Hello From Rockville

I picked up a hamburger at McD and joined Harlan for lunch. He had lunch at 11:30 today as he had a 1:00 P.M. dental appointment. After his appointment we went shopping, I had several things to return and I wanted to keep him away from the construction going on below his room. We went to The Crossroads Mall and to Target then into the Mall looking for a place for coffee and Starbucks caught our eye, after the coffee we started back to Target as the van was parked near there. The walk was too long for Harlan and we had to make several stops to rest but when we got back to the VA the pounding had stopped for the day and it should be quiet for the week-end, we'll have to see how next week goes.

Monday he has an appointment with Dr. Fox but that is late in the day, 4:00 O'clock, he will be very unhappy by then after listening to all the noise of construction.

Tomorrow is laundry, Harlan needs clean clothes, I'll take clean clothes to him when I go in. I like to take his coat along on Saturday so I don't have so much to carry up there on Sunday. He is looking forward to going to church because of the cold we missed last Sunday.

Today was a good day.

Have a great week-end....Fran

Hello From Rockville

You don't need a weather report, it's cold or snowy or both where ever you are.

Harlan called me several times this morning, he is so upset over the building that is going on below him, it's so noisy. When he called me he'd ask me if I could hear it and I could even over the phone. When I went in today I asked about it and I was told they are remodeling an area under the the wing Harlan is in, this will be a storage area and it is really noisy. When I got there Harlan was in the hall by his room and he was crying, so one of the staff came in and tried to talk to him and then I took him out, we went to Perkins. This worked very well for us as I needed to eat lunch and Harlan had a piece of lemon meringue pie and coffee. We sat and talked and drank coffee until close to four, the time I felt that the pounding would have quit for the day. I was right no more pounding which made Him happy.

Tomorrow Harlan has a dentist appointment at 1:00, he'll eat dinner at 11:30 instead of 12:30 and I plan on joining him for dinner, I'll pick up a hamburger and we'll eat together before taking him for his appointment after which we'll take off, I need to return several items at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond this will take him away from the noise and it should be quiet for the week-end, I also need to gas up the car.

So we'll see how tomorrow goes, keep warm....Fran

Hello From Rockville

It looks like we are getting a little snow and more cold weather, also farther south is getting it worse then here.

Today was quieter then yesterday. I went in to see Harlan, today was much better then yesterday he wasn't teary eyed. We went to Walmart then to The Pizza Ranch for our treat. After the pizza treat I went into K-Mart and Harlan chose to stay in the van, which was a good idea as K-Mart's parking lot is awful to walk on, icy and very rough, I won't go back until the parking lot is better.

Harlan is still talking about getting out of the VA but today after our outing he didn't give me a hard time about going back. I hope Dr. Fox will have some answers on Monday.

My carpet looks so nice and clean, I hope I can keep it that way for a while.

It's bed time so I'll try for a good nights rest....Fran

Hello From Rockville

Today was a busy day. DeeAnn stayed over night last night and cleaned my carpet today, she really worked hard to make it look good and look good it does! Today was the day we chose to take the Christmas decorations down in our community room and entrance area. We had two trees that had to have all the ornaments removed, we had lots of help and in about an hour the area was transformed to just winter time.

After my carpet was cleaned and the undecorating done DeeAnn and I joined Sarah and Wes for lunch at Applebees from there I went to the VA.

Harlan was so sad today when he met me at the door to his room he was crying, he wanted to get out of there, when that happens it just tears at my heart. He said he just wants to die and tonight would be his last day. We sat and talked about a lot of things but it all went back to his desire to get out. Some of our conversation was funny and we had to laugh which did help lighten up the afternoon. When I left at 4:30 he seemed so much better and I pray that the next several days will be better, he sees Dr. Fox on Monday which should help.

We are suppose to get snow tomorrow but not a lot, I should be able to get in to see Harlan.

Good night until tomorrow....Fran

Hello From Rockville

Another cold day. On my way in to see Harlan I stopped at Fleet Farm to return jeans I bought for Harlan that were too small, I'll take him back with me to get a better fit, this gives him a chance to get out. I also made a stop at Bed Bath and Beyond. It being so cold we decided not to to venture out, we watched TV and I left about 4:00 to get ahead of the setting sun. I see Harlan's depression seems worse, they are going to see if he can get in to see his Dr. before his regular Feb. appointment.

I'm waiting for DeeAnn to come, she'll stay over night and clean my carpet tomorrow. Until tomorrow Good Night...Fran

Hello From Rockville

Our super cold has subsided and now it's just plain cold, went above zero this afternoon so I went into St. Cloud to spend time with Harlan. We did not get to church this morning because I don't think an eighty year old women needed to be out on the roads in such cold weather. I took him to Perkins then back to the VA, the van did not sit long enough to totally cool off.

Tomorrow DeeAnn is coming to St. Cloud as she has a meeting she has to attend, after the meeting she will come here and spend the night with me as it will be late, and she plans to clean my carpet this in exchange for a clean bed to sleep in, both of us are winners, me more so then her.

Harlan just called me he said he was having problems with his breathing, I talked to Ellie and she checked his vitals and everything looked good. I hadn't been in to see him since Friday and when I left she thought it may have been anxiety from me leaving.

Sure hope the real cold is behind us as I'm looking for spring....Fran

Hello From Rockville

As I write this I see the temperature is-12 with a wind chill of-27 BRRR! If the temperature does not go above zero I may just stay home tomorrow. Just saw that St. Cloud's temperature tomorrow will not get above -6, I'll stay home.

Today when I went in to see Harlan they treated us with crackers, cheese and cold cuts along with some non-alcoholic drink, apple cider and hot chocolate, a New Years celebration.

Harlan seems okay when I tell him because of the cold I'll stay home and talk to him on the phone.

To everyone in Minnesota, keep warm...Fran