Doris Heart

Good Morning,

It has been 3 week's since Doris suffered a sever heart attack.

She was in ICU at the U of M for a couple weeks and is now in a rehab facility to help with her recovery.

She is doing quite well but it is difficult for her. She has therapy each week day and is beginning to walk, get her self out of bed and learning to eat again. When she arrived at the rehab facility she weighed only 115 pounds. She has a way to go before considering the return home.

Here heart is healing and she is on oxygen to help it along.

I do not ever remember any report of Doris having any heart concerns in our entire 62 years of marriage. You never know!

She of course is diabetic and has had pancreas problems a while back, and still no heart problems ever surfaced. Her smoking habit, even as slight as it was a detriment. She says she has smoked her last cigarette.

Because of an injury (we think) to her big toe the lack of blood flow to the toe and a return of blood back to her heart the toe has turned partly black. The doctors are concerned as the black blood is not being flushed and allowing new blood to flow fto the toe freely. Antibiotics are being tried as a fear of infection is present because of her weakened condition. They have talked to us about amputation, however at this time it is extremely risky. It is being watched daily by the first group of doctors at the U of M, and herpersonal doctor. We are all deeply concerned as Doris and I remember her Dad loosing his feet due to diabetes.

Doris and I appreciate all the calls, cards and prayers that are being heaped on us at this critical time.

She has a web site that the children update regulary. You can check on her condition anytime by checking on the W.W.W. caring bridge.com and using DorisBattenberg1 to gain access. You can leave a message. I print the web site and take it to her so she knows who is thinking about her. Please no flowers.

Jim

Hi to all,

A word about our blog.

Some folks refuse to read blogs because some knot head in the past hast used this medium to vent tempers, call names and embarrass politicians and others.

Doris and I use this Blog as a way to communicate with how ever wishes to keep in touch with the Minneapolis Battenberg's. We do not share this on a regular basis, just our way of letting all our friends that we are mostly A-OK and enjoying our good health and each other after 62 years of our great marriage. We do have, as expected, a few elder problems that we manage to keep under control and try not to worry about things we have zero control over. We love hearing from the many friends and relatives and that is why we do this Blog occasionally. Unfortunately, those who refuse to read blogs will never see this. I wonder who is loosing out?

It's always great to hear from the many friends we have made over the years and we are always excited when we do hear from you.

Doris is back in her volunteer mode after her California trip. She had a great time with sister Ruby. The weather cooperated while she was there and all were happy to see her. There wer no travel problems as she uses her walker and it is a slight problem and an extra carry-on when flying. All went well and she is glad to be back home. She has stated to me that this will be her final year at volunteering at Kenwood School. She say's, "40 years is enough!"

It is now income tax time again an I will try and get ours filed this coming week. There is not much to do to get our tax ready and filed. With computers that are now all over everyones life it is fast, safe and convenient.

We have been cleaning shelves and ridding ourselves of years of things we have accumulated and never used, never needed and have made other happy to receive and use as we disperse that we didn't remember where from it came, only where it has gone.

While Doris was gone I made it a project to keep me busy, of editing all of our VHS tapes. Movies, families, Documentaries, and other histories we have saved over the years. They are all now sorted, categorized and labeled in the space that formerly was taken up by the aforementioned accumulations. It was a job and we are elated to be able to find a tap or disc if we want.

All is well with the Battenberg Clan. Jay's family of "The Four Little Battenbergs" are all well and wild as ever after suffering 1 appendectomy, several strep throat's, runny noses that were passed on to their parents over the last four or five weeks. They were back yesterday for their favorite Grandmother's Rib dinner. It's always a wild pleasure when the four of them show for a Saturday afternoon of fun. We are always happy to have them at our home.

And old man lived alone in the country. He wanted to dig his tomato garden but it was very hard work. His only son was in prison. The man wrote his son, described his predicament; Dear Son, I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I wont be able plant my tomato garden this year. I am getting to old to dig up the garden and plant my tomatoes.

The son wrote to his father, that he would do anything for him except that is where he buried the bodies. Love, your son Vinnie.

The next day the police arrived and dug up the entire tomato plot without finding any bodies.

The next letter the son wrote to his father said,

"Go ahead and plant the tomatoes, thats the best I could do under the circumstances".

Love Vinnie.

I have just planted my 2011 tomato seeds I purchased from Jung Seed Co in Randolph , Wi. I drove past the place each month when I was selling auto parts. Great place to buy your seeds.

They are called,"Jungs Way-Ahead". We shall See!!!!!!

Jim and Doris

Please let us know how you are feeling, doing and about to do.

Just received a comment from Michael and Sara.

They left for Colorado a few years ago and I just received a comment from them on our Blog. What a day brightener! I hope they reply and leave us their e-mail or blog address.

Spring has sprung in Minneapolis and the snow melt is continuing most nights as well as daily each day. The remaining snow is dirty and all of us will be glad to see it disappear. There are some obsticles however as the melt down causes floods of water at low spots as most storm sewers are under the snow and the water has no place to go so large puddles are formed that are hard to cross when traveling by foot. We shall survive as it now thaws all day and all night. hooray!

Super Bowl Sunday

Good Morning,

This morning Doris and I woke to a dusting of snow, not an unusual event here in Minnesota.

We at least are used to this annual event and are even disappointed if we don't receive a fair share of it annually. At this point in this seasons snowy winter, we have been blessed with a bit more than our fair share. Minnesotans, many of which are decendents of Swedish and Norwiegen heritage enjoy the snow and have found or invented ways of enjoying the white stuff. To-day is the annual Minneapolis (vosalopit) ski race. People from all over the country register for this annual race from all over the U.S and some from other countries. We, of course have much compassion for those folks who are not used to this wonderful stuff and have no clue dealing with the large doses that have as late been dealt to those folks. We wish them luck and make use of this storm as a learning experience and take advantage of these wintry events and have fun while it last's. Remember, snow always melts.

Our good freinds Larry and Dorothy were scheduled to leave the snow of home and travel to the southwest in their RV changed their schedule when the great storm hit Miwaukee, Chicago and keep racing south, down I 35 to Texas and caused many problems. Those Super Bowl fans that have tickets and planned on driving or flying to Texas have had to think about their travel a bit more than just jumping in the car or plane to arrive safely to day. I must correct myself as our last blog I refered to Green Bay's win over Chicago as the Super Bowl. I was just testing all of you to see who would catch my error.

There are only 5 more days until Doris boards a Southwest Airlines jet and heads to Palm Springs and Barstow where sister Ruby will be responsible for her behavior at the casinos in Laughlin. She will return home, (we are hoping rich) after her winter interlude. I shall miss her.

Meanwhile I am planning menus and entertainment in her absence. I have posted a sign-up sheet on our door for interested females to sign their names and available times for companionship in her absence. As of this writing not even one name has been scribbled on the sheet. Last week Doris was invited to have an MRI at the local hospital. The great Dr. K. noticed, she had a bladder infection. Great timing! She suffered again from her always low tolerance of medication and was ill most of the week. She is now A-OK for her trip. Son Jim and his wonderful wife will fetch her from the Returning Southwest Jet and deliver her to me. I wont have to drive in the dark of the night to retrieve her and her money. I, will probably have to take the day off from the shop to clean the mess I usually seem to create.

I think it is appropriate to reproduce this short article from our Daily newspaper:

I apologize in advance if you disagree.

ten reasons why Jesus was not born in Minnesota

10. Donkey got stuck in snowbank, towed to impound lot.

09. Relatives all vacationing in Boca raton.

08. Mary unable to nurse because of frozen milk.

07. Politicians threatened to arrest and deport Jesus as and illegal alien.

06. Wise Men cannot follow star because of six month cloud cover.

05. Doesn't want to be associated with Minnesota Vikings.

04. Angels booked up at St Olaf College Christmas festival.

03. Federal health care money declined for people living in poverty.

02. Snow caved in roof of stable.

01. Inn is serving lutefisk.

Jim and Doris

Christmas/New year 2011

Minneapolis

01/03/11

Good Morning,

Happy New Year to all!

Doris and I had a great Christmas and a quiet New Year.

We celebrated Christmas with those of our large family who were able to be at Jay and Gina's home in Brooklyn Center. In addition to all the excitement with the grand and great grand children we had a blast. Jay and Gina were great host's and served the greatest turkey and all the rest of christmas food. All had a great time.

Doris and I celebrated a quiet New Years Eve.

We went to a movie in mid-afternoon and saw Tru-Grit. After the movie we traveled across the street and enjoyed a Chinese Dinner. We, at least I, was in bed before midnight so I can not report on any downtown fire works display. I have to believe there were none. Doris sat up and watched (or sleep thru) an additional TV new years movie. We are exciting pair. New years day was a rest day and we enjoyed.

My report on the movie,Tru Grit:

We saw the John Wayne version of Tru Grit when it came out. We enjoyed it and we might have even seen it on TV. Having seen both versions these are my thought's:

Both versions were great. However seeing both I found myself expecting the next event. The next events were there, only slightly changed. This caused me to second guess the entire movie and compare the firt with the last. Both were good and both had great actors but I found myself comparing through the whole movie instead of enjoying. It's hard to beat the great JOHN WAYNE, no matter who ever tries to take that part.

I shall give both versions a 10.

Now it is back to the shop for Jim and back to school for Doris.

She will continue completing her 40th year after a brief vacation to California and Laughlin, NV to visit sister Ruby. She will fly from the Humphrey Terminal In Minneapolis to the Palm Springs Airport in California. In previous years she flew to Laughlin, Ruby would meet her and they would go to the casino hotel, register for 2 to three nights and immediately hit the machines.

All this without passing GO.

After donating most of the loose cash they would then head for Barstow and rest for the next round of sitting in front of those money grabbers. After her week or ten days of enjoying the high life, Ruby would then put her on the scheduled flight for Minneapolis and send her back to poor and old Jim who was batching it while all of this was unfolding.

This years travel destination will be different as the Palm Springs airport is located west of Barstow and Laughlin is east of Barstow. There will be no hotel, no gambling and probably a lot more conversation then occurs between two sisters than would ever occur at a casino in Laughlin. Her plane lands late for two old ladies not used to being out after dark, and by the time the little bag of luggage is retrieved, both will be ready for bed. Ruby is 91 years and Doris has just celebrated her 84th year. Ruby will recruit her Daughter to chauffeur the night time 3 to 4 hour trip to Barstow. I do not care to know how soon the two of them can wait to travel east to Laughlin, a three hour trip, to begin shoving their quarters into those machines: we shall see!

She will return to rescue poor old Jim from his carousing around in Doris" absence.

Bon Voyage!

Those of us who reside in the metropolis of Minneapolis are still learning to live with humongus snow piles. No, not drifts, just huge piles at corners, drive ways and crosswalks where citizens used to get across the street to catch the bus or park their vehicles free. The city and tow truck companies have unloaded tons of money from the the pockets of those who can't or don't know about emergency snow routes. Later they must stand in long lines at the impound lots waiting to retrieve their vehicles or pay a daily fee for parking at the infamous impound lot and growl at the amount of the charge for the towing, parking and daily parking fee at the impound lot plus the parking fine. Those who are towed ask? where the H--- am I supposed to park my car? The answer! Move to a condo or a house in the suburbs where one and two (now even) three car garages are the norm. Nothing will change as it has been the norm ever since before, and after we have lived in Minneapolis.

Doris and I have always had off street parking where ever we have lived. Smart! probably not, just lucky.

A man and a woman were dining at a fine restaurant. The woman was looking lovingly at the man.

The waitress noticed the man sliding down off his chair, below the table and then under the table.

The woman seemed unconcerned,

The waitress approached the woman and asked, "did you notice that your husband has slid under the table"?

The woman replied "thats not not my husband, my husband just came in the door".

The ten top reasons Jesus was not born in Minnesota

10. Donkey got stuck in a snow drift.

09. Relatives were vacationing in Florida

08. Mary, unable to nurse because of frozen milk.

07. Politicians threatened to arrest and deport Jesus as an illegal alien.

06 Wise men cannot follow star because of six inch snow cover.

05. Doesn't want to be associated with the Minnesota Vikings.

04. Angels booked up singing at St. Olaf Collage.

03. Federal health care money declined for people living in poverty.

02. Snow caved in roof of stable.

10. Inn is serving lutefisk.

We shall apologize in advance to any one who is offended by the above.

Question:

I have also been asked about my inconsistency in writing this blog.

Answer:

I have been lazy.

I make many mistakes.

My computer sometimes hates me.

Keep in touch, stay well, be good to one another.

Jim and Doris

12/19/10

Minneapolis,

Good Morning,

It seems as though I have neglected my responsibility of updating our BLOG on a regular basis.

When I started blogging it seemed like a simple task to sit down on a Sunday Morning and write about our weekly adventures here in Minnesota. As the weeks slipped by and the excuses became easier, I became lazier and lazier as spring slipped into summer and now the winter has arrived. And how it has arrived.

We hardy Minnesota'ns have been in the national news for the wrong reason. It's called SNOW.

It is also called the flop of the once mighty purple and gold, the once fearlful and fearless Minnesota, Vikings.

The largest storm since the biggest of them all, the 1941 Memorial Day Storm in wher many lost their lives.

We were warned many days ahead of the chance of a large blizzard comming our way. Many of us still remember the November 1941 storm but a lot more of us do not take it as serioius as some of us old timer's. There are many more of us crowded into larger areas now than there was in 41, none of us did'nt have, 2 or 3 cars and no one new anything about freeways or commuting. Many could'nt imagine what was soon to become realty for them.

The storm with dry snow and wind came and came and came. Lots of it. The state had 250 plus plows and additional trucks, blowers and end loaders ready to go when the snow began. Unfortunatly it was a loosing battle from the beginning. We, just like everyboby else just let it come. Tell me what else was there to do except get the kids in and hunker down and watch all 17 1/2 inches of it fall in this large metropolitan area.

We are still plowing (24 a day), streets and roads, plowing and blowing freeway lanes to accomodate the same trafic that is used to wide streets and freeways. It has been to cold to spred salt as it will not work in bitter cold and it is just recently that the bare roadways are once again beginning to show. They were the usual complaints that we were not prepared, we had'nt planned, the snow rules were planned by idiots and why could'nt the people in charge done a better job.

We now find ouselves complaing about blocked drives, sidewalks, trails, and not the least, the lack of parking on already narrow streets. Fire hydrants are buried and neighbors who know the locations of these important red hydrants are being asked to shovel them out. The firemen are also shoveling instead of relaxing in their warm and freindly firehoses. There has been a death due to a burried Hydrant and a fire truck stuck in snow near a total loss of a small business.

All of the staunch population of Minneapolis and St Paul can only say "UFF DA"

Doris and I will have turned 84 by the time Christmas is agai n upon us.

We are both happy as clams that we are able to celebrate our 84th Christmas together. My, how things have changed from our birth. Doris born into a farm family, the 11th of 12 children of Otilda and Alvin in Lafeyette County, Wisconsin an I the first of Vioilet and Lawerance both of them 20 years of age in Milwaukee Wisconsin. It amazes me how we humans in our young life time find our mates. Doris from a farm family with many children and I from Miwaukee, into a small family in a metro area of working folks and almost newly married. This year we will enjoy the beginning of our 62nd year together "Doris always turns red when I explain that she does not count the 2 years I chased her and finally caught her. This does not mean we are together on every thing, nor have we been, but we have a super long list of togetherness and are looking forward to many more of these togetherness years.

We always enjoy the holidays, especially the Chritmas cards and the memories of this special time of the year and all of our freinds, past and present that we have enjoyed and are still enjoying every day. We always remember that the fond memories never die, they live forever.

We will spend Christmas Eve at Son Jay's and wife Gina and their family consisting of son Dylan 2nd grade and the three Girls ,Emma, Allysa and Laura. now in 1st grade.

We will return back to Jay's on Christmas day with the rest of the available Battenberg's for a grand day of excited grandchildren, great food and hugs. Due to the size of our clan it's impossible to get all of us into one place at one time, so everyone is welcome to come and go as needed to the next family celebration.

It is now time to close and rest. I will need a lot of rest to watch the Vikings and the Bears play football on the frozen ground of the Uof M football field. I will also tell you of the complaints of all of those football season ticket holders who had their life inturupted by not being able to sit in their regular seats in the colapsed Mall of America Dome. I am really sorry for those who suffer in this season of hope and charity.

Jim and Doris

Minneapolis, MN

10/24/10

Good Morning to all.

The Minnesota weather records were all confounded this fall season.

Usually we have had frost, some snow and some cold days ond/or nights.

This year it has been more like spring this fall. This is not a complaint, just a reminder of the one thing we humans are unable to adjust to are liking. We do of course take responsibility for the raise in our climate, the melting of the icebergs, the rise in the ocean levels and the continued use of fossile fuels that have changed our lives.

I must add that we are enjoying this October.

I can remember some Holloween evenings taking our children house to house trick or treating in snow conditions that kept many in their homes. Living in a condominium on the 17th floor does not lend itself to trick or treating. There are a few children of the trick or treat age in the building but so far into our tenure we have never had any kids knock. We kind if miss it. It was always fun to see the kids dressd up in ther spooky costumes and their bags of goodies they collected. Doris and I miss it.

The weather each week as reported in the sunday news Star-Tribune continully predics lower temperatures for the comming week. So far it has been rather pleasent and I have had the overhead door to my shop half open each day. There is no heat in the shop until it really gets cold. It is a arge area to heat and cement block construction does not hold the heat very well. I just put on the long john's when the cold begins to bother and as I work I forget about the weather. On the other end of the spectrum, I did suffer from the constant humidity and heat of this past summer. I did survive, just work less.

Doris is enjoytng her return to Kenwood school, her 40th year. She does enjoy, and I'm glad she is not sitting around watching the tube. She is getting along well just is not able to walk long distance's as she once did. One of the reasons that we moved into our downtown condo was the super Minneapolis bus system and now the fairly new Light Rail is just as convenient and we enjoy having the choice of leaving our vehicle parked at home when we feel it's easier to use public transportation.

Remembering!

Do you remember when Grandmother, and probably your Mother (depending on your age) had a sewing basket. Back then it was easy to get a button sewed on your shirt at almost a moments notice or when Mom felt the need for a rest in her favorite chair where the basket rested with her. It was always a neat place to dig into and see all the different needles, kinds and colors of thread, several sizes of thimbles and the jar or can of buttons that were cut off of clothing before it became a dust cloth or a patch for knee's and elbows. Mostly I remember the variety of those jars or cans of used buttons. Now it seems that we just buy a new shirt when it becomes impossible to button up again. Those of us who served in the military had to learn the art of sewing buttons, stripes and the various outfits served on our uniforms where we served. It was not often (in the army at least) to see the supply sargent and beg, bribe or trade for somthing new.

November is soon to be here and the political cat calling relief will be be over and name calling and poor job performance will come to and end. Doris and I have never been polititions. This is not a boast or an apology it's just that our families were never involved. In the Battenberg and Nelson families many uncles would argue and fight over the candidates. Some would hold grudges for long periods of time after an election. This had a real negative effect on me as a child while listend to uncles argue. My Dad never participated in these silly arguments so I never became interested.

A hooded robber burst into a bank, forced the the teller to load a empty sack with cash. On his way out the door a brave customer grabs the hood, pulls it off, showing the robbers face. He shoots the customer, looks around and see's a teller looking right at him, and shoots her also. The others, scared to dath, look down at the floor in silence. The robber then asked; "did anyone else see my face?" One man raises his had, "My wife got a pretty good look at you."

Have a great week, listen to the politicos, make your decision and be sure to vote Tuesday.

Keep in touch, we love to hear from you.

Be good to one another.

Stop in for coffee. (or invite us for coffee!)

Jim and Doris