April 12, 2009 Update

April, what a great month in Salem , OR .
 
Where do you start? As a whole the rains are pretty much gone. It was 70 degrees yesterday and it’s averaging around 60 and 40-45 at night. The daffodils and tulips are starting to bloom; the crocus already is in full bloom. People are getting their yards ready. Ours is ready to go, too many people jump the gun, we always have one more blast and they do it every year and have to go out and buy more. I always use Mothers Day as my gauge but with it getting warmer every year earlier May 1 is a good time. We have 45 rose bushes in our yard so a little pruning is in order, but not quite yet. We surround those with wave purple petunias that are spectacular. One flat and our 3 dirt hill areas in the front and along the back fence and that’s it. Petunias that you don’t have to snip either, priceless. OK $2.49 apiece but I fill the front and back with 1 flat! Unfortunately Melanie will have to do it this year with the girls (my nieces that live with us.) I can’t do it from a wheelchair.      
 
Its baseball time again. I used to love it but now I can’t tell who’s who on what team this year so I wait until the playoffs or have a game as “background” “music” while I’m working on the fundraising. I, Melanie and one of my nieces were taped for the Jerry Lewis telethon like last year. I’m the first person the Northwest has ever had on twice, just this time I couldn’t talk, but I can write fast. Basketball is nearing the end, oops, I mean of the regular season. Same thing when are the playoffs over June or July? Just stick the Lakers and Celtics in there let them play a 13 game playoff and call it a season.
 
Ever since I was a small boy we called this week golf week. In Indiana , golf season always starts the week after the Masters and what a tournament to watch. I’ve been lucky enough to go 3 times and the No.1 thing if you haven’t been there is how hilly it is. TV does not show it at all. For you golfers the 18th hole from the end of the trees on the right and the sand trap on the left it is almost straight uphill to the green, See the green? You can’t see the flag. Heck you can’t see anything including the clubhouse.
 
April is also my wonderful sister’s birthday, we’re 19 years apart with nobody in between or older or younger. It was tough to relate for a long time, but now we have been inseparable along with her wonderful husband, Alex. What a great a guy! Then My wonderful niece and nephew, Prescott and Aubree. Aubree is my god daughter and she could be in movies, but I feel Alex and Shawn will need track shoes to keep up with her. I’LL GET MY FIRST CHANCE AS THEY ARE COMING FOR 5 DAYS FOR Easter, I can’t wait.
 
Next month is ALS Awareness Month and I’ll send out a special newsletter for that, everything is not quite in place yet. Health wise, except for not being able to talk or walk (I’m confined to a wheelchair), things haven’t been too bad. Of course with 5 treatments of drugs, clearing the hole in my throat and suctioning my lungs 5 or more times a day I should be decent.
 
Well that’s about it, please keep passing my name around so they can read the website too. I love all of you and God bless you, remember Easter is not all Easter bunnies and chocolates. Don’t forget the real meaning. Happy Easter and Passover!
God bless.
Jim