lunch with several friends every week at least once, and I likewise have become involved with the Poly class of '66 and '65. We are both enjoying the heck out of renewing friendships and making new ones.

In addition, we have both continued to fight health issues, which we expect to continue as long as we are allowed to live on this earth. Ken is enrolled in a certain program to fight some of his personal inner battles, and I've been in counseling since March 2009.

In May we invited cousins and family to come to the house for a get together...only 3 people showed up but we had a grand time!

Ken and I also joined the Fort Worth Quilt Guild...he doesn't exactly quilt, he's an enabler for my love of fabrics, quilt making attempts, and my love of vintage sewing machines. In March we went to College Station for the Texas Sewing Machine Roundup -- where I bought a very nasty Singer 500A! Never seen so much tar and nicotine on anything. Took us almost a month to take that thing apart, let it set with Go Jo on it to melt off the nicotine and tar, and then clean it and put it back together.

We later went to the Treadle On gathering in Greenville, Texas where I sucessfully did not purchase another machine (hand crank nor treadle). But we had a great time at both. I currently own 11 machines and am being watchful about other machnes I purchase - trying not to purchase anything except particular ones I'm hunting. And only ones in great condition.

In May we went to Las Vegas, stayed at the Imperial Palace Hotel, had a great time wandering up and down the streets, went to Hoover Dam, went downtown to see old Las Vegas, and managed to come home without spending more than about $50 between us in the casinos! We loved seeing the wonderful hotels -- the Paris and Bellagios were our favorites. Food was terribly expensive, but we had a great time, but I doubt we go back again. On Saturday night we were accosted at the elevator at one of the street bridge crossings. Thanks to a wonderful couple who had to have been cops on vacation, we made it out of the situation and got back to the hotel.

For Memorial Day weekend we decided to head to Eureka Springs, Arkansas! I had never been and wanted to see it. What a drive!! Very tiring. Ken was acting up the entire trip - couldn't figure it out. Anyway, we saw about everything there was to see, went to Christ of the Ozarks, the Crown Thorne chapel, the old downtown (where I refused to buy anything because it is all Chinese junk), went to the Bible Museum, saw the passion play. Ken was acting worse and worse. His pump was acting up, he was out of insulin, we went to Berryville to the Walmart pharmacy where the pharmacist helped him, but Ken was getting worse and there is no dealing with him when he gets like this. When I woke him up on Monday to come home he was confused, disoriented, throwing up, out of it. I managed to get us in the car and on the road. We drove through the Pea Ridge battle ground but he threw up all the way through it. He continued to throw up all the way to Rogers, Arkansas where I stopped to get Pepto Bismol before we headed out again. He was having me stop every mile or so. I finally had to get a dirty shirt out of the bags and just let him throw up going down the road. I wanted to take him to the hospital, he wouldn't hear of it. I was driving 85 miles an hour to try to get somewhere. I finally pulled off the road in Sallisaw, Oklahoma and tried to talk him into going to the hospital - he wouldn't go. He was getting weaker and weaker with each mile and obviously dehydrated. We hit 75 and headed south. Longest drive I've ever been on. 75 was crowded, bumper to bumper, 5 miles/hour, took forever to get to Texas. Stopped in Dennison for a break and gas. Ken got out to go to the men's room. He never came back so I went looking for him. He was unable to stand up by himself. He and I both thought he had had a stroke. He refused the hospital, wanted to come to FW. Two hefty fellows each took a side and took him out to the car and put him in. From there I hit the gas and didn't slow down...finally making it to Dallas and driving through that town at 85-90 miles per hour and on to Fort Worth. I thought the trip would never end, but it ended when I stoppped at the ER at Harris Hospital.

All I could think about on the return trip was the movie Vacation where the older lady died and they had her on top of the car! I could just see Ken dying on me on that horrible trip.

Ken was seen immediately in the ER, his pump was taken off of him, lab work was done, hydration was started. Turns out his pump was NOT working, his glucose was not low - it was extremely high (normal is 75-125; his was 700+). A feedbag of insulin was added to the hydration along with an antibiotic because of the extreme high white count. He was admitted to the hospital. The ER doc told me I had done the right thing - that he wouldn't have made it much longer. So, Ken got to spend the week in the hospital.

SO, after that, what? Let's see, we had a wonderful time at the Poly '65 mini reunion in June. Then on 29 June we headed for Colorado Springs, CO where my son Chris and his wife Nicky live with their daughter Courtney (16). We drove from Fort Worth to Vernon, Texas where we had breakfast, bought gas, and headed for Groom, Texas. Here we stopped at the Cross of the Plains, a wonderful attraction. We took lots of pictures. This place has the very large cross that can be seen for several miles, and the stations of the cross around it. And there is the crucifixtion, the last supper, the tomb with the angel above it, and more. This place was not out of our way as we were heading to Amarillo for the night. We followed 287 and then took 287 up to I-40 (about 17 miles) and then west to groom to Cross of the Plains. From there it was a straight shot on I-40 to our hotel - Days Inn East.

In Amarillo we took a limo to the famous Texas Steakhouse for dinner. This limo is furnished by the restaurant free of charge (except tips). They have long horns on the front of the limos!! We had our picture taken in the huge rocking chair in there, visited the gift shop, enjoyed our time. We had arrivedin Amarillo about 2 p.m., eaten lunch at I-Hop next door, napped, then gone to dinner. We were attempting to allow ourselves to be rested on this trip. Good thing, cause the next phase of the trip was awful!

To be continued next time.