Really Pumping High Today

Kristi's Family

I sent out an email to see if any of my grandchildren wanted any of the stuff I am decluttering out the door.  Kristi wanted lincoln logs but they were gone last year to a pre-school.  But she also wants a lot of games and sent a few pix.  Looks like they are having a fun summer, especially the last one.

Classmate Obert Undem Obituary

You surely do not know in high school what kind of life is ahead for each of us.  Obert turned out to be quite a catch, but we surely did not know that.  I do not recall that any of us had dated him.  Very interesting life.   There were 8 of us honored with high grades and he was one of them, he planned on being a biology teacher.  I thought we were listed as honorees according to our rating but he was after me so that could not have been.  He was a brain.  I never knew that local people had financed his education.  That is really wonderful.

 

Obert Undem descended from pioneer Norwegian ranchers, born in the Great Depression and hardened by toil on the family ranch north of Glendive, Montana. Obert Undem later lived an extraordinary life as a lawyer, banker, and philanthropist.

His life was filled with art, music, travel, and gourmet cooking — his own --- any dish that he cooked would be a delicious part of a wonderful meal. He loved to cook a meal for a party of friends or family. Obert enlivened his time with friends through a lively wit and intelligent conversation. He was known for his “Obert-isms”, pithy observations, like “Every good day is one day less of winter” and “I’m not a quitter, but I have a fast watch”.

He was devoted to his steadfast companion, his wife Ginny, who was always at the heart of his life. She, along with many friends, advocated he publish a cookbook of his recipes. That never materialized, although he unselfishly shared them when asked.

Undem attended a one-room schoolhouse on Deer Creek before going to high school in Glendive where a kindly couple, who hired him to mow their lawn and shovel their walks, took notice of his academic achievements. Retired banker, Robert H. Watson, and his wife, Ino DeLong Watson, who he fondly called “Auntie Mame,” underwrote his education at Carleton College, which they had attended, and later his pursuit of a post-graduate education at Harvard.
“My education was provided by someone who gifted it to me,” he recalls. “They paid all my expenses -- that was an incredible thing for them to do -- and all I did was mow their lawn when I was a kid.” 

That memory inspired his work at Rocky Mountain College where he raised millions of dollars to help students through building endowments that would ensure the future benefit of students.

His bachelor of arts degree was awarded cum laude in 1957 from Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota; his master’s in business administration was from Harvard University School of Business Administration, Boston, in 1957; and his Juris doctorate degree was conferred by William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1963. 

Undem came to Rocky Mountain College in 1995, after a 15-year career as a solo practitioner as an estate and tax planning attorney in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Prior to that, he had a 20-year career as a bank president, trust officer, and consultant in Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. He was a recently retired member of the Bar Associations of Montana, Arkansas, and Minnesota. He served 30 years as a director of the Mid-America Arts Alliance in Kansas City, Missouri.
Undem served as a board member of many civic, cultural and commercial organizations, among them the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, the Minneapolis Art Institute, the Arkansas Symphony, the Montana Community Foundation, the Billings Community Foundation and the Rocky Mountain College Institute for Peace Studies.

His honors include selection as the Outstanding Professional Fundraiser of the Year 2008, awarded by the Montana Chapter of the Association of Professional Fundraisers, and an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service by Rocky Mountain College in 2010. The Billings Community Foundation honored his legacy by creating the Obert Undem Community Vitality Endowment, in recognition of his determined advocacy for community foundations across Montana.

Undem is survived by his wife of 36 years, Virginia (Ginny) Undem, his son, Steve Undem of Morrow, AR, and his daughter, Carolyn Hollingsworth of Springdale, AR. He is also survived by his grandchildren – Amanda Bayley, Sara Tice, Mia Undem and Zac Undem along with several great-grandchildren. 

My Hero

Sadie has a friend that visits her at least twice a day.  It is the dog who lives behind us, facing another street.  The dog likes to pee on everything when she is here and I do not mind the dirt but on the deck I do not like.  I really gave him a scolding the other day and Sadie took note.

Today, when the dog started to pee on one of the gardens, Sadie immediately made him stop and then stayed close to him as to say, "You cannot do that here, but I am still your friend, "  and then Sadie looked back at me and I praised her, and she wagged her tail, happily.

It is amazing how smart Sadie is and what an understanding companion. MY HERO!  She has an appointment to get groomed next week!!!!  She gets really tuckered out watching over me.

Boston Cream Pie

A couple of weeks ago I was at the Susanville Market and starting having a conversation with one of the clerks.  I said that someone had told me they had good 'Boston Cream Pie' and I saw that they had several in the food case.  I decided to try one and ended up getting for free because I had over $100 in groceries that day.

Then I made the comment that we used to be able to buy a cake mix with instructions and ingredients for such a pie.  Another clerk agreed with me.  It was one of my favorite desserts when I was raising my children.

I ended up not liking the way they made the Boston Cream Pie but it kept nagging at me till yesterday I decided to make it myself.  Yes, it did taste as good as the package mix I remember but I should not have made it. 

I have got to off this sugar track I have been on this summer.  It makes me listless and fat and I do not want to go down that route again!!!!

However, I would like to know why they quit making the mix!!!!

Kristi's Summer

I sent Kristi a message to say I sent them a Marco Polo and hoped someone would talk back to me about what they were doing, hadn't seen any pix for a while so she immediately sent me some.  Brynn also Marco Poloed me but the little vixen used the funny voice trick and I really could not understand a word she said but appreciated the attention anyway.  Kristi said they have had visitors all summer and it has been crazy.  So glad they have lots of cousins to visit them.

This picture is when Linda had her crew there celebrating her birthday.  We have Molly with a cowboy hat in the back with Tanner in his own cap.  And then Sarah, Kristi, and Kate in cowboy hats.  I told Linda that Kristi was so beautiful and she said, I know.  Look at those eyes, she really has them mastered!!!  

This must be Kristi's children with Mike's sisters' children sitting on top of their wonderful hot tub in the yard of their new house.

Same crew, different venue!

Ditto.

Ditto!!  Fun summer in Henderson and surrounding area!.

Lily Time

The Lillies bloomed late this year and many of the stems did not have flowers on them and there is fewer every year.  Whether it is the squirrels, my gardening techniques, the pine trees, or the soil, I have no idea.  I just try to keep them watered and fed and whatever happens, happens.  But you have to look hard in these pictures to even see them.

Me, Today

My Dr once corrected me and said my eyes are not getting smaller, the skin is just closing in around them.  Well, it keeps happening, and with my yellow teeth, scant eyebrow, brown spots, and tiny eyes I look older and older but actually since the derm changed all my beauty products my skin does look better without eczema all over.  Why am I plagued by allergies?  I have been sleeping with the windows open and then close in the daytime and it keeps the house cool all day long but I am so stuffed up in the morning, even though I take allergy pills.  I really should not be living up here in the mountains but I do love the peace and quiet and Sadie loves being able to roam quite a bit without getting in trouble.  She is at the patio door to go out before her friend dog even gets halfway from his house to ours.  I do not know what she hears?  Amazing.

Maria and Johnny in Hawaii

Maria and Johnny use some of the timeshare points and spend a week on the big island this time!!

Pesky Squirrels

They have a whole 1/2 acre to dig holes in but one of them prefers the soft dirt in the planter.  He makes a long hole but does not put anything in it.  What a mess.  I tried spraying the dirt in the planters with mint spray(scope) but they do not seem to mind it.

Solar Works!

I bought this little solar gadget to keep the water moving in the birdbath so mosquitoes will not populate.  Trouble is the sun only hits this particular spot about twice a day and can't find a better place to put it.  Yes, there is not much sun at my house, but it keeps me cool on a hot day!

Linda's Birthday in Henderson

Linda and her family spent a few days in Henderson after their hike through Moab and these are the pictures I got.

 Linda's children who helped celebrate her birthday are Sarah, Tanner, Amy, Kristi and Harper Jo (Amy's baby)

Molly (Krist's) was also there and I guess Charli loves to tag after Molly.

Charli was proud to show her decorated legs and the hand-me-down shoes from Molly!

Harper Jo had a big smile for somebody.

Aspartame

I read several articles about aspartame.  Why it ever got approved is very strange considering how bad it is for you.  Supposedly it was political.  All of the possible dangers I have been experiencing the past few weeks.

About six weeks or more ago I decided I wanted a root beer float so I bought A & W diet rootbeer and some plain vanilla.  It was so tasty I kept on drinking it every day until I was up to three or four cans a day!!!!

Anyway, I have been so depressed, foggy brain, fatigue, headache, blurred vision, gained weight, big middle, huge appetite, craving more pop, more carbs, more sugar, more food!!!  Just look at me, tired looking!!!

Today I had trouble trying to fix my dishwasher.  I think I just will not use it anymore!!!  Anyway, after working for an hour on it I went into my bedroom and cried loudly for a half hour.  I have not cried like that since Richard died!  I very seldom can cry except for a few tears.  But I have been so frustrated on things I cannot do anymore plus all things above and I felt like I was crying for everything I ever lost or had taken away from, everything I had not succeeded in, every frustration and I just had to get it all out.  It was good for me!!!   I think I should have cried a lot more over the years.  Maria says it is good because you are getting in touch with your feelings.  This is something I rarely do I guess.  After I cried I put a damp cloth on my eyes and lay down for an hour listening to Chris Botti music.  Then I showered, shampooed, dressed, etc and took Sadie for a walk around the block!!  I feel much better.

But I am throwing out the root beer and reading labels again and staying away from as much processed food as I can and hopefully I will get back to feeling good again!!!  As bad as sugar is I do believe the aspartame is much worse and I know I am very sensitive to things I ingest.  I just cannot go back to where I came from before I lost weight.  So, eight pounds, you are coming off and I am going to start more walking and physicality.

All Is Well

PA Nielsen had me get an ultrasound on my cheek but they were not able to get a clear picture except to say they did see a lesion (that means something that could be cancerous or not).  Suggested having a CT Scan.

Meanwhile, my salivary gland does seem to be getting smaller with the treatment I have been doing.

I did the blood test and urine test after had taken cephalexin... for 5 days.   All looks ok.  The CT Scan guy was a real gentleman plus he had no problem putting the needle in and getting into the blood vessel and the scan was fast.  He says he has been doing it for 30 years and he was good.

I pulled the result off the patient portal and it was all good.  They could see it but nothing to worry about, meanwhile it is still getting smaller.

PA Nielsen called and said all good news and she or her assistant would call later with detail.  Neither called but I think they must be swamped with Dr. Salihi now gone.

I still do not have my 2nd pneumonia shot and should call about that.  And I really do not know exactly why it flared up in the first place.  Maybe I will never know why but the treatment worked to get it back to a normal size so I guess it does not matter why.

P S, I finally did get my 2nd pneumonia shot and the gal explained to me that for people over 65 they are recommending two different types of pneumonia shots being given at least six months apart.