Tractors and Shredders and Cranes, Oh My!!!!!!

     

   We  received notice that sewers are being installed in our neighborhood this week.  On Thursday morning I could hear the digging going on in my next door neighbors yard.  About mid-morning they moved into our yard. One guy came through with a chain saw and cut down my beautiful Japanese bushes.  They flower every year and then produce orange fruit balls that are good for the birds to eat. I was banging on the window and waving to the guy but he just kept sawing those bushes down! He saw me but totally ignored me.  I planted those bushes shortly after we moved in here. They were about 30 years old and beautiful  and now they are gone.  With Parkinson's, I couldn't walk down the snowy backyard to talk to them so Olya called Dan and he came home. 

We also had four crab apple trees and they cut down three so it looks stupid with only one in that area.  They told Dan that they had the "right of way" and could cut down anything in their way.   He told them he wanted the last crab apple tree cut down but I don't think they cut it down.  They got off of their machines around noon and have not been back yet!  But their HUGE machines are still sitting in my back yard!!
       I received a beautiful card from my friend MJ.  MJ is also a bereaved mom and runs a support network for lots of bereaved moms.  She is very kind and very caring and very thoughtful.  The card was certainly a happy moment in my day!!
       Dan drove Olya back to school today! It was so nice to have her home for the week!  I miss her already.  I let her sleep in all week because she was on Spring Break!  She has a different break than her two best friends from high school.  She got to see her friend Nicole because Nicole's college is only about 45 minutes away and Nicole started her Spring Break on Sat. I just love Olya's two best friends, Nicole and Paige.  I think they both introduced each other's boyfriends to the other two girls and got their approvals!! Olya told me that Nicole has a great roommate and a really nice boyfriend! Olya had met Nicole's boyfriend earlier than this week.  Olya has to get back to school and make note cards,  Olya does everything she can to be a successful student!  I don't think many people realize how hard she has to work for her grades.  Olya was almost 11 years old when we adopted her.  She has had to work so hard to catch up and learn the language.  Ukraine starts first grade at age 8 so I had to skip Olya one grade because she was almost 11 when she was adopted.  She was in grade 3 in Ukraine and we placed her in grade 4 when she came to the U.S.
       Today my hand twitched.  I don't know if it was a fluke or the beginning of Parkinson's tremors. I hope it was just a fluke! My friend Dianne has twitching so she knew she had Parkinson's.
        Tonight is Book Club at my house and I am excited to host. It took me over a week to get ready and this is a very informal group. Our kids all went to school together for the most part! I am just so slow doing anything because of the Parkinson's.  I put out everything I could yesterday and this morning.  Later I will mix the dip, put out the cookies, fruit, chips, and cake.  Unfortunately my friends will have to serve themselves because I can't do that!  I am afraid I would spill everything on them! All of the book club members are pretty laid back so I think it will be fine!