Glenn Miller Birthplace Society music festival for 2025 is over!

 84º and partly cloudy here in Clarinda, IA at 2:30 pm on Tuesday with rain predicted in next few hours.  Have had rain a few times over the last week.

Yesterday we ended up driving to the Kansas City Airport.  People in charge of the Glenn Miller Birthplace Festival had lined up a bus to take the Bill Baker's Big Band (from the Netherlands-the word Netherlands means "lower lands" or "low countries" as approximately 26% of the Netherlands' land area is below sea level--and another bit of info; The Netherlands was known as Holland until January of 2020) but the bus hadn't showed up 30 minutes after the scheduled time so many people filled their cars and one man with a pickup that pulled the trailer with much of the luggage and band instruments in it and we headed to Kansas City Airport.  We met the bus just a mile or so north of the Missouri state line. That would have made the bus arrive at the Museum in Clarinda about one hour after the due time. I haven't heard how it turned out with the contract for the bus line!  We got them there in plenty of time to check their luggage in and all the paperwork, etc. to be aboard the flight which was to leave about 6:20 pm our time.

A few pictures at the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum and the original house where Glenn was born in 1904 that is near the museum.

We had picked up three band members last Wednesday--they were about 24 hours in travel from when they had left home.  There is a 7-hour time difference between here and there, they are 7 hours ahead of us on the clock.

in photo at right (taken yesterday morning as we were waiting time to meet the bus) Fred is on the right, he was the sound manager; Bert is next, he was the band director; and Maarten who played guitar, with Phyllis.

Phyllis was in charge of the Ushering (telling people where to go, taking tickets, helping any elderly with walkers and wheelchairs, etc.)  and she had several others beside me to help.  We were up to the High School by 7:30 am most days and didn't get home until after 10 pm most evenings.  I played Uber driver and went and picked up the men at the house and took them where they needed to go during the day, to high school, to a restaurant, etc.

The three guys Thursday morning.

On Thursday we watched over the scholarship competitions, both instrumental and vocal, during the day.  I don't have any photo of vocals.

Thursday evening we all went to the square here in Clarinda and first ate hotdogs or hamburgers, then listened to the Bonten & Miral “Talko” Japanese Drum Celebration there on the town square.  Click HERE for video of the ladies

  Then the composite Glenn Miller Orchestra, made up of local musicians and some of the attending professional bandsmen, put on a performance.

Well I have spent over five hours editing photos and videos and working on this blog. (I also spent time buying a new tree to plant west of the house and have hole partially dug)

 I will post more tomorrow about the festival.  Good night, Lynn Miles

29,951 days -- OR 82 years

 89 degrees here in Clarinda, IA at 5:30 pm Tuesday.  Forecast for high of 94º tomorrow.

Well, today I am as old as I have ever been.  May get some older.

One of the rose bushes we planted last week is already blooming!

I cut the weeds, small trees, etc., in the railroad right of way cut that is just behind our house.  Also cut up one fallen tree.

This tree died this last winter.  I tried to cut it down over a month ago, but it was hanging on trees across the way and dangerous.  It finally blew down.  I cut it up enough to get out of the main draw.

Starting the Glenn Miller Birthplace Festival tomorrow and will be tied up with it rest of week as well as housing and hosting 3 of the band members of Bill Bakers Big Band from The Netherlands tomorrow through Monday morning.

Saw this below and think it is appropriate:

If I get dementia, I’d like my family to hang this wish list up on the wall where I live. I want them to remember these things.

1a. Every time you enter the room announce yourself. “Hi Mom- it’s Margaret.”

NEVER ask- Do you know who I am??? That causes anxiety.

1. If I get dementia, I want my friends and family to embrace my reality.

2. If I think my spouse is still alive, or if I think we’re visiting my parents for dinner, let me believe those things. I’ll be much happier for it.

3. If I get dementia, don’t argue with me about what is true for me versus what is true for you.

4. If I get dementia, and I am not sure who you are, do not take it personally. My timeline is confusing to me.

5. If I get dementia, and can no longer use utensils, do not start feeding me. Instead, switch me to a finger-food diet, and see if I can still feed myself.

6. If I get dementia, and I am sad or anxious, hold my hand and listen. Do not tell me that my feelings are unfounded.

7. If I get dementia, I don’t want to be treated like a child. Talk to me like the adult that I am.

8. If I get dementia, I still want to enjoy the things that I’ve always enjoyed. Help me find a way to exercise, read, and visit with friends.

9. If I get dementia, ask me to tell you a story from my past.

10. If I get dementia, and I become agitated, take the time to figure out what is bothering me.

11. If I get dementia, treat me the way that you would want to be treated.

12. If I get dementia, make sure that there are plenty of snacks for me in the house. Even now if I don’t eat I get angry, and if I have dementia, I may have trouble explaining what I need.

13. If I get dementia, don’t talk about me as if I’m not in the room.

14. If I get dementia, don’t feel guilty if you cannot care for me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s not your fault, and you’ve done your best. Find someone who can help you, or choose a great new place for me to live.

15. If I get dementia, and I live in a dementia care community, please visit me often.

16. If I get dementia, don’t act frustrated if I mix up names, events, or places. Take a deep breath. It’s not my fault.

17. If I get dementia, make sure I always have my favorite music playing within earshot.

18. If I get dementia, and I like to pick up items and carry them around, help me return those items to their original place.

19. If I get dementia, don’t exclude me from parties and family gatherings.

20. If I get dementia, know that I still like receiving hugs or handshakes.

21. If I get dementia, remember that I am still the person you know and love.”

Cool with rain in Clarinda, IA

 58 degrees at 9:00 pm here in Clarinda, been overcast and misty rain much of the day on Sunday.  Had a lot of rain yesterday.   Couple inches here.

We drove the hundred miles down to Hiawatha, KS yesterday and had lunch and visited with LaRhoda Neher.  Going down was in rain all the way, much of it in very hard rain.  They got several inches in Kansas.  Coming back after 3:30 pm was in bright sunshine.

She is getting along well on the farm with family nearby.  Said the evenings can get long being alone now. 

I got good 1-week checkup on last eye surgery and have set date of June 18th to get exam for new glasses.  Now am a little fuzzy with long distance and relying in readers for near vision.  Going to not get the actual glasses to relieve this until after Glenn Miller Festival and going to Schuyler, NE for week of Music Festival.  Going to be a long several weeks.

I did get released from further PT with leg pain after consulting doctor about results of MRI a few weeks ago.  Multilevel degenerative spondylosis.  This explains the leg pain when narrowing happens around the nerve going to the leg.  Click HERE for article about it.   Will continue with most of the stretching exercises at home.

Few pictures of flowers around the place.

Got the wheel bearings repacked at Champ Automotive yesterday.  Hope trailer is ready to go on June 20th for our 10 days in it.

Drinking water

 

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO READ TO THE END

Some people say they don't want to drink before bed so you don't have to get up at night to go to the bathroom

I asked my cardiologist why do people (especially old people) pee so much at night.

His answer was: When you stand or sit, the force of gravity holds water in your lower body.

This is why legs can swell.

When you lie down, your lower body seeks balance with the kidneys.

So the kidneys remove the water along with the trash because then it's easier.

Water is essential to remove waste from your body.

I asked the cardiologist when is the best time to drink water. He answered me:

Drinking water at well defined times maximizes efficiency in the body.

- 2 glasses of water right after waking up activates internal organs.

- 1 glass of water 30 minutes before each meal improves digestion.

- 1 glass of water before taking a bath (or shower) lowers blood pressure.

- 1 glass of water before going to bed, prevents stroke or heart attack.

Drink water before bed, avoid leg cramps during the night. Your leg muscles, when you have cramps, are particularly seeking water and moisture.

1. If you take an aspirin every day, it's best to take it at night. - The reason: aspirin has a "half-span" of 24 hours. So: if most heart attacks happen in the morning, the aspirin in your body will be at its peak then.

2. Aspirins can last for many years in your small pharmacy, but not really because as they get older they smell like vinegar. Why keep aspirin on your bedside table? Besides pain in the left arm, there are other symptoms that indicate a heart attack: intense pain in the chin (and jaw), nausea and heavy sweating...

But these symptoms are less common.

Note: in a heart attack it is possible that you have NO chest pain. If you ever wake up to intense chest pains, immediately swallow two aspirins with a little water. Say to the phone "heart attack"! and also that you took 2 aspirin. Sit on a chair by the front door and wait for rescue.

ESPECIALLY!!! DON'T LAY DOWN !

A single human life could probably be saved, a cardiologist said if every person who receives this email forwards it to 10 other people!

IT CAN SAVE LIVES!!!

Another warm day, but cool weather the rest of the week.

 88º here in Clarinda, Iowa with bright sunshine and 19 mph wind out of the south at 3:15 pm Monday.

 It is to be cooler the rest of the week.

Just to give you a comparison to weather northwest of Orlando, FL for the next 10 days.

We planted two more rose bushes by the one that has been in front of the house for many years.  With the trellis there now they maybe can be corralled and tied where Phyllis wants them.

Though I can foresee the need to add some more support on both sides of the current trellis.

Finally got a vacuum sealer that I am using on the various vegetables kept in the refrigerator for my daily salad.  So far it works fine and think it will help keep longer the freshness of the vegetables.

     Thursday morning we attended a brunch at Eiler Senior Living here in Clarinda and got a tour of the place.  It is at least twice as big as when my sister lived there 20 years ago.

     Thursday evening we attended a "Picnic" at the Country Club put on by our financial adviser group.  

      Friday morning I had cataract surgery on my left eye in Hospital in Red Oak.  Now I go without glasses for 3 weeks while both surgeries have time to heal and eyes settle down before can get examined for new glasses.  Have to use "Readers" up close--but they only focus for me at about 12 inches--anything closer or further is blurred when wearing them.  Have decent vision, but a bit blurry, for far-away stuff without any glasses, but am sure will have some correction with bifocals to handle the closer stuff when new glasses are made.  The brightness I have now compared to before is amazing!

The dad-gummed squirrels want to dig in the dirt in the containers, which Phyllis has planted new flowers, so have been laying screening over them at night.  They haven't dug in them, but the green stuff is just about to start growing through the screens.  Hope when enough green covers it the rascals won't find it as interesting to dig in.

Some days the sky has been dark from the wildfire smoke Canada is sharing with us.

With a few days having the temperature in upper 80's I finally took the winter covering off the air conditioning unit.  Won't need it for a few days now, but when we have 3 band members from Holland here around the 10th of June for Glenn Miller Festival I wanted to make sure it works.  It does.

I finished up the 6 or 7 weeks of Physical Therapy for my leg pain/numbness last Friday.  We go to Omaha tomorrow to consult with doctor on results of MRI  I had taken several weeks ago. I was able to download the report from the Patient Portal and it had so many words I couldn't pronounce but "Multilevel degenerative spondylosis " was in final line of the report.  Will see what she recommends, if anything.

Here is schedule of the programs and events going on with Glenn
Miller Birthplace Festival next week.

Cousin's gathering in Clarinda

 68º with heavy overcast here in Clarinda, IA at 2:00 pm Wednesday.  Scattered showers forecast.  Have had nearly 2" of rain over last 4 days or so.

Monday we went to Judy Heuer's as did Joyce & Loren Tornholm, Larry and Linda Gutherie, Jan & Lynn Frye -- Judy, Joyce, Jan and Larry (Brother and sisters) are all first Cousins of Phyllis'.

Today I looked at a bunch of photo files on the computer and came up with pictures from 2016, 2023, 2024, and 2025 and made an album where you can look at all by CLICKING HERE

Haven't gotten out and done much this week so far.  Went for my Physical Therapy session (about leg pain/numbness) yesterday.  Will have another on Thursday and then have consultation with Dr. Berkey in Omaha next to hear here ideas after x-rays and MRI a couple weeks ago.  While in Omaha we will meet with friends Tom and Lisa Urban from Pennsylvania who live a few houses from us in Kenwood RV Park.  They will come to our place that evening and stay overnight before going to Fort Dodge, IA to visit family.

To have Cataract Eye Surgery on my left eye in Red Oak Hospital Friday morning.  The following week we will be involved with the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Music Festival at the High School.  Phyllis is in charge of Ushering and lining up people.  With my eyes not able to have glasses following surgery on both of them I'm not sure how I will see things, but will make an appearance.

"Decoration Day" 2025

 Today is "Decoration Day", at least that is what Mom always called it many, many years ago.  What is formally known as Memorial Day now.  Because they always went to the cemetery and decorated the gravestones.  Today is the 17th anniversary of my sister Louise's funeral here in Clarinda.

     Phyllis picked many of the peonies from the back yard and we spent an hour or so at the cemetery here in Clarinda before noon.

She spent time cutting, sorting and arranging.

In the back of the pickup and we were on our way.

On the left is stone of Phyllis' parents Melvin and Pauline Cabbage.  On the right is stone of her Dad's sister Millicent and Ed Guthrie.

Getting the flowers from back of pickup and making sure the plastic containers were full of water.

Stone of Phyllis' mother's parents Lester and Etta Runyan.

Stone of Phyllis' dad's parents, Ed & Edna Cabbage.

Stone of Phyllis' cousin Carrol Sandahl Yei.  She was granddaughter of Ed & Millicent Guthrie and daughter of Joyce Guthrie Torhnholm.

Stone of my sister Louise Miles.  As I stated above, her funeral was 17 years ago today.  Still missed.

Stone of our daughter-in-law Patty Miles' parents Fred & Fern Baze.