Sharon’s Blog

Got this photo from a friend who captured John and me in the South Club pool here at Kings Point this past spring:

I’ve been here in Florida for two days. It’s been very nice but HOT! (mid to high 90’s)

I’ve been to see Mom three times. Yesterday (Wednesday) she was more alert than Tuesday. With a lot of coaxing I got her to go through her “routine” with me.

I said, “I love you, Mom.”

She replied, “I love you too.”

“How much?” I asked.

“Bushel and a peck,” she said.

“And?……” was my response.

“And a hug around the neck,” she stated.

She “puckers” to kiss me and seems more alert when I’m with her.

I brought her a milk shake yesterday. She enjoyed it.

Tuesday night was a karaoke night at the South Clubhouse. Saw lots of good friends. More were at the pool yesterday (Wednesday). Tonight is Rockin Rendezvous and lots of the people we miss should be there. I know it’s still summer and the snowbirds won’t be back for a couple of months, but some of our friends are full-time residents down here.

I’ve been trying to stay current on the ODPC Evart problems. It’s been difficult but I think folks are on the right track. I’m totally supportive, and I’d love to return to do workshops, but I want to see things fixed. I didn’t go through all this to “cave-in” and accept less than what is best for the workshop leaders and stage show performers.

In about an hour, I want to go to the clubhouse. Thank heavens I rented a car because Tuesday it rained HARD, and it looks like we’ll have more rain today.

I have found a condo I’d like to tour. It looks lovely. The water view is perfect. It’s a tad small but has a huge two-car garage. Best thing, the price is fairly low. Hopefully we could talk them into an even lower selling price. I have looked at a half dozen (without going inside). Actually three are really nice, one is interesting, and there’s one which is perfect but beyond our price-range. I love looking.

Today I picked up my mother’s medical records from Courtyards (the facility I will soon be suing for my mother.) I want to get the paperwork going for her lawsuit against Courtyards. I truly believe Mom would be much better if she hadn’t had the trauma of her two falls last May including 28 stitches the first time and a broken nose, and 16 stitches the second time. True, she’d eventually have deteriorated to this point, but the decline was so steep after she fell on Courtyards’ bus, that I lost her.

Well, I suppose I should go get ready for Rockin Rendezvous. Tomorrow there’ll be a noon pool party. Since it’s supposed to have thunder storms tomorrow afternoon, I think I’ll head to the pool early.

It’s sure nice here. I miss John, but I love the people we know here. The environment really encourages a fun lifestyle.

In about eight hours, I’ll be with Mom. I don’t know how she’ll be, if she’ll remember me, if she’ll be totally in another world, and I’m apprehensive. I know her time is limited (she’s forgetting how to chew and swallow, which is frightening), but I’m determined to enjoy some pleasant times with her, however brief and fleeting.

I’m waiting for my plane to board, as I work on this entry. I’ll fly into Detroit and then on to Tampa International.

Seems like our life has been chaotic lately. I’m looking forward to the tranquility of the southern environment.

My husband, John, was a co-chairman of the Midland Dulcimer Festival and I was in charge of the Saturday stage shows, so this past weekend was hectic but rewarding. John and the other co-chairperson, Margaret Loper, organized a wonderful event. It was relaxing, fun, and filed with music and friends.

The problems resulting from my resignation as workshop chairman of the Evart Funfest continue to pile up. It’s really a mess now.

I know we all want the same thing: the successful continuation of our wonderful music festival and the organization behind it. I’m receiving indications that folks feel the the board doesn’t care but I know that’s not true. Those people are committed to this event/organization and care, just as I do, about it.

One member, Judith, a voice of reason, asked for some explanations from the board and I hope they comply.

The latest wrinkle is that they (the board) sent out a newsletter which included a mail in ballot for bylaws changes. That’s not the way bylaws changes are to be made. We may wish we could “speed up the process” but when you’re running a 501C3 corporation, you can’t just handle things willy-nilly. You have to follow the rules which are in effect. My fear (and that of others) is that we could lose our status as a not-for-profit.

Someone needs to rescind the mailed ballot, no matter what it takes.

The election of officers isn’t handled very well in the current bylaws, but Roberts Rules would indicate that although a “slate of officers” has been prepared by the nominating committee, nominations from the floor would still be in order. We are being denied that opportunity.

Time to board my plane… I’ll write more later.

We’re here at the Midland Dulcimer Festival (where my husband, John, is a co-chairman). It’s held at the Midland County Fairgrounds (Midland, MI).

The Midland Dulcimer Festival used to be considered “little” because it’s always being compared to Evart. Actually it’s the second largest hammered dulcimer festival in the world. Especially this year, it’s really grown.

Unofficially, we counted about 137 camping units last night. That is about 50 more than we’ve had most years on Thursday night.

Nearly 200 folks enjoyed a huge potluck and there was an open mic show after the dinner.

Unfortunately, it’s cloudy today with occasional light mist. The weather forecast is for a shower or two and I fear they mean the heavier kind and temperatures in the high 80’s. Then tomorrow, there’s a 60% chance of an afternoon thunderstorm as a cold front comes through. Sunday it should be be partly cloudy but no rain.

Last night John and I walked around and observed several large jams. Our jam was moderate in size. It broke up fairly early. One of the larger jams had the neatest set-up. They’d made a “U” of three trailers. In the middle there were four easy-up 10 x 10 canopies, and the three trailer awnings were touching the easy-ups. It made an area about 36 x 28 all ablaze with white icicle Christmas lights (the kind that hang down), and chinese lanterns. It was awesome.

Not to be out-done, we’re planning on making our jamming area even tackier. We are planning to do the decorating today, and maybe we’ll even have a pole dancing routine tomorrow night. (We need to practice it and get it right.)

It’s all great fun.

Next Wednesday (August 20th), John and I will move our fifth wheel to the Midland Fairgrounds for the 15th annual Midland Dulcimer Festival. It starts Thursday evening with a large potluck.

John and Margaret Loper are co-chairmen. I am in charge of the stage show, and run the copy and hospitality service, but for me, it’s not stressful. John has all of the work for this one. We’ll stay until Sunday, the 24th.

==========

When we’re home on Monday the 25th, I will need to do some laundry, unpack the trailer, and transfer some of my festival clothes to my suitcase because at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the 26th, I fly down to Florida to visit my mother.

I think I am as well-organized as I can be. I’ve gone as far as I can packing for my Florida trip, and I have a list of the stuff that I can’t pack until we get back from the festival.

I’ll fly back from Florida on Tuesday, September the 9th, in the evening. Hopefully John will be ready to take off again for our long drive back to the “sunshine state.” We’re planning to leave on the 11th.

I had thought I could get to the point where I’d leave my clothes down there and not bring stuff back and forth. I left a lot last time and I’d thought I would be traveling light this time, but I find that the stuff I really like, I want to have available no matter where I am. Clothes don’t stay in style all that long, and when I have something new and cute, I really can’t see leaving it behind.

I’d rather have a large wardrobe in Florida than in Michigan because we have more social engagements down there, but even when we’re home in Michigan, I find I need a decent wardrobe.

My plan was to buy two of my favorite items (one for Florida and one for Michigan), but I find even if I have two, I want to bring them both down there. So buying two of some items has actually increased the amount I bring. Oh, well…

I do vow that what I bring back when we head north next spring will be just a fraction of what I am taking down there.

Or maybe I can just look at it as “helping the economy.”

When we were at Gladwin’s Carriage Days over the past weekend, Picks and Sticks were also playing. We seemed to always be following them, or they followed us.

On Friday, they brought Bruno out of retirement. Bruno is their singing chihuahua.

Yup, he actually performs. In fact he steals the show.

You can check out the video I took:

John and I are at the Gladwin (MI) fairgrounds participating in the Gladwin Carriage Days festival. It’s been a fun weekend. Our dulcimer club (Saginaw Subterranean Strings Hammered Dulcimer Club) is using the event as a camping weekend. We had a good turnout: 19 members. Everyone seems to have had a good time.

We’ve played twice a day for an hour or an hour and a half each time. We’ve been playing in different locations on and off the fairgrounds property. Right now we’re relaxing and I’m planning to “stay in” tonight.

I haven’t felt my best this weekend, and right now I’m totally worn out. I didn’t sleep well last night.

We’ve had cool weather (66 degrees now and a low in the low 50’s last night). It’s rained several times. The foul weather has been unfortunate because, with the bad weather, the turnout for this event has been small. It’s only the second year for their “Carriage Festival”. I hope they can continue it. I’m sure our club would like to return. The community seems to have good involvement. There are little things to be straightened out, but it certainly has been fun. The fairgrounds has a lovely campground and it’s a comparatively short drive for most of our members. If only the audiences had been larger.

Tomorrow is Sunday. We only play from 11:00-12:00 and then we head home.

We’re loading up our 5th wheel to head to Gladwin this Thursday for a few days of camping and performing with our dulcimer club. Since I haven’t really unpacked from our Upper Peninsula trip, I don’t know if I’m packing or unpacking. It is lots easier to load up the trailer than it is to prepare for a truck trip to the Upper Peninsula. When heading to the U.P., we pack our vehicle then when we get there, we unpack, then pack to come back, and unpack when we get home.

This week we will take our 5th wheel to Gladwin but at least the stuff stays in the trailer while we’re there (sorta). The weekend should be fun.

A little over a week after we get back from Gladwin (on the 10th), we will be heading to the Midland Dulcimer Festival. Thankfully, stuff can just stay in the trailer, so as I pack for Gladwin I’ll be including the some of the stuff for Midland.

We’ll be at the Midland Festival from August 19th or 20th until the 24th. It’s always a highlight of our summer. Lots of fun with good friends.

To complicate things, two days after we return from Midland, I’ll leave to fly down to be with Mom (on the 26th). That’s three weeks from tomorrow.

Today I reserved a rental car to use for the two weeks I’ll be down there alone. I hadn’t planned on renting a vehicle since I got along quite nicely last time just using the golf cart, but things have changed. Just before I came back from my last visit with Mom, I had to move her from one nursing home to another. When Mom was at Courtyards, I only had to go about 1/2 a mile to see her. I could zip over in less than five minutes. Now that Mom is at Cypress Creek, it’s about three miles from our condo. The golf trail to get there is pretty bumpy in places and if it’s raining (which I understand it’s been doing a lot lately), it will be hard to go to see her.

This whole packing/unpacking business is complicated even more because, when I get back from Florida on September 9th, I’ll have one day to repack for a return trip with John by vehicle back to Florida. We’ll leave Michigan on September the 11th to drive back down and we’ll stay until the end of October. As I’m packing to go to Florida, I’ll also be packing the stuff in separately that I’ll bring when I we drive back down on the 11th. (I will try to travel light when flying, and bring the rest when we come back.)

It’s a tad mind-boggling. Good thing I love lists.

I’m unpacking from the U.P., packing for Gladwin and Midland, while also packing for two Florida trips. Whew… Guess I’d better get busy!!

Today we attended a 90th birthday party for our good friends Jane and Bill Kuhlman who live in rural Midland County. They’re absolutely the nicest folks you can imagine. The party was well attended, the food great, and Bill and Jane looked healthy and happy:

They’re a super couple! On top of that, Bill’s a very nice looking guy, and Jane is an absolute beauty. She gets prettier every year. And to think they’re 90!!!

Jane and Bill started us out playing music as they have many others. What absolute treasures. We are so glad to know them! Bill lead the Midland Jolly Hammers and Strings dulcimer club for over 20 years! Maybe that’s what’s kept them so young!

It’s Friday and we’re back home. I re-read my last post and it definitely needs an addendum. There were some very good parts of our U.P. visit.

Yesterday John and I finally found time to walk the beach together. We were pleasantly surprised that the water is a lot higher than last year. If we have another winter like the winter of 2007-08, the levels may restore the beauty we once enjoyed. The sandy bottom is still there. The muck at the edge of the water has improved a lot since last year and was totally gone from some areas. Yes, there are some cattails, but if the water level continues to rise, they’ll go away. We need another fierce Michigan winter or two with lots of snowfall.

We had a lovely afternoon on the beach. It was about 75 and sunny. A soft breeze made it perfect.

Too bad we didn’t have another day to relax.

John worked really hard while we were up there. I certainly have no room to complain. He was doing the stuff that takes physical strength. Yes, we both worked getting the antenna up, but most of the time, I stayed inside away from the mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and pollen (which I’m really allergic to).

He got the place back in good shape. Hopefully when we come back in 2009, the water will be even higher and we can take more “long-walks.”

John and I are up here at our place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We arrived yesterday afternoon and will stay until Friday.

A friend send me a message that said something like, “Go sit in the beach and relax.”

It’s apparent that she’s never been up here.

Our “place” is an early 1960’s house trailer located on Lake Michigan not far from Manistique. We have about 185 feet of frontage on the water and the lot is over 700 feet deep. The trailer is 50 x 12 feet (two bedrooms, a bathroom with a real flush toilet and hot shower, living/dining/kitchen combination). Certainly nothing fancy. When we bought it we had no electric power so we used gas lights and a generator. It’s certainly better now. A few years ago, We added an off-set pole-barn type metal roof over it to protect it from the heavy winter snow, especially since the roof had leaked. The floor of the trailer is a bit spongy in a few places, the windows don’t close tightly, the furniture wouldn’t even be worthy of a Salvation Army re-sale place. It’s anything but fashionable. When we added the roof, we also added a nice 30 x 10 foot covered deck. The view of the water is spectacular. Sadly, up close it’s not as lovely.

When we purchased the property about 18 years ago, our beach was pristine. It was a broad expanse of white sugar sand and the lake bottom was sandy. We loved it. From our beach, we could view a sizable bay (about a mile of coastline from the southern most point to the northern most - we’re in the middle) which we had totally to ourselves. We spent our time walking the beach, appreciating the beauty and the solitude.

When it was hot, we’d move our lawn chairs into the water and would soak for hours.

But as the area was developed, the shoreline changed. Part of the change was due to the low water depths of Lake Michigan, but we also attribute the change to development which altered the way the water flows around the southmost point. That point’s shoreline used to be overgrown with lots of trees and undergrowth which encroached into the water. The undergrowth created a high velocity flow of water to those of us “in the middle.” As the area developed and the shoreline was “cleaned up” the water no longer churned around that point. The water in the bay became almost stagnant.

We no longer have the white sugar sand beach. The water’s edge is out about 75 feet from where it was back in 1990. The lower water table has created a stretch of land between us and the water that has overgrown with grass, cattails and brush. Some would say we own more property now since we’ve gained 185 x 75 feet, but it’s not an improvement!! What was lovely is now gone. Most disturbing is the muck. At the edge of the water is muck at least a foot deep so it’s next to impossible to get to the water. If we lived here, we could gradually clear it and make a narrow beach, but for a four-day visit, it’s not worth the work.

The beach used to be our sanctuary. Now we stay inside or sit in the deck. Any grassy areas are infested with wood ticks (not the lyme disease carrying ones, but nasty,) so we try to avoid those areas. Flies are always a problem.

This visit wasn’t really on our schedule. We heard from a U.P. neighbor that we had some downed trees and our TV antenna tower was a victim to the winter snow, so we had to come up to check on things.

When we arrived, we found three large trees blocking the driveway. It didn’t take John long to cut through with his chain saw. When we were able to drive in, we found that not only was our antenna down, but also a large tree had come down on the bedroom end of the trailer. It hung over from the back to the front. A decent sized dent in our “metal roof” was obvious.

The tree on the roof wasn’t going anywhere. We couldn’t get the truck in it’s normal parking area because the antenna was blocking the way. That seemed like the first thing to tackle. We were able to move it aside.

With no TV reception at all, John decided to see if we could get the antenna back up. Now we’re not talking about a small chore. The tower is about 30 feet tall with a gigantic antenna perched on top. A non-working rotor also adds to the weight. We tried. Little by little we got it up a few feet. We perched it atop a multipurpose ladder. We finally resorted in using the truck to pull and with ropes, we were successful getting it about 1/2 way to it’s upright position.

By then it was about 6:30 last evening so the mosquitoes were eating us alive. The tall grass was harboring those ugly ticks, and both of us were tired and cranky. I’d already picked two ticks off my legs and I wanted to quit.

I talked John into taking a break for dinner. It wasn’t too hard to convince him that we could leave things until morning. Shortly after we’d given up the idea of finishing our task, it started raining.

This morning, with new enthusiasm we tackled the antenna again. It took both of us and a lot of sweat and tenseness, but we got the antenna back into position. It’s not bringing in marvelous reception, but it never did.

The tree over the roof was easier. It came off without any additional damage. You can see what happened:

John’s taking a break now. I’m writing this.

The yard is still in need of mowing, there is still patching to be done to the roof. John fixed a the hot water heater’s vent which was laying on the ground. (That may have been a victim of the ice, not the tree, since it wasn’t close to the tree damage.)

We have yet to “go to the beach” or whatever you want to call the mucky area at the edge of the water.

Nope, this is definitely not a vacation. The trailer will survived. Hopefully it’ll last through the winter of 2008-2009.

I even took some time to sit on the deck and view the scenery for a while, but the flies chased me indoors.

The hardest thing to cope with was that we forgot to bring coffee. There was a little left up here in a can from who knows when. It barely tasted like coffee but we made do. It’ll be nice to be home instead of on this “vacation.”

Tuesday we’re going to our place in the U.P. It won’t be a pleasure trip. We were notified by a neighbor up there that our two big trees have come down and are blocking our driveway and our TV antenna came down over the winter. We need to get up there and make sure everything is ok. It’ll be our only visit this year. The wild raspberries should be ready for picking.

Tonight I bought airline tickets on Expedia for June 2nd, 2009. It’s almost a year from know but I know I’ll want to visit my mother in Florida then.

I had been watching for the date to come up because you can’t book ahead more than about 11 months out. I was able to get reasonably priced seats by booking ahead, but I almost made a big mistake.

With my mother’s health I feel it’s necessary to buy flight insurance. Afterall I may not have her in a year.

When I was booking the flights, I was trying to run a huge up-load on my computer. It was using all my computer’s resources, and a couple of times my screen froze so I had to refresh the page. When I completed the booking, I thought I had included the travel insurance but I hadn’t.

I didn’t realize it until I was reviewing the confirmation. I quickly called Expedia, but they said they couldn’t do anything. I was stuck. It wasn’t until I mentioned that I had JUST booked the flights that the service agent said he’d be able to cancel the reservation and re-book it with no fee. What a relief.

I guess I’m just superstitious enough to feel if I buy the insurance, hopefully I won’t need to use it because my mother will be fine. (It’s like when you bring an umbrella, it never rains, but if you don’t bring it, you’re bound to get wet.)

This trip is becoming routine for me. I flew down there until from early to mid-June. Now I’m planning to go back on in a month (August 26-September 9th). I will only be there for 16 days. I’m anxious to get down there and see Mom. September 11th, John and I will take off to drive down and stay until the end of October. We’ll be home in Michigan until the end of January. We’ll drive back down on January 26 or 27 and stay until mid-April.

Between now my next flight on August 26th, our schedule is really full! Tomorrow we’ll enjoy a family dinner in Owosso. We’ll be up north from Tuesday until Friday. We have two friends’ birthday party next Saturday (the 2nd) plus John performs that night. We go on a camping/performing weekend with our music club for Gladwin’s Carriage Days August 6-10. Another friend has a birthday party on August 16th. On the 17th we’ll have a family reunion. On August 20th, we’ll move to the Midland Fairgrounds for the Midland Dulcimer Festival. That night, we’ll have a concert at Haithco and we’ll be busy with the festival until the 24th. I leave to fly back to Florida on the 26th. Whew!

Hectic as it is, I love our life.

It’s taken all week to recover from our Evart experience. Maybe it’s been the overwhelming load of stuff we needed to catch-up on when returning home. It feels like we’ve been spinning our wheels. There’s a lot yet to do. The trailer’s still a mess, I need to upgrade websites and upload photos and videos taken at the festival and pay some bills for my mother. I finally finished up the laundry today, but the house is a disaster. If I sound a little frazzled, I am.

But I’m also feeling really good about how folks have responded to my resignation. Not one person has felt I was wrong. They all seem to see my point of view. Amazingly one lady of our local club even came up to me and said she was “Proud” of my stand. I hoped no one would would think it was some personal vinetta. My wish is that the September meeting of the ODPC will resolve the problems that I’ve pointed out (in my previous posting), and hopefully things will be better for everyone. (My complaints have had nothing to do with the way I’ve been treated. I have no complaints about my treatment. It’s the mistreatment by those in charge of performers, handicapped, and others who attend our event.)

I want to continue doing the workshops, the website, the hosting, etc. but I can’t support an organization that doesn’t listen to the complaints of those we are serving. Hopefully there will be major changes and everyone will be in-tune with our guests at the ODPC Funfest. To achieve this will be a big jump and maybe it’ll require new people to replace those in place, but whatever it takes, we need to be responsive to those who attend our wonderful event! I can be flexible with whoever is in charge, but I’m rigidly supportive of those who come to our event and I won’t tolerate mistreatment. It can’t be allowed to continue. It’s gone on too long!!

When certain folks don’t realize that denying handicapped folks a ride in a golfcart across a hot fairgrounds is WRONG then maybe the wrong folks are in place. (Yes, I know they’ve changed their stance on that issue now, but the fact that they couldn’t see how wrong it was bothers me. It took pointing out that they were “legally” in trouble before they changed their position.)

I hope you agree, but if not, I’ll listen to your position. I’m very flexible and tolerant. I just want folks to receive the treatment that everyone should be able to expect.

I’ve kept fairly quiet (in writing) about my recent resignation from my role as workshop chairman/coordinator. But I’m sure folks, who only heard rumors, are wondering what happened. Let me explain:

Thursday went by without incident.

Early Friday I was informed by two ODPC officers (the president and the treasurer) that I had violated ODPC golf cart rules Thursday.

I should explain that last year this was also an issue, but I was told by both Don and Herb in 2007 to “do things my way” because it made sense.

Here’s the problem. The rules for golf cart usage state that I can’t give rides to anyone except when it’s for official ODPC business. I contend that if the ODPC is renting these vehicles, they should be used however and whenever we can best utilize them. And using them to promote good feelings of welcome is part of our role.

(Everyone should realize there are rules for golf cart usage in the by-laws that are being ignored and other arbitrary rules have been created by the Board.)

I loved giving Kathy Cook a ride the first year she came to the festival. I’d keep a list of the newcomers who contacted me about the festival. I’d find them and offer the “tour.” I loved that welcoming gesture.

I also found myself frequently giving rides for folks who had handicaps. I’d sometimes seek out old folks who couldn’t walk far and show them what they were missing in the corners of the fairgrounds. I loved it. So did they!

Despite a rule that stated “no under 18 passengers,” I also used the cart when Tommy (my 11 year old assistant) would help me pick up the supplies from the workshop areas at the end of the day. Tommy had been helping for TWO previous years so this was his THIRD year helping me with job that was mainly legwork. He loved it. So did I because I could see he felt “valued.”

I was told to find someone else over 18. I couldn’t do that to Tommy.

I was told those things I was doing had to stop. I was in violation.

I could have understand if there was a risk, so I asked, “Do we have insurance?” I found that we are amply covered.

But the response was, “Yes, but we don’t want to use it.”

I was shocked. I wasn’t risking Tommy. I wasn’t doing anything that would put either of us in a bad position. Same holds for handicapped transportation (and in fact I could see a greater risk if we DIDN’T give them a ride).

I had been told by three of our handicapped members that they had asked for rides on Thursday (when it was hot) and they’d been turned down. I couldn’t go along with that.

So when I was told I was wrong about my use of the carts, I said, “I guess you better find someone else to do workshops.”

It wasn’t for me, but folks need to wake up! Folks need to realize that every person is important if they’re 11 or handicapped and 62 or 82. It doesn’t matter. They are all valued and need to be given anything we can give them. I don’t deserve to ride more than they do.

So I quit. I figured if the ODPC had lost it’s heart, it was time to remind them or step aside because I don’t want to be in a position to support such an organization.

But an even bigger issue had bugged me. I was upset because, over the past three years, I have brought to the attention of the Board that there are many performers who are ticked off!! I spend dozens of hours each year listening to them. They feel the ODPC treats them shabby. I had begged the Board to review their policy of advising folks at 4:30 p.m. on the day of their stage appearance if/when they will be on stage. Nothing had happened despite stage folks coming to the board meeting and speaking up saying “There’s a problem here.”

It’s totally absurd to have folks with talent that they bring to Evart not being treated with proper respect. They need to know BEFORE the festival if they’ll have a spot and WHEN/IF they’ll be on stage. 4:30 on the day they’re on stage doesn’t do it. There isn’t time to find back-up and make a band. There isn’t time to be prepared. Ladies want to look nice, do their hair, get their costume ready. It’s just too short notice. Folks want to tell their friends and the students in their workshops. But the line-up isn’t ready until 4:30. (In fact I looked high and low for a list of acts on Saturday night about 7:30 and ended up going back stage to find out when folks would be on.)

I have been told that the fairgrounds is questioned by publications/newspapers/media who want to know who is coming. We could use this information in advance to promote the event. Afterall, attendance isn’t growing. We could stand a boost.

If SOME (not all) of the acts were pre-scheduled, we could still save some slots for those we discovered on the grounds who want to go on-stage last minute.

Paul Van Arsdale came to Evart this year. He loved it. But it is embarrassing to say to someone like him (a major talent) who is coming and wants to be part of the festival that they won’t know if they can go on stage until the last minute. He asked, but I had to explain that he’d have to “sign up” at 4:00 and then return at 4:30 to get his time on Saturday afternoon, if he wanted to be on-stage on Saturday night.

Because of this policy, fewer people are volunteering to go on stage. Therefore at the festival they’ve put all comers on stage, but many of the “big” talents we have previously don’t attend any more. They aren’t going to drive across the country on some vague “maybe”.

So my stand with the two board members was also because of that issue. In fact, the lack of “listening” by the Board to those performers/workshop leaders/vendors was definitely more crucial than the golf cart issue, but both showed the same weakness. People/volunteers weren’t being “valued.” They were being mistreated.

I finally said, “NO!!!!”

Please understand I’m now working with Don to see if there’s a way. If my departure hurts the festival, that’s the last thing I want. I want to have folks “LISTEN.” I don’t want a thing more for me. I just want the performers I encourage to come to be valued and treated appropriately.

After my resignation, the golf cart issue was finally straightened out. (When I pointed it out, they checked and found they were violating the law.) NOW I CAN GIVE YOU A RIDE IF YOU ARE HANDICAPPED. I can also offer my 11 year old assistant a ride when we’re WORKING!!! I was even told that giving “rides” to guests who are suffering from age or health problems can be viewed as part of my role as a Board member (which was my position all along).

Now if I can get the practice of waiting until 4:30 to invite stage show folks to be on stage changed so they’ll know before they come to the festival, I’ll be happy. Or maybe I’m wrong and the solution isn’t to pre-plan the stage show. But if that’s the case and if the other side of the position is freely discussed and folks “LISTEN” I’ll still feel satisfied. Folks just have to start opening the lines of communication. That hasn’t been happening. Folks complain and no one responds.

I know it seems like I’m a spoiled kid who stomped her foot and wanted her way, but look at who I was fighting for? Those I am in awe of because they’ve inspired so many with their talent, Those who are young, or handicapped. I wasn’t asking for me.

So that’s the story.

If they can fix things at the September Board Meeting I would love to continue to serve you all. If they don’t, I am sure someone else can do my job. I’m not the only one who loves this event.

We’re home from the ODPC Funfest. It was a wonderful time with friends. There were many wonderful memories created over the nearly two weeks we lived in our fifth wheel in the hot dusty, often wet and rainy, Osceola County Fairgrounds. Lots of little things happened which will be discussed in other postings when we have time to recover.

The highlights (in no particular order) included:

The dinner parties before the festival.
John winning the hammer throw.
Listening to Dee Dee Tibbits play anything!!
Watching the joy and energy from Regina Edgar (the fiddler).
Meeting Paul Van Arsdale.
Enjoying the hot jams with Bill Robinson.
Being mesmerized by the talent of so many.
The music!
Renewing and establishing great friendships.

There were some unpleasant times too:
Martha Kuch took a bad fall and ended up being transported by ambulance to the hospital. Luckily she’s just banged up.
I found it necessary to resign from my position as workshop leader chairman. That will be discussed later but I want folks to know that I truly appreciate their support. Everyone I talked with seemed to understand where I was coming from. I was so flustered and I felt I had no choice. Maybe those problems which concerned me will be resolved, but what came though more than anything was the concern and love of dozens of you who are supportive.

All and all the festival was one of the best.

As I said, when I’m more rested I’ll explain the resignation and how things stand, but right now I’m still digesting everything, and in wind-down mode.

Five days ago we arrived here in Evart, MI, for the ODPC Funfest. Today is Monday. The festival doesn’t start until Thursday, but we’ve been enjoying the company of some of our best friends and the nicest people you can imagine.

This pre-festival time is a time to get re-acquainted over long chatty dinners. We stop and “sit a spell” with folks who share their past year and life’s experiences. Stories are fascinating as we get to know these people better.

Last night we had a typical Evart jam session. The music was still going strong when I went inside at about midnight. The intensity of the music was unbelievable. We had about a dozen hammered dulcimers plus fiddles, guitars, bass, and mandolins. It was fun beyond description. I made some recordings as well as videos and plan to add them here or on http://dulcimers.com (my website which features the festival.)

We’ve also been eating and eating and eating some more. Food never tastes better than when shared with friends. Three couples who had arrived early shared the meal preparing duties for the first couple of days, but past three days or so we’ve been going “out to eat” but there’s always a whole crew of folks who ride together. Yesterday afternoon we had eight of us for pizza and last night five of us went to the local “drive-in” which was a throw-back to our youth. The tray on the window, root beer floats, and burger baskets brought back memories of our teen days.

During this pre-festival period, we have been really relaxed, but over the next few days we’ll be working. We’ll need to set up the workshop areas (I’m the workshop coordinator) for the festival, and get everything ready. Someone commented that they saw me last year during the festival and I was “a blur.” We do have to hustle to keep everything flowing smoothly.

I’ll try to write more later, but it’s hard to find time.

Evart, MI, is the site of the world’s largest hammered dulcimer event. We arrived Tuesday. It’s now Friday. Folks have been coming in but we have a feeling this year gas prices may impact attendance.

Since our arrival, we’ve been enjoying the company of the Conklins and Jill and Bob Rowland. Last night Cindy Simmons and Paul Goelz came in as well as Nan and Chuck Boody.

Yesterday the canopy outside our door went up with the help of Charlie Johnson and others.

But in this pre-festival period the best part has been conversations. We’ve gotten to know these nice folks better than before. This melting pot brings folks together from across the country: the Rowlands are from California, the Boodys from Minnesota, the Johnsons are seasonally in either Florida or Ohio.

The music is a constant. Since officially the festival doesn’t start until the 17th but music was being made when we arrived and is a huge part of every day.

In this pre-festival party we’ve been fixing group meals. John’s making waffles for everyone in about 45 minutes. Following the meals we’ve all hung out at the table for lively discussions.

I’ll try to find time to add updates to this blog, but it does get hairy.

Oh, yes, and yesterday I received the paper work to start a lawsuit on my mother’s behalf for an incident at the assisted living/special-needs/alzheimers-unit where she has lived until recently. Actually the accident occurred on the facility’s bus and was the result of a violation of their own rules. (Mom was left in her wheelchair (against Florida law) and when the bus stopped suddenly, she was thrown out of the chair onto her face. She had about 25 stitches in her face and a broken nose. That fall has hastened her decline.) But the forms that I received have me concerned. In Michigan, contingency cases are cut and dried… 1/3 for the law firm, 2/3 for the victim. This law firm wants 40% and wants to be able to bill for all expenses additionally. If we lose the case, we could be responsible for the facility’s attorney fees. It sounds like, instead of helping my mother, I could lose her nest egg for her. I need legal advice before I sign any contract with this law firm but I can’t think about that now. When I get home, I’ll read everything in detail.

Last night was the 4th of July.

George and Judy Horny came over about 6:30 p.m. for a “cook-out.” George is my husband, John’s best friend. (You can imagine what happens on our audio caller i.d. when a call comes in from George. It speaks and cites last name then first name.)

It was a terrific meal (beef shish kebabs with lots of veggies; a great salad with mandarin oranges, tomatoes, walnuts, and low-cal raspberry vinegrette; sweet potato fries; homemade apple pie).

After we ate, the guys went fishing. (We live on a small lake called Lake Cecil). George caught a 16+ inch small-mouthed bass, while John kept hooking catfish. Judy took a nap (she hasn’t been well).

The neighborhood fireworks started about 10:00 and lasted until nearly midnight. They were fantastic. Equal to a big-city display. The last volley was awesome.

Unfortunately the humidity locked in the fireworks residue and smoke making it hard to breathe. It really bothered my eyes so I had to head inside.

But what a beautiful night! We had tiki torches lit around the yard and everything reflected in the water. At many of the other homes (there are about 35 residences on the lake), there were large parties. One party featured a bagpiper which carried across the water beautifully.

Next Tuesday we’ll be on our way to the Evart (MI) Fairgrounds where we’ll live in our fifth wheel until the afternoon of July 20th. The huge ODPC Funfest (the largest hammered dulcimer event in the world) will be held July 17-20.

The workshop program, which is my responsibility, is at the printers now so I’m feeling that a weight has been lifted from me. (I opened registration by the workshop leaders to submit the classes they would be willing to instruct in early December.)

It’s like “moving” when we go to the festival. We pack up EVERYTHING and take it along.

But it’s great fun to spend time with our friends and enjoy terrific music.

We’ll be “headin’ to Evart” — leaving our home in about nine days.

This a.m. I finished all the little tweaks to the ODPC Funfest (Evart) workshop program (sixteen 8 1/2 x 11 pages). Whew… It feels good to have it out of the way.

We will be at Evart starting on July 8th. It’s be a hectic time!

After the festival, we’ll return to our home in Saginaw on the 20th. We have another local Haithco concert on the 23rd. (These events held in June, July and August draw audiences of 150-400 in Haithco Park.)

My husband and I need to check out our place in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (on Lake Michigan) between July 24th and August 1st. I don’t know how many days we can stay, but we need to make the 350 mile trip up there to see if it’s still standing.

We have a birthday party for two 90 year old super friends (Bill and Jane Kuhlman) on the 2nd of August, and by August 7th we’ll be hosting a camping weekend with our hammered dulcimer club in Gladwin, MI, for that community’s Carriage Festival.

We have another of our summer Haithco Concert series on the 20th of August.

By then, we’ll be at the Midland Dulcimer Festival where my husband is co-chairman and I’m in charge of the stage show. Two days after that one’s it’s over, August 26th, I head back to Florida to care for my Mother.

(When ever we are at a festival we live in our 5th wheel and host the “hospitality area” with a 20 x 20 foot canopy outside our door. It’s challenging to set everything up and make sure everyone is satisfied. We also run the copy machine services for the festival grounds and provide goodies for everyone who comes by.)

I will fly back to Florida on August 26th but I will return to Michigan on September 9th to pick up my husband. On the 11th of September, we start driving back to Florida. Our plan is to be back to Florida on September 13th so we can plan for my mother’s birthday on September 17th.

When I get back to Florida, I plan to do absolutely nothing but swim in the pool and be lazy until the end of October when we need to return to get our club in shape for the Christmas holidays. Maybe we’ll go to some dances, take some dance lessons, and enjoy the company of friends.

Actually my husband and I have our first paying gig of the holiday season November 1st in a big store (Warmbier Farms) where we provide about six hours of music for their holiday “open house” so much of our October free time will be spent practicing Christmas music. (It’s always strange to play “White Christmas” after returning from the pool when it’s 90 degrees out.) We have a concert in mid-November in Frankenmuth, MI, and about 15 holiday gigs with Saginaw Subterranean Strings in December. In January, we’ll have our biggest event of the year on January 24th (our club’s Snowfest Concert). That’s so far away that I am totally putting that out of my mind.

We really have a lot to look forward to. Busy fun stuff will be filling our days. We can take a deep breath in September when we get back to Florida. Until then, it’s rush rush rush.

Awwww but I’m not complaining. Life is wonderful!

I’ve been straightening out insurance claims, working with banks and Mom’s facility. It’s been hectic.

Last night our club, Saginaw Subterranean Strings had a great concert. We feared rain all day, but it was a nice evening. Even with the threat of bad weather, we had 150 in our audience and 25 musicians. I’m so glad it’s behind me but it was fun and a total success.

Two weeks from now we’ll be at the festival in Evart. We have a lot of packing and preparation.

I’m still working to complete Mom’s facility transition. I wish I could have stayed longer to make sure she was comfortably in place, but Mercedes (her caregiver) is wonderful. I have to hope it’ll all work.

I won’t be back down there for two months and in the meanwhile we have a lot to do here. Life is hectic but it’s also grand. I am a happy lady with a wonderful husband and the resources to handle any obstacle. I hope this will work for Mom. Our festivals will be a success, our performances will be ok, it’ll all fall into place. (I HOPE!)

These problems aren’t insurmountable. Just challenges.

I’m home. Yeah!

Yesterday was a day to be forgotten. Mom was moved in haste and confusion, but we got her into her new room.

All in all things worked.

Today I flew back to Michigan. I was picked up for my ride to the airport at 7:00 a.m.

I’m safely home, but I had a call from Mom’s nursing home tonight and Mom was found on the floor next to her bed this a.m. I think she just got herself out of bed and was laying on the floor. She wasn’t bruised or in any way hurt. She was just there.

But the time table at this new facility is different. Mom’s used to being up at 6:00 for breakfest at 7:00. They told me at the new facility that they checked on her in her bed at 7:00 a.m. and she was fine. I’ll bet she tried to get herself up.

She’s used to going to bed at 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. I’m sure when she is finally able to switch to the different time table, it’ll work.

Yesterday I ran myself ragged trying to deal with the problem of re-locating my mother. I checked out Plaza West, a nursing home that had been referred to me. They were full, but even if they’d been willing to take her, the cost would have been over a hundred thousand a year!!!! Mom has a nice nest egg but I don’t know how long she’ll live, and I need to be able to meet her on-going needs for as long as it’s necessary. Obviously at that price, I couldn’t maintain her for very long.

After talking with Mom’s doctor and everyone I could think of, I decided to go with Cypress Creek, a lovely assisted Living facility. Their care level may be lower than I wish, but with Mom’s private care-giver Mercedes will be going with her and I’ve increased her hours to help with Mom’s transition.

I have a couple of concerns but I’m sure it’ll all work. It’s a lot to deal with all at once.

Yesterday I hired a handy man to help me move some of Mom’s heavier items (chair, bookcase, night stand). I brought those things back to the condo since I think her room is fine as they have it organized. I will probably get her and Mercedes a TV set so they can watch TV in Mom’s room. While moving items, her large Lazy-Boy was dropped on my big toe. Ouch!! I think it’s just bruised, but it’s really sore.

Last night our neighbor, Loretta, and I went out to dinner. It as nice to relax and have a friend to share my concerns. We stopped at Mom’s new place and Loretta was really impressed. It is very nice. With Mercedes help, I’m sure we can make it work.

I was able to get it all organized for Mom. Today I’ll try to get her ready for the move Monday. I’d love to take a break and go to the pool. It’s cloudy so that may not be possible. I have today, tomorrow and Monday to get everything done. I’m stressed!!

I visited Dale and Trudy who watch the condo for us. I wanted to bring them up to date on Mom’s situation.

This afternoon we’ve had thunderstorms so I’ve been stuck inside cleaning the condo, packing, and getting things done.

I hope tomorrow I can go to the pool. I’ve felt so incredibly stressed. I need a breather.

I had an appointment with the administrative heads from Courtyards, where Mom lives, at 11:30 a.m. today.

I never expected that four of the top folks would confront me with a problem. Mom, is apparently no longer a candidate for a facility like Courtyards. They told me I need to find another place for her.

I was overwhelmed with the problem. What could I do? Mom needs care! She needs a place in
Sun City Center where she’ll be able to live in comfort. I always thought that place where she would die would be Courtyards. But I was told she needs to find a higher level of care for her because, according to them, she can no longer stand and assist herself in being relocated from her chair to the toilet or bed. I don’t think she’s actually deteriorated that much, but she can’t stay at Courtyards.

I left Courtyards feeling totally overwhelmed. I spoke with Mom’s doctor and he encouraged me to check out all the places available. I will.

I had to change my outgoing flights from Saturday to Tuesday. I need to solve the problem by then.

Tonight, after I’d done all I could, I headed over to Rockin’ Rondezvous. I sat with Sue, who is so nice, and buddy Bob and then, when they left, with Martie and Helena. It wasn’t a “fun night” but it was nice having the support of friends. Bob was especially sweet. I couldn’t ask for more. I needed the company of folks who would help me, and they did.

Tomorrow I need to check out the nursing homes before I commit to one. Right now Cypress Creek, which is a place willing to take her, looks like the best place. They have a lovely room for her, but this is my mom’s life so I need to be sure. I’ll check and re-check.

I used to think it was an honor to hold the “Power of Attorney” for my mother, but it’s a huge responsibility and I don’t really feel up to it right now.

I started the day with a visit to Mom, then to the pool. I stayed until it was time to go back and see her (about 4:00), so I got a bit too much sun. I’m a little on the rosy side, but not really burned. Nevertheless, I should have been more careful.

My stay is winding down. Tomorrow night I’m supposed to go out to dinner with Bob and his honey, but I may beg off because, with my cold, I’m still not feeling like eating much. Maybe I can postpone our dinner until August when I return.

Thursday will be Rockin’ Rondezvous. It’s got to be more fun than last week was.

Friday night I have dinner plans with sweet neighbor Loretta. Saturday I leave for home. It’s been way too quick!! Of course being sick occupied a lot of my time, but time has flown.

The pool water was totally like heaven. Wish I could bottle it and take it back with me!

It’s been dern hot down here in Florida. I’ve spent lots of time soaking and lazing around the pool as I tried to fight off this miserable cold bug. Yup, I came down with a lousy cold. Thursday I was sick and stayed in bed most of the day. That evening I went to Rockin’ Rondezvous, but it was nearly empty and I felt rotten, so I only stayed a short while and headed home before a storm moved in.

I didn’t visit Mom Thursday or Friday, and I’ve been been very careful around her the past two days. (I bring hand sanitizer and use it frequently and never cough or sneeze around her.)

Nearly every afternoon we’ve had thunder storms. Right now it’s rumbling so the pool is probably closed (they shut it down if there’s a treat of lightening). I was all ready to go over but instead I’ll have a lunch and hope the storm passes.

I haven’t been able to post any cute videos because I haven’t seen any of my Kings Point friends dancing or been able to capture them in fun activities. Most of my time has been spent floating and cooling.

I’ve missed John but my time with Mom has been great. I love the relaxed mood down here. Too bad I’ve been sick, but it’s a great place to suffer.

It can’t be, but it’s true. I’m feeling yucky.

After anticipating my time down here, I can’t believe I’m sick. I’m loading down with Cold Ease, Air Borne, and antihistimines. Hopefully I can fight it off. I sure don’t want to expose Mom.

I keep expecting to hear my little dog Willow behind me. When I drop a morsel of food, I expect her to dive for it. But I’m alone. Totally alone.

I had to hang around the condo a good part of the day because the cable repair guy was expected. He arrived fairly early (before noon) and was able to get the set going quickly.

I went to the pool, met some nice ladies: Darlene, Amy and Geri. We chatted for an hour or so. The temperature was perfect. The pool water was like bath water but still refreshing. I have been looking at a few available condos (exterior only).

This afternoon, after my time with Mom I went grocery shopping at the far end of town. My dinner tonight was scrumptious. It couldn’t have been better: baked potato, green salad and a small sirloin steak. All great!

Tomorrow I’m going to go to “the sale” which is the resale shop held Wednesday and Saturday a.m. I’ll then drive to Beall’s at the west end of town. They have great clothes. Of course I want to spend time at the pool.

I’m going to hate leaving. It’s relaxing here and although it’s hot, I’m out and about and love the tempo of this town.

Florida may be my “favorite” place to hang out, but boy, it is HOT this week! It’s in the low to mid-90’s and sticky.

I arrived yesterday afternoon after an uneventful flight.

The condo looked nice.

But it seemed that I had my share of problems. The cable TV in the living room wouldn’t “boot up”. (Tuesday a repair person will come.)

I somehow tracked in a piece of potato chip on my clothes but I hadn’t eaten any chips at all so I don’t know where it came from. I must have picked it up in the plane or the shuttle. Anyway it left a greasy spot on the new couch. I couldn’t get it out. Since it has a life-time stain resistant guarantee, I called the store. (Friday there’ll be a repair person coming.)

My voice through my new magicJack phone system comes across as distorted. It may need a different phone unit, but I’m still pleased the magicJack service which allows me to switch back and forth so calls to our Florida number can be forwarded to my cell. The Vonage system will let me forward both our Saginaw and our Florida number but both must be done in “unison” so if I were to forward the Florida phone to my cell, John’s phone in Saginaw would also be forwarded to me. When I’m down here I need just the 813 number to come to me. By having the magicJack service, it allows for that provision.

Yesterday afternoon we had a thunderstorm and today looking like it may be doing the same thing. Everyone is hoping for a downpour, but we didn’t get a lot of rain yesterday, just a lot of lightening and thunder.

I visited Mom yesterday and I’m about to go over there today. She’s about the same. Maybe a little more “lost” but she went through the “I love you a bushel and a peck…” recitation. And although she couldn’t remember my name, she seemed to know I’m her daughter.

Last night I put a small table together to use for my laptop beside the couch where I set. It went together fairly easy.

While the TV won’t work, I’m watching the set in the bedroom. Oh, well….

So I’m here. It’s good to be able to see Mom. This afternoon I enjoyed the pool from about 11:45 to 3:15. It was wonderfully refreshing.

I’ve seen a few of our good friends, but many are snow birds and they’re up north.

==============

Later:

I went over to see Mom about 4:15. I needed to stop at the drug store on the way so I left a little earlier than usual. It looked like a storm was approaching, but it looked that way yesterday and fizzled, so I was confident that I could get by with the golf cart sides up. (It was so hot out that I couldn’t imagine again being surrounded by closed hot plastic sides. The fresh air felt great.) While I was at the drug store it started. By the time I got a couple blocks from Mom’s facility the rain was horizontal. The wind was really strong. I had a hard time seeing and it felt like the golf cart could be blown over. I was drenched… totally soaked. I tried to ignore my soggy clothes and enjoy my time with Mom. When I got home, I was still wet to the skin. I’m heard we got a couple inches in less than an hour. The puddles were lakes. I guess it was one of those situations like washing your car (which always brings on the rain.) I trusted the rain to hold off, so of course I got soaked. But if it took getting me wet to help with the drought situation, I was glad to do it.

I anticipate that I’ll probably lose weight when I go to Florida next week.

My sweet hubby is a wonderful cook. I’m not. I’m going to have to eat my own cooking, so I probably won’t eat as much as I would ordinarily. Not only that, but he’s also makes wonderful wine. I won’t get to enjoy a glass or two of his wine with my dinners (although I may buy some).

And also I’ll be more active. The past month most days it’s been below 50 degrees for daytime highs. I’ve been stuck inside. That trend appears to be changing: today it warmed up and tomorrow it should be grand. But in Florida, I’ll be in the pool a lot. I’m not a power swimmer, but at least I keep my legs going while I float around on my noodle. It’s not heavy-duty aerobics, but it will be more activity than I’ve experienced the past two months. Maybe I’ll even attend the noodle aerobics classes. I think they hold them on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.

I’ll let you know if my “go south” diet works.

Today is Friday. A week from Sunday (June 8th) I’ll be flying to Florida. I’m really looking forward to it.

As it gets closer to my departure, I get more concerned about my Mother (who has advanced Alzheimers). I’m really worried about her. It’s been nearly two months since I last saw her. I fear she will have forgotten me completely and I’ll have lost her.

I will arrive in Tampa at about 1:10. The airport shuttle is supposed to pick me up about 1:30. By the time they drive me to Kings Point, it’ll be close to 2:30. My first thought is to ditch my luggage at the condo and hurriedly go check on Mom.

But if I’m going to be logical and sensible, I know I should wait until closer to 5:00.

At 3:00, she’ll be impossible to awaken - mid-afternoon is when she’s sleepiest. At 3:00, she won’t know me. She’ll be in a stupor. It’ll be agony and disappointing. If I can postpone the visit until 5:00 (or even 4:45), which is her meal time, she’ll be more alert and responsive.

Can I stall?

I’ve talked it over with John and he says I should definitely wait. Otherwise I’ll be crushed by her reaction. He knows she’s lost in the mid-afternoon. He reminded me that I need to turn on the water, the water heater, and open up everything.

It’ll take a while to bring my luggage in and make the golf cart driveable.

Maybe I should just plan to slip into a swim suit and go say “hi” to our friends at the pool.

But what if she’s awake and she feels I didn’t come right over? What if she’s alert and I miss that time with her? Isn’t it funny how, even when your mother is as “far gone” as mine, you want her approval and you aim to do what she’d think is best.

Some folks enjoy reading this blog… I don’t know why. My ramblings are every day things and therefore pretty dull. But when we’re in Florida, our southern friends like to see the photos and videos I add of things going on in the Sun City Center area, and when we return to Michigan, our music friends follow our music events.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve been asked to write out the URL: “http://dulcimers.com/sharonsblog” but now I’ve made it easier for you (and for me). I’ve purchased the domain, “sharons-blog.com,” so you can just go to http://sharons-blog.com (notice that’s a dash between “sharons” and “blog.” (Most browsers will let you put in just “sharons-blog.com.” without adding www. or http://)

It should be easy to remember.

I received my “magicJack” device today. This little device works by plugging into my laptop’s USB port and a regular house phone plugs into it.

When I installed it, I was able to select a phone number in Hillsborough County, Florida (Area Code 813). Anyone within the county can call any other number as a local call. Our new number is 813-398-4135. I’ve already started printing new business cards to distribute.

I was initially a disappointed by the sound quality, the voices were distorted. But there were a couple of suggestions, and it appears that I’ve made it better. I really won’t know until I’m in Florida with that internet cable, and the phone that we use in the condo. (I tried using a “powered” usb port, and it was much better.)

This service will act as a way of having a Florida line that will forward to our Michigan number or to our cellphone. Therefore, the service will give me the same forwarding ability I had with the virtual phone from Vonage, but at about 1/3 the cost. Being able to plug in a house phone is actually an “added bonus.”

Gas prices are impacting us all. Obviously when John and I go back South in September, we’ll be paying higher costs to fuel our GMC diesel truck, which is our long-distance vehicle. (Our Saturn just wouldn’t make it!)

Right now diesel fuel is $4.779 per gallon in this area!! It’s hard to remember that back in 2006 we complained when it went over $2.00 per gallon! The trip to Florida and back, based on today’s diesel prices, will cost us about $744 round trip!!

I’m flying down to Florida alone to see how Mom’s doing in less than two weeks. Last year when I did this solo trip, I rented a car for the ten days I was down there, but this time I’ve decided that the high cost of gas makes such a rental beyond my means. Instead I hope to get by with our electric golf cart. The savings will justify a second solo flight to Florida in August to check on Mom.

I booked my flights many months ago but now it would cost me about $200 more for a flight to Tampa from the Tri-City (MBS) area. (I’ll need to watch and book for any trips I plan for the future well in advance.)

So I’ll use a shuttle service to get to and from the Tampa airport, and when I get to the condo, I’ll get by with our four-seater golf cart (with sides - when needed). Sun City Center is a golf-cart-friendly community. I can go from Beall’s and Home Depot on the west side of town to Publix on the east-most end.

Walmart is across a highway from Publix, and golf carts can’t cross that highway, but I can park at Publix. With my wheeled shopping cart, I can trot across to Walmart and shop to my heart’s content then come back to my golf cart parked at Publix.

Most of my trips will be back and forth to the South Club pool which is about a five minute (by golf cart trip) and to visit Mom (again about five minutes). If I need a car, I can rent one from Enterprise which has a local outlet.

It’ll take planning, but I figure, if I can get by with just the golf cart, I’ll save over $250-$300 in car rental costs not including the cost of fuel. My airlines tickets are $322-$350! So my gas savings, based on not renting a car, will cover the expense for a second trip in August.

When’s the inflationary rise in the price of fuel going to stop? It’s really changing the way we do things.

Tonight I spent a couple hours changing the theme used for this blog. With the previous theme, I couldn’t easily read the dates (which now show up directly below each entry’s title) so I switched to this “look.” Themes are optional design formats that you can add to your blog. They contain the style, colors and type fonts.

I frequently change the header photo but I’m not tired of this one yet, so I’ll leave it in place. It’s a view from “Little Harbor Marina” in Ruskin, FL. I took the photo on John’s birthday, March 1st, 2008.

Anyone who knows me very well knows that I love anything “techie.” I’ve been into computers since 1983, the early internet since 1992, website design about 1993, Pocket Mail devices (which worked with pay phones and an 800 number), internet by cellphone, very early digital cameras (I’ve had five or six camera upgrades), GPS for road travel, wireless internet for our home internet service and most recently for our home phone we’ve subscribed to VoIP phone service (phone service through the internet). We’ve tried two services (Speednet and now Vonage - Vonage has lots more features).

With all these high-tech gadgets, it doesn’t mean that I’m good at techie stuff, but I do love electronics. I finally have a reliable wireless network installed in my house in Michigan as well as an identical system in our Florida condo (with a wireless print server both places).

We really like our most recent VoIP phone service through Vonage. It’s feature-loaded and fairly inexpensive. For about $24.95 we get a month’s service. We’ve added on a virtual phone, which gives us a Florida phone line but that adds $4.95 monthly to our bill. There are also a few add-on charges. Our phone bills have been totaling $37.80 for unlimited 24/7 phone calling availability including 911 service.

Today I had intended to start a new add-on service with Vonage called a “soft phone.” My plan was to intermittently start-up a “soft phone,” which would work through my laptop computer. This would leave the Vonage system with John for his use in Michigan, but I’d have the “soft phone” for my trips to Florida (when I fly down alone). That was my plan.

About a month ago, I called Vonage to educate myself about a “soft phone” and I was told that there are no activation nor deactivation charges with that service so I could start and stop it

Today, while I was going through the sign-up to get the “soft phone,” I came to the final “bill” and discovered that Vonage was about to tack on a $9.99 activation charge in addition to the $9.99 monthly fee (for 500 monthly minutes). The only way I could avoid continual $9.99 activation charges would be to keep the service going with no breaks. Even if I’d substituted this service for the virtual phone, it would have been fairly pricey for 12 months at $9.99 per month plus activation. I would probably also be charged a deactivation fee.

My best laid plans just weren’t going to work.

But I recalled that I had seen a VoIP device when I was checking out VoIP soft phone prices. It’s called “magicJack” and it costs $39.95 for the device and a year’s service with a phone number in the many area codes, including the area code of our choice: 813. In January, magicJack won the PC Magazine Editor’s Choice of the year award.

This tiny thumb sized device plugs into your computer’s USB port providing a standard house phone jack. It’ll be clearer service than would have been available with a “soft phone,” (more equivalent to the Vonage or “standard” service). You plug in a standard house phone or wireless house phone system (which we already have in our condo). We’ll receive a new Florida phone number but then it should continue uninterrupted from year to year.

So here’s the plan, I’ll get an 813 (Tampa area code) number from magicJack. When I’m not in Florida, I’ll forward that number to our Michigan phone. (It’ll forward even when my computer’s not on.) Folks in Sun City Center can still call us as a local number and it’ll ring into our 989-781-0849 number. But here’s the advantage: when I fly down to Florida, I can use the magicJack device to provide me with a regular house phone while John continues to use the Vonage phone at home.

I’ll need to have my computer on to receive calls but when my laptop is off, incoming calls will go to voice mail or they can be forwarded to my cell phone.

Once I know it’s working, the Vonage “virtual phone” will be canceled. We’ll still have two lines, but one will be Vonage the other will be magicJack.

The only minor problem is that I have already made up a bunch of business cards with the Vonage 813 number. It’s not really a problem because we know who we gave them to, and we’ll just have to let Sun City Center folks know that our Florida number has changed. I have time to make more before I leave for Florida on June 8th.

I’m so hopeful that this magicJack device is going to work well that I purchased five additional years of service for an additional $49.95! That means that totally, I’ll have paid $100.80 but that will cover FIVE YEARS’ unlimited usage on this magicJack (Florida) phone line (which comes to about $20 per year) and there’s a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Wow! It can’t be much better than that!

Love techie stuff!!

If you have questions or think that you might benefit from a magicJack or Vonage system let me know and I’ll help you get signed up. I might get a finder’s fee.

Maybe I shouldn’t admit this but I feel that I’m “over-the-hump.” I’m no longer in a panic state regarding the Evart workshop organization. I have the “daily grids” nearly ready to be presented to the masses. I’ll groom them for another week or so before I distribute them because once they’re out there, it’s lots harder to tweak them. I realize that once I think I have things under control, that’s generally when things go a-muck. I therefore won’t be surprised if I end up with major problems yet, but right now, it’s looking good.

John’s been under the weather for a few days with a cold. Monday he spent a lot of the day in bed and I took advantage of the opportunity and really made headway with the workshop scheduling.

We were gone most of Tuesday with a good performance at Wescourt (Senior Residence facility) for our Sub-Strings Dulcimer Club.

We still have lots of decisions to be made regarding our kitchen renovation, but things are coming together. I’d like to see us get to the point that John can start the actual tearing apart when I am in Florida (leaving June 8th). That’s only TWO weeks away. Can’t believe it!!

I’m getting frantic. Panic is creeping in and I can feel it. Three weeks from today I’ll be heading back to Florida and before I leave, I MUST have the workshops scheduled for the huge Evart festival. No more cavalier attitude. I need to focus. The job is enormous.

I need to take the approximately 140 workshops which have been submitted by the wonderfully talented volunteer instructors and schedule them over three days (July 17, 18 and 19) from 9:00 until 5:00 each day with classes running simultaneous in eight areas. The raw descriptive information totals 87 pages. When completed, the schedule will be distributed in a 16-page program and posted on line. (Again, it’s all my job.)

Within the next week or two (definitely before I head back to Florida), I need to complete the four page pull-out section which will display the “grids” and the alphabetical index. I need to complete the the class description portion of the program by June 23rd at the latest which means I’ll be working on it during my trip to Florida (June 8-21). At least I’m flying down there alone so I can burn the midnight oil without distracting DH (Dear Hubby). July 1st I’ll need to take the completed copy to the printer so I can pick up the thousands of copies which will be distributed to the attendees of the ODPC Funfest (aka Evart).

Yesterday I tried to isolate myself so I could concentrate on this project. I was partially successful but ended up being distracted. My plan is to concentrate on it today. I’m going to do my best to stay focused.

On a side note, Friday evening I received an email message from an old friend, John Whitman. John was my best guy pal in high school. We were really close and even promised each other that we’d get married when I was 39, if no one else wanted us. He was really good to me, toting me around, and listening to my boyfriend woes.

John W. was three years older and even after he’d left for college, he’d come back from Michigan State and take me to our favorite “hang-out” the Music Box, a teen age night-spot at Prudenville, MI. John now lives in central Florida.

I was honored that he said he named his youngest daughter “Sharon” after me!

I answered his message, but haven’t heard back. He suggested getting together in September when he comes to Michigan for his 50th class reunion but we won’t be available.

Our September is already booked: I’m flying to Florida in late August, coming back on September 9th in time for the celebration with my sweet husband of our 23rd wedding anniversary on September 10th. Husband John and I will hit the road for our trip back to Florida September 14th. The few days between our anniversary and our departure for our southern trip, we’ve already scheduled a club practice and my John has the Flint Banjo Club’s Banjorama.