Well, Sparty was reprieved by the weather. Friday night was thunderstorms, and Saturday we had a windstorm. But at least UM beat MSU in the football game.

On Saturday, Steven helped me get two big pumpkins, which are out on our porch along with Templeton. We won't be carving them, no time, but at least we have them.  I also got the candy for the little ones. It's so cold out, I don't know how many kids will be coming by, though...

I am awaiting a check from my father's estate, which will be coming any day now. It's for something around $80,000. I will be giving away every penny later this week. I do not want the money -- I want my father.

Today I took Bill to the doctor. His ankle istill bothering him a great deal. They are leaving the cast on for another week, then taking it off and seeing what is what -- and they might just put another one right back on. The xrays from the ER did not give a definative answer on whether it was sprained or broken.

Stevie, on the other hand, is doing better. The infected areas have stopped oozing pus, and are scabbed over nicely, with no new infections appearing. He is full of energy and wants to play soccer on Saturday!

With all of this going on, I am not ready for Halloween at all. I have to buy candy for the little trick or treaters, and pumpkins!  I didn't get any decorations up this year -- not even Templeton, our huge rubber rat. But my children are the most important thing that I know of in all of the world, and their health and happiness takes first priority.

Speaking of which, weather permitting (supposed to be thunderstorms so might not) they are planning on doing something tomorrow night that will make them very happy. They have a little MSU Spartan doll and they are planning on blowing it up with fireworks in honor of this weekend's UM/MSU football game.  I will finally go grocery shopping tomorrow, and I will pick up meat and cheese and sub buns and chips and dips, so we can have our own little tailgate party this weekend, while we blow up Sparty.

Bill and I are greatly enjoying having itunes. We have copied some of my cd's and I have set him up a $10/month allowance through itunes and aol so he can buy music. He helps with the housework and yardwork, helps his father with his business, participates in 2 sports, and still somehow brings home straight A's.  The allowance is well earned.

Well, thankfully, Stevie is doing better. The last badly infected area on his leg has opened and drained, and he is able to walk now...which is good because Bill tripped and fell down some stairs, hurt his ankle badly, spent half the day in the ER, and is now in a cast and will be on crutches for two weeks.  

Ah, my Billy, my bright and stubborn and sweet and silly son...my heart, my heart...

Well, after the third visit to the doctor in a bit over 24 hours, it appears as if Stevie might be beating this thing back, with the help of antibiotics. All of the icky infected places on his ankle except for one have opened and begun draining on their own...the doctor hopes that if I continue the continuous hot, wet towels wrapped around his ankle, that one will begin to open and drain, too, so the doctors will not have to open it up.   We are still under instructions to take him to the hospital immediately if he begins to run a high fever, and he is not supposed to be on his feet until that last lesion opens up...Bill has been carrying him to and from the bathroom!

This weekend he was so happy and energetic, teasing everyone like a mischevious kitten. And then -- WHAM! Shows you how unexpectedly fragile life can be ...and how precious our good times really are!

Well, Stevie is a very sick little boy.  I was much more worried about his fever, and ignored the limp. This morning he couldn't walk. Took him to the doctor, and he has a very bad infection in his left ankle. He is on antibiotics, is supposed to stay completely off of his feet (Dan and Bill have been putting him in fireman's carries so he can use the bathroom), keep his foor elevated, and I have been keeping his ankle wrapped up continuously in wet, hot towels. If he is not better in the morning they are talking about opening up his ankle to drain out infected material. That scares both him and me greatly.

He is sleeping now, my little sweetie, my Mr. Sunshine, my heart.  I hope they don't have to do anything awful to him tomorrow...

And I am so glad we had that wonderful weekend. The knowledge of joy helps beat back pain and fear and despair.

Steven is home today with a fever and a stuffy head.  He is relaxed on the couch, watching Return of the King . I am keeping a close eye on him, and making sure he drinks lots of cold water...

I am still thinking about the weekend, and walking around with a huge smile on my face. Even breaking into laughter now and then, just from joy.

It was a very nice weekend, though my back was sort of bothering me whenever I walked a long way. I was actually sort of tired and quiet this weekend, and probably wasn't very good company.

We took the first morning train out on Friday and got into Chicago midday. I had been planning on reading Donaldson's  Runes of the Earth on the train, but was too sleepy. It was a cloudy day, but the woods and farm fields were lovely in their autumn colors, and I sat back and enjoyed the beauty of the rolling Michigan coutryside in its fall glory.

When we got to Chicago we took a cab to our hotel, checked in, threw the bags in our room, then walked next door to one of our favorite Chicago restaurants, Harry Caray's, where we had lunch. Since it was such a raw, cold, windy day, hot tea was wondeerful!  We then walked to Navy Pier, where we checked out the Haunted Pirate Ship, enjoyed the Lake, and visited the Stained Glass Museum. The Tiffany landscape windows were awesome! It was about halfway back to the hotel when I started having back spasms. I took some motrin and laid down for awhile, and started feeling better, so we walked up to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. The kids enjoy it there, and we got to sit next to a guitar from the Stone Temple Pilots. By the time we walked nearly back to the hotel, my back decided to act up again, and I got little sleep, even with motrin.

On Saturday, Calibaby walked to a nearby bakery and got goodies and juice for breakfast. We ate it in our room, on the fifteenth floor overlooking the River. Many people were sailing their yachts up river, and they were opening up all of the drawbridges downtown, which was fun to watch. I went down to the lobby and read Runes and waited for John, who lives north of the city, and was driving down to meet us for the day. When he arrived, we all headed out to a great lunch, and then to Shedd, where we visited the sea creatures and watched the dolphin show. We then walked to Millenium Park, and my back started bothering me again. Steven was punching my lower back to try to get the muscles to stop cramping, and that did seem to help. There was this very cool thing in the park that John called the Bean. It is a modern sculpture all covered with mirrors, shaped like a gigantic bean that you can walk around and underneath. The city skyline is reflected in it, as well as the people near it.

We then headed to a great pizza place, where we got pizza half a foot thick. It was mobbed, but the pizza was so good, I can definately see why it would be.  

Dan then was kind enough to volunteer to stay with the kids so that John and I could go out and listen to some music. Dan knew how much I wanted to go out and hear some tunes, and I am very grateful he was willing to do this for me. We went to a club John knows called Pops for Champaigne, up in Wrigleyville. It was a very, very nice place, and they had a great jazz group, with a very good singer. I really, really enjoyed going there.

This morning we had donuts for breakfast, then checked out of the hotel and took a taxi to the train station, where we stored our luggage in a huge locker. We then walked downtown. We visited the Bean again, where a gospel choir was performing. It was a sunny and warm day (first good weather of the trip), so we sat for awhile and enjoyed the music. Then Dan dragged me up the Magnificent Mile and wanted to shop for most of the rest of the day. It was my fortieth birthday, and he wanted to buy me all sorts of crap, but I managed to deflect most of it, and got things for the children instead. They wanted Cubs shirts, so, good American League girl that I am, did get myself one thing -- a bright pink White Sox hat to counteract all of the National League Cubbies clothing that will be invading my home.

One cool thing was walking by the bookstore and seeing that one of the actors from the LOTR movie was making an appearance there today, for a book signing. The LOTR books and movies are Steven's passion, so we braved the crowds. My back was bothering me, so I sat on the floor, while he went through the line for his autograph. Little Man is VERY happy!

We then had dinner in a New Orleans style restaurant called Red Fish, which was very good, and were we became bedecked with Mardi Gras beads, and then caught the evening train and came home.

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We are all packed up and ready to go, with the exception of the cell phone chargers, which we can throw into a bag in the morning. We even have a box of baked goods from Pannera Bread in the Jeep, for eating on the train. I can't wait, we need some fun family time. The weather is supposed to be cold and windy, so we packed a lot of warm clothes. The suitcase weighs a ton with all of those sweaters and hoodies! I think this will be an absolutely wonderful time for us.

The last couple of days I have been busy copying CDs and songs from CDs onto to my computer using itunes, which I finally downloaded the other night. I have copied enough songs now that I have a party mix constantly playing on the computer to listen to as I work. So far I have mainly copied a lot of jazz, but also some rock and a bit of country. I haven't worked my way to my classical collection yet. I hate buying a CD because you hear some great songs on the radio, then finding out that the rest of the CD isn't so good. This way I can just keep the songs that I like. Louis Armstrong is playing right now.  I notice I have been copying jazz albums in their entirety (as will also happen with the classical when I work my way to them), but only a few songs from CD's from other genres, with the exception of U2's Greatest Hits.

Was a perfect fall day. Clear as a bell, with lovely blue skies and just a hint of nippiness. Dan and I went to one of Steven's soccer games together for what might have been the first time this year. (Possibly the second?) We ended up helping in the concessions booth. A farmer even brought in a tractor load of pumpkins to sell at the soccer park, and it was charming. People were buying the big ones and using them as seats, and little ones were getting the little ones to take home.

My back was bothering me, and am still running a slight fever, so I didn't get to plant my flower bulbs today. But I still have some time before it gets too cold...

Stayed home and did tons of laundry. The kids were sweet and carried the heavy bags up and down the stairs for me. I am all packed for Chicago, other than toiletries, but no one else even started (probably because their clothes are in laundry bags waiting to be sorted out).

Did watch a movie while waiting for the laundry to get done...Sleepy Hollow, based somewhat on the famous Washington Irving story. It was a bit on the gruesome side for me (I don't watch many R rated movies, and when I do they are usually ones with important messages like Schindler's List) but it wasn't the bloodbath I was afraid it might be, either. And the evil was equally human greed, along with the supernatural...

Bill was back in school today, but Stevie was home. This morning I felt very fuzzy headed, and by afternoon I was sick as well. Hopefully this will run its course in all of us and we will all be healthy and happy when we are in Chicago next weekend.

Some autumn music:

Van Morrison's Moon Dance

Well, it’s a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
’neath the cover of october skies
And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
And I’m trying to please to the calling
Of your heart-strings that play soft and low
And all the night’s magic seems to whisper and hush
And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush

Chorus:
Can I just have one a’ more moondance with you, my love
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love

Well, I wanna make love to you tonight
I can’t wait ’til the morning has come
And I know that the time is just right
And straight into my arms you will run
And when you come my heart will be waiting
To make sure that you’re never alone
There and then all my dreams will come true, dear
There and then I will make you my own
And every time I touch you, you just tremble inside
And I know how much you want me that you can’t hide

Chorus

Repeat 1st verse

One more moondance with you in the moonlight
On a magic night
La, la, la, la in the moonlight
On a magic night
Can’t I just have one more dance with you my love

Autumn in new york
Why does it seem so exciting (inviting)
Autumn in new york
It spells the thrill of first-knighting

Shimmering clouds - glimmering crowds (glittering crowds and shimmering clouds)
In canyons of steel
They’re making me feel - I’m home

It’s autumn in new york
That brings a (the) promise of new love
Autumn in new york
Is often mingled with pain

Dreamers with empty hands
(they) all sigh for exotic lands

(but) it’s autumn in new york
It’s good to live it again

This autumn in new york
Transforms the slums into mayfair
Autumn in new york
You’ll need no castles in spain

Lovers that bless the dark
On benches in central park

(but) it’s autumn in new york
It’s good to live it again

(- in new york)

Poor Bill was home sick again, still running a fever.  I hate it when my children get sick, and always wish I could take their place.

Stopped off quickly at the bookstore on my way to work to see if I could find any giucebooks to New York City. I think I will be meeting up with a couple of friends there for a weekend this winter, maybe see a couple of shows...saw one called The Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York City  and I took it from the shelf to look at it. I saw that it had a chapter dedicated to dumpster diving and which parts of the city were good for looking for certain things in the garbage. I laughed so hard when I saw that, even though I think the author was serious. Man, there is cheap and then there is just plain weird!  Needless to say, I picked out a couple of normal looking guides. I haven't been to New York in more than twenty years. It will be nice to go back there for a weekend.

Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today
I want to be a part of it - new york, new york
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it - new york, new york

I wanna wake up in a city, that doesn’t sleep
And find I’m king of the hill - top of the heap

These little town blues, are melting away
I’ll make a brand new start of it - in old new york
If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere
It’s up to you - new york, new york

New york, new york
I want to wake up in a city, that never sleeps
And find I’m a number one ,top of the list, king of the hill
A number one

These little town blues, are melting away
I’m gonna make a brand new start of it - in old new york
And if I can make it there, I’m gonna make it anywhere

It up to you - new york new york

New york

Tomorrow I will take in the Jeep, eat lunch at my favorite Chinese restaurant, and getas much laundry done as I can so I can begin packing our bag for Chicago. A little more than a week! I can't wait! I love that city!

And Saturday I will plant daffodills all over our yard if the weather holds.

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town

Chicago, Chicago, I will show you around - I love it.

Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues in Chicago,

Chicago, the town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down.

On State Street, that great street, I just want to say,

They do things they don't do on Broadway,

They have the time, the time of their life.

I saw a man, he danced with his wife In Chicago,

Chicago, my home town.