As I'm reading this year's Christmas cards, I find a place on the picture I really miss and that's a picture current picture of the the friend who has actually sent the card to me. We do this too but I really more interested in seeing how a friend had aged rather than counting the total number of the next generation-just one up-to-date picutre-PLEASE! I know how you looked several years ago and now I want to see how you look now.

I did something last night I hadn't done for a long time; I put a toy together. Back when I was in high school, one of my summer jobs in July was to go upstairs over my dad's hardware store and begin assembling toys, bikes, wagons, etc. for people to put away for Christmas. The temp was always close to 90+ so it was warm work. I started as a wrench, screw driver, socket set, hammer and profanity assembly worker adding batteries and cables and finally dealing with some foreign engineer's idiot idea of directions.

Last night I put a small bike together (horrible directions for something so simple but the directions and pictures were misleading. I did figure things out. With twins there's always a second so I'll put it together tonight.)

Later as a parent I always insisted I wanted the floor model; I usually would buy it or insist they assemble the thing and I would pick it up later. That often worked. Goes back to my high school days.

We went to see Footloose at the cheap seats yesterday afternoon ($5.00 for two of us). We both liked it. Roger Ebert panned it but then Roger ripped the original version. No wonder I seldom agree with Roger 's reviews .

We went to Wendy's for supper after. I have going online planning fast food meals which fall withing my barb limit. I shoot a little insulin just before I eat and that appears to work.

Made my first trip back to the fitness center since I went to hospital. It's more challenging than my tread mill and the low weights I have at home. Unfortunately we had a bad snowstorm move into Denver today so I don't know when I will get back but it's something positive for the future.

Did something today I thought I would never do, I bought a pair of suspenders. I've lost just enough weight, I can't hold up several pairs of pants (particularly work-out suits). Good problem to have. I called my brother and we laughed that if we had kept our dad's, we would have had quite an inventory.

Took my van to the grocery store and filled with gas at a station. It was the fartherst I had ventured alone since I got out of the hospital. I don't think I want to do much four-lane driving for a while but I was comfortable with this short trip. By going early Sunday I also missed the Sunday grocery shoppers. I plan to watch the Broncos-New England game for a while this afternoon.

Last night was the first time for Kathy and me to go out for supper since I got out the hospital a couple of weeks ago. We went to Panera Bread for soup and sandwiches. It did seem a little strange to be pumping insulin into my body rather than saying Grace before eating.

I always thought it was ironic the amount of Missouri River water Budweiser Beer sold. Now that they have a brewery north of Fort Collins, they are draining the ground water and there is some growing criticism from some groups.

Today is another one of these days that has an unfortunate connection. I had a cousin, Joe, whose birthday was December 12th and who was 2 years and four days younger than me. Joe was a law student at the University of Minnesota and died in a car wreck leaving the University of Minnesota. This was a wintry April. He was buried in Montana during a snow storm as the story was told to me. Joe and I were the closest of cousins in age. December 12th is another of those infamy days. I'm having too many of them lately.

How about those Broncos?

At the last minute, Kathy, Keri, Eric, and the grand twins put a small 70th birthday party together for me (meatloaf, cheese broccoli, small piece of cake, small scoop of ice cream and one Bud light) and it was great.

As my daughter said to me "What other 70 year man would get excited about getting a GLEE calendar?" (It's just the teacher coming out in me.)

Aiden danced to "You're the one that I love" which is a singing card that Kathy bought me. I did gain a little over a pound but it was worth it. I'll hit the tread mill this afternoon.

I got the Christmas tree assembled this morning. We'll hook up the lights later today.

Today is my 70th birthday. Two weeks ago I was neither 70 nor a full-blown diabetic. Now I am both. I think the the road to life just got a whole lot steeper but I'm up for the challenge. I don't know what I would do without Kathy.

Got a tread mill yesterday. Worked out this morning and will do some more this afternoon-will just take time and patience.

I bought a new car on October 18th-I finally got the licence plates yesterday as the dealer kept messing up the paperwork. I would have had to pay a fine next week.

I think Keri and Eric and the boys will stop by tonight to help celebrate. There aren't aren't any grand plans. The University of Wyoming men's basketball team beat the U of Colorado men's team in Boulder last night. A friend bought me a ticket but obviously I cancelled but the win will count as a big birthday present for me.

Got an ad in the mail today. For only a little over $100, I could buy a very fine wine-Price $199: whom are you trying to kid?

Living in the city is nice but making Dr.'s appointments and speaker phones sometime make for conflicts. Cold here this morning but appointments don't start until tomorrow. Feeling better. Spent a small fortune on supplies. Kathy making supply runs.

Spent a good deal of today rearranging new drugs. With a change in life style comes a new set of drugs and new paraphernalia. If you ever a appreciate a spouse, now is the time. Figuring out glocose measure is a new world. A new diet is also a change. We finally were able to get 3 readings on the gluscose reader, took temp, blood readings. Kathy had to make several trips for supplies plus monitor vital signs.

More soon.

After 5 days in the hospital I admit to being a diabetic. I went in last Sunday, crashed, wound up in ICU and came out Monday morning with my arms tied down in restraints. I spent the next 2 and 1/2 days in ICU and the two 1/2 days after that in a regular room. The hospital specialists spent the next 2 1/2 days trying to figure to figure out if I had any neurological or heart damage so I got a lot of bed rest . Fortunately I was at the hospital where the grandtwins were born and the care quality is excellent.

Today is first day in my new life style. Between Thanksgiving and new life style, I don't how much the blog was missed.