Sad News

I'm sorry to say that Phil's Mom, Helen G. Dolsen, died last Wednesday, Sept 30 at 330pm. Phil, Virginia, Hospice of the Western Reserve's Music Therapist and I were there. Susan was playing and singing "Danny Boy" and Helen slipped away very peacefully. It was perfect to have music playing as she went to be with her husband, Chuck, and the rest of her family that has preceded her. She had fallen and broken her right hip the Thursday before and declined very quickly.

We are very thankful for the care that Hospice of the Western Reserve provided for the past 18 months. They definitely improved her quality of life and were helpful to keep her comfortable once it was decided that surgery wasn't in Helen's best interest. We are also thankful for the good care that Helen received at Residence of Chardon for 3 1/2 years and her last week at Holly Hill Nursing Facility.

Yesterday was the wake at Ritondaro Funeral Home and today the funeral will be at 11am at St Mary's Catholic Church in Chardon. We will go to Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland and to Lock Keepers Inn afterwards for food and fellowship. We hope those that may not be able to come to the funeral, will feel comfortable meeting us at the cemetery and to joining us afterwards.

Phil has been scanning some of the older pictures (that's him in the first one) and we added some of the newer pictures we've taken. Attached is a video for anyone that would like to view. warning: has a lot of MB's. We had the video playing at our house after the wake where we toasted Helen with Jameson's in the Irish tradition to wish her well in her new life in heaven. Thank you to all friends and family that attended.

First Step for RN-BSN

Since Phil and I aren't going south this year and I've been accepted to the RN-BSN (Bachelors Science in Nursing) Online program at Jacksonville University in Florida, I decided it would be better to take the Stats class at Lakeland Community College (LCC) now and then start my nursing classes Jan 4, 2010. I need Stats out of the way before I take the 2nd set of nursing classes. I think Stats is going to work out this time. After all this IS my third time to register :) This year they decided to have a tenured track math professor teach it - so I have Don, instead of the person who has been teaching it the past 3 + years. Great for me - so far going well and I got 100% on the first online quiz. I think I'm understanding this and my first class with Don went so much better than my first class with the other teacher 2 years ago. Believe it or not (an my co-workers would believe it) I had kept the notes from my first class from 8/07 so was able to compare between the two teachers. Phil has been great - really wants me to be able to study enough to get a good grade so is willing to do extra for me to be able to do that.

We are going to sail to Erieau, Ontario Canada for Labor Day Weekend starting Friday about 7pm and get there about 2am - enough time to be able to sleep after we get there and get up the next day (it will feel like the next day) ready to go. I'm planning on getting Thursday's homework done on Saturday while most in the group from Grand River Yacht Club are sailing over Saturday. In fact I got an email from Karen of "Whippoorwill" saying that some of the Port Stanley Sailing Squadron are going be to there also. Will be nice to see them again. We expect to return on Monday. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a motor sail there and back.

Phil has made a plate/utensil/silverware holder from cherry wood and has installed it in the Galley. I haven't seen it yet, but plan to take a picture of it and post when I have a chance. I'll take my laptop with me to check out how it works with wireless in Canada, so maybe can post before the end of the weekend.

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day Weekend. Glad that it's to be nice weather. Text me if you need me on the cell phone.

BTW - have turned off our land line - so need to call us, use our cell phones.