My 56th year of keeping a diary. I started same year as Jim was born. This diary was given to me by Sandra Hagan. Welcome to 1999. Robbins didn’t come yesterday to thaw pipes. We melted snow. I got dishes washed. Jim called twice. He is off work on Saturday and Sunday now. I called Linda. She sent rick over with large pail of water. He came back over with hot roast turkey dressing and cranberries. Delicious. Linda is an excellent cook. Rick will come back tomorrow to thaw pipes if Tony doesn’t show. Postage goes from 32 to 33 cents today.

-15° below over night. Cold all day. 10° high. Rick Slate thawed our water pipes for us with Dick Delles Salimander. Tony Hull busy fixing furnaces. Water meter base was cracked. Village men came over and put on new one. Great to have running water again. Jim and Nancy here in PM. He brought his dad 1 pairs each of Jersey gloves and orange work gloves. Lyla called. Also Jolie. Doreen and Ed had baby boy born today. Stephen Michel. 7 pounds. They have Alexis 3 years. Great to have water to use.

Started sleeting during night. Brought back memories of last year’s January ice storm. I got up at 5 AM and took shower and washed my hair. Merrill did the same after breakfast. I washed clothes at least we will be clean if power cuts out. A few cars are just crawling by. Church has been cancelled. I called Vi in PM but she was at Jacks. Someone plowed out our driveway but we didn’t see them doing it. Maybe Bill Henderson.

Very snowy by 10 AM. Bad all over. Lots of accidents. Jim called to see if his dad went to day care. Merrill wouldn’t get up this morning. He didn’t get dressed until after lunch. Mary Davis called to ask about him. I took down Christmas decorations and put them upstairs. Linda called. Also Lyla. I called Jolie. Shawn Michael didn’t get home from school until after 6 PM. They kept them at school until the storm let up about 4 PM. Still bad south of us. 20 car pile up at Lafargeville exit on Route 81. Rick plowed our driveway.

11 below zero overnight. Sunny snowing about 4 PM. Tina here. Everything okay. Merrill not very active today. I sent Ken birthday letter. I called office of aging about Heap application. Amy didn’t come to clean. Too stormy. Car givers called. Oswego school and other closed because of lake affect snow today.

Cold. Sunny some snow. Ken’s 79th birthday. Merrill wouldn’t get up to go to day care. I called Bonnie and she talked to him but it didn’t make a difference with him. Jim called in PM. Vern called in evening. He’s on mid term break until January 20. Robin flew back to West Virginia without any trouble from the weather. Robin is pregnant. Due in August.

Nice sunny day. Snow predicted later on today. 16° high. -7° low. Merrill shoveled on driveway and by mailbox. I sent check for county taxes, $404.70. Agway, AARP dues, and cable. Cable went up to $31 this month. I finally got through to transportation for Merrill to Carthage on Monday. President Clinton’s impeachment hearing started today. Alex Duffy, 99 years old today.

1 year anniversary of the ice storm. No electricity for 20 days last year. Sunny today. Cloudy. 21° high -9° low. Merrill wouldn’t get up to go to day care. Transportation called. I called Bonnie and Tina. Tina here to see Merrill. She cut his toenails. She called Dr. Mike and for aid to help Merrill Monday morning before his doctor’s appointment. I called Big M for groceries. Linda Hill brought them. She wouldn’t take a tip. I made fruit cocktail cake. I called Vi. She misses Martha so much. Jim called. Also Jolie. Tina called to say everything is okay for Monday. Kathy will be here at 8:15. Tina at 8:30. Rick plowed our driveway.

Snowing all last night and all day. No paper or mail. I washed clothes. Washed Merrill’s bedding. Jolie, Zack, Shawn Michael, Alexis and “King” here in evening. They brought Merrill’s loafers they got him for Christmas. They exchanged them for a half size larger. Lyla called in morning.

Cold but sunny. We didn’t go to church. Our driveway a mess. I called Nancy. She said Alice F is home from hospital. I called Jim. I couldn’t get Linda or Rick. Jolie called. Jim, Nancy, and Jolie came out and plowed our driveway to the garage. Good job. They were here for supper. Jolie cut Merrill’s hair.

Snowed hard from Syracuse to north country. Most school closed. Some businesses. Terry McKeever plowed our driveway. Sunny and cloudy at time. No lunches delivered. Dr. Mirza for Merrill 10:15. We cancelled it because of bad weather. It was hard to reach everyone. Tina called me. I called transportation and then Tina. She called transportation and then me.

More snow. Sunny in PM. Great to see the sun. Chad Dudley here. Jim called from work. Shirley Lewis called. First time in a long time. Amy here to clean. She went to store for me.

Snowing in morning. Sunny later on. Very cold 1° at noon. -4° at p PM. Merrill went to day care for first time this month. Kathy and Tina here to get him on bus. I called Lyla. Also Ginny Delles to say I wouldn’t be going to Rebekah’s. I washed clothes. My back very sore. I’m sure I’m getting shingles again. I had them about 3 years ago. Jim came out and plowed driveway all good after work. Merrill had good day at day care. Said he worked at his reports.

Real cold over night. Down to -24°. Most schools closed because of the cold. Merrill wouldn’t get undressed and didn’t go to sleep until after 2 AM. My side still sore. No rash. No dinner today. Too cold. Shorkey’s cleaned off Treisis carport roof. Lots of barn roofs caving in fro the snow. I called Kathy Hicks in evening to cancel her coming in the morning.

Still snowing. Most schools closed. I cancelled things for Merrill. Merrill slept in bed with me all night. First time in weeks. Jim called to check on us. Lyla called. I called Linda and Rick. Rick says he will plow our driveway for the winter. He plowed it today. Merrill shoveled steps. We got letter from Clark and Vivian from Florida. I wrote Steve and Kathy.

Much warmer. Cloudy up to 37°. I washed Merrill’s shirts and pants. Rick cleaned our driveway out again. More roofs caving in because of snow. Whites Lumber this morning. 50 cows were lost at Rodman barn yesterday. St Lawrence County has had 7 cow barns cave in on cows. I sent letter to Clark and Vivian. Donna Ellis here to read my cleaner manual. She has a cleaner just like mine.

A beautiful sunny day. 44°. We went to church. Wayne came after us. 54 out. They had coffee and dessert afterwards. Desserts left from supper on Friday. I called Jim. He called back later. Alice called to put Earl Harrington on prayer chain. He’s very bad and under the care of Hospice. I got a nice letter from Jolie. She wrote it at work. Also got letter and the sweetest pictures of Lydia. She is so beautiful. I didn’t go out after my mail last night. Jolie called about 9 PM to say Jim fell on his kitchen floor and broke his right wrist. They were at the hospital with him. She called back to say X-rays showed it was broken straight across and cracked lengthways I called June and Vern.

Raining and windy. 47°. Merrill went to day care. Kathy came to get him on the bus. He didn’t want to go. Jolie and Zack here for supper. They brought my pills form Charthouse. Shawn Michael at Lawlers. I talked with him on the phone.

Very windy. Some snow. Tina here. Amy here to clean in PM. I called Jim in evening. His arm not hurting as much Philadelphia power went off at 2 PM. Back on at 12:30 AM. A transformer blew.

Much warmer. Merrill went to day care. Kathy here to help get Merrill off.

A great day. Warmer. I finally got waste paper burned. We couldn’t get to burn can for deep snow so we burned it in driveway. I wrote letter to Lorne Strader in Canada. Jim goes to Dr. Powell. Diane R called to say there would not be a Rebekah’s meeting next week. Ginny has to go for test on legs.

Cloudy. Some freezing rain and just rain. Warmer toward night. I didn’t go out after the mal. It was too slippery. Merrill went to day care. Kathy here to help get him off. We ha a bad night. I washed

Beautiful warm day. Cloudy in morning and sunny in PM. 57° windy. I cleaned ice off back porch. Snow going down fast. About a foot of burn can showing above snow. I stewed some rhubarb I had in freezer for supper. IOt tasted so great. Like springtime. I wish! Merrill very mixed up. I’ve had the doors locked most of the day so that he couldn’t go up the road.

Very windy. Rain earlier. Cloudy all day. Up to 40°. We went to church. Nancy and Wayne came after us. We rode home with Bethany House. 59 out. A great sermon. Lorraine Brancatella and Marilyn Payne there. Lorraine there last Sunday and I didn’t recognize her. Pat coming home from NJ today. Both Lorraine and Pat have had cancer operations. Both doing okay now. Jim here in PM. He’s doing good with his broken wrist. He is going back to work in morning part time. Vern called in evening. His parts for his snowplow came and he got it back together. He made wooden bearings for it to get by during the storm. Lots of flooding around from melting snow and rain.

A nice sunny day but cold. Merrill went to day care. Kathy not here. Care givers called last night to say she couldn’t come. He got up and ready just fine. I called Lyla in morning. She came over and took me to store for groceries. She ate lunch here. She spent PM here. We enjoyed watching the soaps and getting caught up on what was going on with us and our families. Good day together. Jolie called in evening. We had just gone to bed. She and Shawn Michael also. Zack is working guard at Fort Drum all night. We talked for an hour.

Cloudy in morning and all day. Light snow flurries in PM. Amy here to clean. She said Norma Henderson had her baby. She named him Cody Michael. He has one bad kidney. Jim called on way to Clayton to see Nancy. He didn’t go back to work. He has to have a doctor’s permit first. The Indian’s baseball team left Watertown today for lack of attendance at their games.

Cloudy. Snowing in PM an evening. Merrill went to day care. Kathy here to get him off. Merrill slept with me last night. Jolie, Darcia, and Anthony here for lunch. They had taken Shawn Michael to school after his dentist appointment. He had a tooth out. No Rebekah’s meeting. Ginny had a doctor’s appointment. I called Alice F. She is feeling better.

Snowing until noon. I called Vi. She’s doing better. Alice F called me on prayer chain for Betty Rudes. She is having a heart catheterization in St. Joseph’s tomorrow at 9 AM. May also have an angioplasty afterwards. I called Karen. She called me back when she got home from work. I got materials for March of Dimes to mail to my neighbors. Merrill locked himself in the bathroom tonight. He got very upset before he got the door unlocked.

A great sunny day. 5° below this morning. Merrill went to day care. He didn’t want to get up. Kathy here to get Merrill ready. I washed white clothes. Rick plowed loose snow out of our driveway. Jolie, Zack, Shawn Michael and King, Jim and Nancy here in evening. They came to tell us Jolie is pregnant. She found out today. They are very happy and excited. Not the best time I’d say as they are driving to Washington state in 2 months in the jeep. Shawn Michael is 7 years old. I sent order for two tablecloths. 1 vinyl, 1 lace. $28.86.

Cloudy in AM. Some flurries. Sunny and nice in PM and evening. I made Bar-B-Q baked beans and chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I got card saying Linda Bayette will be here Wednesday. Jim called in evening to say Jolie went to emergency room with bleeding. She didn’t loose the baby. They told her she had to stay in bed.

-15° overnight. Our water froze again. We didn’t go to church. I called Wayne to see if I could get it fixed. Rick came over and found out water meter base is frozen again and cracked. I called Wayne and he brought over new cast iron base fro village. The village guys didn’t insulate it last time. Phil Hughes called to check about it. Rick borrowed Delles’s Salamander again and thawed it out. He insulated it read good this time. Nancy and Wayne brought church tape. Stayed for a visit. Jim called on way home from Nancy’s. I called Vern’s in evening. June and her neighbors had gone to movies. Vernon has gout (little toe). Jolie called in evening. Hard for her to stay in bed. I gave Rick $50. He didn’t want to take it. He wouldn’t take any for today’s work.

Sunny day. Warmer. Merrill went to day care. Kathy here to help but he didn’t want to go. His bus was late. Juanita called before 8 AM. All well out there. Ken having water problems in house. Tammy and her 2 girls staying there. She left her husband. Juanita going to Florida for 3 weeks in March. I made appointment for Merrill with Dr. M 10 AM February 11.

Warmer and raining. Icy in morning from freezing rain. Schools delayed 2 hours. Many schools in St. Lawrence closed. Amy here to clean. Her last day here. She went to store for me. She got quart of strawberries for $1.88. We had short cake for supper. Good.

A great sunny day. Merrill went to day care. Kathy here to help him. Tina to day care to see Merrill. She called me in PM. She said Merrill was using stencils and coloring the pictures and doing a good job at it. Doris H called to say Everett H has cancer of the pancreas. They did bypass operation. Gave him 3 to 6 months to live. I called Lyla. Linda Bayette here for visit. She gave me a writing pen. Merrill brought me 4 carnations. Very pretty.

Cloudy. Rainy day. 39°. Jolie called. She goes to the doctors Tuesday. Lyla called. I sent checks to pay bills. I sent tax form to assessor V. Delles. I had call from Tim Murphy, a city cop, asking for a donation to help the youth. I told him I’d give $10.00. Jim called on way home.. He got a new computer. Jolie called in evening and talked to us. They’ll be out Saturday.

A nice sunny day but colder. Merrill went to day care. Kathy here to get him off. He didn’t want to do. I went to Big M with Lyla. Merrill didn’t want to get off his bus tonight. The driver came in with him. Merrill brought me some more flowers. The hot line was about the new ultimate goal sports arena at the fair grounds. A huge 8000 square foot building. It has sports for all ages, 2-100 years.

Cloudy, snowy most of day. I made salad. I called Jim and Jolie. I couldn’t get Jolie. She called back at supper time. Esther is in the hospital. Cancer has spread to her hip and leg. Merrill slept in our bed with me most of the night (until 5 AM) He’s been quite quiet all day. He changed in evening. He wouldn’t go to bed.

Nice today. Merrill didn’t sleep at all last night. He finally went to bed at 5 AM in his clothes, shoes, etc. We didn’t go to church. Wayne brought me a tape of today’s service. Very good. Jim, Nancy, Jolie, Zack, Shawn Michael and Ashley and baby Stephen Michael Korotosy, 1 month old here for supper. King caught a mouse under the refrigerator. Glenn Brady stopped by. He met Jim on road. He’s in training as a deputy sheriff so he pulled Jim over for slow driving. It is days like today that keeps me going. It is so good to laugh. Merrill seldom sees anything funny anymore. He used to laugh and joke so much. I don’t know how we will get along without Jolie, Zack, and Shawn Michael. They have helped so much and Merrill listens to Jolie. I feel so sad when I think of them going to Fort Lewis.

Sunny day. 30° high but very cold wind. Merrill went to day care. Kathy here to help. He came home in a terrible upset mood. Said he doesn’t live here and kept trying to unlock the doors and go back to Watertown. He wouldn’t eat any supper or get undressed for bed. He wore his heavy Carhart coat and 2 caps all evening.

Cloudy. Cold wind. I wrote Joel and Carmille letter and sent Joel birthday care and $10. Also sent letter to Vivian and Clark. I washed Merrill’s brown clothes. Care givers called to say Denise Deffer would be coming in place of Amy and Kathy. We liked her. She lived in Bleam house on Theresa road. Jim called on way to Clayton I called Jolie. She saw her doctor today. Zack in field until Thursday night.

Warmer but cold wind. 40°. Merrill went to day care. Denise here to help get him off. He was in good spirits this morning. He didn’t get home until after 6 PM. They went to Dexter first. He came home without his Carhart cap. I called transportation about it. Rebekah’s. 10 there. Alpha Lapp and Hazel Brown of Sackets joined our lodge today. Esther and Vi there also. Ginny, Vivian, Diane, Mary, Marie, and myself. I got new tablecloths. Both nice.

A great day. Sunny. Dr. Mirza 10 AM for Merrill. Janet VanWormer will take us. Her baby girls name is Kelsey. She will be a year old on Merrill’s 90th birthday, March 22. Merrill had good report. He gave blood for blood test for a check on his thyroid, e vials. Report will be sent to Mike. We saw Mary Hall at doctors. Had good visit. We got letter from Clark and Vivian. I called Dr. Mike for 2 prescriptions for Merrill. They will call them in to Pharmhouse. I called Linda to see if they were going to dump Saturday. She said they would take mine.

Temperature up to 59° in morning. Down to 32° later in day. Snow in P. Merrill went to day care. Denise here to help. Chad D here in AM. Good visit. Transportation called to say Merrill’s cap is at day care. He wore it home. I made ice cream bars. Jim called in PM. Lyla called at suppertime.

Snowing in morning off and on all day. Linda and Rick took our 6 weeks garbage and recyclables. I called Doris H to ask about Everett. He is at home. Pauline fell while washing her ceiling. She was on her counter. Hurt her shoulder. Doris has bad cold. Joel’s 22 birthday. He called in evening. Good to talk to him. He gave me his 1-877-696-4553 number.

Very cold last night. It was just 0° when we ate breakfast at 8 AM. We went to church. 51 out. Wayne came after us. Bev Sampson brought us home. I cut Merrill’s hair in PM. I called Pauline R. She is pretty sore from her fall. Her ribs very sore, but not broken. Bev Sampson said she’s take me to city tomorrow but Lyla will go.

A sunny nice day. Merrill went to day care. Denise here to help. Lyla took me to city. Dr. LaPoint 1:30 PM. She started me on new rheumatoid arthritis medicine. New this year. Celebrex. She said I probably have had shingles. I have to go back in a month to see her. We went to P&C and Pharmhouse. We ate at Burger King. Jolie called when I got home. She, Zack, and King came for supper. They went to store over here. Jim called on way to Clayton to visit Nancy.

Just a great day. Sunny and warm. Tina here. She said to let Denise continue coming for 2 weeks. She is to help with house work in morning. I sent donations to PBA, Cancer, 2 Veteran’s groups, Easter seals. I sent survey and $10 to Jefferson County Office of the Aging about lunches.

Raining. Merrill went to day care. Denise here to help. I washed white clothes. Also Merrill’s begging. I talked with Jolie and Jim. Called them for Jill’s address. I wrote her letter and sent her birthday card and $10. Jolie took King to be neutered today. Wayne called to ask if we wanted to go to Ash Wednesday Church service. Nice of him but I said no. I started taking new Celebrex for my rheumatoid Arthritis. One capsule 200 mg.

Cloudy, dark day. I washed my bed sheets. Denise here to clean. She went to the store for me. I had a long list. She did good job.

Cloudy. Some flurries. Merrill went to day care. Denise here to help. I washed Merrill’s everyday clothes. I sent Dan birthday card, $10 and letter to all of them. I sent prescription for rest of Merrill’s Aricept to Charthouse. Jill’s 23rd birthday. Five years ago today Jim and Joel and a friend of Joel’s were in a real bad car accident at Sackets. Jim had broken neck and off work for 1 year.