HELLO FROM PITTSBURGH!

I trust that your summer is going well.  Did you say "Hot!"?

Yeh, we all know that feeling.  Not only weatherwise, but
politically, too, if you've been keeping up with the news
and reading my blogs.

Cindy is pretty well over her foot surgery.  Walking unaided,

driving, back to her 3-day a week shop schedule, cooking,
etc.  WHEW!  I'm still doing laundry and emptying the
dehumidifier (downstairs), but she's "feeling her oats"
otherwise.

My condition is improved, though not totally cleared up
yet.  Still on that $80 a month prescription, along with
others, but eating regularly.  One more month until I see
the Doc again for a checkup.

C.J. likes his new job a lot, especially the part of working
Monday thru Friday with regular office hours.  He's taken
on a part-time clothing store cashiers job, but still has
time for soccer and Emily.  Hasn't made it home yet, but
he's still hoping to. 

Chartel has scheduled her Fall classes at school, though

her FAFSA application didn't result in any assistance.

Since she has to use her 'parents' info and we did the

deal on the houses, our income was inflated (falsely) to

the point where they won't give her the help she needs.

Please pray that they'll reconsider and come through.

Otherwise she seems to be healthy and doing fine.  Her

Doc is concerned about her "sleep-walking", suggesting

that it may be hereditary, but none of the rest of us do it.

I think that she's just so busy that her mind keeps going

when she tries to stop her body to rest. 

Leaving for Kimberly Saturday AM, about 7.  Bill will

be deploying soon, and the boys are getting too big

too soon, so I'll make a quick and short 3-day visit

there.  Won't have time to visit around, as last year,

sadly, as I need to get back to work and schedule a

test or two, including a colonoscopy.  Ouch!

Hope all is well with you.  Please keep in touch.

Keep reading my blogs while I'm able to write them,

as they might "put me away" one of these days.  Ha-Ha.

Love you all, Chartel, C.J., Cindy, and Bill.

P.S.  I'm on Facebook daily as C W Bill Richey.

July Tidings and Greetings!

Greetings, friends and family members.  I trust that all
is well with you and yours.

It's America's Birthday today, with mine shortly to
follow, so it's a time of celebration.

All here are fine.  Chartel is on her way over for a
visit, about a once-a-month thing.  Better than none.
C.J. plans to be here sometime in the next couple
of weeks, so that's cool.  My plans are to head to
Wisconsin mid-August, visiting the grandsons and
family just before Bill is deployed.

Cindy has been honored with another recognition
for her many hours of volunteer work.  The local
newspaper, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, along with
the American Red Cross, the RSVP program, the
Heinz Endowment Foundation, and Highmark are
feting her a others from the region in a special
newspaper picture and article, another dinner, and
the possibility of going to Washington, D.C. next
year for another event.  WOW!

C.J. is settled into his new apartment near downtown
Harrisburg.  He love his job, and his new "digs", as
they're one short block from the Susquehenna River.
He and his lady friend, Emily, seem to spend a lot of
time together when they are working - he's daylight,
she mostly afternoons and evenings.  Oh well.

My health is better, though I'm being pressed to get
a colonoscopy, which I'll probably have to agree to
soon.  All other tests have been good, so onward
and forward, I guess.  Hasn't kept me from work or
church lately, so that's good.  New script costs
$82 a month!  Wow.  Never spend that much before.
Oh well, we only die once.  Huh?

Writing my blogs when I get a chance.  Did a sports
column and a patriotic column today.  Will do a
humor and an inspirational blog tomorrow, hopefully.

Love to all.  Have a great summer.  Hope to hear from
you or see you soon.  Cindy, Bill, Chartel, C.J.

It's April - Whatever Happened To March?

Good day, Friend. I guess you can say that my brain took a month off, not having posted a family update since Feb. 1. Sorry. Been too busy cowering from the cold, rain, and snow. What a loooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggg winter we have had. Not as long as people in Maine (that's for you, Mike, Joseph & Nathaniel), but too long for Pittsburgh. I thought we were having "global warming"? Where is that Al Gore fella, anyway? Anybody seen or heard from him? We are all healthy and well. C.J. is settling into his new job at Ames True Temper Tools, Intl., in Harrisburg, and getting to use his Spanish some. It's a job he has to "grow into". He likes it, especially since he has evenings and weekends to himself (and Emily, too). He's in the process of looking for a place of his own, as his housesitting gig ends at the end of May. He thinks he's found one, and may need Dad's help to get moved when that time comes. He hopes to come home for a weekend soon, hopefully to catch a Pirates game, among other things. Chartel is busy, busy, busy. With her 2 part-time jobs, taking her college courses, etc., we don't get to see or hear from her much. Not enough, anyway. She got a "newer" car, a white Pontiac G6, I think it is, and it seems to fill the bill for now. Hope it lasts longer than her last one did. I cautioned her about checking fluids, etc. and keeping the maintenance up on it. Hope she can. Some of you got pictures of both kids from Christmas. Sorry to be so long getting them to you. Hope you like them. If you didn't get any and want a copy of each, let me know. Cindy is fine. She and her cohorts are anxiously awaiting the May issue of "Woman's Day", when their shop will be featured in the "Making A Difference" section. Be sure to look for the article. There's been a continuous flow of publicity for their venture, ever since she won the Pittsburgh Volunteer of the Year award. I'm okay. Cutting my work load(?) down to 2 days a week starting this coming week. Will work Wednesdays and Fridays, having Mondays and Tuesdays to go to a Pirates game or more with Gregg and Cody, Cindy's son and grandson (mine, too). I'm still "on call" whenever one of the other manager-gals gets ill or needs to miss work, and will fill in as-needed, though not excited about doing so. Glad to help out when I'm "able". Ha-Ha. Plan to get to Wisconsin sometime in the summer, fitting in between the grandsons' camping plans and Bill's training schedule. He goes to Kosovo in September for an 8 to 9 month "peacekeeping" stint with his Guard unit. He and Colleen spent a week in Hawaii recently, and plan to do as many things with the boys as possible before he is deployed. Something else to PRAY about!! We trust all is well with you and yours. Thanks for reading, and thanks for keeping in touch when you can. Look back for our phone numbers to our previous letter. God bless you all, and come visit us in Pittsburgh!! P.S. - The "new" house is quite comfortable and livable, now that the painter and the electricians are done. Cindy did a fine job hanging the pictures and wall hangings, etc. Getting settled in, waiting to do some yard work......someday......weather permitting(?)!

WELCOME, "LOVE MONTH"!

Hello, Friend, doesn't February 1st bring a warm,
fuzzy feeling to you? It sure does to me, what with
the portent of Spring and warmer weather soon!!

We are moved, settled pretty much in our new
place at 327 Faber St., Pittsburgh, 15214. We also
have a house phone, 412-322-1748. Feel free to
call the house number anytime, but especially on
weekdays between 6 AM and 9 PM when our cell
phones are deducted for minutes used. We have a
Verizon "bundle" which gives us unlimited day and
night calls, local and long distance in the contiguous
U.S., at no additional charge.

Cindy loves the new location, particularly since it
is only 10 to 15 minutes from her shop. I have a
similar drive to my new Rite Aid, just a couple of
minutes longer.

C.J. and Chartel are doing fine. She is in the process
of replacing her "dead" car, still working 2 jobs and
attending classes. I don't know how she does it, but
she insists that it's all manageable. It was great to
have her and her brother both here at the same
time for Christmas dinner and gift exchanges.
C.J. turned down a manager position with Hollister
in Charleston, W.Va., as he's got too much going on
right now, and really wants to stay in the Harrisburg
area for now. He'll be getting paid to house-sit for 3
months starting March, and will save paying rent to
David while he's doing that. Cool gig, hey? He still
wants to find a position using his Spanish, and has
and is applying for a few such, so please PRAY.

Cindy's daughter, Joy, and her husband, Doug, who
live in Winchester, Virginia, were up for a weekend
recently, and joined Greg, Christy, and Cody, her
son and family, here for eats, treats, games, and
gift exchanges while the Steelers romped over the
dreaded Ravens. HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE
GO! Though I did pick the Pack on my sports blog.
Huh? (http://www.homecourtorfield.blogspot.com/)


Cindy got a call at 4:15 AM today informing her that
her stepmom passed away. Elaine had been in
hospice for a while, failing steadily, and her demise
was anticipated soon. We'll have visitation Thursday
and the service Friday AM.

I'm working 2 or 3 days a week now, daylight usually,
with evenings and weekends off. Perfect schedule.
There will be times when I'll be called upon to help
open or close, but they'll be seldom, so for now I'll
just keep cashiering and entertaining customers. Huh?

Our new place is just about 10 minutes north of the
stadiums, so when the season starts I'll be able to
walk to the end of our street, hop a bus, and go into
town to see the Pirates lose!
Joy and Doug gifted us with Pitt Panthers basketball
tickets for March 5th, against Villanova or Syracuse,
(I forget which), so that should be a blast!

For now, we are driving back to Burgettstown on
Sundays, as I'm still team-teaching the teen class,
and Cindy is an elder along with serving on the
church board. She also heads up the "Servants' Heart"
committee (hospitality), and will be teaching a
series on Esther (from the Bible) to the younger
children soon.

About it for now. Have a good month, pray for Spring
to start soon, and keep in touch. Love, Cindy & Bill.