Category Archives: The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Hypno-therapy seems to have worked

May 2, 2014 AmeliaJake

Bob is almost done with sunbathing (the feel of the space heater) as he sits resting after his invigorating swim in Lake Michigan.

Oh, excuse me while I run and get his sunglasses . . .

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Bob is at the spa

May 2, 2014 AmeliaJake

Bob the Bear, not to be confused with Bob the Builder of whom I know almost nothing, came from the Ohio Redoubt for a sprucing up because even Der Bingle thought Bob might be a little . . . grungy. As I type, he is in the treatment machine. I was planning on waiting until everything was complete until posting, but when I looked at his before picture, I realized I may have to run fast when the lid opens on the, you know, treatment machine.

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Friday – May 2nd – just the facts, ma’am

May 2, 2014 AmeliaJake

I am unmotivated today, as I was yesterday and the day before. However, it is Friday and if I can’t get motivated on a Friday, then I might as well turn in my “Some connection with Normalcy” card.

Decades ago Friday was the day I liked because I didn’t have to do my homework, even though I knew, KNEW, I’d be bemoaning it at 10pm on Sunday night.

I suppose I could wash my hair today; I saw my reflection in the car window when I was getting in to take Summer to school. It was kooky, even for me.

Oh, I know what I will do today: I will go around picking up my marbles.

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Not much to say

April 29, 2014 AmeliaJake 1 Comment

Quentin has gone; he left on an airplane yesterday afternoon. AmeliaJake drove him and he gave me a final fairground run and a last pat on the head at the water bowl as he went out the door.

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

April 27th

April 27, 2014 AmeliaJake

I had a very nice day today and I hope you did as well.

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Shane

April 26, 2014 AmeliaJake 1 Comment

Last night Shane was thrilled – Quentin walked in the house with Der Bingle. There was an immediate trip to the fairgrounds and this morning, someone’s furry face kept poking someone else’s trying to sleep face. I don’t know if Shane thinks Quentin climbed out of the phone or not, but he’s just enjoying himself immensely.

The rest of us are pretty pleased as well.

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Recalibrating

April 24, 2014 AmeliaJake 5 Comments

Today has been an almost meltdown day. Would an almost China Syndrome be a Chia Syndrome? I think you’re getting the drift of my instability. What kind of a brain comes up with that?

I went through so many self-analysis sessions (They run about 5 to 10 minutes) and so many guilt trips (About two minutes each – all I can take) and so many What would be a good lifestyle? scenarios (Actually, they flash quickly because they seem so daunting). The punctuation in that sentence is weird, I know it, but so is this whole post. Anyway, this is what I am getting at: I went through so many thought sessions that my mind is now mush.

I would say synapses and stress hormones got a workout today. Maybe I am now sporting a stress fractal. Oh, that pun hurt; I’d better dip my toe in that pool, before jumping in. After all, I’m 65 – in trying to be hip, I might break it. Okay, a little more gradual than that.

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Just one more thing

April 24, 2014 AmeliaJake

So, you’ve always been high-strung, getting fired-up about all sorts of things, feisty and opinionated . . . and then having heard all your life about mellowing out and just not caring that much about some things, you just sigh at events and go on . . . and then you stumble on an internet article that states apathy in older people is maybe due to SHRINKING BRAINS.

Yes, I didn’t need this. To top it off, though, I found myself thinking, “Oh, I don’t care.”

Call me Pin Head.

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Thank God I didn’t have a wreck

April 23, 2014 AmeliaJake

Last night I decided I’d better take off my dress and actually keep it from having something spilled on it – or experience one of my “Oh, I’ll just take a quick look at this paint and just looking won’t get any paint on me” moments. So I put on sleep clothes early; then I slept in them; and, then, (Oh, AmeliaJake, how low you have fallen) I drove Summer to school in hot pink pajama pants with polar bears on them AND a green St. Patrick’s Day tee shirt sporting a leprechaun spitting out a rainbow of gold coins. I did wear real shoes – the ones I paint in.

Maybe I should just call myself Maxine.

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

A mission of mercy

April 22, 2014 AmeliaJake

A CERTAIN NAME that had a prominent place in the title of my last post is causing discomfort to those who see it, so I am going to move it down the page as requested by showing THAT NAME in picture form.

From this LINK, we have:

This LINK gives us:

Then there is this LINK:

And, finally, this LINK:

***Jody Lynn Vance: 1985-2011***

Jody was born at sunrise on a bright, sunny, cold, snowy Groundhog’s Day and from Day One she was a gift to everyone around her. Her infectious laugh and rambunctious spirit made her the center of attention where ever she happened to be.

She and her Dad would watch Sesame Street and sing at the top of our voices (and quite out of key) all of the songs. She enjoyed having Mom fix her hair so it was fancy and just right.

As a toddler she had quite an impressive vocabulary and often had a lot to say. One time Dad was headed out the door to go to work and she pointed her finger and said, “No. No. No. Don’t go anywhere!“

Jody was very seldom crabby, always happy and she wasted no time in spreading that joy to everyone around her. Jody’s favorite place was to be perched on the lap of Mom or Dad or playing with her toys spread out all over the floor. Jody was always affectionate, wanting hugs and “moochies” as she called smooches on the cheek.

At around two, Jody’s illness began to attack her. It took a beautiful, innocent child and put her through untold pain and suffering,

I know that through all of that she was not afraid. She had the heart and spirit of lion. She never gave up; time after countless time, she would open her eyes and there would come that smile. Jody lost her speech, but never was at a loss for words. She could say more with a look or a half smile than most people do yakking all day long.

After numerous doctor, hospital, and specialist visits, we were given the news of her illness. I remember that moment frozen in time … it was as if the entire world stopped. It was in that brief moment we both knew that we must make the very most of the time we had remaining together and not dwell on the despair of all of the things that would never be.

Jody was not expected to live more than three or so - but she had too many things to do and stories to tell, so she cruised by that birthday and over two more decades of birthdays, Christmases and millions of smiles and hugs. Jody was well-liked by other kids; once when she was being wheeled into her classroom at Handicare, one of the children yelled, “Hey everybody, Jody’s here” and all the kids cheered.

Two of the biggest joys in her life were her two little brothers, Joey and Sammy. She would just beam with joy when they would sit next to her and when they began to get older she’d love to listen to them running through the house and playing together. The two of them would start laughing and Jody would laugh right along with them. She would listen intently to everything they did and they would include her as often as they could. The three of them loved watching Saturday morning cartoons and The Three Stooges.

Joe and Sam did without a lot of things that other kids had, did and took for granted … and they never once complained or were resentful of the way things were. That shows a special kind of love and a special kind of family.

As the years went by and the boys grew up into strong and healthy, Jody’s health slowly and steadily declined. She would have long stretches where she was fairly stable and then would become so very ill.

Many times we were sure the end was near and then she would open those sparkling blue eyes and stretch just like nothing had happened at all.

Once she was in the hospital with her usual bout of pneumonia and lapsed into a coma; this went on for 8 days. One Dr. came in, examined her and just shook his head. Later that night Jody’s eyes popped open and she was refreshed from her cat- nap.

People over the years have commented, ”I don’t know how you do it. ”This always struck me as odd. My thoughts would always be: How could you even think of turning your back on someone who needs you that much?

It was always our promise to Jody that she would always live at home with her family and I think she found comfort in knowing that.

But, no one person can take the credit for caring for this wonderful young woman. It has taken an army of doctors, nurses, teachers, aides, pharmacists, friends, and family over the years to maintain Jody at home, and we could never begin to thank you enough.

Jody always kept her head held high and never seemed to be afraid; she has truly been my inspiration on many occasions. When things were gloomy and seemed hopeless, just one smile and a hug was all I needed to go on. Jody will always be my hero. I love her and will treasure the time we had together.