Expectant Life -or- Expecting a Long Life

I had breakfast yesterday with a group of retired nurses I had worked with over the past few decades. Some of us meet monthly but yesterday were happy to see four new people join the group. It has been a few years since I have seen some of them.
We took turns telling what was going on in our lives. There were updates on our kids and grandkids and husbands. Some were going through serious health problems and we empathized. Several were getting ready to head to a warmer climate for the winter. One is going to New York to sing with a Chorale group at Carnegie Hall. We were impressed. She said her granddaughter asked "What's Carnegie Hall". Kids will keep you humble.
My former "boss" said she had fired her doctor and now got her health care from a "Mid-life midwife". ?? Everyone but me seemed to understand the term. Since she is a year older than me, I wondered what place a midwife had in her life. Of course I Googled the term when I got home and found many sites. One described a mid-life midwife as someone who helps you give birth to the rest of your life. Hmmm. The word midwife doesn't seem to fit in my life, and if this is mid-life I am surprised. I enrolled in Medicare on my last birthday. If this is mid-life I should be expecting to live to 130. I guess I am not that optimistic.
Mid-life doesn't seem right for me, but I am not going to upgrade to an "End-life Midwife either. I think I will stick with my physician.

Youngest Contestants Survive Dancing With the Stars Cuts Due to Prejudice

(Wondered if that title would catch a few readers.)

Youngest dancers I speak of are our twin grandkids who love the show. A few bars of da-da-da-da, DA,Da,Da...get their attention. Daughter Mary reports Zoe says "Tutu, mama" and isn't happy until she is wearing her pink tutu. Mary had to get it out of the laundry Monday night. Who knew you needed more than one tutu for a toddler girl? You need two tutus at two: a spare if one is in the wash!
I submitted a little story about Zoe titled "The Girl in the Draggin' Tutu" a month ago. She is still draggin' it around and wearing the versatile garment over jeans or pajamas.

Daddy's Girl

Daughter Mary commented on the kids blog about a resemblance between Mike and Zoe.
I agree especially after comparing photos of a young Mike to Zoe.
(Pictures pilferred from the twins blog.)

Little House Not On The Prairie

Found a Lil Tykes Playhouse on Craigslist for the kids birthday.

My Latest Read

Enjoyed this book which was recommended by my sister in Texas. Had to call her and ask if the pioneer rancher in the book, August Schmidt, was the same homesteader of their property. Yup. It made the book more interesting because we have stayed with them and can picture the area.

The novel is about the great drought of the '50's and presents an empathetic picture of the trials of ranchers and men who work the land.

Time For Vikings to Pillage When the Saints Go Marching In

Headline in the St. Paul Pioneer Press this morning says, "Imagine". Beneath that is a photoshopped picture of our #4, Brett Favre holding the superbowl trophy.

Many NFL fans felt good seeing Drew Brees and the NO Saints win the big game last February. New Orleans needs encouragement and that quarterback brought game.

It is time to have mercy on this franchise. The Vikings have never won the big game. Those who lived through the glory years in the 70's are a little gun shy, at least I am. We have four Superbowl games and four losses. But, hope springs eternal.
This might be the year. It is #4's last season. (At least that is what his contract says.) Fans are hanging a lot on one guy. We could win it all if those bruisers from the Saints don't mangle poor Brett at the season opener tonight.
If that happens, we will have to live with today's front page and print that photoshopped picture to hang on the wall.

The Last Word on Feet

Now some cute feet. Zoe, prepped to be a flower girl and Roman in his big boy shoes.