Day family news for May 2013

May 31, 2013

DAY FAMILY NEWSLETTER FOR MAY 2013

Linda went under the knife again, this time on her left knee to have a total knee (replacement). All went well – she had home health care/rehab for two weeks, and is now doing outpatient rehab at St. Marks twice a week for 6 weeks. She graduated from her walker to a cane after two weeks, and I got her moved back upstairs (she spent the first two weeks on our basement level where we had a bed, bathroom, recliner, family room, TV all on one level). She feels this is more painful than her shoulder replacement, and will be glad to be totally healed and walking without pain!
We hired a neighbor (carpenter) to install handicap bars in our bathrooms, as well as add a handrail to the lowest level of stairs going down to our laundry room. So we’re now set up for operation recovery as well as moving into the golden years.

Linda is still doing very part time work for her old boss – calculating commission splits every couple of weeks. We had a nice Mother’s Day lunch at our house, and the kids all chipped in with donating/planting flowers for our backyard, an annual event.

A neighbor donated dinner for us twice, and Shelley once as well the first week Linda came home from the hospital. Shelley stayed and ate with us as well. Thanks to them – it was great! Others offered, but we were OK, and I took a couple of weeks off to make sure Linda was well taken care of.
Prior to Linda’s surgery, we enjoyed seeing Les Miserable at the U of U Pioneer Theatre. Shelley, Beth and I drove up to Kathy Preece’s husband funeral. She treated us to dinner at Maddox along with Joseph and Alisyn – it was a very nice service, and we all enjoyed talking over lunch.

Katie and Christopher (Debbie’s oldest) combined birthday celebrations at Pat’s BBQ, a place that has been featured on Diners and Dives on TV. Great music, food, and birthday company. Jackie and Wiggins opened their pool and had everyone over for Memorial Day and again great company, food and relaxing. They are remodeling their backyard deck, hot tub spa area, and downsizing the shrubs in an overgrown yard. They set up a great garden area, and named it “This is Shum Garden” (their last name is Shumway). They also just celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary.

Danny flew out to Colorado Springs this afternoon to visit David/Allison Boone until June 4th. We met the district manager of Utah Country para transit at the first of the month and he found Danny a much shorter route to walk (1 and ½ blocks) from the point the bus drops him off and picks him up going to Bishop’s Storehouse in Lindon. So far, so good. Stephanie had her entire backyard (except for the area I tilled for her garden a few weeks ago) tilled, as the grass was so sporadic, she decided to replant it all. Her kids love their new neighborhood, school, and day care. Their day care has great programs and they each take different classes in violin, piano, tumbling, dance, and others I can’t remember. Katie and Bill are nearing the completion of their house remodel – with just the front entrance to be rebuilt.

We placed flowers on the graves over Memorial weekend, and got Danny some flowers for Mom and Dad’s gravesite. Our cherry tree (40 years old) is showing signs of dying – so I took Wiggin’s advice, wrapped a blanket around the base of it, and pounded it with a baseball bat. I hit a single, two doubles, and an in-the-park home run. Don’t know if it will jar the cherry tree into a healthy state again or not. I waited until close to dark to do this batting procedure, as I didn’t want any neighbors to call for the men in white coats to come in their wagon for me. Linda says it may do some good to bat me a couple of times, with or without a blanket around me.

We love spring – flowers, green grass, leaves (on most trees), roses, The Garden of Eat’n (which I got planted about 3 weeks ago – it’s growing pretty good – sugar pea pods, onions, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, bell peppers, zucchini squash, wild flowers, sunflowers, pumpkins, morning glory, cucumbers, strawberries and raspberries). Most of them are just coming up, but they look healthy and we look forward to the harvest. And the stock market is going nuts, housing is recovering and unemployment continues to drop. Congress is actually working on things – immigration for instance – I don’t know. Perhaps we elected the right people after all?

And that’s the news from the Days. Hope everyone is doing well.

Tom & Linda

Day Family Newsletter for April 2013

May 1, 2013

DAY FAMILY NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL 2013

Stephanie and the girls moved into their new home at the first of the month! She was absolutely thrilled to be getting her own home. She bought a home in Syracuse (just west of Layton). A lot of work, but she loves her new place, as do the kids. They are in new schools, new day care, and new home and neighborhood. The guy who bought the home and remodeled put on a new roof, new furnace, air conditioning, hot water heater, carpets, appliances, kitchen cupboards and painted everything inside. I soon learned how to hang curtain rods, bathroom fixtures (towel racks, toilet paper holder, etc.). The home is finished up and down, and the emphasis now is on getting the back yard lawn back (or replanted), as the house was vacant for two years. The front yard is in pretty good shape.

And Linda retired! Her last day was her birthday, April 15th. Scott, her boss of the past 25 years, gave her a very nice retirement luncheon at Market Street Grill with many of her coworkers (present and past), as well as our children. Scott and his wife presented Linda with a life size cardboard statue of Elvis that has been in our living room for the past few weeks – soon to be retired to Linda’s Elvis corner downstairs in the extra den/misc. room. Everyone got up and said some very nice things about Linda.

Then Katie and I organized a surprise retirement party for Linda at Katie and Bill’s newly remodeled home at the end of the month. It was fun getting out invites to everyone, and seeing Linda’s absolute surprised face when we showed up at the Boyd’s home for what Linda thought was a simple dinner invite. A lot of extended family including the grandchildren were there along with some close friends. Katie put out a superb arrangement of finger food and goodies, and a great time was had by all, especially Linda who couldn’t believe it was all for her.

Shelley and I were busy trying to get better para transit arrangements for Danny after it was discovered the Bishop’s Storehouse in Lindon was outside the delivery zone, and Danny would have to walk 3 ½ blocks to the Storehouse after the bus dropped him off. After meetings, much research, and actually walking the route, we wrote a letter asking for something better. Today Danny and I met with the General Manager of Utah County para transit at the Storehouse location, and got a shortened route (1 ½ blocks with sidewalks and no construction). I’ll follow up to see if he can also work at the Springville Storehouse as an alternative where he can be dropped at the door.

Linda and I thoroughly enjoyed a week in St. George after her retirement, and enjoyed upper 70 and mid 80 degree temps. We even got burned while swimming. Lots of relaxation, a quick trip to Mesquite, and a couple of free concerts at the St. George Tabernacle where we were the youngest couple there!

We enjoyed having Kaylee sleep over one weekend. I got in a round of golf with friends. We had a nice birthday dinner for Linda at The Spaghetti Factory, her favorite. And Linda is now scheduled for a total knee (left one) on May 13th!!!!! Ye gads – bionic woman. And the aging process continues. Love,

Tom & Linda