I can't believe it's been a week!

OK, don't hassle me...it's been a tough week. Last Sunday and the Bears was fantastic, but that evening things started slowly going downhill. I'm not going to rehash everything, but things have worked out nicely and everything is good.

The workweek was a bear to say the least. Through Thursday there was at least two meetings everyday. Of course, nothing got accomplished because of preparing for and then working on assignments for or from the meetings. On TV you always see businessmen go from meeting to meeting to meeting and everything is hunky-dorey...nope, it doesn't work like that! What they don't show is how the work gets done!

No home Predator games this week. It was All-Star week with the All-Star game being held in Dallas on Wednesday night. Western Conference won and it should because it IS the stronger conference! It was a great game.

I got my grades online from the Paleography class I took from BYU. I got a 91 on the final and a 90 (A-) for the class! WOO-HOO!!

Tuesday was doctor visit morning. My three-month regular visit came 'round. And it was a good one. In three months, I have lost 16.5 lbs, dropped my blood pressure to 134/80, got the eerie looking mole off my back and been given a good report on my spot in my lung. Actually, according to the report, there are three spots and they are calcified lymph nodes. Doc said that they should be no problems in the future and to keep doing what I am doing to lose weight and keep my BP down. I go back in six months and if the weight loss trend continues and my pressure is low, then he will think about taking me off the pressure meds. He does want to change me to a new med that doesn't cause fluid retention...my ankles swell. I have a lot of this current medicine and he told me to call when I run out and he'll prescribe the new one. So I am completely happy with all that!

The annual Birmingham Philatelic Society stamp expo is coming up in two weeks, and I usually go down and check out what kind of goodies I can find. B'ham is about 3 1/2 hrs from here...Not a bad drive. So I have been taking some time this weekend to go through my stamps and see what I have and what I need. I rarely find any Lithuanian or Slovenian stamps at the B'ham show, but a lot of UK, Bavaria, Vatican and Ireland , and of course US. Knoxville show is the first weekend of March and Nashville's is the middle of March. I think I am going to go to the Knoxville one. I haven't attended it in more than 10 years. Maybe they'll have some different dealers from the East Coast??

It's cold here in Nashville...winter finally arrived. I went to eat tonight at Golden Coast Chinese on West End. The bank thermometer is across the street and at 7:23 pm it was 22 degrees. Brrrrr..... It has been sunny all day, but very windy and cold. I don't think it got above 32 degrees. Some of my daffodils were blooming outside, so I picked them and brought them in so they wouldn't freeze up...why waste a good flower?

Well, it is 8:30 pm right now and I need to finish this up. Not that I don't like spending time with my friends...but I want to finish at least my stamps from the Vatican tonight.

Thanks for reading my pitiful musings. A big shout out to Dave. We haven't had much time to chat recently and it is good to hear from him. And Jon, my new friend in East Tennessee...he might help me out with some artwork for a project I am doing. Thanks Jon for your friendship the past few weeks. It is refreshing to see things from a youthful perspective!

To all my UK family, hope you are doing well. I really am trying to plan a trip to see all of you soon! And to my Lithuanian friends--Labas! Well, back to looking at the popes and the Vatican stamps...

To Miami!

The Bears are going to Miami! It's Super Bowl XLI vs. the Indianapolis Colts on February 4.

Tickets are hard to come by...with an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000 a piece...too, too rich for my wallet!

I'll just find a nice place to settle into and watch the Bears slam the Colts.

Have a great night and a great Monday!

Damn!

Bears game isn't on WBBM out of Chicago. Seems NFL rules prohibit the local stations from carrying the Championship games. You have to pay for the broadcast on NFL.com. What a rip!

Well, I'll be watching the game...will have to multitask as I have some other things to do as well.

Got my potatoes boiling and the sauerkraut soup warming up...with a turkey and cheese sandwich! MMMMMMMM...................

Stopped raining but it is cold! I think winter is here to stay for a while.

GO BEARS!!

Can It Be??

Yes, I am back! Well, not that I went anywhere...I can't believe I haven't posted since last Saturday. Basically, not all that much has gone on the past week. Oh, there have been some nice moments, and I have had some great chats, but nothing really to write about...yet.

Bears made it to the Conference Championship game with a win over Seattle last Sunday in overtime...it was a pacer game for me. I listen to the games over the Internet on the Chicago radio station WBBM. I about wore out the carpet in the hallway pacing...well, a lot came from the CT scan results waiting as well a few weeks back. So the Bears play New Orleans today at 2 pm. I will be here in the den listening. Also eating soup...

It's a rainy, cold morning here in Nashville. It started raining late, late last night. They were talking about sleet or ice perhaps. Nothing like that this morning. The temp right now is 37. Hope it gets warmer...I love snow, but not ice.

Mom and Dad came over Thursday afternoon because Thursday night was night #4 in my Nashville Symphony Ticket Package Classical B Series. Mom went with me. The featured artist was Leila Josefowicz, a violinist. She played the wonderful Shostakovitch Concerto in A minor. Keith Lockhart of Boston Pops fame was the conductor. The symphony also played a new work by Gabriela Frank Manchay Tiempo and selections from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. It was a great evening and Mom enjoyed herself. They spent the night and went back home Friday morning.

Work was rough this week. Since we had Monday off for MLK Day, a regular five-day week was crammed into 4. Meetings, meetings, meetings. Next week, more meetings.

Yesterday was Inauguration Day in Tennessee. Phil Bredesen was sworn in for his second term as governor. His inaugural address stressed the main theme of this upcoming four years...education reform. He's already talking about raising the cigarette tax and gasoline tax. Just what we need more taxes. Hey, I work in Revenue and see the figures of what we collect. It's more than some third world countries! A report came out this week about the Tennessee Lottery Scholarships. This is their third year and they've tracked the winners from the first two years. About 65% lost their funds due to not making the 3.0 grade point threshold. That 2/3! I think it may be a tough thing as to the requirements...to get the money you have to have a 2.75 GPA in high school and your first year in college, then bump it up to 3.0 your second year and maintain it. It might be tough to bump it up that much in your Freshman year with the emotional transitions. They need to either set the GPA benchmark at 2.75 or 3.0 and keep it consistent.

My bumbling Blackhawks came to town last night to play the Predators. Chicago has nosedived since their initial win streak under new coach Denis Savard. When I was in Chicago at the beginning of January, I went to the Jan 5th game between the Hawks and Preds. Nashville won 8 - 3. Last night, the Hawks were not bad. They stayed in the game until the very end. They lost 6 - 3, but it was much closer than the score indicates. It was 3 - 3 until the closing minutes of the third period. Nashville is now the number one team in the NHL! They have more wins and more points than any of the other 29 teams. Who'd a thunk it???

After the game last night, I came home and was flipping around the TV. When I was in Chicago, they advertised the inaugural game of the Chicago Shamrox, the professional lacrosse league team. The VERSUS channel last night had the NY Titans vs. Chicago Shamrox game on, so I watched a bit of it. It's like hockey with no ice. I'll have to read some more about this league and see where the teams are.

Yesterday was also the feast day of one of my favorite saints...St. Sebastian. I don't know why I have come to rely on his intercession so much. But he always seems to add that extra oomph! to my prayers. To read about him go to http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/SEBASTN.htm .

I found a good friend this week. I became acquainted with Jon from Jonesborough TN. We started chatting and I have really had fun talking with him. So if you're reading this Jon, thanks for making me laugh so much! I look forward to more.

Also, I haven't received many comments on my blogs. Is anyone reading them??? While this is a good journal for me to keep, I hope someone enjoys my writings as well. Send me an email at bell_1061@yahoo.com or nashlith@gmail.com or leave a comment on this blog. I think you may have to register with Blogger to do that.

Alright....let Sunday begin! GO BEARS!!! If they win this afternoon, they'll got to Miami for Super Bowl XLI!!!!

Ciao friends!

Ahhh, the weekend......

Sitting in the den watching the Colts/Ravens game. Pretty boring, although some interesting calls and interceptions. Don't really care who wins it. I'm waiting for the Bears/Seahawks tomorrow at noon. GO BEARS!

I've been really lax in everything this week. I haven't been exercising, nor posting nor doing any genealogy work. I went to the Preds/BlueJackets game last night. Preds played a good game. Still a bit sloppy, but they got the job done. Next game is 5 pm Monday. Don't know why they set the time for 5 pm on a holiday???

Today is my Dad's birthday. He is 78. I talked with him this morning. Mom and him are coming here Thursday, so we'll celebrate then.

I checked the website and BYU has received my final exam from last week, but they haven't posted the grades yet. I've pulled together all my pages and notes to do my outlining and summarizing. Also trying to plan out in my mind what I am going to put in the Bell Family Newsletter that I am going to compose as the last part of the class. I am thinking of covering people, places and things...just don't know what things. The common tie between the Bell families in England and the US is coal mining, so maybe I can do something about mining.

Well, it's about supper time. I'm going to go in the kitchen and whip up something for supper. Have no clue yet, but I'm sure it will be filling!

Catch ya later and have a great evening!

Hello again!

Well, I'm back at 1224 and back at work...yuck!

I took last week off because I had some major tasks to attend to. Plus, aweek off of work is a great way to start a new year. Seems like every other year, the first week is a week off for me due to medical problems. In 2003, I had kidney stones; in 2005 I thought I had chest pains, but it turned out to be only high stomach yuck and stress. This year, 2007, started no different.

Back at the end of October, I went to a new internal medicine doctor. My previous doc had decided to go into hospital administration so I went to see his replacement. I had already decided I wasn't going to like him. But, I did like him...he sat and talked with me for 45 minutes on the initial visit. He actually asked questions and listened. He asked about hobbies, activities, family history, eating history, nationality...he tried to find out what exactly I am doing or not doing. Of course he did the routine blood work and chest x-ray. In November he called with the results...cholesterol 176, sugar 97, everything good and within the normal range. I was surprised, but happy. He also saw a mole on my back that didn't look right. BUT, he saw something on my chest x-ray that wasn't right. He saw a fullness in my right lung. He asked if I had any past chest x-rays done so that he could have them compared by a radiologist and see what it is. I did have the ones taken in January 2005 when I had the stomach flare-up. Actually, he pulled the report up on his PC since it was at St. Thomas. The report also mentioned this fullness, but did not carry it further.

So, on the day I went to the dermatologist, I stopped and got my x-rays to give to Doc Kayser. The derm snipped nine skin tags and looked at the mole on my back. He said it needed to go. So I scheduled that for December 15. I didn't hear anything from Dr Kayser until December. He had thought I sent the x-rays to the radiologist...like I knew who it was?? The week before Christmas he called and said that the radiologist said the spot had increased in size and I needed to get a CT scan. It could be anything from scar tissue to an infection to mold to a tumor. Needless to say, I was devastated. With cancer running in the family, I knew someday I would probably have that fight, but I wasn't happy it was so early in my life. I scheduled the scan for January 2. Christmas came and went, and as my nerves and mind thought through all the scenarios hourly, I was a wreck. As you know, I am a compulsive worrier. If I don't have something to worry about, I worry why something hasn't gone wrong so that I would worry about it.

The 2nd dawned and at 7:30 I was at Premier Radiology in West Nashville. By 8:15 I was out the door. Simple procedure, except they shot me with iodine to make the blood vessels show up. I asked if it would make me pee orange or purple or something. Nope...just regular ol' yellow.

So I paced and worried all day Tuesday. At least I had scheduled my final exam for the English Paleography class I had taken by correspondence from BYU for Wednesday morning. That took my mind off things studying for it. Wednesday morning rolled around and I went to Nashville Tech for the exam. It has to be administered through a college testing center now. So I was in there from 9:30 until 11:30. At least I retained what I studied and I think I did great! Still waiting for the grades to be posted for it.

By 2:30 no word from the doc. After the CT scan, I asked the tech what it showed. Hey, it doesn't hurt to ask. He grinned and ran the line, "You know I can't say anything." I then asked how long it would be before my dr would get it. He said their staff would look at it and make a determination within 24 hours then courier it to my doctor. COOL! But by 2:30 and nothing to keep my mind occupied, I was freaking a bit. I was leaving for a trip to Chicago on Thursday afternoon and didn't know if the doctor had my cell number. So I called...no answer. Was he even there this week??? I waited 15 minutes and tried again...finally, someone answered. I told her my story and gave her my numbers and added that I was a worrier and dying while waiting to hear from him. About 45 minutes later, while I was on my land line with Paulette from the office, my cell rang and it was Dr. Kayser. OK, here it goes...

He said I have a calcified granuloma in my right lung. I must have had an infection, possibly histoplasmosis, and the remnants calcified over time instead of disappearing. It is benign, and should pose no health problems; it will always be there and need not be removed. WHOA! I'm going to live!

I didn't tell alot of folks about this. If you are someone I told, thank you for your concern and prayers. I am deeply appreciative!

So Thursday I went to Chicago. Flew Southwest (thanks to my godsons Alex and Sam!) and stayed downtown at W City Center. It's a Starwood Hotel and used to be the Midland Hotel on Adams between LaSalle and Wells. My Great-Aunt Mayme used to be the head of housekeeping there in the 1960's. It was a great place...a little small and a bit youthful. Lights and music in the lobby or "living room". Candles burning everywhere, and fresh amaryllis in all the vases. Colors were a simple black and white.

I did some genealogy research on my Grigal and Wozgard families. I found a lot of info, mostly obits. I also did some shopping and a lot of walking. I didn't rent a car, so I hoofed it up and down Adams and State and Michigan and Wabash. Walked Millennium Park. Walked Wacker Drive along the river. Went to the Preds/Hawks game Friday night. Preds won 8-3. Meet some nice guys at the game. Had a great chat with them.

Went to St. Peter's on Madison for Mass on Saturday night. St Peter's is a great church tucked in the middle of the block between Clark and Dearborn. The Franciscans who run it are from the same province as the ones I had growing up at St. Christopher's. There is a nice gift shop downstairs from the church and I found the book I was looking for. It is put out by the Archdiocese and has photos and a write-up of every church in the Archdiocese. It's great!

After Mass, I went to Bennigan's to watch the playoff game. Sunday, my flight was at 2:30...checkout was noon. I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare...alas, my flight was an hour delayed. So I finally got home about 5:30.

So here I sit after watching Nashville beat Anaheim 5-4 in OT. Nashville played pretty pathetic. Vokoun was back in goal and I know that Mason would have stopped at least 2 of the 4 goals. But it was Vokoun's first game back from the broken hand...

So that's life recently. I am sad to know that I have a hard spot in my lung...but overjoyed that it should pose no problems. My incision on my back from the mole removal has healed nicely. It was a good 2 inches long. The pathology tests on it were negative. Have to go back to Dr Kayser on January 23rd for a 3 month check-up. He gave me a checklist to do last time...see the dermatologist, get my blood pressure down to 130/80, lose 1/2 pound a week, exercise more and try to eliminate "whites" from my diet--potatoes, rice, sugar, white flour. So I have exercised more, bought a bp monitor and try to take it everyday to see what's what...although it has been high throughout the past weeks..., saw the dermatologist, been off potatoes and eating whole wheat bread...and have lost a total of 23 pounds since mid-September. So I'll see what he says on the 23rd.

Well, time for bed...I am worn-out. Oh, Monday we got a new boss...our new Commissioner of Revenue will be Reagan Farr, our current Deputy Commissioner....ehhh. Today, a historic vote was taken in the state senate. For 36 years, John Wilder was Speaker of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor. He is 85 years old. In Tennessee, the Lt. Governor duties are assumed by the Speaker of the Senate. In most states, the Lt Governor and Governor candidates run on a ticket and are popularly elected. Here, only the Governor is elected...the Lt Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Comptroller, Secretary of State are all elected by the Senate (Lt Gov) or the legislature as a whole. Since the Republicans have a slim majority, 17-16, in the senate again, it was going to be a battle for speaker. Wilder is a Democrat, but had two Republican senators broke ranks and vote for him last session, and he won the contest 18-15. Today, all Republicans and one Democrat voted for Ron Ramsey for Speaker and he beat John Wilder 18-15. So, the legislative process may get some new twists this session...and get some work done!

OK, enough for tonight...have a pleasant and restful night!

Adventure Day!

Hello all!

Well, my adventure starts soon and I am so looking forward to it. I'll be offline for a few days, but I'll have a lot of news to share with you when I am re-wired!

Doing wonderfully fine here in Nashville. Temps are still mild, although the rain clouds are forming in the west again.

Hate to think about having to go back to work on Monday. So I won't!! (Think about it, that is).

Today is the feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, one of our American saints. She founded an order of nuns in Emmittsburg Maryland. I have visited the church and prayed at her tomb. It is a beautiful site...that whole part of Northern Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania was great. Visited Gettysburg while I was there too.

Tomorrow January 5 is the feast of another American saint, St. John Neumann. He was a bishop of Philadelphia and died in 1860. I have visited his shrine in Philly and have seen his wax encased body under the altar at the shrine.

January 6 is always to me the Feast of the Epiphany, the day the church celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the nations, in the form of the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child.

Keep me in your prayers as I do you in mine.

Take care, have a great weekend!

The holidays are almost over...

Well, it's New Year's night, a few quarters of football left and then it's back to the regular same ol' same 'ol tomorrow. Except for me....taking the week off to get some projects done and then fly to Chicago. I'll think about everybody at their jobs...as I will be on Monday the 8th.

The Predators started 2007 off with a loss to the Colorado Avalanche. It wasn't pretty. Next game is Friday night in Chicago...got my ticket on the dining room table, ready to go!

Got a email from a cousin...I guess, actually, a step-cousin, if there is any such thing. He is my step-grandfather's great-great-nephew. It's the Grigalavicius side, and that's the major family I am going to do some research on this weekend. How timely! Doing the genealogy of all my ancestors, not just specific families has been great. I have found so many new cousins, and met some of the ones I already knew I had, but never crossed paths with before. As you may know, I have roots in England, Ireland, Bavaria, Slovenia and Lithuania. Now, I must have cousins in all of them, but also have found people in Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Argentina and Spain. My stamp collection is also growing!!

Studying tonight for this final on Wednesday. Let's see...the social ranks are Kings, queens, princes, royal dukes, dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, barons, baronets, knights, squires, gentlemen, merchants, professionals, artisans/skilled craftsmen, apprentices,yeomen, husbandmen, tenants, laborers, cottagers, paupers, vagrants and servants...in that order. And in early modern English handwriting there was book hand and secretary hand, which was replaced by gothic and italic. The parish registers contained baptism, marriage and burial records. Parish chest records were bastardy bonds, apprenticeships, rate books, vestry minutes, churchwardens accounts. Calendar changed from Julian to Gregorian in England in 1752. Year used to begin on March 25, then changed to January 1. Tudor Dynasty began with Henry VII, then Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I...then Stuarts James I, Charles I, Charles II, James II...then to William and Mary... SEE WHAT I MEAN???!!!

OK, I'm going to go and eat an apple and then back to studying. Oh, in the midst of the holiday season, and since my initial determination to lose some weight, followed by my doctor's initiatives in October, I have lost about 23 lbs since mid-September. I need to keep it going. I'll be able to fit in those size 40's again soon!!

Have a great night and go BOISE STATE!

The Germantown Party!

Happy New Year everybody!

As promised, here are some pics from our neighborhood party at midnight. Instead of the kielbasa and sauerkraut, we had the Hindenburg. Unfortunately, they must have used baby pajamas to construct it, because it wouldn't burn!!! Finally after two blowtorches and a handful of sparklers, it caught! Our esteemed neighbor Dean Dixon did the honors.


Before the journey began....



As the sparklers were lit, there was a conflagration! My friends Stan (back to you) and Marco in the pic (with the smoke in his face).




As the Hindenburg began to catch....




Oh, the humanity lost....

Had a great time. A wind kicked up and dropped the temps by about 15 degrees while we were out there. Got to see some people I haven't seen in awhile. It was a good event!

Happy 2007! And I look forward to hearing from you. Send me some comments on my musings!