57 years. A new century! Sunny day. Temperature up to 43°. Our snow about gone. I saw the New Year 2000 with Jolie on the phone from Washington State. They had fireworks around the world. In Paris, France. The fireworks moved up the Eiffel Tower reaching the 1000 feet to the top at midnight. Beautiful. Three years in the planning. Times Square was great. I got to bed at 1:45 AM. Tired. No Y2K showed up. A car was seized and the bridge to Canada closed last night. Jolie and I had our TV’s on same program. Zack was at security job. Juanita and Donnie here in PM. Lyla called today she’d stop by but she didn’t’ make it. I called Genesis. They said Merrill was worse and couldn’t swallow. I rode out with Donnie and Juanita. Jim and Nancy brought me hoe. Merrill swallowed some liquids for me. A beautiful day.

I didn’t go to Sunday school or church. Raining in AM and off and on all day. 52° Vernon called in morning. I called Madonna Home. Merrill had pretty good night. They got some fluids into him today. He’s on oxygen. I’m not going out to see him today. The nurse said he was sleeping all the time. I called Jim at Nancy’s and told him not to come after me. Joel and Camille got home at 3 AM. Drove straight through. 14 ½ hours. The nursing home called in PM and said Merrill was worse. She had trouble contacting his doctor. They took him down for X-rays. They showed he had a light case of pneumonia. Jim and Nancy came after me and brought me home. Sue was at the hospital nursing home to see Merrill. I called Lyla and Vernon’s. Lyla said Edna Fikes 88 died yesterday.

Cloudy warm raining hard in evening. Lyla took me out to spend the day with Merrill. Nancy brought me home in evening. I found Merrill much better. The doctor had finally been to see him. His pneumonia better. His temperature normal and we got a lot of food and liquids into him. He knew me and was talkative. Thank God for the nurse that worked so hard to get medical help for him Sunday night. June called from emergency room in Oswego to say Vern was having pains. Turned out it was from stomach so he went home. Jim went home to bed sick with the flu bug. I talked with Jim twice, Alice F, Wayne H, June and Vern, Lyla 3 times. Cooke Weatherwax house on Route 11 burned in evening.

Raining off and on all day. Windy 61°. I called Genesis. Merrill feisty this morning. The nurse needed help to get him up and washed and dressed. He wanted to stay in bed. He ate his breakfast. I had a call from Alice F early this morning. I called Robbins about cleaning the furnace. It gives off fumes when it goes on. It was just cleaned 2 or 3 weeks ago. I called Jim. He’s doing okay. Didn’t to into work Donna H hear for cleaner book to copy. Tony here to check furnace for fumes. It is in tonight’s Times that Geneva Hall Straub Steudel, 77 died Sunday in Florida. (Les is Beulah’s daughter) Vi called in evening. Her cold better.

Cold but a just beautiful sunny day. Temperature was 16° in the AM. Yesterday 61°. Lyla and I went out to see Merrill. He’s feeling much better. Still on oxygen. He’s eating solid foods. Wayne Huntress called in morning to see how he was and if I needed anything from the store. We stopped at Kinney’s drug store on way home. Vern called in evening.

A nice day. Amy here to clean. She went to store twice for me. Ken’s 80th birthday surprise party at Ponderosa in Pulaski at 6 PM. Debby and Louise stopped for me. We stopped at Penny’s on way. 23rd party nice time and meal. (?) Talked with Jim. He’s feeling better. Worked today. He went to see Merrill in evening. He’s doing fine.

Some snow flurries. Then hail, thunder, then snow. 2 inches. Alice F called in AM. I’m tired today. Debby and Louise left for California. Crystal’s friend drove them to New Hampshire to get their flight back to Los Vegas. Their car was there. Lyla called. Margaret K called in evening to ask how Merrill was. I took down Christmas tree. I sorted out the decorations I’ll take with me when I move t an apartment.

A nice sunny day. I washed clothes. I sorted through a box of papers and junk. Discarded most of it. Kathy called to see if I was home. Lyla was coming over. She spent the PM here. She enjoyed a couple of my diaries. Jim called in evening. He was on his way to Nancy’s. She has the flu bug now. I wrote thank you notes to youth group and fireman’s aux for Christmas basket and stamps.

Cloudy and warm. I went to Sunday school and church. Wayne came after me. Margaret brought me home. Jim and Nancy took me out to see Merrill in PM. He didn’t talk much but they say he’s getting over his pneumonia. He’s still on oxygen. We stopped at new Philadelphia Restaurant for supper. Ate in front of the pellet fireplace. Jim lighted the candle on the table. Cozy. Jim and Nancy went shopping at Walmarts. They got Merrill a nice 2-piece athletic outfit black and blue and white. They like these at the nursing home. John Johnson and his wife sang Ava Maria in church. Beautiful. Very moving.

Cloudy and windy. I called R. Chapman at Social Services about insurance. It is up $9 because of cost of living increase from 54 to 63 a month. I talked with nurse at Madonna about Merrill’s trip to see Dr. Mirza Thursday. I called Robbins about furnace fumes again. He finally removed the blower and discovered a 3-inch hole in firebox. We need a new furnace. He cemented the hole but said it won’t last. I called Centennial. I’m 3rd on the list. No one is looking at the apartment now. I called Vern and June in evening after they returned from choir practice. Jim called later. I wrote letter to Steve and Kathy and girls.

41° in morning. Sunny some, cloudy, windy, rainy. I called Lyla. Jim called. Dr. LaPoint 11:30 AM. Lyla took me to city. Dr. LaPoint doubled my water pills. I need to go back in a week to have my potassium checked. We took Merrill’s new athletic clothes to him to wear Thursday to Carthage. We ate at Burger King. We went to Pharmhouse. I saw Kenny Rudes and his mother Luella at doctor’s. Ken is retiring in March after 29 years in the ER at Samaritan. Isabel Farrell was there also but I didn’t get to talk to her. Someone said she’s 97 now.

Sunny colder. Rev. Jan called in AM. She goes to Nicaragua in February. The flu is prevalent all over the United States and over seas. I’ve had my flu shot. Jim called in evening from Adams. Rebekah’s but I forgot about it. Ginny stopped for me but I didn’t see her. I sent check for my medical insurance.

Very cold all day. Amy was here to clean. Her advisor was here also. Dr. Mirza or Merrill at 1:30. The doctor changed his appointment to next Thursday. I called Madonna. Merrill was up and having a good morning. They called me back later to say Dr. Mirza cancelled his appointment until next week. Jim called. He’s been to see his day. Someone was looking at Clark and Vivian’s house. I called Jim. The bank called about my dormant savings account. I told them to add a dollar from my checking account. Lyla called. Kathy got hurt yesterday when she tried to stop 2 girls from fighting in the lunch line. She had X-rays taken at Carthage. Nothing broken. Got a bad bump on her head.

Sunny but very cool all day. Wind chill -14°. Mable Hudson called me in PM. She is working the night shift at Genesis. We had a good visit. Alice F called to ask how Merrill is doing. We had nice visit also.

Sunny day. Very cold last night. There was a beautiful frost spider web on the end window in breakfast room this morning. God’s handy work is so moving and wonderful. The firemen finally had a controlled burn of the remains of the Cha house across the road from us. It burned in December 1998. I washed clothes. Warmer tonight. Vern called in evening. He had stress test but they didn’t find anything wrong. June’s foot coming good. She can go swimming again. The furnace is giving off fumes again when it first starts up.

Snowing some off and on. Some sun. Jim called this morning before I left for Sunday school and church to say Madison is in hospital. She has 104° temperature and a urinary infection. Jolie called when I got home from church. Wayne and Alice came after me with truck. Sue B brought me home Marion S and Diane R were with her. I called Patty for Jolie. She called Jolie and then called me back. I talked with Lyla. Cathy still sore from her fall. Also black and blue. Jolie called in evening. Madison much better but they are keeping her all night again. I called Jim and Patty.

-18° overnight. Wind chill -40°. Only up to 7° all day. Holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King day. The tire trucks were at DeMarco’s out back of us at 5 AM (across road from Middle School) Lots of fires because of the cold. Jim called to ask if I wanted to go see Merrill tomorrow. I talked with Nancy Huntress about books for church library. I may have some.

Very cold again -15° over night. Only up to 0° all day. A little warmer at night. I talked with Lyla. Vi called in AM. Jolie called from her home. Madison got home yesterday. Nancy came for me about 4 PM. I found Merrill much improved. They had him up walking yesterday and today. He wasn’t sleepy at all. He kept trying to take his chair apart. He asked me if I had a screw driver. Jim brought me home. He stayed for supper. I tripped over the wastebasket and fell flat in breakfast room. Tore skin off my left arm and bruised my left breast. Jim picked me up and bandaged my arm for me.

A little warmer today. Sunny. Lyla, Jim and Vern called. Vern and June are coming up today. Lyla took me to see Dr. Mike. He put new bandage on my arm and gave me tetanus shot. June brought lunch. She washed my dishes. Vern went to store for and fixed door latch. June brought 7 diary books. Took home more diaries. Olive Sharp stopped by for visit. She lives up the road from me now. She brought banana bread. Lyla and Jim called again in evening.

Much warmer. 10°. Partly sunny. Snowing in PM. Sent county taxes $398.87. Amy here to clean. Charles Kiechle here for farm book. Hank Hagan gave Merrill printed in 1913. One of Charles professors was a son of the author of the book. Jim called in evening.

Bad wind chill. Very cold below zero all day. Sunny. Dr. Mike 9:30 AM. He put new dressing on my arm. Lyla took me to doctors. Jim called. Lyla called to say Rhonda Hockey, 82 died this morning. Jim, Nancy and Ashley came about 4 PM. Jim plowed my driveway. Not much in it.

Very cold last night and all day. -5°, Sunny. Bad fire on Union Street Watertown. Lots of fire companies called to it. Two people burned to death. Vi called in PM. She had heard about my fall. I called Nancy to say I wouldn’t be going to church and Sunday school with them. Jim was called in to help at the fire at 6 AM. He worked until 4 PM in -23° weather. It was his day off.

Much warmer up to 25°. Cold wind. I didn’t go to Sunday school or church. The storyteller was at Sunday school. I’m very sore from my fall today. Worse yet especially my ribs. I think I cracked one.

Some snow flurries in morning. Sunny in PM. Lyla called in morning. I called Jim. Dr. LaPoint at 10:30. Jim came out after me and brought me home. He was short of help today. I have to go back in 2 weeks. She said I had cracked rib. Jolie and Madison called in PM. The bad fire started from an electric percolator at the city. Nancy and Wayne H left me tapes of the New Testament while I was gone.

Partly cloudy. Much warmer. I called Nancy and Wayne H to thank them for the use of the religious tapes. Lyla called. Also Alice F. Jim called in evening. He had been up to see his dad. Merrill was talking a mile a minute. He had been walking today and was very alert. He is eating good again now. I got a get well card from Rebekah’s. Stormy weather all around us but no snow here. Washington DC and NYC bad.

Snowy. Cold. We got 2-3 inches. I washed clothes. North Carolina has 2 feet. Bad there. Jim called. He went to see his dad. Gave money for a hair cut. He’s also set to go to Carthage tomorrow. Rebekah’s cancelled. I called Ginny. I’m not quite so sore from my fall. I slept good last night I called Agway to find out if they had received $250 from Heap for us. They have. We signed for a price of 99.9 a gal for fuel oil for winter season last fall. Oil prices are very high now so we are lucky. Jim and Ashley came in evening. Brought my stuff from drug store. He planned to plow the driveway but Rick Slate had already blown it out with snow blower.

Cold partly sunny. -14° over night. Agway man brought fuel oil and got furnace going. House only 50°. Merrill to Dr. Mirza at 1:30. I called in AM. He’s all set to go. Jim went to see them at Agway. They were upset that I didn’t get fuel last night. Supposed to get 50 gallon free because they let me run out. Amy here to clean. She went to store for me.

Still very cold. -24° in morning. Up to 10°. Partly cloudy. I called Madonna to ask how Merrill was today. He wasn’t up yet but she said he was feisty. He did okay on his visit to Doctor yesterday. Marge Heck stopped by for a visit. 4:30-6 PM. Rev. Jane called. Also Lyla.

-18° over night. Up to 20° during the day. Sunny and nice. Linda and Rick took my rash to dump. Great to get rid of it. Lyla was here. She brought me a package of bathroom tissue as I’m almost out of it. What would I do without Lyla? Jim called in evening. He’s taking me to see Merrill tomorrow. It is in today’s Times that Jim is getting more neighborhood watch programs set up around the city.

A great day. Like spring. I went to Sunday school and church. Wayne came after me. Margaret K brought me home. Jim took me out to see Merrill. He was so glad to see us. I got eight prescriptions filled at Pharmhouse. Super bowl Sunday. St Louis Rams won over Tennessee Titans. Jolie called in evening. Also talked with Shawn Michael. Zack leaves for field training Tuesday morning until about February 14.

30° today. Light snow off and on. I’ve been sleepy all day. A lazy day. I listened to some of Nancy’s King James tapes. Also Rev. Jane’s tape on homosexuality. Very good. Primaries taking place in New Hampshire for year 2000.

Snowy all day. Windy. Schools closed, No meals on Wheels. Lyla called. Jim called to ask if I had my driveway cleaned. Rick Slate had just called and said he’s be over to do it. Not much snow in it. Vice President All Gore won nomination over Bill Bradley. Sen. McCain won over George Bush at primaries in New Hampshire.

Very cold. -14° in morning. Up to 20°. Sunny. My eyes are bad today. Vi called in evening. We ha a nice visit. I called Agway Fuels about free fuel oil. They told me to deduct $50.95 form my fuel bill.

-2° this morning but warmer during day. Cloudy day. Amy was here to clean. I paid several bills by check. Bills paid for this month. I called Dick Delles about Star Tax Exemption. Jim called in evening.

Still very cold. Lyla was here. I gave her Uncle Ray’s jackknife. Aunt Maude gave it to Merrill after Uncle Ray died. Mrs. Harter called from Caregivers. She will be here Monday at 9:15. Terrible avalanches in Alaska. Jolie called in evening. Madison is sick again. Zack is away in the field there in Washington. Jolie is very upset about Madison. The doctor said there was nothing he could do for her, It has to run its course.

Sunny. Only down to 0° overnight. Snowed in PM and evening. Windy. I washed clothes. I made baked chicken for supper good.

Sunny. Cold wind. I went to Sunday school and church. Wayne and Alice came after me. I came home with Margaret K. 34 in Sunday school. 57 in church. Communion. Used small glasses. First time in years. Jolie called. Madison feeling better. Jim called to ask if I wanted to go see Merrill. Jim was working on frozen pipes so I told him I’d wait until Thursday. Jim was up to see him last night. Lyla called in evening. A tenant died at Centennial yesterday so I’m moving up on the list.

A few flurries but mostly sunny cold wind. Mrs. Joanne Harter was here from Caregivers to make out report on my receiving someone to clean for me 2 hours a week. I sorted books in upstairs bookcase. I talked with Vi in PM.

-18° below over night. A sunny day. 23° high. I sorted the thing in the buffet. Washed some of them. Jolie called in PM. Zack gets home Friday. Madison much better. I talked with Lyla twice. Joanne Harter who was here yesterday was on the 6 o’clock news tonight talking about being a Pagan Worshiper. I made out church questioner for Wayne. I called AT& T about extra charges.

A much warmer day. Some snow flurries. 37°. Rebekah’s. I went with Ginny. Six of us there.

Started snowing in PM. Amy here to clean. She went to store for me Dr. LaPoint 2:15 BP 160/72. Lyla took me to city. We went to see Merrill. He was good. He knew us both. We didn’t stay long as it had started to snow. Jim came up to meet us at Dr. office. I got card from Dan and Robin and kids from Texas. They were at a rodeo.

Snowing until middle of PM. Everything coated with ice this morning. Most schools closed. Meals on Wheels came Rick S plowed out my driveway. I filled the bird feeder. Uncle Ray died 31 years ago today.

-19° over night. Up to 25°. A great sunny day. I washed clothes. Washed bedding and bedspread. Jim, Nancy, and Jill stopped by awhile in PM. Jim had been to Jill’s hairdresser at Great Bend for a haircut. They went to Theresa funeral home for Shirley Bacon’s wake. She’s Toby Morrow’s sister.

Partly cloudy. Some sun. I went to Sunday school and church. Wayne and Alice came after me. Margaret brought me home. We talked about improving Sunday school rooms in basement. We visited Sunday school classes in session. Jolie called in PM. They took Madison to hospital in night. Her ear had some thing break in it. They treated her and she came back home with them. I also talked with Shawn Michael. Vern called in evening. They are good but busy.

Very snowy all forenoon. Most schools closed but not Indian River. Nancy and Wayne Huntress brought me lovely box of chocolates and also plowed my driveway for me. There was a bad snowplow tractor trailer accident on route 81 near Longways. I received picture of Madison and Zack. She looks like her daddy.

A beautiful sunny day. Warmer. I got call from hope Johnson. She has an apartment for me to look at Number 119. I called Jim, Vern’s and Lyla. Vern called back in PM. Lyla goes to Dr. Kahn.

Cloudy day. Warmer. Some snow flurries. Also rain. Vern and June got here about 9:30 AM. They took me to city. Jim met us and we all went to Samaritan Keep to start proceedings to get Merrill transferred from Genesis. Then we all went to Centennial to look at apartment number 119. I decided to take it. Jim’s phones very busy all the time but I was glad he could join us. I saw Dorothy Danks and Marion Carvell at Centennial. We ate lunch at Wendy’s and then went to see Merrill. They had called Jim but also told us Merrill had congestion in his lung again. The doctor put him on antibiotics for ten days. He knew us. They brought me home. Lyla called. I called Vi.

Very cold but sunny. -8° in morning. Kathy here to clean. Amy on vacation. Lyla here after supper for evening. I’m going to miss her when I move. Rev. Jane leaves for 10 days in Nicaragua today from Canada with several other women. Jolie called in evening. Madison is good voice.

Started snowing in PM. Let up in evening. Most school took a snow day. Winter vacation all next week. Jim called in PM. I called Charthouse for a print out of my medicines. I also called Genesis. Merrill doing okay. Jim had been up to see him. They didn’t bring my lunch until almost 1 PM. Drivers didn’t show up. Melody Jones did them all.

A beautiful sunny day. I’m to take 2 water pills both morning and night. I washed clothes. Jill’s 25th birthday. Jim called and asked if I’d like to go visit Merrill. He and Walk came for me. Jim plowed the driveway and by the mailbox. Also changed the bulb in my kitchen light. Merrill is doing a lot of coughing. He seemed to feel good. Lyla called in evening.