Dear friends, I want to thank those of you who’ve written, and to apologize for not getting in touch with all of you sooner. This has NOT been a great summer for Janine and I, but it has been a busy one. In May we moved to a house in Retreat Wi, a small farming community located near De Soto. The house we moved to is a very old farm house, and it’s a whopping 25 feet sq. We’ve spent the better part of the summer trying to decide what we had to keep, what we wanted to keep, and where to put things. The put things was the hardest part because when we moved in, there were no closets and no cabinets. We have gradually found space for everything, or at least someplace to store stuff and Janine has done her usual wonderful job decorating. I hope some of you get the chance to come visit us if you are up this way. I started a guide service on the Mississippi River, or rather, I started applying for a grant to start a guide service. After four months of classes, all that’s left is the end of the paperwork, and I’m proud to announce that as of ice break 2002, Cowboy’s Charter Service will be up and running. I am planning on specializing in assisting people with disabilities to enjoy the river, and I hope to obtain sponsors to help defray the cost. If you know of someone who would enjoy a fishing trip in Wisconsin, gift certificates are available (how is that for a blatant plug?). While both of these activities have kept us busy, an unfortunate accident has really been what’s taken our summer time. In early June, while Janine was washing dishes, she started off meds, and accidentally poked a steak knife in her eye. It hurt her a day or so, and then seemed to heal up. However, about a month later, while we were taking her children on a camping trip, it begin to hurt her badly. We ended up in the emergency room, where the doctor told us she had a cornea lesion and infection. We had her treated daily at our local hospital (60 miles one way) and she had to make several trips to Mayo clinic where she had surgery. Despite all efforts, scar tissue formed and she is, to all extent, blinded in her right eye. The doctors tell us that maybe, in a year or so, she might be a candidate for a cornea transplant and might regain her sight, but right now it’s too early to call. She is still having to see the doctor once a week or so, and only time will tell if she regains her sight. Just to add a little fun to the mixture, her insurance runs out this month. We figured that wouldn’t be a problem, because as soon as we get married I can add her to my insurance. However, when we went to get the license, we found out that although my divorce was from Texas, and has a thirty day waiting period, we are getting married in Wisconsin, which has a six month waiting period. A quick trip to Vegas will get us married and her on insurance, and we will get married in WI later in the winter. Right now we are both trying to find whatever we can do to raise money for a quick trip, but it’s not been easy. My ulcer is acting up again, and only fast footwork is keeping the doctors from hospitalizing me. (But I can dance really fast as I go off meds,!) SOOOOO, that is where we have been, and what’s been happening. The Parkinson Pathway, a periodical specializing in poems from Parkies is very late, but the first edition will be mailed out next week, and the second one will follow the next week. For those of you who have been so patiently waiting, my deepest apologies. All I can say is that things have been busy. If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, send your address and $15.00 to Bob Armentrout, E3192 Hayden Rd De Soto WI 54624. I also have LOTS of copies of the “pre-newsletter” still available. If anyone didn’t get one and would like one, they are free. Just send a self addressed stamped envelope to the same address and I will get it out to you. I hope each of you is doing well, and I wish God’s blessing on all. Take care and let me know how you are doing. Bob aka Tex, and his lady, Janine aka Idlewild --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using Midwest Tel Net Web Based Mail. http://www.mwt.net/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn