Ever been to a car show?

I've never been to a car show, especially on crutches, 

which makes it quite difficult to walk

 and take photo's at the same time.

When all said and done, a girls got to do what a girls got to do!!!

The truth is, I wanted to surprise my dad on his birthday and show up 

at the car show he frequents with his own 1966 Ford Mustang

We found my dad...

That's my dad on the right talking with his friend Gary, 

who happens to be my daughter-in-love's dad.

~ ~ ~ ~ 

My dad's beloved car was not in the show but in the parking lot. 

Dad said that he arrived too late and didn't get a spot, 

I took a picture of the back side anyway.

We visited with Dad for awhile, wished him a Happy Birthday (in person)

 then I "crutched" around the old cars and took some shots...

The boys....talkin' cars! 

No pictures, but I think a good read...

Headlines from this mornings news: July 24th, 2015

Last nights theater shooting in Louisiana  left 3 people dead (including the gunman) 
and injured 7 others....  

This only confirms the action I took while at a Movie theater with my husband last week!  

Here's how it played out...

 An hour into the movie, a lone male meanders into our theater, he sits directly behind us, he mumbles periodically under his breath. I can see him in the corner of my eye and notice he is frequently looking around the theater, turning his head back to look all the way behind him. His hands go in his pockets a couple of time. This goes on for about 5 minutes during the violent (shoot-em-up) scenes

 of the new Terminator Movie. 

I'm feeling uncomfortable about everything!
#1 A lone male
#2 who came in half way through the movie
#3 who quietly mumbles to himself while the movie is playing
#4 who keeps looking at his surroundings
#5 hand reaching in his pockets.....

So here's what my brain is thinking,

#1 OK, so the guys alone... no big deal, I've gone to movies by myself
#2 But why would he come in half way through the movie
#3 Yikes, he's creepy, he's talking to himself... he must be psychotic
#4 Yep now he's looking around to see his best plan for shooting us all
#5 Ok...that's it, now he's fumbling for his gun
another thought I was having was that Rick and I would be the first to be shot, as we were the only 2 sitting right in front of him.

Sound silly????
Am I crazy to think these things?
I guess not... an article from NBC news reported this from last nights theater shooting... "he was by himself, he sat by himself and the first two people he shot were sitting right in front of him" 

I couldn't second guess myself anymore, I leaned over to Rick and asked him to please go get a popcorn refill, (he looked at me kind of funny because we never get refills) I gave him the look, and he did as he was encouraged.

A minute later, I left to join Rick.  He looked confused until I told him how I was feeling and I just couldn't go back in there. Rick doesn't hear well, especially from behind, AND he was totally entrenched in the shoot-em-up scenes with Arnold Schwarznager!  He had NO idea what my little mind was battling with. Being the great husband he is he totally supported my decision to leave the movie! He also talked to the manager and got tickets to return another time.

Even though there was not a shooting at the theater that night, 

in the back of my mind was the....

WHAT IF?

I said to Rick, "why can't it happen in Rochester MN.... it happens"!  

I went with my gut, and I'd do it again

Today I prayed for the loss of these 2 innocent lives, and for their families. 

A tragic story that can happen anywhere. 

It's sad to me that we have come to this in our world.... just sad! 

toe-touchin' for 4 - 6 weeks....

It took me a long time just to give-in and go see a doctor about my knee. 

Lets just say years of pain and grinding, then in the last few months 

I experienced several episodes when my knee would buckle and nearly send me to the ground... 

I was still reluctant, but it was time! 

It didn't take the doctor long to tell me what he thought, (and I already knew)

an MRI was scheduled with follow-up Orthopedic surgeon consult.

The MRI did not lie, there was much cartilage damage to the point of bone-on-bone, especially under the knee cap and on the inner left side. I had even started to whittle away at the femur bone itself.

(My knee cap and leg bone, femur were rubbing together, with no cushion in between)

I also had a complex meniscal tear that would need to be cleaned up.

My Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Rock was wonderful! First of all he told me that I was kind of young to have a total knee replacement (I love him for that), He had another option for this "young chick" ha ha, He would like to forgo a total knee at this time, he believed that a *Lateral release would be beneficial and would give me good relief, I opted for that!

*Lateral release- to cut the lateral tendon of the knee cap allowing it to

 spring up and away from the leg bone

My sweet granddaughter Audrey wrote this note for me the night before surgery.

"Grandma be safe at the hospital. I Love you, Grandma. Be safe, love Audrey, to grandma.

I took it with me into the pre-op room.

Pre-op! The surgeon initials, gotta make sure they do the "right" knee  :)

Post-op, the drain came out before I was discharged.

Post-op (day 2)  Saturday

Rick sat me up in the driveway to get me some fresh air.

Ice and elevation are my friends  :)

Tuesday- dressing removed in surgeon's office

Dr. Rock was pleased at how it looked, some expected swelling and a few small areas of bruising.

No driving for 2 weeks, continue with crutches with only toe-touching for balance for 4 - 6 weeks.

Dr. Rock drilled 3 little holes into my femur where the bone was wearing away, he is hoping that in this area (where the cells are not yet committed) it will grow new cartilage, so... no weight on the bone.

Yesterday I spent some time at Caribou, chillaxin'

Rick ran some errands, I read and enjoyed my latte.

My work friends sent me this lovely edible bouquet....yum

I love my coworkers!!!

* * *  * 

I cant say enough about my "home health care aid". 

Rick is the best! He never complains, and is at my beckon call. 

He is Websters definition of "In sickness and in health"

This morning he worked from 5am - 9 am, came home and made me breakfast,

then hung out clothes and watered the lawn. 

I am blessed to have this pretty amazing guy by my side.

I have also been blessed by many prayers, well wishes, cards, and food.

Thanks to you all.... you know who you are  :)

Let the healing begin so the crutches can go away!!!

Every town has a "fest"

Seems like every town no matter how big or small has some sort of summer festival.

Ours is called Rochester Fest.

This year the festivities had to be moved to a 

new location due to some major construction downtown.

Rick and I wandered down to Soldiers Field Park one evening just in time to witness 

one of these giant Hot air balloons being prepared for flight. 

I have never been this close to one of these monster balloons. 

They are quite magnificent

 The park proved to be a successful new venue with lots of room, 

plenty of grass to sit on and space for kids to run and play.

 Right before flight

There she goes, up up and away. 

 The old downtown area was always hot & crowded,

 everything was set up on asphalt. 

There was no room to move, and parking was horrible.

This was so refreshing, all the food vendors set up around the running track

El Carambas 

 Loved the Mexican hat display

This bright purple and pink really caught my eye, 

I love funnel cakes but I 

held off for these tasty little morsels... 

 So many flavors.... I stuck with the original plain cheese curds

 you can never do wrong with these.

But that wasn't the end of it... 

I couldn't leave Rochester Fest without some mini-donuts

So fun to watch this up close.

Love "Shooting" these little ones.......

One of my hobbies is photography 

I love shooting & editing...

It never gets old, especially when it comes to

 doing the yearly photo-shoots my grandchildren.

April, June and July are their Birthdays.

This year I did them all the last week of June on two separate days.

My oldest, Audrey... I never tire of this one

Love her sweet toothless smile

She's has always been cooperative, and naturally poised in every shot

She's growing up way too fast,
beautiful inside and out!

Then comes Carson he's all boy, and he's 3!
  Photographing him is another story!  

It truly appears that he is cooperating but in all reality,

 he is being distracted by his crazy mamma. 

He is actually smiling at his mama who is pretending to 

attack the photographer (me), with a kitty puppet.

again, the kitty puppet is attacking in this photo.....crazy how natural it looks!
As soon as the attack is over and the puppet in down,
he starts to resist, "No, I don't want you to take my pictures"

In this photo, Audrey is her normal poised self and Carson is being bribed
by the photographer (me) that if he does a real good job,
 there would be a little reward (a Thomas train)

You gotta do what you gotta do  :)

and then there's the sweetest little thing you've ever laid your eyes on.
Precious in every way

Our littlest, Scarlett.
 She's one.

So.... you want me to smile?

 

Her mommy was my assistant, bribing little smiles out of her as well.

I dont know what I'd do without the help of the mommies.

Silly girl, she's got her own poses in mind.

I wonder if someday I'll be known as "the grandma with the camera"?

Independence Day with family...

This year was a little sparse..... 

ten were missing from our annual 4th of July Erickson family photo

The Erickson clan 2015

Mom and Dad with some of their grands and great-grands

7 were missing, including 1 day old Eli.

Our 3 little ones. 

 Gathering in the kitchen

1 year old Scarlett opening a few presents on her birthday.

(her actual party is next weekend)

My daughter (left) Audrey (center), Scarlett's mamma (right)

Niece Jensen and nephew Grant Playing games

Uncle Gavin and Grandpa Rick hanging out with Scarlett

 Audrey and her daddy, waiting for the rest of the family for a photo op

Love this picture of them.

 My younger brother Randy holding the doll my mom made from a poppy flower

 while my oldest son Brice photo-bombs him.

  

Great-grandpa Gale (my dad) getting the old vintage trike for Carson 

A full belly deserves a little nap. 

My youngest son Gavin.