Okay, I can't get into typing something into this blog everyday and so I failed the April Alphabet challenge miserably. Nevertheless, I can address a few letters of the alphabet at one time, hence today's post.
I am Blessed:
This morning I received a $$BIG special effort award at our Forest's Family Meeting (once a month meeting w/ potluck and cake) for leading the environmental reviews of myriad projects funded under the President's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (commonly referred to as the "economic stimulus" package). Nice recognition for a heckuva lotta work!
My life has been happy and healthy, full of adventure and exploration, enhanced by the beauty and wonder of nature, a handsome, intelligent hardworking son, and an equally handsome, hardworking husband who has talents still undiscovered.
I am Challenged:
when it comes to all things mechanical. There is no way I can fix or reassemble an appliance or anything once dismantled. I suck at Legos, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs etc.
I have Danced:
Love to watch Dancing with the Stars and am anxious to join a dance class later this spring. My perky polka partner, Joe Good, passed away last week in Wilkes-Barre. We won many a contest at Penna Gas and Water Company clambakes at Konefal's Grove. R.I.P. in polka heaven.
I am Eclectic:
I delight in anything off the wall or beaten path. Such things are a magnet for my miswired brain.
And I am outta here. Gotta get back to work, friends.
Chow and arrivederci.
a
Monday, April 5, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Adipose: BE GONE!!!
Dearest Readers,
Tia Gwammy, well-known New Market, TN storyteller and savant, whose Cherokee lineage is undisputed but belied by her being fair-skinned and blue-eyed, has asked her blogging friends and family to create a new post each day in April using the letters of the English alphabet in sequence. Methinks it's a not-so-surreptitious way to inspire folks who rarely have something noteworthy to blog about to hit the keyboard highway. Given my fondness for esoterica, it would have been much more motivating for me had we been challenged to publish our posts using Russian or Chinese (traditional) characters! In the spirit of diversity, the title of this blog would have been 去的細胞脂肪 or Сало пойдено. But most of you wouldn't want to consult an online translator program to decipher the crap that i write.
I'll be concise...the adipose in the Buddhist temple that comprises my body is indeed going, and perhaps, still on the outbound train. Without having weighed in a month, i recognize its departure in my clothing, which for the most part, drapes aimlessly from mostly my tokhes (or tukkus to you Anglos) and shoulders. I am wearing a size 12 these days, a number I haven't seen since 1972. I feel great, take up much less room at the lunch counter in the diner, and no longer impale myself 4 times a day in the estomaga with Byetta and Lantus (diabetes meds).
Vern's adipose is waning as well. He'd down 50+ in just 9 weeks, and no doubt, because a man's adipose departure is not constrained by the evil hormone estrogen, will be svelter than moi.
In other news indirectly related to adipose, we indeed surprised my sister J (for Jo Anne) in LA on February 21, during her visit to CA with her son Mike. As planned, Mike lured her and her other son, Peter, to a Serbian restaurant (Metro Cafe) in Culver City on the premise that they were meeting with 2 acquaintances of Mike's to discuss employment options for Peter, who had just arrived in LA with J and would be bunking w/ bro' Mike.
Vern and I made our entrance into the packed cafe (on a Sunday night?) after Mike called and said they were seated. We wiggled and twisted our way thru the crowd to their table. As requested, Mike ensured that J's back was to the door. As I passed thru a tight opening near a table for 6, she turned her head and briefly glanced at me, NOT recognizing her own sistahh. Then, when the image flashed back in her brain, she stood up and yelped, which fortunately did not cause any interest or outrage from other patrons, who were waist-deep in their own dramas. As I tried to access the empty chair next to hers, she tried to do the same, and as she did, she grabbed the unbeknownst-to-us UNstable table in front of it. This created a domino effect, when the unstable table lurched to the left, causing Mike's large glass of iced tea to surge westward and gravitate to the saltillo tile floor, where gravity ceased to prevail. Crash. Bang. Boom. It was over in seconds. The memory of it lingers. J was utterly discombobulated. Surprised to say the least. After the management cleared the glass from floor and the waitress replaced Mike's defunct tea, we all hugged and kissed and said nice things to each other. Then we got down to business.....dinner.
We started out with ajvar (Serbian salsa of roasted red bell peppers, garlic, eggplant and chili peppers) dipped in thick homemade rye bread. For entrees, Pete had a dynamite goulash served with garlic mashed taters...Mike had a cevapcici sandwich (handrolled spiced Serbian beef sausages)...I had cappellini-kielbasi soup with an eclectic salad of homemade cheese (burrata), grilled sweet peppers and herbs.....J had zucchini pancakes and Vern, adventurous gourmet that he is, had grilled halibut (zzzzzzzzz). They tied for the BIG ZZZZ award.
After dinner and a shared plate of homemade raspberry-jam and whipped-creme-filled, chocolate-covered crepes, we waddled upstairs to our room at the Culver City Travelodge. [Photo of me and J above on blog intro.] Great digs if you ever need INEXPENSIVE CLEAN HUGE room in LA area. Visited, then because of their being pooped from a big shopping excursion to IKEA all day long, J and the boys said good night. We planned a meeting in the a.m. after they enjoyed a traditional bangers-and-beans English breakfast in Santa Monica.
Monday, V and I had breakfast at the Metro (a $5 per person voucher was part of the hotel rate) and headed to Santa Monica for about an hour-long visit on the promenade, where my sister, who has a black belt in shopping, later in the day made history.
Sadly, our visit with them was brief, and we had to leave about 1:30 p.m. (2:30 AZ time) for the 8-hour drive to Tucson. On the way, I was cheerfully stopped at Blythe by a CA Highway Patrol officer with a radar gun. Thanks to Vern's blatantly displayed badge on the console, I was given a verbal reprimand instead of a monster ticket.
We phoned Steven several times as we passed thru Phoenix, offering to meet him somewhere or drive to his place, but because of the late hour (it was around 7 p.m.), he encouraged us to continue thru town without stopping. We blew kisses toward Tempe instead.
Since then, stuff has been routine. Well, maybe I could write about my flight to Phx and back for nothing last week...I'll save that for a subsequent letter of the alphabet. My patience for writing drivel has reached its threshold and I must bid all adieu.
Peace and love,
a
Tia Gwammy, well-known New Market, TN storyteller and savant, whose Cherokee lineage is undisputed but belied by her being fair-skinned and blue-eyed, has asked her blogging friends and family to create a new post each day in April using the letters of the English alphabet in sequence. Methinks it's a not-so-surreptitious way to inspire folks who rarely have something noteworthy to blog about to hit the keyboard highway. Given my fondness for esoterica, it would have been much more motivating for me had we been challenged to publish our posts using Russian or Chinese (traditional) characters! In the spirit of diversity, the title of this blog would have been 去的細胞脂肪 or Сало пойдено. But most of you wouldn't want to consult an online translator program to decipher the crap that i write.
I'll be concise...the adipose in the Buddhist temple that comprises my body is indeed going, and perhaps, still on the outbound train. Without having weighed in a month, i recognize its departure in my clothing, which for the most part, drapes aimlessly from mostly my tokhes (or tukkus to you Anglos) and shoulders. I am wearing a size 12 these days, a number I haven't seen since 1972. I feel great, take up much less room at the lunch counter in the diner, and no longer impale myself 4 times a day in the estomaga with Byetta and Lantus (diabetes meds).
Vern's adipose is waning as well. He'd down 50+ in just 9 weeks, and no doubt, because a man's adipose departure is not constrained by the evil hormone estrogen, will be svelter than moi.
In other news indirectly related to adipose, we indeed surprised my sister J (for Jo Anne) in LA on February 21, during her visit to CA with her son Mike. As planned, Mike lured her and her other son, Peter, to a Serbian restaurant (Metro Cafe) in Culver City on the premise that they were meeting with 2 acquaintances of Mike's to discuss employment options for Peter, who had just arrived in LA with J and would be bunking w/ bro' Mike.
Vern and I made our entrance into the packed cafe (on a Sunday night?) after Mike called and said they were seated. We wiggled and twisted our way thru the crowd to their table. As requested, Mike ensured that J's back was to the door. As I passed thru a tight opening near a table for 6, she turned her head and briefly glanced at me, NOT recognizing her own sistahh. Then, when the image flashed back in her brain, she stood up and yelped, which fortunately did not cause any interest or outrage from other patrons, who were waist-deep in their own dramas. As I tried to access the empty chair next to hers, she tried to do the same, and as she did, she grabbed the unbeknownst-to-us UNstable table in front of it. This created a domino effect, when the unstable table lurched to the left, causing Mike's large glass of iced tea to surge westward and gravitate to the saltillo tile floor, where gravity ceased to prevail. Crash. Bang. Boom. It was over in seconds. The memory of it lingers. J was utterly discombobulated. Surprised to say the least. After the management cleared the glass from floor and the waitress replaced Mike's defunct tea, we all hugged and kissed and said nice things to each other. Then we got down to business.....dinner.
We started out with ajvar (Serbian salsa of roasted red bell peppers, garlic, eggplant and chili peppers) dipped in thick homemade rye bread. For entrees, Pete had a dynamite goulash served with garlic mashed taters...Mike had a cevapcici sandwich (handrolled spiced Serbian beef sausages)...I had cappellini-kielbasi soup with an eclectic salad of homemade cheese (burrata), grilled sweet peppers and herbs.....J had zucchini pancakes and Vern, adventurous gourmet that he is, had grilled halibut (zzzzzzzzz). They tied for the BIG ZZZZ award.
After dinner and a shared plate of homemade raspberry-jam and whipped-creme-filled, chocolate-covered crepes, we waddled upstairs to our room at the Culver City Travelodge. [Photo of me and J above on blog intro.] Great digs if you ever need INEXPENSIVE CLEAN HUGE room in LA area. Visited, then because of their being pooped from a big shopping excursion to IKEA all day long, J and the boys said good night. We planned a meeting in the a.m. after they enjoyed a traditional bangers-and-beans English breakfast in Santa Monica.
Monday, V and I had breakfast at the Metro (a $5 per person voucher was part of the hotel rate) and headed to Santa Monica for about an hour-long visit on the promenade, where my sister, who has a black belt in shopping, later in the day made history.
Sadly, our visit with them was brief, and we had to leave about 1:30 p.m. (2:30 AZ time) for the 8-hour drive to Tucson. On the way, I was cheerfully stopped at Blythe by a CA Highway Patrol officer with a radar gun. Thanks to Vern's blatantly displayed badge on the console, I was given a verbal reprimand instead of a monster ticket.
We phoned Steven several times as we passed thru Phoenix, offering to meet him somewhere or drive to his place, but because of the late hour (it was around 7 p.m.), he encouraged us to continue thru town without stopping. We blew kisses toward Tempe instead.
Since then, stuff has been routine. Well, maybe I could write about my flight to Phx and back for nothing last week...I'll save that for a subsequent letter of the alphabet. My patience for writing drivel has reached its threshold and I must bid all adieu.
Peace and love,
a
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Winter Showers--->Spring Wildflowers
We are basking in the spring sunshine and there's more and better weather to come. After 6 weeks of one California storm after another, which brought us over 2 inches of rain, the weather pattern has altered slightly. The inclement weather will pass thru northern AZ, and those of us who are a stone's throw from the border with Mexico will see sunny and dry. Here's a taste of what's in store this week:
Sat(Today) Sunny High: 72° Low: 43°
Sunday Sunny High: 75° Low: 43°
Monday Sunny High: 74° Low: 44°
Tuesday Sunny High: 75° Low: 47°
Wednesday Sunny High: 75° Low: 47°
Thursday Sunny High: 75° Low: 48°
The extended forecast is for more of the same.
With all the rain we've had (I know if you live back East, it seems like a drop in the bucket, but it is a lot of rain for the desert!), we expect a full bloom of wildflowers next Month. I just love these El Nino winters, cuz the reward is fields of abundant color.
Mid-week we had guests over at supper time....a herd of javelina pranced across the open space in front of our patio, stopping to sniff at the seeds and such scattered by the wild birds at my two feeders. There were mamas, papas, and babies...the latter of which are one the cutest damn critters on the planet (see pic above). V spotted them from his recliner in our living room. It was just before dusk. They meandered around the backyard for about 5 minutes, then moved on in a group.
Both V and I are doing fine with the post-surgery weight loss and restriction of our diets. After 4 months, I am now able to eat most anything, but have to be very careful not to stuff myself or eat too fast....that causes significant stomach pain and sometimes regurgitation, though that hasn't happened in a month. V is down 30 from his post-surgery weight. We both have followup calls with our surgeon the week after next. We have to call in or visit him in La Jolla (our choice) for one year,then annually after that.
Vern's prison is doing what they call a "rotation", where officers and supervisors are moved around the various units of the complex to keep things "fresh" for them. He has been with the "minors" unit for 5 years. This is where youths tried as adults are housed. Next week, he begins a new adventure as supervisor of the yard, mail, personal property and miscellaneous other housekeeping duties. I think he will also be able to continue doing his Firearms Instructor duties twice monthly. He wasn't too happy to be moved....change does not suit him as well as it does me...but i am tickled to death, because now he'll be working 8 am to 4 pm instead of 6 am til 2 pm and his days off will be Saturday and Sunday, same as mine! He also will receive paid holidays off, which in the past, he's not had. Instead, he was compensated for working holidays with pay + 8 hr holiday leave accrued to his annual leave. It's always sucked for me, since I have been a widow and/or orphan on most holidays.
I have enrolled in a environmental training class in San Francisco at the end of April. Should be a good time to travel there. I've been many times before, and we went as a family with Steven about 15 years ago, at which time we did just about every touristy thing that one can. V will join me if he can get permission to take some of his 4 weeks annual leave. I'll be glad to get away for a bit, as I haven't travelled on business in about 3 years.
We'd like to visit TN as a family later this spring. I am working on convincing Steven to make the trip with us. Again, it's contingent on V's getting the time off from work. I generally don't have a problem with it. Because of the credit crunch, we're likely to use frequent flier miles. Driving there may not be an option since it's more than 2000 miles away.
We talked to State Farm about the damage to my greenhouse. They'll cover about $400 for the damaged roof panels. We have a $500 deductible....suxxx.
Pool water temp hasn't gone above 70 degrees with all the rain we've had. Those drops sure are cold falling from as high as they do in the atmosphere. I am quite anxious to begin lap swimming again. While I enjoy walking too, it's more time consuming than swimming laps and hazardous on our rutted dirt roads in the subdivision. We usually walk from 60 to 90 minutes now each outing.
Imitating the frequent content of Tia Gwammeeee's blog, i wanna report that i plan to make split pea soup for our dinner today. I use ham hocks for flavoring, not much meat on them, but the bones and fat give the soup a delightful texture and heartiness. Other ingredients are finely chopped celery, onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, and seasonings, including tarragon. We'll have it for a couple of days since we can't gorge like in the past.
Monday is a Federal holiday, so I am off and now, with his new job, Vern is off too. YAYYYY! We can do our ritualistic excursions to Lowe's, Home Depot, supermarket etc. and not have to wear ourselves out doing them after work.
Next weekend, my sister Jo Anne (we call her "J"), is flying to Los Angeles with her 24-year old son Peter for a visit with another son, Mike Jr. Peter has been living at home since he graduated college in 2007. He's had various service jobs while there, but hasn't landed him a position in his field of Industrial Design. Kinda like our son, who's not landed himself a job in Urban Design, but who does have a job and does NOT live at home.
My sis is going to be depressed when he leaves, because she's used to "playing" with Peter (e.g., lunch, shopping, house chores) for quite some time now. Three of her four kids did a post-college gig at home, then found jobs and moved away. Natalie, the oldest at 33, has lived in Boston since 2002 and works as the Director of Graphic Design at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science. She lived with us in Yuma for about 2 years prior to going to Boston.
Mike Jr, who is 29, moved to LA to pursue employment in the movie industry. He's worked steadily as a film editor on such prestigious programming as The Flavor of Love (Flavor Flav) and For the Love of Ray J. On the side, he and some co-graduates of UAZ media arts program made a short film that's been screened around the world (4 continents!) and well-received. His room mate just moved out, and Peter is going to be filling the void in the flesh, and fingers crossed, employed.
J's remaining child, Nick, 27, is married and lives 90 miles from J with his wife, Alison, in Rochester, NY. He is computer nerd.
There's a possibility that V and I will drive over to LA to surprise J during her brief visit. If Steven does not have a soccer playoff game, he may join us, since we have to pass thru Phoenix on our way to LA. He has been playing goalkeeper in two leagues.
Okay, 'nuff said for now. I'm multi-tasking as I type this...laundry washing, drying, being folded, soup on the stove simmering, barking orders at Vern to keep him focused on what needs to be done. In about 1/2 hour, I'll leave that all behind to bake myself on the patio in the sun for an hour or so. Gotta get my Vitamin D to keep these bones healthy!
Our warmest regards to family, friends and anyone who was bored enuff to read this post.
Abrazos,
a
Sat(Today) Sunny High: 72° Low: 43°
Sunday Sunny High: 75° Low: 43°
Monday Sunny High: 74° Low: 44°
Tuesday Sunny High: 75° Low: 47°
Wednesday Sunny High: 75° Low: 47°
Thursday Sunny High: 75° Low: 48°
The extended forecast is for more of the same.
With all the rain we've had (I know if you live back East, it seems like a drop in the bucket, but it is a lot of rain for the desert!), we expect a full bloom of wildflowers next Month. I just love these El Nino winters, cuz the reward is fields of abundant color.
Mid-week we had guests over at supper time....a herd of javelina pranced across the open space in front of our patio, stopping to sniff at the seeds and such scattered by the wild birds at my two feeders. There were mamas, papas, and babies...the latter of which are one the cutest damn critters on the planet (see pic above). V spotted them from his recliner in our living room. It was just before dusk. They meandered around the backyard for about 5 minutes, then moved on in a group.
Both V and I are doing fine with the post-surgery weight loss and restriction of our diets. After 4 months, I am now able to eat most anything, but have to be very careful not to stuff myself or eat too fast....that causes significant stomach pain and sometimes regurgitation, though that hasn't happened in a month. V is down 30 from his post-surgery weight. We both have followup calls with our surgeon the week after next. We have to call in or visit him in La Jolla (our choice) for one year,then annually after that.
Vern's prison is doing what they call a "rotation", where officers and supervisors are moved around the various units of the complex to keep things "fresh" for them. He has been with the "minors" unit for 5 years. This is where youths tried as adults are housed. Next week, he begins a new adventure as supervisor of the yard, mail, personal property and miscellaneous other housekeeping duties. I think he will also be able to continue doing his Firearms Instructor duties twice monthly. He wasn't too happy to be moved....change does not suit him as well as it does me...but i am tickled to death, because now he'll be working 8 am to 4 pm instead of 6 am til 2 pm and his days off will be Saturday and Sunday, same as mine! He also will receive paid holidays off, which in the past, he's not had. Instead, he was compensated for working holidays with pay + 8 hr holiday leave accrued to his annual leave. It's always sucked for me, since I have been a widow and/or orphan on most holidays.
I have enrolled in a environmental training class in San Francisco at the end of April. Should be a good time to travel there. I've been many times before, and we went as a family with Steven about 15 years ago, at which time we did just about every touristy thing that one can. V will join me if he can get permission to take some of his 4 weeks annual leave. I'll be glad to get away for a bit, as I haven't travelled on business in about 3 years.
We'd like to visit TN as a family later this spring. I am working on convincing Steven to make the trip with us. Again, it's contingent on V's getting the time off from work. I generally don't have a problem with it. Because of the credit crunch, we're likely to use frequent flier miles. Driving there may not be an option since it's more than 2000 miles away.
We talked to State Farm about the damage to my greenhouse. They'll cover about $400 for the damaged roof panels. We have a $500 deductible....suxxx.
Pool water temp hasn't gone above 70 degrees with all the rain we've had. Those drops sure are cold falling from as high as they do in the atmosphere. I am quite anxious to begin lap swimming again. While I enjoy walking too, it's more time consuming than swimming laps and hazardous on our rutted dirt roads in the subdivision. We usually walk from 60 to 90 minutes now each outing.
Imitating the frequent content of Tia Gwammeeee's blog, i wanna report that i plan to make split pea soup for our dinner today. I use ham hocks for flavoring, not much meat on them, but the bones and fat give the soup a delightful texture and heartiness. Other ingredients are finely chopped celery, onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, and seasonings, including tarragon. We'll have it for a couple of days since we can't gorge like in the past.
Monday is a Federal holiday, so I am off and now, with his new job, Vern is off too. YAYYYY! We can do our ritualistic excursions to Lowe's, Home Depot, supermarket etc. and not have to wear ourselves out doing them after work.
Next weekend, my sister Jo Anne (we call her "J"), is flying to Los Angeles with her 24-year old son Peter for a visit with another son, Mike Jr. Peter has been living at home since he graduated college in 2007. He's had various service jobs while there, but hasn't landed him a position in his field of Industrial Design. Kinda like our son, who's not landed himself a job in Urban Design, but who does have a job and does NOT live at home.
My sis is going to be depressed when he leaves, because she's used to "playing" with Peter (e.g., lunch, shopping, house chores) for quite some time now. Three of her four kids did a post-college gig at home, then found jobs and moved away. Natalie, the oldest at 33, has lived in Boston since 2002 and works as the Director of Graphic Design at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science. She lived with us in Yuma for about 2 years prior to going to Boston.
Mike Jr, who is 29, moved to LA to pursue employment in the movie industry. He's worked steadily as a film editor on such prestigious programming as The Flavor of Love (Flavor Flav) and For the Love of Ray J. On the side, he and some co-graduates of UAZ media arts program made a short film that's been screened around the world (4 continents!) and well-received. His room mate just moved out, and Peter is going to be filling the void in the flesh, and fingers crossed, employed.
J's remaining child, Nick, 27, is married and lives 90 miles from J with his wife, Alison, in Rochester, NY. He is computer nerd.
There's a possibility that V and I will drive over to LA to surprise J during her brief visit. If Steven does not have a soccer playoff game, he may join us, since we have to pass thru Phoenix on our way to LA. He has been playing goalkeeper in two leagues.
Okay, 'nuff said for now. I'm multi-tasking as I type this...laundry washing, drying, being folded, soup on the stove simmering, barking orders at Vern to keep him focused on what needs to be done. In about 1/2 hour, I'll leave that all behind to bake myself on the patio in the sun for an hour or so. Gotta get my Vitamin D to keep these bones healthy!
Our warmest regards to family, friends and anyone who was bored enuff to read this post.
Abrazos,
a
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Home....Home On The Range
yeah, that's where we be...arrived back in the Ol' Pueblo at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon via Southwest, which still allows FREE checked bags, folks...consider SW next time u need to fly. We live in a rural area that is designated "Open Range", hence the title of this posting. For those of you NOT in the know about such a designation, it means that the area you are driving through is not fenced and that very large mammals (cows, horses, etc.) are free to cross your path when they choose. Be wary!
It was warm (mid 60s) w/ some high clouds on the drive to Diamond Bell. Found that our super-duper mail service had not restored delivery, as requested, so we had no bills and junk mail to peruse afterward. Vern settled in just fine. He's doing remarkably well....no pain, NO GAIN (lost about 20 lb in 10 days!), and even walked 45 minutes with me Friday evening when i returned from office/town. We're planning on walking a bigger one today since it's quite sunny and will be around 70.
We'd been gone 10 days. Our 5 li'l darlin's were frantically missing us, despite the reputation of catzzz as being aloof. Panda desperately needed us to LET ME-OWWWWWWWWTTT...he is the only one among them who ventures out into Wile E. World. The 10 litter boxes we left were in various stages of dissarray. Some were almost pristine; others were loaded to overflow. I spent a half hour sweeping and vacuuming, depending on the degree of sullying. Due to the stench of cat pee in our 2nd bathroom, which is used by V, guests, and the catz, V spent an afternoon this week taking up the linoleum floor and baseboard. Afterward, he had to use Lysol on it at least three times to get rid of the pee smell. We're going to replace the floor with ceramic tile.
Outside, we found a good percentage of the roof of my greenhouse scattered into the next county. (I should explain that the California storm we experienced in SD moved to AZ shortly thereafter. It brought 75 mph wind gusts and lotsa rain to the Tucson area. Since we live at an elevation of about 3500 ft, we receive more wind than those down in the desert floor.) Our neighbor to the north's son, Gary Jr., fetched a bunch of the polycarbonate panels and stockpiled them for safekeeping. Most were broken and are now unusable. Vern emailed the vendor, who will get back with us with a quote. And the damn greenhouse, which was yet to be functional BEFORE we left cuz of V's procrastination and weather, is sooooo not functional now. If the replacement costs are more than our homeowner's deductible, we will seek relief from State Farm.
V has one more week of computer mahh jong and solitaire at home, then it's back to guarding the prison. He drove the truck back from the dump yesterday and did okay. We both believe that the restriction on driving that the doc recommends is related to pain med use rather than physical capability to maneuver a vehicle. Still, i drove only in short spurts locally after my surgery to be sure that the internal wounds would heal without stress, and he is doing the same. I had to lug our aptly-named luggage all over San Diego and back becuz of his "lifting" restriction. What a pain...i had a sprained hand for a few days from it.
While in SD, we stayed at a Travelodge in La Mesa, CA, which is 10 miles from downtown SD and 19 miles from Scripps Memorial Hospital, where surgery was performed. If it hadn't been for the torrential rain and high winds, I would have had an easy commute back and forth to the hospital. As it was, I prayed most of the time I was en route cuz visibility was ZERO. Fortunately, the rain ended on Friday. We went to Mission Beach on Saturday, where Vern spooked around a homegrown motorcycle show on the cul de sac, and i did a brisk 2-mile trek on the beach walk. i would have done more, but the walkway was PACKED, becuz the outdoorsy natives and tourists had been confined to their digs for 4 days during the stormy weather, and everyone needed a sunshine fix.
On Sunday, we lounged at the hotel pool for several afternoon hours. We were the only folks there, probably since checkout is at 11 a.m. and checkin is not until 4 p.m. Most of those who were in SD for the weekend were gone. The sun shone all day long, uninterrupted by any clouds. V got a sunburn on his rotund belly. I don't usually burn, just brown like a holiday turkey. Mid-week, I wrote a review of the hotel, which is now posted online. You can read it by cutting and pasting the following URL and clicking on the review by MamaToucan, Wilkes-Barre, PA (my pseudonym, to protect me from identification by hotel mgt):
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32579-d83269-r54546480-Travelodge_La_Mesa-La_Mesa_California.html
We were up early on Monday to prepare for my visit to the endocrinologist (Dr. Dailey), who has managed my diabetes medication since 2003. He was elated at my successful loss of weight and the general decline in blood sugars. I had a bunch of bloodwork at Scripps Clinic afterward. I rec'd the results yesterday, which showed all things in order. My long-term blood sugars were slightly higher than a diabetes-free person, but were within the low bounds of a controlled diabetic. That is good news, since I am using no meds to control it! Rec'd a note from Dr. D w/ a printout of lab results that advised me to keep an eye on blood glucose (random tests) until i see him again in June.
I learned this week from the Forest Supervisor that she covets my parking space adjacent to the Fed'l bldg, which I was graciously provided about 5 years ago because of difficulties presented by my right foot post-surgery in 03. The handicapped slot is no longer available, and I am going to have to make alternative parking arrangements. It was not a surprise to me that this happened, given my weight loss and ability to walk long distances without pain. Plus, the Forest had to pay about $600/yr to GSA for the spot.
This posting appears to be winding down, as it has deteriorated into reporting the mundane....so i leave readers with a wish for peace and love in their lives.
a
It was warm (mid 60s) w/ some high clouds on the drive to Diamond Bell. Found that our super-duper mail service had not restored delivery, as requested, so we had no bills and junk mail to peruse afterward. Vern settled in just fine. He's doing remarkably well....no pain, NO GAIN (lost about 20 lb in 10 days!), and even walked 45 minutes with me Friday evening when i returned from office/town. We're planning on walking a bigger one today since it's quite sunny and will be around 70.
We'd been gone 10 days. Our 5 li'l darlin's were frantically missing us, despite the reputation of catzzz as being aloof. Panda desperately needed us to LET ME-OWWWWWWWWTTT...he is the only one among them who ventures out into Wile E. World. The 10 litter boxes we left were in various stages of dissarray. Some were almost pristine; others were loaded to overflow. I spent a half hour sweeping and vacuuming, depending on the degree of sullying. Due to the stench of cat pee in our 2nd bathroom, which is used by V, guests, and the catz, V spent an afternoon this week taking up the linoleum floor and baseboard. Afterward, he had to use Lysol on it at least three times to get rid of the pee smell. We're going to replace the floor with ceramic tile.
Outside, we found a good percentage of the roof of my greenhouse scattered into the next county. (I should explain that the California storm we experienced in SD moved to AZ shortly thereafter. It brought 75 mph wind gusts and lotsa rain to the Tucson area. Since we live at an elevation of about 3500 ft, we receive more wind than those down in the desert floor.) Our neighbor to the north's son, Gary Jr., fetched a bunch of the polycarbonate panels and stockpiled them for safekeeping. Most were broken and are now unusable. Vern emailed the vendor, who will get back with us with a quote. And the damn greenhouse, which was yet to be functional BEFORE we left cuz of V's procrastination and weather, is sooooo not functional now. If the replacement costs are more than our homeowner's deductible, we will seek relief from State Farm.
V has one more week of computer mahh jong and solitaire at home, then it's back to guarding the prison. He drove the truck back from the dump yesterday and did okay. We both believe that the restriction on driving that the doc recommends is related to pain med use rather than physical capability to maneuver a vehicle. Still, i drove only in short spurts locally after my surgery to be sure that the internal wounds would heal without stress, and he is doing the same. I had to lug our aptly-named luggage all over San Diego and back becuz of his "lifting" restriction. What a pain...i had a sprained hand for a few days from it.
While in SD, we stayed at a Travelodge in La Mesa, CA, which is 10 miles from downtown SD and 19 miles from Scripps Memorial Hospital, where surgery was performed. If it hadn't been for the torrential rain and high winds, I would have had an easy commute back and forth to the hospital. As it was, I prayed most of the time I was en route cuz visibility was ZERO. Fortunately, the rain ended on Friday. We went to Mission Beach on Saturday, where Vern spooked around a homegrown motorcycle show on the cul de sac, and i did a brisk 2-mile trek on the beach walk. i would have done more, but the walkway was PACKED, becuz the outdoorsy natives and tourists had been confined to their digs for 4 days during the stormy weather, and everyone needed a sunshine fix.
On Sunday, we lounged at the hotel pool for several afternoon hours. We were the only folks there, probably since checkout is at 11 a.m. and checkin is not until 4 p.m. Most of those who were in SD for the weekend were gone. The sun shone all day long, uninterrupted by any clouds. V got a sunburn on his rotund belly. I don't usually burn, just brown like a holiday turkey. Mid-week, I wrote a review of the hotel, which is now posted online. You can read it by cutting and pasting the following URL and clicking on the review by MamaToucan, Wilkes-Barre, PA (my pseudonym, to protect me from identification by hotel mgt):
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32579-d83269-r54546480-Travelodge_La_Mesa-La_Mesa_California.html
We were up early on Monday to prepare for my visit to the endocrinologist (Dr. Dailey), who has managed my diabetes medication since 2003. He was elated at my successful loss of weight and the general decline in blood sugars. I had a bunch of bloodwork at Scripps Clinic afterward. I rec'd the results yesterday, which showed all things in order. My long-term blood sugars were slightly higher than a diabetes-free person, but were within the low bounds of a controlled diabetic. That is good news, since I am using no meds to control it! Rec'd a note from Dr. D w/ a printout of lab results that advised me to keep an eye on blood glucose (random tests) until i see him again in June.
I learned this week from the Forest Supervisor that she covets my parking space adjacent to the Fed'l bldg, which I was graciously provided about 5 years ago because of difficulties presented by my right foot post-surgery in 03. The handicapped slot is no longer available, and I am going to have to make alternative parking arrangements. It was not a surprise to me that this happened, given my weight loss and ability to walk long distances without pain. Plus, the Forest had to pay about $600/yr to GSA for the spot.
This posting appears to be winding down, as it has deteriorated into reporting the mundane....so i leave readers with a wish for peace and love in their lives.
a
Thursday, January 21, 2010
High Noon
He's baaaaaaaaackkkkkkkk!
Vern got sprung from Scripps Memorial Hospital at high noon today. Radiology ran a GI test this morning to ensure that his re-plumbed innards were not leaking fluids. He said he almost barfed after ingesting 3 gulps of the nasty stuff that glows in the dark.
After I fetched him, we stopped at CVS in Pacific Beach to get him mas drogas and liquid nutrition (chicken broth)and to show him the massive waves that came in with the latest El Nino storm. He's uncomfortable, but not ill, and is managing to move around fairly well. Already took a dump and ruined the air quality in the hotel room.
My role is to watch that he doesn't overdo it and to change the dressing on a tube he has inserted in his large bowel as a pressure relief valve. I didn't have the pleasure of wearing that little jewel becuz I do not have sleep apnea. Apparently, those who do sukkk a lotta wind into their belly and it can back up in the bowel and blow out the nice needlework that the doctors added at the new plumbing connections. So he gets to wear the tube til Tuesday, when, if all is well, the doc will remove it.
The next few days here should be quiet and hopefully, less rainy and windy. By Saturday, I hope to be walking 4 miles again on the Beach Walk in the SUN, while V lounges on a park bench and watches the waves and the sparsely-clad females who jog by.
More updates as they happen. Familia en Tennessee, stay high and dry!
a
Vern got sprung from Scripps Memorial Hospital at high noon today. Radiology ran a GI test this morning to ensure that his re-plumbed innards were not leaking fluids. He said he almost barfed after ingesting 3 gulps of the nasty stuff that glows in the dark.
After I fetched him, we stopped at CVS in Pacific Beach to get him mas drogas and liquid nutrition (chicken broth)and to show him the massive waves that came in with the latest El Nino storm. He's uncomfortable, but not ill, and is managing to move around fairly well. Already took a dump and ruined the air quality in the hotel room.
My role is to watch that he doesn't overdo it and to change the dressing on a tube he has inserted in his large bowel as a pressure relief valve. I didn't have the pleasure of wearing that little jewel becuz I do not have sleep apnea. Apparently, those who do sukkk a lotta wind into their belly and it can back up in the bowel and blow out the nice needlework that the doctors added at the new plumbing connections. So he gets to wear the tube til Tuesday, when, if all is well, the doc will remove it.
The next few days here should be quiet and hopefully, less rainy and windy. By Saturday, I hope to be walking 4 miles again on the Beach Walk in the SUN, while V lounges on a park bench and watches the waves and the sparsely-clad females who jog by.
More updates as they happen. Familia en Tennessee, stay high and dry!
a
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Vern Is On Drogas (Druggzz)
Amigos y Familia,
We flew to San Diego on Sunday morning, arriving at 10:30 a.m. Rented a car and drove to the Travelodge to see if we could check in early. No dice. Desk clerk took our phone number and promised to call when our room was ready. Sooooo we drove to Pacific Beach, parked on the next street over from our favorite digs, the Pacific Terrace Hotel (now pricewise in the stratosphere), and walked 4 miles along the paved Beach Walk.
It was a brisk wind off the Pacific that chilled the flesh despite that fact that some locals breezed by nekkid from the waist up as they skateboarded, roller-bladed, or biked alongside us pitiful walkers. After we did the 2 miles up to the Life Guard Station at Belmont Park, we walked the return trip thru an alley that runs between houses on Mission Blvd and houses on the Beach Walk. It cut down on the icy wind except where the paths to the beach intersected the alley.
Afterward, we headed up to Jasmine Chinese Restaurant for dim sum (Chinese brunch), my first attempt at ingesting such since my surgery. It was quite enjoyable....I was careful to choose shrimp filled delites instead of pork or any other meat, and I peeled off the noodles in which the delites are wrapped. Well, all except some of the pot stickers, which indeed have ground pork in them and yummy fried dough. I also popped a 1-inch-diameter egg custard into the trough. Everything went down well and I was real pleased to have been able to join Vern for the treat.
As we finished our dim sum, the hotel called, and we journeyed back over to La Mesa, the San Diego 'burb in which it is located. Our first room faced the street, and when the front desk clerk phoned about 5 minutes into our unpacking, she asked how we found the accommodations. I expressed my concern about the street noise (trucks, sirens etc.) in light of Vern's impending slaughter. A few minutes later, she phoned and had switched rooms for us for a second floor berth on the back side of the building. We slept like babes in fuzzy blankets.
What a nice gesture. The place is owned by a family of Asian Indians, who are very cordial and maintain an immaculate lodging. Our room rate is 37.99 on week nights and 47.99 for the weekend. For 9 nights, we are paying 371 total. And, Expedia took $50 off that (down to 320) because i put it on their MasterCard. Great deal. We paid 125 per night for a room at the Hilton Garden Inn during my surgery. Granted, we were a stone's throw from the hospital, but the place did not have a free breakfast (Vern paid 12 + tip each morning) and the rooms were comparable in size. Not the newest interior at the Travelodge, but not Dogpatch either.
On Monday, V had to see the doctor for a mini-physical and visit the hospital for pre-admission tests. He had an EKG, blood work, ultrasound and X-ray. It was a lonnnng day becuz the doc was late to arrive to the office, and there were 2 other surgery candidates awaiting the same tests. He passed with flying colors and we left the hospital complex around 4 pm. A raging storm was underway as we departed. V got soaked fetching the car. Becuz of the weather, we opted not to venture downtown to Vincenzo's for Italian. Instead, V's druthers was Barbarella's, a quaint funky bistro in La Jolla Shores that was empty due to the weather. I had French onion soup with extra cheese, and for his last meal, Vern chose the Barbarella-burger and fries. We were outta there by 5:15, and it was a hellacious ride to the hotel in the wind and rain.
At the hotel, Vern then proceeded to gag down a bottle of cherry magnesium citrate, which of course, by its name, infers the effects of magnesium on one's large intestines. He spent the evening shooting flames from his posterior and continued well into the morn. We arose at 4:30 and headed to the cutting room.
I said adios to him at 7:45, by which time he was heading to dreamland and the OR. I waited til 10:15, when the doc and his assistant doc came in and told me he did just fine. Said it was routine and he would be in Recovery for at least 3 hours becuz he has sleep apnea and they need to monitor his oxygen level to be sure he'll heal well.
I headed back to the hotel to do some office work, and when I called Recovery at 1 pm they said he'd be ready to head to the room in 30 minutes. I departed the hotel in yet another hurricanelike storm. There was a tornado watch thru 3:15 pm for the area, and man, the wind was fierce. I hate driving behind SUVs and of course, semis. Could not see a damn thing. Just prayed for safekeeping.
When V was wheeled out of the elevator around 3 pm, he was alert and chatting with his attendants. But after we got him settled in the room, the meds took hold again and he was snoring for the duration of my 1.5 hr visit. Given the crappy weather, I begged his indulgence, saying that I wanted to leave before it got dark (about 5:30 this time of year).
No problem-o. All he feels like doing right now is ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. So here i am sat in the hotel and writing a summary of the surgery for y'all. I'll be heading back manana a.m. and will update u later in the day. If all is well, he will be discharged on Thurs. We'll spend the remainder of the week and weekend here in La Mesa and he will see the doctor next Tuesday to be released to fly home in the afternoon. He's had his last Barbarella-burger for awhile.....sigh.
I didn't mention that our visit included my seeing the doctor as well for my 3 month appointment. I've dropped 60 lb and feel just wonderful. A very good report indeed, even with dim sum in my belly.
Peace to all.
a
We flew to San Diego on Sunday morning, arriving at 10:30 a.m. Rented a car and drove to the Travelodge to see if we could check in early. No dice. Desk clerk took our phone number and promised to call when our room was ready. Sooooo we drove to Pacific Beach, parked on the next street over from our favorite digs, the Pacific Terrace Hotel (now pricewise in the stratosphere), and walked 4 miles along the paved Beach Walk.
It was a brisk wind off the Pacific that chilled the flesh despite that fact that some locals breezed by nekkid from the waist up as they skateboarded, roller-bladed, or biked alongside us pitiful walkers. After we did the 2 miles up to the Life Guard Station at Belmont Park, we walked the return trip thru an alley that runs between houses on Mission Blvd and houses on the Beach Walk. It cut down on the icy wind except where the paths to the beach intersected the alley.
Afterward, we headed up to Jasmine Chinese Restaurant for dim sum (Chinese brunch), my first attempt at ingesting such since my surgery. It was quite enjoyable....I was careful to choose shrimp filled delites instead of pork or any other meat, and I peeled off the noodles in which the delites are wrapped. Well, all except some of the pot stickers, which indeed have ground pork in them and yummy fried dough. I also popped a 1-inch-diameter egg custard into the trough. Everything went down well and I was real pleased to have been able to join Vern for the treat.
As we finished our dim sum, the hotel called, and we journeyed back over to La Mesa, the San Diego 'burb in which it is located. Our first room faced the street, and when the front desk clerk phoned about 5 minutes into our unpacking, she asked how we found the accommodations. I expressed my concern about the street noise (trucks, sirens etc.) in light of Vern's impending slaughter. A few minutes later, she phoned and had switched rooms for us for a second floor berth on the back side of the building. We slept like babes in fuzzy blankets.
What a nice gesture. The place is owned by a family of Asian Indians, who are very cordial and maintain an immaculate lodging. Our room rate is 37.99 on week nights and 47.99 for the weekend. For 9 nights, we are paying 371 total. And, Expedia took $50 off that (down to 320) because i put it on their MasterCard. Great deal. We paid 125 per night for a room at the Hilton Garden Inn during my surgery. Granted, we were a stone's throw from the hospital, but the place did not have a free breakfast (Vern paid 12 + tip each morning) and the rooms were comparable in size. Not the newest interior at the Travelodge, but not Dogpatch either.
On Monday, V had to see the doctor for a mini-physical and visit the hospital for pre-admission tests. He had an EKG, blood work, ultrasound and X-ray. It was a lonnnng day becuz the doc was late to arrive to the office, and there were 2 other surgery candidates awaiting the same tests. He passed with flying colors and we left the hospital complex around 4 pm. A raging storm was underway as we departed. V got soaked fetching the car. Becuz of the weather, we opted not to venture downtown to Vincenzo's for Italian. Instead, V's druthers was Barbarella's, a quaint funky bistro in La Jolla Shores that was empty due to the weather. I had French onion soup with extra cheese, and for his last meal, Vern chose the Barbarella-burger and fries. We were outta there by 5:15, and it was a hellacious ride to the hotel in the wind and rain.
At the hotel, Vern then proceeded to gag down a bottle of cherry magnesium citrate, which of course, by its name, infers the effects of magnesium on one's large intestines. He spent the evening shooting flames from his posterior and continued well into the morn. We arose at 4:30 and headed to the cutting room.
I said adios to him at 7:45, by which time he was heading to dreamland and the OR. I waited til 10:15, when the doc and his assistant doc came in and told me he did just fine. Said it was routine and he would be in Recovery for at least 3 hours becuz he has sleep apnea and they need to monitor his oxygen level to be sure he'll heal well.
I headed back to the hotel to do some office work, and when I called Recovery at 1 pm they said he'd be ready to head to the room in 30 minutes. I departed the hotel in yet another hurricanelike storm. There was a tornado watch thru 3:15 pm for the area, and man, the wind was fierce. I hate driving behind SUVs and of course, semis. Could not see a damn thing. Just prayed for safekeeping.
When V was wheeled out of the elevator around 3 pm, he was alert and chatting with his attendants. But after we got him settled in the room, the meds took hold again and he was snoring for the duration of my 1.5 hr visit. Given the crappy weather, I begged his indulgence, saying that I wanted to leave before it got dark (about 5:30 this time of year).
No problem-o. All he feels like doing right now is ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. So here i am sat in the hotel and writing a summary of the surgery for y'all. I'll be heading back manana a.m. and will update u later in the day. If all is well, he will be discharged on Thurs. We'll spend the remainder of the week and weekend here in La Mesa and he will see the doctor next Tuesday to be released to fly home in the afternoon. He's had his last Barbarella-burger for awhile.....sigh.
I didn't mention that our visit included my seeing the doctor as well for my 3 month appointment. I've dropped 60 lb and feel just wonderful. A very good report indeed, even with dim sum in my belly.
Peace to all.
a
Friday, January 15, 2010
Is Vern Ready for the Slaughter?
It's been a coupla months...wanted to let friends and family know that Vern is going under the knife on Tuesday, January 19th, having roux-en-y bypass surgery. He's the first one on the chopping block that day. oh goodie, i get to arise at 5 a.m. and accompany him to the hospital.
the reality of what's pending is beginning to affect his demeanor. i know the feeling quite well...he is anxious and excited and afraid and happy and optimistic and pessimistic, all at the same time. Makes for an interesting marital relationship.
despite my trials and troubles post-surgery, especially those dark, chilling moments as I lay on the cold slab marble floor in the john of my hospital room, awaiting SOMEONE to discover that "I'd fallen and can't get up!", I am 100% delighted with the outcome of my surgery. No more diabetes shots and medicines, substantial weight loss without much sacrifice, more energy than I've had since my pre-pregnancy years. Lots to which V can look forward.
i'll be back next week posting the outcome of his surgery.
blessings and peace to all.
a
the reality of what's pending is beginning to affect his demeanor. i know the feeling quite well...he is anxious and excited and afraid and happy and optimistic and pessimistic, all at the same time. Makes for an interesting marital relationship.
despite my trials and troubles post-surgery, especially those dark, chilling moments as I lay on the cold slab marble floor in the john of my hospital room, awaiting SOMEONE to discover that "I'd fallen and can't get up!", I am 100% delighted with the outcome of my surgery. No more diabetes shots and medicines, substantial weight loss without much sacrifice, more energy than I've had since my pre-pregnancy years. Lots to which V can look forward.
i'll be back next week posting the outcome of his surgery.
blessings and peace to all.
a
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
My Blood IS Red (Yellow and Green, Too)
Hot off the wire!
Blood testing was completed on November 13.
Hemoglobin is back to superstar levels.
Nothing was amiss in all parameters measured.
Lab did note that there were tiny red, yellow, and green chile peppers afloat in my blood, a legacy of the transfusion I had.
I am down 36 lbs and off my diabetes meds...praise the Lord and pass the potatoes! I have my first post-op phone consultation with Dr. Wittgrove (surgeon) on Thursday morning.
I've been walking with Vern 30 minutes daily since the temp of the pool dropped to 78 degrees. We walk 30 minutes twice on weekends, and I walk twice on days that I work at home (like today). Warmer weather over the next few days may elevate the pool temp to above 80, in which case we'll be back doing laps.
We retrieved my 1980 Honda Prelude from the shop last week. It has a newly built carburetor, new brakes and a speedometer that works! I've driven it to and from work and love that little grey kitten. It just purrs when you drive it. We need to get new seats or upholster them. Thirty years has taken its toll on their integrity. (Translation: foam filling flies everywhere when you sit on 'em.)
We don't usually do much for T'giving cuz V has to work. He tried last January to score some annual leave for either T'giving or Christmas 2009 but failed. Others with seniority and use or lose leave take precedence.
I'm still enjoying Hummingbird Wars whenever I work from home.
Hope you all are healthy and smiling.
a
Blood testing was completed on November 13.
Hemoglobin is back to superstar levels.
Nothing was amiss in all parameters measured.
Lab did note that there were tiny red, yellow, and green chile peppers afloat in my blood, a legacy of the transfusion I had.
I am down 36 lbs and off my diabetes meds...praise the Lord and pass the potatoes! I have my first post-op phone consultation with Dr. Wittgrove (surgeon) on Thursday morning.
I've been walking with Vern 30 minutes daily since the temp of the pool dropped to 78 degrees. We walk 30 minutes twice on weekends, and I walk twice on days that I work at home (like today). Warmer weather over the next few days may elevate the pool temp to above 80, in which case we'll be back doing laps.
We retrieved my 1980 Honda Prelude from the shop last week. It has a newly built carburetor, new brakes and a speedometer that works! I've driven it to and from work and love that little grey kitten. It just purrs when you drive it. We need to get new seats or upholster them. Thirty years has taken its toll on their integrity. (Translation: foam filling flies everywhere when you sit on 'em.)
We don't usually do much for T'giving cuz V has to work. He tried last January to score some annual leave for either T'giving or Christmas 2009 but failed. Others with seniority and use or lose leave take precedence.
I'm still enjoying Hummingbird Wars whenever I work from home.
Hope you all are healthy and smiling.
a
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Belly Achin'
I'm sitting here at the kitchen table watching the crazy hummingbirds diving into the feeder and enacting Hummingbird Wars as they quibble about who has first dibs on the nectar. I wish they could all get along. The neatest thing is when the alpha male gets his tail feathers in a flurry and opens them wide like a peacock as a threat display to whomever among his h-bird peeps is trying to access the feeder. Quite amusing on a daily basis as i sit here working on my laptop while recovering.
Speaking of recovery, I am doing well just 3 weeks after being sprung from the ICU at Scripps Memorial Hospital in LaJolla, CA. Belly achin' summary follows...
Oct. 4, Sunday---fly to San Diego, eat "last meal" at Vincenzo's in Little Italy (it was outstanding)
Oct. 5, Monday---physical exam with Dr. Wittgrove (surgeon) and pre-admitting testing at Scripps, including the ever-popular transvaginal ultrasound. There are no words to adequately describe this high-tech torture machine.
Oct. 6, Tuesday---5:30 a.m., much too early for anything, nevertheless got prepped for surgery, including a large dose of Fragmin, a blood thinner
---circa 8-9 a.m., zonked out on anesthesia, ready for the scalpel
---9 a.m. til ? p.m., surgery and recovery
---2 p.m. to room, not much pain, groggy from anesthesia. what bothered me most of all were the "leg-exercisers" that they placed on my calves to prevent clots. These #@$@&# things were electrically powered to puff up every 15 seconds and ABSOLUTELY DROVE ME NUTZZZ. I hate to have anything on my feet when resting or sleeping. These things should have been used at Abu Graib.
AND, i had lots of discomfort from the abdominal drain that was placed in the southwest most incision closure on my belly. I learned afterward that the drain tubing extended in a full circumference of the belly to drain all 6 incisional areas. It pressed on the diaphragm and its nerve feeds, which gave me a huge pain in the left shoulder area, kinda what i envision is a heart attack pain. When the drain was removed on Thurs, the pain disappeared!
They had me walk on Tues evening, not even 12 hr since surgery. I did fine, but was nauseous from meds.
Oct. 7, Wednesday---had no food since surgery. Doc came in mid-morning. We talked about the nausea, and I reported to him that i had a lot of gurgling in my abdomen, like a bowel movement was imminent. Since there had been no substantive food or drink in my belly since Monday 2 p.m., it was unlikely that it was a bowel movement. Doc said it was likely clotted blood irritating the bowel and that I would pass it via the bowel.
Well, pass it I did. Just after he left, they brought me broth and sugar-free jello. Two sips of each and I lost total control of my anal sphincter. To spare readers the ooogliness of this, just let me say that losing one's clotted blood at the back door was not pretty. I soiled the bed repeatedly and the floor in a big way as Vern tried to assist me in getting to the john.
Ultimately, after Vern went down to the cafeteria, i began feeling very weak. I knew i had to go again, so i ventured forth from the bed to the john, about 10 ft away. Got on the pot, then keeled over onto the ice-cold tile floor. I was unconscious for I don't know how long. When i woke up, i scanned the area and could not find a call button. So I hollered unsuccessfully for a nurse. When someone finally came in to do my vitals and found me, all hell broke loose.
The hospital's Rapid Response Team descended upon me. They asked me to sit up, with help, then try to sit in a chair. I told them repeatedly that i was faint, but they insisted. When they lifted me into a chair, my eyes rolled back and i was out for awhile. I came to in a surreal vista of a bunch of talking heads hovering over me. They plopped a huge oxygen mask on me and were billing and cooing that i'd be ok.
Some lab villain dissected my arms and hands looking for a vein to pillage. Eventually, the lab reported that my hemoglobin was 7 and hematocrit 25, which should be 13 and 35 respectively if all was okay.
A phone call to Dr. Wittgrove and i was headed to ICU. Apparently, i am one who does not benefit radically from a blood thinner. Where they stapled my intestinal relocation, there is naturally some bleeding. Because of the blood thinner, i did not clot real soon. All the bleeding that i did filled my bowel, and that was what was being emitted from my bottom. The rapid massive blood loss made me faint and very weak.
In ICU, i was transfused with 5 pints of San Diego's best red stuff. Now, i find myself fighting an overpowering urge to push a buggy along the boardwalk, hunting aluminum cans.
Oct. 8,Thursday p.m.---after 24 hr in ICU, I was sent back to the bariatric floor. I continued to improve with teh new infusion of blood. The bowel leakage lessened dramatically.
Oct. 9, Friday---feeling stronger, i washed my hair and rancid body in the bathroom sink, still tied to the IV. Doc came in as I was cleaning up. He removed the drain and i begged him to be released. He concurred. One thing that didn't get done was the removal of staples in my belly. They were soooo uncomfortable during my hotel sojourn over the weekend. I was released from hospital at 5 p.m.
When we got to the hotel, i needed to hit the bed, as i was quite worn out. I spiked a really high fever, no reason known, for a few hours. Then i slept on and off all night. It was not a restful sleep due to the staples and the fever. but it was a semblance of rest.
Oct. 10, Saturday---taking it easy, sat on a chaise longue at the pool for a couple hr while Vern had breakfast and went to the supermarket. Against the dietary rules, i asked for a couple of poached eggs to add to the protein supplements I was drinking. They slid down the hatch effortlessly, but when they hit the newly transformed mini-stomach, they were like lead pellets. I made it thru the cramping and lumpy fullness that the eggs caused and continued to lounge in the lobby in a sitting area w/ fireplace.
Vern never missed a meal, and while he had dinner at the restaurant in the hotel, i hung out in the room.
Oct. 11--Sunday....we went to CVS for diabetes test strips. Then we drove to La Jolla Shores Beach area. I laid out the towels and enjoyed a 70ish day of sunshine and nice breeze. I even got into the ocean for a short time to relieve myself. Vern wandered hither and yon exploring the shore as i rested. It was very relaxing.
Oct. 12---Monday....Vern did 2 loads of laundry at the hotel. I worked all day on my laptop on my office email. It was not easy, because i had episodes of fogginess (anesthesia legacy).
Oc. 13---Tuesday...0830 a.m. appt w/ Dr's office, followup and removal of staples. 3 hour diet and exercise lecture followed. Released to go home at noon. The night before, i had trouble sleeping, and while awake, i decided to change our existing 6:30 pm reservation to return to AZ earlier. This was successful, and we took a 5 pm flight that got us to AZ at 6 p.m.
When we landed in AZ i was overcome with relief. I slept like a baby and felt 1000% better the next morning.
And I have improved daily every since. I've obviously lost some weight from the ordeal and from the fact that i cannot eat solid foods yet. If i eat an egg, it has to be mooshy. Most of what i exist on these days are liquid protein supplement drinks, soup and broth, and sugar free desserts.
My incisions are mostly healed, a few small scabs remain.
My mini-stomach is hypersensitive to anything more than an ounce of input over a short period of time. It's very difficult to get used to SIPPING, SMALL BITES, etc. when you've been wolfing your food down for 50 years or so.
I'm optimistic and looking forward to the day when i can chow down on a rare piece of beef. Until then, i am delighted to be able to draw a breath. Next week, i have my one-month blood draw to check my chemistry. My diabetes meds have been dropped to less than half of what they were before surgery.
Until the blood results are known, I wish you peace, love, and happiness.
a
Speaking of recovery, I am doing well just 3 weeks after being sprung from the ICU at Scripps Memorial Hospital in LaJolla, CA. Belly achin' summary follows...
Oct. 4, Sunday---fly to San Diego, eat "last meal" at Vincenzo's in Little Italy (it was outstanding)
Oct. 5, Monday---physical exam with Dr. Wittgrove (surgeon) and pre-admitting testing at Scripps, including the ever-popular transvaginal ultrasound. There are no words to adequately describe this high-tech torture machine.
Oct. 6, Tuesday---5:30 a.m., much too early for anything, nevertheless got prepped for surgery, including a large dose of Fragmin, a blood thinner
---circa 8-9 a.m., zonked out on anesthesia, ready for the scalpel
---9 a.m. til ? p.m., surgery and recovery
---2 p.m. to room, not much pain, groggy from anesthesia. what bothered me most of all were the "leg-exercisers" that they placed on my calves to prevent clots. These #@$@&# things were electrically powered to puff up every 15 seconds and ABSOLUTELY DROVE ME NUTZZZ. I hate to have anything on my feet when resting or sleeping. These things should have been used at Abu Graib.
AND, i had lots of discomfort from the abdominal drain that was placed in the southwest most incision closure on my belly. I learned afterward that the drain tubing extended in a full circumference of the belly to drain all 6 incisional areas. It pressed on the diaphragm and its nerve feeds, which gave me a huge pain in the left shoulder area, kinda what i envision is a heart attack pain. When the drain was removed on Thurs, the pain disappeared!
They had me walk on Tues evening, not even 12 hr since surgery. I did fine, but was nauseous from meds.
Oct. 7, Wednesday---had no food since surgery. Doc came in mid-morning. We talked about the nausea, and I reported to him that i had a lot of gurgling in my abdomen, like a bowel movement was imminent. Since there had been no substantive food or drink in my belly since Monday 2 p.m., it was unlikely that it was a bowel movement. Doc said it was likely clotted blood irritating the bowel and that I would pass it via the bowel.
Well, pass it I did. Just after he left, they brought me broth and sugar-free jello. Two sips of each and I lost total control of my anal sphincter. To spare readers the ooogliness of this, just let me say that losing one's clotted blood at the back door was not pretty. I soiled the bed repeatedly and the floor in a big way as Vern tried to assist me in getting to the john.
Ultimately, after Vern went down to the cafeteria, i began feeling very weak. I knew i had to go again, so i ventured forth from the bed to the john, about 10 ft away. Got on the pot, then keeled over onto the ice-cold tile floor. I was unconscious for I don't know how long. When i woke up, i scanned the area and could not find a call button. So I hollered unsuccessfully for a nurse. When someone finally came in to do my vitals and found me, all hell broke loose.
The hospital's Rapid Response Team descended upon me. They asked me to sit up, with help, then try to sit in a chair. I told them repeatedly that i was faint, but they insisted. When they lifted me into a chair, my eyes rolled back and i was out for awhile. I came to in a surreal vista of a bunch of talking heads hovering over me. They plopped a huge oxygen mask on me and were billing and cooing that i'd be ok.
Some lab villain dissected my arms and hands looking for a vein to pillage. Eventually, the lab reported that my hemoglobin was 7 and hematocrit 25, which should be 13 and 35 respectively if all was okay.
A phone call to Dr. Wittgrove and i was headed to ICU. Apparently, i am one who does not benefit radically from a blood thinner. Where they stapled my intestinal relocation, there is naturally some bleeding. Because of the blood thinner, i did not clot real soon. All the bleeding that i did filled my bowel, and that was what was being emitted from my bottom. The rapid massive blood loss made me faint and very weak.
In ICU, i was transfused with 5 pints of San Diego's best red stuff. Now, i find myself fighting an overpowering urge to push a buggy along the boardwalk, hunting aluminum cans.
Oct. 8,Thursday p.m.---after 24 hr in ICU, I was sent back to the bariatric floor. I continued to improve with teh new infusion of blood. The bowel leakage lessened dramatically.
Oct. 9, Friday---feeling stronger, i washed my hair and rancid body in the bathroom sink, still tied to the IV. Doc came in as I was cleaning up. He removed the drain and i begged him to be released. He concurred. One thing that didn't get done was the removal of staples in my belly. They were soooo uncomfortable during my hotel sojourn over the weekend. I was released from hospital at 5 p.m.
When we got to the hotel, i needed to hit the bed, as i was quite worn out. I spiked a really high fever, no reason known, for a few hours. Then i slept on and off all night. It was not a restful sleep due to the staples and the fever. but it was a semblance of rest.
Oct. 10, Saturday---taking it easy, sat on a chaise longue at the pool for a couple hr while Vern had breakfast and went to the supermarket. Against the dietary rules, i asked for a couple of poached eggs to add to the protein supplements I was drinking. They slid down the hatch effortlessly, but when they hit the newly transformed mini-stomach, they were like lead pellets. I made it thru the cramping and lumpy fullness that the eggs caused and continued to lounge in the lobby in a sitting area w/ fireplace.
Vern never missed a meal, and while he had dinner at the restaurant in the hotel, i hung out in the room.
Oct. 11--Sunday....we went to CVS for diabetes test strips. Then we drove to La Jolla Shores Beach area. I laid out the towels and enjoyed a 70ish day of sunshine and nice breeze. I even got into the ocean for a short time to relieve myself. Vern wandered hither and yon exploring the shore as i rested. It was very relaxing.
Oct. 12---Monday....Vern did 2 loads of laundry at the hotel. I worked all day on my laptop on my office email. It was not easy, because i had episodes of fogginess (anesthesia legacy).
Oc. 13---Tuesday...0830 a.m. appt w/ Dr's office, followup and removal of staples. 3 hour diet and exercise lecture followed. Released to go home at noon. The night before, i had trouble sleeping, and while awake, i decided to change our existing 6:30 pm reservation to return to AZ earlier. This was successful, and we took a 5 pm flight that got us to AZ at 6 p.m.
When we landed in AZ i was overcome with relief. I slept like a baby and felt 1000% better the next morning.
And I have improved daily every since. I've obviously lost some weight from the ordeal and from the fact that i cannot eat solid foods yet. If i eat an egg, it has to be mooshy. Most of what i exist on these days are liquid protein supplement drinks, soup and broth, and sugar free desserts.
My incisions are mostly healed, a few small scabs remain.
My mini-stomach is hypersensitive to anything more than an ounce of input over a short period of time. It's very difficult to get used to SIPPING, SMALL BITES, etc. when you've been wolfing your food down for 50 years or so.
I'm optimistic and looking forward to the day when i can chow down on a rare piece of beef. Until then, i am delighted to be able to draw a breath. Next week, i have my one-month blood draw to check my chemistry. My diabetes meds have been dropped to less than half of what they were before surgery.
Until the blood results are known, I wish you peace, love, and happiness.
a
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Bariatric Surgery, Anyone?
Continuing our saga of life through August 09....let's see....I forgot to mention that my temporary promotion to Ecosystem Management and Planning staff officer began in July and continutes til the end of October. It means that I must attend Forest Leadership Team meetings, representing EMP, and am the approval point for our group for purchases, training, and all supervisory matters...our supervisor will be resuming her duties in November after she has completed a "detail" to another program.
In August, about the only newsworthy item to report is our trip to San Diego over the weekend of August 15th. The trip was conceived after I acted upon a suggestion from my endocrinologist (at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla) during my late June visit to investigate the possibility of surgery to improve or resolve my diabetic condition. His comments were precipitated by his concern that, with my declining pancreatic function and aging, collateral health issues, such as high blood pressure, would soon be on my horizon.
With this in mind, I phoned the Wittgrove Bariatric Center in La Jolla to request a consultation with Dr. Alan Wittgrove, a renowned bariatric surgeon. An appt was scheduled for August 17th to screen both me and Vern for our Body Mass Index and discuss our options for weight loss and improvement/resolution of my type 2 diabetes and Vern's cardiovascular diseases and sleep apnea.
Upon screening, we learned that I was at the cusp in BMI for morbid obesity and Vern was about 5 points above me, well into morbid obesity. That alone indicated that we were tentative candidates for bariatric surgery. We then met with Dr. Wittgrove to discuss our options. He asked us about our past success with diets, our current eating issues, and other variables that would affect our BMI. One of those is sedentary activity, such as Vern's passion for the TV. We explained that both of us swam laps regularly, and that I was successful in losing over 30 lb with Jenny Craig foods. (Vern lost 10 lb over a year...cheating.) Further, I had gained 15 of that loss back in 18 months. I continued to describe our ventures with Weight Watchers, loss of weight, regain, and my experiences with Optifast, Medifast, and a Dr-supervised high protein program where I lost 20 lb in a month.
Dr. Wittgrove described the types of surgery that he performed, the risks and benefits associated with each, the post-surgery expectations and more. I learned that over 40 years of bypass surgery, statistics indicated that type 2 diabetes was reversed or markedly improved in 90% of patients who had diabetes for 8 years or less. (I have had it 12+ years.) This reversal/improvement occurs LONG BEFORE an individual loses excess weight!
Scientists subsequently hypothesized that the rearrangement of the small intestine during the bypass surgery was the key to diabetes resolution. They subsequently researched the intricacies of the first length of small intestine, called the duodenum, using diabetic rats to try to pinpoint the characteristic(s) of duodenal tissue that causes glucose metabolism to malfunction. Experiments concluded that there is some factor(s) (enzyme? hormone?) in the lining of the duodenum that does(do) not function properly to regulate glucose metabolism. Bypassing that part of the small intestine results in food not coming in contact with the duodenal lining, and hence, there is no adverse effect on glucose metabolism.
With the bypass surgery, the duodenum is disconnected from the distal end of the stomach, where partially digested food empties into it. The next lower segment of small intestine is then reconnected to the stomach and things continue as normal, without food passing thru the duodenal lining. Of course, the bypass surgery also restricts the size of the stomach, which fosters significant weight loss over time in the patient.
We had a lot to digest (no pun intended) after the consultation. I read every article I could find about "duodenum/diabetes". I learned that several medical centers of excellence had been established across the U.S. to make the bypass surgery available to diabetics under the designation as "metabolic" or "diabetic" surgery. Dr. Wittgrove's center is one of them. Cornell University's Medical School at Columbia in NYC is another.
I was stoked that this surgery could improve or resolve my status as a diabetic. I followed up with the doctor's office to learn what I needed to do to be considered a candidate. Vern followed my lead. Weight loss for him is the key to resolving his cardio issues and sleep apnea, over time.
We had the necessary blood tests, a psychological evaluation to screen for any potential mental health concerns post-surgery, and Vern had to obtain clearance from his cardiologist. Doctor's office submitted to BC/BS for approval, which was quickly approved for me. Vern's primary insurance, United Health Care, denies bariatric surgery coverage, so he had an extra hoop to jump thru. After his denial, my BC/BS approved him for surgery.
That about sums up our August and September adventures. I was advised in mid-Sept of a surgery date on October 6 at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Vern was assigned a date in November, but after my rough post-surgical ride, we rescheduled him for January. He continues to eat like it's his last meal, and has GAINED weight since our first visit to Wittgrove. He is swimming regularly, but our pool temperature has dropped from 96 to 84 due to cold nights. Don't know how long he'll be able to tough it out.
I will write about my surgery in an October update in a day or so.
Please pray for my continued recovery.
Peace and good health,
a
In August, about the only newsworthy item to report is our trip to San Diego over the weekend of August 15th. The trip was conceived after I acted upon a suggestion from my endocrinologist (at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla) during my late June visit to investigate the possibility of surgery to improve or resolve my diabetic condition. His comments were precipitated by his concern that, with my declining pancreatic function and aging, collateral health issues, such as high blood pressure, would soon be on my horizon.
With this in mind, I phoned the Wittgrove Bariatric Center in La Jolla to request a consultation with Dr. Alan Wittgrove, a renowned bariatric surgeon. An appt was scheduled for August 17th to screen both me and Vern for our Body Mass Index and discuss our options for weight loss and improvement/resolution of my type 2 diabetes and Vern's cardiovascular diseases and sleep apnea.
Upon screening, we learned that I was at the cusp in BMI for morbid obesity and Vern was about 5 points above me, well into morbid obesity. That alone indicated that we were tentative candidates for bariatric surgery. We then met with Dr. Wittgrove to discuss our options. He asked us about our past success with diets, our current eating issues, and other variables that would affect our BMI. One of those is sedentary activity, such as Vern's passion for the TV. We explained that both of us swam laps regularly, and that I was successful in losing over 30 lb with Jenny Craig foods. (Vern lost 10 lb over a year...cheating.) Further, I had gained 15 of that loss back in 18 months. I continued to describe our ventures with Weight Watchers, loss of weight, regain, and my experiences with Optifast, Medifast, and a Dr-supervised high protein program where I lost 20 lb in a month.
Dr. Wittgrove described the types of surgery that he performed, the risks and benefits associated with each, the post-surgery expectations and more. I learned that over 40 years of bypass surgery, statistics indicated that type 2 diabetes was reversed or markedly improved in 90% of patients who had diabetes for 8 years or less. (I have had it 12+ years.) This reversal/improvement occurs LONG BEFORE an individual loses excess weight!
Scientists subsequently hypothesized that the rearrangement of the small intestine during the bypass surgery was the key to diabetes resolution. They subsequently researched the intricacies of the first length of small intestine, called the duodenum, using diabetic rats to try to pinpoint the characteristic(s) of duodenal tissue that causes glucose metabolism to malfunction. Experiments concluded that there is some factor(s) (enzyme? hormone?) in the lining of the duodenum that does(do) not function properly to regulate glucose metabolism. Bypassing that part of the small intestine results in food not coming in contact with the duodenal lining, and hence, there is no adverse effect on glucose metabolism.
With the bypass surgery, the duodenum is disconnected from the distal end of the stomach, where partially digested food empties into it. The next lower segment of small intestine is then reconnected to the stomach and things continue as normal, without food passing thru the duodenal lining. Of course, the bypass surgery also restricts the size of the stomach, which fosters significant weight loss over time in the patient.
We had a lot to digest (no pun intended) after the consultation. I read every article I could find about "duodenum/diabetes". I learned that several medical centers of excellence had been established across the U.S. to make the bypass surgery available to diabetics under the designation as "metabolic" or "diabetic" surgery. Dr. Wittgrove's center is one of them. Cornell University's Medical School at Columbia in NYC is another.
I was stoked that this surgery could improve or resolve my status as a diabetic. I followed up with the doctor's office to learn what I needed to do to be considered a candidate. Vern followed my lead. Weight loss for him is the key to resolving his cardio issues and sleep apnea, over time.
We had the necessary blood tests, a psychological evaluation to screen for any potential mental health concerns post-surgery, and Vern had to obtain clearance from his cardiologist. Doctor's office submitted to BC/BS for approval, which was quickly approved for me. Vern's primary insurance, United Health Care, denies bariatric surgery coverage, so he had an extra hoop to jump thru. After his denial, my BC/BS approved him for surgery.
That about sums up our August and September adventures. I was advised in mid-Sept of a surgery date on October 6 at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Vern was assigned a date in November, but after my rough post-surgical ride, we rescheduled him for January. He continues to eat like it's his last meal, and has GAINED weight since our first visit to Wittgrove. He is swimming regularly, but our pool temperature has dropped from 96 to 84 due to cold nights. Don't know how long he'll be able to tough it out.
I will write about my surgery in an October update in a day or so.
Please pray for my continued recovery.
Peace and good health,
a
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
What We Did on Summer Vacation
Friends, Family, and Surfers,
July was highlighted by our trip back East to see family and friends and revel in the Sicilian wedding of our cousin Michelle Musante to John Coppola.
Vern and I flew to Boston on a semi red-eye, arriving at a Wyndham Hotel in the blue-collar 'burb of Chelsea around 2 a.m. Hotel was awesome, some of the most comfortable beds in the world. Great rate thru Expedia of $79 per nite, mostly due to the location....but, this place was 10 minutes from the airport, albeit via a circuitous route thru narrow streets and barrios, and offered a shuttle to the Boston subway airport station, the "T", every half hour. We were a 5-minute subway ride to downtown from the "T" drop. When we returned via the T from downtown, we'd call the shuttle for pickup. Great service! No rental car needed!
While in Boston, we slept away most of our first day there, given our late night arrival, then had dinner next door at a local bistro, Floramo's. Meals were akin to eating at a local bar in W-B, good home (Italian) cooking, not gourmet but tasty and large in quantity. We stayed in the rest of the night to rest up for the next few days.
Next day around noon, we shuttled to the T for our first venture into town, during which we spent the day at the Boston Aquarium. It was pretty crowded for a Thursday, lotsa school or daycare groups and lotsa tourists. We particularly enjoyed the penguin demonstrations. A very relaxing part of the Aquarium footprint is a huge pavilion (wharf) at the rear of the facility, where there are lots of comfortable wooden benches from which to watch the boat traffic and jets coming and going from Logan. It was a warm, breezy day, 80ish, and an occasional drip or two would fall from a stray dark cloud. We spent an hour or so watching the excursion boats and water taxi traffic in the harbor. Around 5 pm, we heard from my niece, Natalie, who was subwaying over from her office at Mass College of Pharmacy and Health Science. When she arrived, we crossed the Blvd to Legal Seafood, where we had some wine and ate a humongous, delicious meal. Both Vern and I had the surf and turf, lobster and filet. Outstanding. Afterward, we walked with Nat from downtown to Boston's North End, which is the Italian neighborhood.
Food still settling, we stopped by a bistro for a gelato, which is rich, creamy Italian ice cream. Also went to the very crowded Michael's Bakery to score pastries and marizipan in every conceivable shape and size. When it started getting dusky, we headed downtown to the T for our respective trips home. Vern couldn't find a restroom to relieve himself, so he had a squirmy ride back to the airport on the T. No relief at the hotel shuttle stop, either, so it was a verrrrry longgggg ride back to the hotel for him.
Next day, Friday, we took the shuttle to the airport T, where we met Nat and proceeded to Avis to rent a car for our drive to see Auntie Ann and my cousin Mandy in Marblehead, MA. Marblehead is a lovely community on a spit of land into the Atlantic about 30 minutes drive north of Boston. We arrived to find AA outside awaiting our arrival. It was wonderful to see her looking so perky and healthy. She had a quadruple bypass last year. Also had all her teeth pulled and dentures made, which was an ordeal for her following surgery.
She sprung for lunch at a local chowder bistro. We had scallops that were out of this world! Since I hadn't seen her for 5 years, we had a lot to catch up on. Vern hadn't seen her since my aunt Mimi died in '95. After lunch, we headed over to a small restaurant with which my cousin Mandy was affiliated. Had some coffee there, chatted and planned to meet at Marblehead lighthouse which straddles the harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. We spent a couple hours visiting at the park at the lighthouse, sitting on huge boulders and benches, yapping away. Afterward, we returned with Ann to her apartment at a senior apartment complex. She nursed a huge blister that i'd developed on my pinky from all the walking we'd done over the 2 days. We planned on driving back to Boston shortly thereafter. We discussed what we wanted to do for dinner, when Ann piped up with "There's a really good Chinese place down a few streets, do ya wanna go there?"
Sure, why not! We headed out to the place, which offerd a combo Sushi and Chinese cuisine. Nat and I had some sushi and ordered a dish from the Chinese menu. Vern passed on teh sushi and had a great chicken and walnut dinner. Mandy had gone home to catch up on laundry. At some point during our wait for dinner, she called her Mom, who told her where we were. As soon as her clothes were in the dryer, she popped in to join us for the rest of the meal.
We said our loving goodbyes as darkness fell and returned to Boston where we turned in the rental car and grabbed the shuttle back to the hotel.
Saturday morning we hailed a cab to travel over to downtown to the rail station. It's a grand old facility with lots of character and an array of restaurants catering to many tastes! Had a light breakfast, then boarded the Amtrak for New Haven, CT.
What a great ride on the train! We passed thru cities and mostly rural areas of MA, RI, and CT, all of CT with the ocean to our left and various bays and inlets to the right. It was a 2.5 hr ride, but passed quickly. Vern visited the dining car and got us snacks/drinks about half way there. We arrived in New Haven on time and rented a car from Avis at the rail station. It too was gorgeous vintage America, with thick oak benches and ornate ceiling.
We drove to our Hilton Garden Inn in Shelton, CT, where we settled in, then proceeded to dress for the evening reception. My cousin Diana knew we were not planning on attending the afternoon wedding, and it was a good thing, cuz we learned it was SRO.
The reception was held at a country club. We arrived as probably the last guests, due to unfamiliarity with the turf. Michelle and John were graciously waiting in an empty foyer, as most guests had moved on to the appetizer buffet (awesome!) in the rear of the building. When we arrived, we were warmly received, and we headed to the rear as well to seek out Diana and my Uncle Joey and Aunt Betty. Hadn't seen these folks in 20 years, remember, since my Mom's funeral. I found a bridesmaid and asked who among the many was the mother of the bride. They pointed out Diana, who is now a blonde. I went over and tapped her on the head and said hello. She looked at me like I was a wedding crasher. When i told her who i was, she yelped and then we went to find my aunt and uncle. It was a delightful reunion! I also got to visit with Diana's ex-husband and father of the bride, Ed Musante (Muzzy). Looks the same, acts the same, nice guy in general.
The reception and dinner was quite entertaining. Bride and groom did some native American war dance with their peeps that cracked us all up. They did a married couples dance and eliminated folks based on how many years married. The couple who was last to go was my aunt and uncle.....65 years married! They also did a group picture of all those present who were Sicilian in ancestry. My aunt Betty and I were the sole guests remaining at our table and there were a few other non-Sicilians in the room, but mostly all were in the photo!
We danced a lot, ate a terrific dinner and enjoyed being part of the festivities. Next day, Diana hosted a cookout at her place, which was less than a mile from our hotel. The highlight of our day there was playing cards with them....we refreshed my mind on how to play Setback (called Cinch in PA) and taught Vern the rudimentary rules of the game. After uncle and auntie left for home before dark (he is almost 90and still drives), we sat on D's deck and chatted some more.
Next morning, V and I headed back to the train station, returned the car, and caught the Amtrak south to Newark, NJ. Another 2 hour trip that completed our coastal tour of CT, then took us in the back door to NYCity. We arrived at Newark Train Station around 1, rented a car and drove to Paramus, NJ, where my uncle Dick resides. I could not figure out how to get off of those friggin' traffic circles at the exit that leads to his neighborhood, so we drove about 45 minutes back and forth until we finally figured it out.
We visited with Dick at his home, and he took us out to Ocean's, a Greek seafood restaurant in nearby Saddle Brook, NJ. Outstanding meal, and we were joined by his friends Kathy and her sister Diane. Kathy has been helping Dick out for over a year now with his shopping, billpaying, cleaning and personal needs. He claims to love her. I don't know if it's a romance or not, as she is 20 years his junior.
We were with Dick less than 24 hours, when we checked out of the Holiday Inn Express and drove back to Newark for our flight home. I didn't mention that we had excellent weather every day we were in the northeast, except the last day......it poured buckets in NJ and our American Airlines flight to Chicago was delayed. The delay meant we'd miss our connection to Tucson. Fortunately, while we said our goodbyes to Dick, he mentioned that we should probably check our flight status becuz of the weather. GREAT IDEA! we learned that i'd misread our boarding passes and that we were to leave an hour earlier than i'd planned. if we hadn't checked, we'd have missed our flight (technically), but since it was delayed, the point was moot. Nevertheless, we said quick goodbyes to Dick and hurried to Newark to turn in the car and try to get on another flight.
While we were enroute, American phoned Vern and advised him that we had a missed connection pending. They offered us seats on a direct USAir flight to Phx, then Tucson. We took them. Unfortunately, the seats were middle ones at the rear of the plane. Vern was in the very last row and couldn't recline, but he managed to sleep anyway. We got a hoagie at the airport and used it for our dinner en route. 5.5 hr later we were in rainfree PHX and a quick hop on a regional jet thereafter brought us safely to Tucson. End of whirlwind trip!
August and September still to come on this slooooow mooooving blog.
peace.
a
July was highlighted by our trip back East to see family and friends and revel in the Sicilian wedding of our cousin Michelle Musante to John Coppola.
Vern and I flew to Boston on a semi red-eye, arriving at a Wyndham Hotel in the blue-collar 'burb of Chelsea around 2 a.m. Hotel was awesome, some of the most comfortable beds in the world. Great rate thru Expedia of $79 per nite, mostly due to the location....but, this place was 10 minutes from the airport, albeit via a circuitous route thru narrow streets and barrios, and offered a shuttle to the Boston subway airport station, the "T", every half hour. We were a 5-minute subway ride to downtown from the "T" drop. When we returned via the T from downtown, we'd call the shuttle for pickup. Great service! No rental car needed!
While in Boston, we slept away most of our first day there, given our late night arrival, then had dinner next door at a local bistro, Floramo's. Meals were akin to eating at a local bar in W-B, good home (Italian) cooking, not gourmet but tasty and large in quantity. We stayed in the rest of the night to rest up for the next few days.
Next day around noon, we shuttled to the T for our first venture into town, during which we spent the day at the Boston Aquarium. It was pretty crowded for a Thursday, lotsa school or daycare groups and lotsa tourists. We particularly enjoyed the penguin demonstrations. A very relaxing part of the Aquarium footprint is a huge pavilion (wharf) at the rear of the facility, where there are lots of comfortable wooden benches from which to watch the boat traffic and jets coming and going from Logan. It was a warm, breezy day, 80ish, and an occasional drip or two would fall from a stray dark cloud. We spent an hour or so watching the excursion boats and water taxi traffic in the harbor. Around 5 pm, we heard from my niece, Natalie, who was subwaying over from her office at Mass College of Pharmacy and Health Science. When she arrived, we crossed the Blvd to Legal Seafood, where we had some wine and ate a humongous, delicious meal. Both Vern and I had the surf and turf, lobster and filet. Outstanding. Afterward, we walked with Nat from downtown to Boston's North End, which is the Italian neighborhood.
Food still settling, we stopped by a bistro for a gelato, which is rich, creamy Italian ice cream. Also went to the very crowded Michael's Bakery to score pastries and marizipan in every conceivable shape and size. When it started getting dusky, we headed downtown to the T for our respective trips home. Vern couldn't find a restroom to relieve himself, so he had a squirmy ride back to the airport on the T. No relief at the hotel shuttle stop, either, so it was a verrrrry longgggg ride back to the hotel for him.
Next day, Friday, we took the shuttle to the airport T, where we met Nat and proceeded to Avis to rent a car for our drive to see Auntie Ann and my cousin Mandy in Marblehead, MA. Marblehead is a lovely community on a spit of land into the Atlantic about 30 minutes drive north of Boston. We arrived to find AA outside awaiting our arrival. It was wonderful to see her looking so perky and healthy. She had a quadruple bypass last year. Also had all her teeth pulled and dentures made, which was an ordeal for her following surgery.
She sprung for lunch at a local chowder bistro. We had scallops that were out of this world! Since I hadn't seen her for 5 years, we had a lot to catch up on. Vern hadn't seen her since my aunt Mimi died in '95. After lunch, we headed over to a small restaurant with which my cousin Mandy was affiliated. Had some coffee there, chatted and planned to meet at Marblehead lighthouse which straddles the harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. We spent a couple hours visiting at the park at the lighthouse, sitting on huge boulders and benches, yapping away. Afterward, we returned with Ann to her apartment at a senior apartment complex. She nursed a huge blister that i'd developed on my pinky from all the walking we'd done over the 2 days. We planned on driving back to Boston shortly thereafter. We discussed what we wanted to do for dinner, when Ann piped up with "There's a really good Chinese place down a few streets, do ya wanna go there?"
Sure, why not! We headed out to the place, which offerd a combo Sushi and Chinese cuisine. Nat and I had some sushi and ordered a dish from the Chinese menu. Vern passed on teh sushi and had a great chicken and walnut dinner. Mandy had gone home to catch up on laundry. At some point during our wait for dinner, she called her Mom, who told her where we were. As soon as her clothes were in the dryer, she popped in to join us for the rest of the meal.
We said our loving goodbyes as darkness fell and returned to Boston where we turned in the rental car and grabbed the shuttle back to the hotel.
Saturday morning we hailed a cab to travel over to downtown to the rail station. It's a grand old facility with lots of character and an array of restaurants catering to many tastes! Had a light breakfast, then boarded the Amtrak for New Haven, CT.
What a great ride on the train! We passed thru cities and mostly rural areas of MA, RI, and CT, all of CT with the ocean to our left and various bays and inlets to the right. It was a 2.5 hr ride, but passed quickly. Vern visited the dining car and got us snacks/drinks about half way there. We arrived in New Haven on time and rented a car from Avis at the rail station. It too was gorgeous vintage America, with thick oak benches and ornate ceiling.
We drove to our Hilton Garden Inn in Shelton, CT, where we settled in, then proceeded to dress for the evening reception. My cousin Diana knew we were not planning on attending the afternoon wedding, and it was a good thing, cuz we learned it was SRO.
The reception was held at a country club. We arrived as probably the last guests, due to unfamiliarity with the turf. Michelle and John were graciously waiting in an empty foyer, as most guests had moved on to the appetizer buffet (awesome!) in the rear of the building. When we arrived, we were warmly received, and we headed to the rear as well to seek out Diana and my Uncle Joey and Aunt Betty. Hadn't seen these folks in 20 years, remember, since my Mom's funeral. I found a bridesmaid and asked who among the many was the mother of the bride. They pointed out Diana, who is now a blonde. I went over and tapped her on the head and said hello. She looked at me like I was a wedding crasher. When i told her who i was, she yelped and then we went to find my aunt and uncle. It was a delightful reunion! I also got to visit with Diana's ex-husband and father of the bride, Ed Musante (Muzzy). Looks the same, acts the same, nice guy in general.
The reception and dinner was quite entertaining. Bride and groom did some native American war dance with their peeps that cracked us all up. They did a married couples dance and eliminated folks based on how many years married. The couple who was last to go was my aunt and uncle.....65 years married! They also did a group picture of all those present who were Sicilian in ancestry. My aunt Betty and I were the sole guests remaining at our table and there were a few other non-Sicilians in the room, but mostly all were in the photo!
We danced a lot, ate a terrific dinner and enjoyed being part of the festivities. Next day, Diana hosted a cookout at her place, which was less than a mile from our hotel. The highlight of our day there was playing cards with them....we refreshed my mind on how to play Setback (called Cinch in PA) and taught Vern the rudimentary rules of the game. After uncle and auntie left for home before dark (he is almost 90and still drives), we sat on D's deck and chatted some more.
Next morning, V and I headed back to the train station, returned the car, and caught the Amtrak south to Newark, NJ. Another 2 hour trip that completed our coastal tour of CT, then took us in the back door to NYCity. We arrived at Newark Train Station around 1, rented a car and drove to Paramus, NJ, where my uncle Dick resides. I could not figure out how to get off of those friggin' traffic circles at the exit that leads to his neighborhood, so we drove about 45 minutes back and forth until we finally figured it out.
We visited with Dick at his home, and he took us out to Ocean's, a Greek seafood restaurant in nearby Saddle Brook, NJ. Outstanding meal, and we were joined by his friends Kathy and her sister Diane. Kathy has been helping Dick out for over a year now with his shopping, billpaying, cleaning and personal needs. He claims to love her. I don't know if it's a romance or not, as she is 20 years his junior.
We were with Dick less than 24 hours, when we checked out of the Holiday Inn Express and drove back to Newark for our flight home. I didn't mention that we had excellent weather every day we were in the northeast, except the last day......it poured buckets in NJ and our American Airlines flight to Chicago was delayed. The delay meant we'd miss our connection to Tucson. Fortunately, while we said our goodbyes to Dick, he mentioned that we should probably check our flight status becuz of the weather. GREAT IDEA! we learned that i'd misread our boarding passes and that we were to leave an hour earlier than i'd planned. if we hadn't checked, we'd have missed our flight (technically), but since it was delayed, the point was moot. Nevertheless, we said quick goodbyes to Dick and hurried to Newark to turn in the car and try to get on another flight.
While we were enroute, American phoned Vern and advised him that we had a missed connection pending. They offered us seats on a direct USAir flight to Phx, then Tucson. We took them. Unfortunately, the seats were middle ones at the rear of the plane. Vern was in the very last row and couldn't recline, but he managed to sleep anyway. We got a hoagie at the airport and used it for our dinner en route. 5.5 hr later we were in rainfree PHX and a quick hop on a regional jet thereafter brought us safely to Tucson. End of whirlwind trip!
August and September still to come on this slooooow mooooving blog.
peace.
a
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Sunny San Diego---NOT!!!
Dear Potentially Bored Blog Readers,
June was rather uneventful. To ensure a good afternoon nap or night's sleep for you, I'll begin by sharing a tidbit of what I do for a living.
I spent the end of May and the first two weeks in June immersed in writing a Project Description for the environmental impact analysis being conducted for the proposed Rosemont Copper Mine on the Coronado National Forest. It was not an easy task to wade through a contractor's report (Plan of Operation) detailing activities needed to construct facilities to mine copper and process it onsite. The organization and flow of the contractor's report was convoluted and often less than comprehensive. Nevertheless, I turned in my deliverable the second week in June and never looked back.
Afterward, I continued to swim laps and nag Vern, two of my favorite hobbies. The monsoon started in June, which was nice, because it watered the vegetation and made the brown grass green again.
At the end of June, we trekked to San Diego (June 28) for my endocrinologist appointment at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla. Instead of staying overnight in SD, where the hotel prices are still outasite, we opted to spend the night in Yuma at a Wingate by Wyndham hotel. Still pricy ($70), but under what we'd have had to fork over for SD lodging. It was nice digs, except for the grossly funky shower curtain. I don't know what the Chinese are making those things from nowadays, but they soooo smell like Steven's jock strap after a soccer or Little League game in 100 degree heat.
In the a.m. on Monday, June 29, we headed west for my 1:20 appt. The Dr's office was supposed to call in a bloodwork order so that I could have it drawn earlier than the appt since i was to be fasting. When we got to the Lab, they didn't have the order...Murphy's law of course. I was feeling woozy from lack of sustenance aka low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Undeterred by such a simple thing as needing to be fasting and armed with a motto of "better to ask forgiveness than permission", I blazed a trail to Jasmine, our favorite Chinese bistro on Kearny Mesa in SD. Needless to say, we dived into the dim sum offerings with full gusto and entertained the staff and nearby tables with muchos belches!!
Afterward, I met with Dr. Dailey as scheduled, seeking forgiveness for the delightful dim sum meal pre-blood draw. He took it well and gave me a bloodwork order for NON-fasting. Dr. was pleased that my monitor showed recent blood glucose levels of normal. My blood pressure was higher than normal when it was first taken, normal about 10 minutes later when we were leaving. He recommended that I purchase a wrist BP monitor just to keep an eye on it over time, since i am considered elderly now. The purchase will benefit Vern as well, since he is on meds for high BP and has a family history of heart disease.
We had hoped to enjoy a day or two of leisure in SD, but the weather was rather poor. Usually sunny, cool SD was drizzly and cooler than one would like for poolside putzing. We took a spin thru La Jolla beachside and marveled at the courage of those faithful surfers in their wetsuits in water temps of less than 60 degrees. Then, we turned eastward and drove back to Yuma on the same day we travelled over! Not at all a typical visit for us. The expense of staying in SD while it rained was impractical. We checked back into the Wingate in Yuma, same front desk clerk eyeing us quizzically, as she'd just checked us out 8 hours before.
Weather was VERY hot in Yuma. We toured our old haunts, checked on our house on Gateway, where the trees we planted are grazing the clouds. The new owners have painted the place a rusty desert orange, which was very pleasing to behold. The coup de gras was our supper late in the day at Ronnie's Pizza. Ronnie is a native Philadelphian and makes PA pizza second only to Sabatini's in Exeter, PA. Great pie...we ate the WHOLLLLLLE thing! Oink, oink, oink.
Our return from Yuma was uneventful. It was good to drive back in the light of day. We like to spend as much time in SD as possible, and usually end up driving to Tucson in the dark.
I spent the remainder of that week on VACATION on the patio and in our pool. I rested, read, relaxed and did NO household chores that would improve our quality of life on Larkdale. What else is vacation supposed to be?
Next post: July vacation to MA, CT and NJ. See ya then.
a
June was rather uneventful. To ensure a good afternoon nap or night's sleep for you, I'll begin by sharing a tidbit of what I do for a living.
I spent the end of May and the first two weeks in June immersed in writing a Project Description for the environmental impact analysis being conducted for the proposed Rosemont Copper Mine on the Coronado National Forest. It was not an easy task to wade through a contractor's report (Plan of Operation) detailing activities needed to construct facilities to mine copper and process it onsite. The organization and flow of the contractor's report was convoluted and often less than comprehensive. Nevertheless, I turned in my deliverable the second week in June and never looked back.
Afterward, I continued to swim laps and nag Vern, two of my favorite hobbies. The monsoon started in June, which was nice, because it watered the vegetation and made the brown grass green again.
At the end of June, we trekked to San Diego (June 28) for my endocrinologist appointment at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla. Instead of staying overnight in SD, where the hotel prices are still outasite, we opted to spend the night in Yuma at a Wingate by Wyndham hotel. Still pricy ($70), but under what we'd have had to fork over for SD lodging. It was nice digs, except for the grossly funky shower curtain. I don't know what the Chinese are making those things from nowadays, but they soooo smell like Steven's jock strap after a soccer or Little League game in 100 degree heat.
In the a.m. on Monday, June 29, we headed west for my 1:20 appt. The Dr's office was supposed to call in a bloodwork order so that I could have it drawn earlier than the appt since i was to be fasting. When we got to the Lab, they didn't have the order...Murphy's law of course. I was feeling woozy from lack of sustenance aka low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Undeterred by such a simple thing as needing to be fasting and armed with a motto of "better to ask forgiveness than permission", I blazed a trail to Jasmine, our favorite Chinese bistro on Kearny Mesa in SD. Needless to say, we dived into the dim sum offerings with full gusto and entertained the staff and nearby tables with muchos belches!!
Afterward, I met with Dr. Dailey as scheduled, seeking forgiveness for the delightful dim sum meal pre-blood draw. He took it well and gave me a bloodwork order for NON-fasting. Dr. was pleased that my monitor showed recent blood glucose levels of normal. My blood pressure was higher than normal when it was first taken, normal about 10 minutes later when we were leaving. He recommended that I purchase a wrist BP monitor just to keep an eye on it over time, since i am considered elderly now. The purchase will benefit Vern as well, since he is on meds for high BP and has a family history of heart disease.
We had hoped to enjoy a day or two of leisure in SD, but the weather was rather poor. Usually sunny, cool SD was drizzly and cooler than one would like for poolside putzing. We took a spin thru La Jolla beachside and marveled at the courage of those faithful surfers in their wetsuits in water temps of less than 60 degrees. Then, we turned eastward and drove back to Yuma on the same day we travelled over! Not at all a typical visit for us. The expense of staying in SD while it rained was impractical. We checked back into the Wingate in Yuma, same front desk clerk eyeing us quizzically, as she'd just checked us out 8 hours before.
Weather was VERY hot in Yuma. We toured our old haunts, checked on our house on Gateway, where the trees we planted are grazing the clouds. The new owners have painted the place a rusty desert orange, which was very pleasing to behold. The coup de gras was our supper late in the day at Ronnie's Pizza. Ronnie is a native Philadelphian and makes PA pizza second only to Sabatini's in Exeter, PA. Great pie...we ate the WHOLLLLLLE thing! Oink, oink, oink.
Our return from Yuma was uneventful. It was good to drive back in the light of day. We like to spend as much time in SD as possible, and usually end up driving to Tucson in the dark.
I spent the remainder of that week on VACATION on the patio and in our pool. I rested, read, relaxed and did NO household chores that would improve our quality of life on Larkdale. What else is vacation supposed to be?
Next post: July vacation to MA, CT and NJ. See ya then.
a
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Free at Last (Financially) aka The Kid Graduated!
My Tia Wooobeee asked that i get off my duff and update this blog. Because she is so special, i will do my very best to accommodate her quest for knowledge and wisdom (and gossip and such).
Let's see.... I last blogged in April around Easter, eagerly anticipating Nana's visit from TN and Steven's graduation from ASU.
Both events happened as planned.
Nana (Vern's mom) arrived in Tucson on May 11 for a week-long visit at our home. This was her first solo flight, and we hoped that it would be smooth and uneventful. Thanks to American Airlines and perhaps the weather somewhere back East, her flight was delayed leaving Knoxville, which made her miss her connecting flight to Tucson in Dallas. American was not too concerned about her plight, however, becuz there were several later flights that could carry her to Tucson. But, she stood by for the next flight and then another, without boarding. Instead of arriving here around 2 pm as scheduled, she arrived at 7:30 pm. That was 10:30 pm Eastern time. Bless her heart, Nana had an anxiety-filled day, but she was a trooper. Arrived in Tucson unscathed, and not as hungry as we expected. Reason: she had snacked in Dallas while she stood by for flights. Nevertheless, we stopped at a Sonic on the way home and pigged out on junk food as her (and our)reward!
We loved having Nana with us for the week. The focal point of her visit was, of course, the graduation events at ASU. After all the hype i gave you readers about attending the mass graduation event in Sun Devil Stadium (8000 grads on the field) with our esteemed President Obama giving the commencement address, we didn't attend...instead, we watched the President's approximately 25-minute address in the air conditioned comfort of our living room in Tucson. And, son Steven was nowhere to be seen on that sizzling, sardine-packed field.
A combination of conditions led to our decision to stay in Tucson and not attend the field ceremony, and instead, to attend the College of Design graduation in Tempe on May 14. That was the real deal where Steven actually walked on the stage and received his diploma. And it was in an air-conditioned sports arena at ASU.
Our decision was preceded by Steven's diabolical plan to foil our hearing Obama's address in the flesh. We had 6 tickets reserved for the stadium event. It was up to the student (aka Steven) to pick up said tickets at a campus location. Steven had already made up his mind that he did not want to participate in the mass graduation. He based his decision on the fact that he would have to be present for rehearsal at the stadium at 3 pm on a very hot (100+) day, after enduring the heavy security screening being conducted becuz of Obama's visit. He also said that he was concerned for Nana and us having to wait in the blazing sun for at least 90 minutes to pass thru the screening. Then, the seats we would be assigned were a crap shoot. We may have lucked out or we may have been up yonder dodging the small jets arriving at Sky Harbor. In any case, he let his opportunity to fetch our tickets lapse beyond the deadline. When i learned of this, i freaked out and scolded him to no end, threatening things i don't wanna repeat here. He begged my forgiveness, saying he moved heaven and earth trying after the deadline to score the tickets. Sooooooo, that's why we watched the graduation ceremony at home. No one at the stadium event got their diploma, and several folks, including students, were treated for heat exhaustion. Maybe Steven was right after all.
The May 14 College of Design graduation was much more comfortable. It was indoors and lasted about an hour and a half. Approximately 800 students were presented individually with their diplomas. We took pictures with those little disposable cameras from the drugstore, and professionals took photos of each grad as he/she left the stage. Afterward, due to time constraints, we went to the nearby Chompie's Deli in Tempe for a late supper.
On the following Saturday, we hosted a celebratory cookout. David's aunt Darlene and cousin Mark came down from Phx for the day. I grilled sweet Italian sausage; burgers; Nathan's beef franks; and red, yellow and green peppers. Had a mixed salad of fresh fruit as a side, and all the usual accompaniments. Darlene and Mark stayed til after sunset talking about David's uncle John, who passed away in Dec 08 and David's Dad, who passed away in Jan 09, as well as catching up on other family events. I believe a good time was had by all.
Nana left us on Monday, May 18, and her return flight was much improved over the first adventure.
Not much else to say about May 09, except that Vern worked on getting the foundation laid for the greenhouse. As of today, he has the bottom section of the thing built and battened down on landscape timbers and about 2 tons of sand raked out inside the structure as the base for the humongous concrete pavers we are using for the floor. Slow going, but that's life with Vern.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Tia Wooobeee as she continues to slowwwwwwwly recover from biliary surgery. She had a ruptured gall bladder and some post-surgery complications that have kept her down and out for 2 months now. We wish her the best and send all our love.
My next post will continue with June and July to recount my snoozer of a life for posterity.
Love and peace to all of you.
a
Let's see.... I last blogged in April around Easter, eagerly anticipating Nana's visit from TN and Steven's graduation from ASU.
Both events happened as planned.
Nana (Vern's mom) arrived in Tucson on May 11 for a week-long visit at our home. This was her first solo flight, and we hoped that it would be smooth and uneventful. Thanks to American Airlines and perhaps the weather somewhere back East, her flight was delayed leaving Knoxville, which made her miss her connecting flight to Tucson in Dallas. American was not too concerned about her plight, however, becuz there were several later flights that could carry her to Tucson. But, she stood by for the next flight and then another, without boarding. Instead of arriving here around 2 pm as scheduled, she arrived at 7:30 pm. That was 10:30 pm Eastern time. Bless her heart, Nana had an anxiety-filled day, but she was a trooper. Arrived in Tucson unscathed, and not as hungry as we expected. Reason: she had snacked in Dallas while she stood by for flights. Nevertheless, we stopped at a Sonic on the way home and pigged out on junk food as her (and our)reward!
We loved having Nana with us for the week. The focal point of her visit was, of course, the graduation events at ASU. After all the hype i gave you readers about attending the mass graduation event in Sun Devil Stadium (8000 grads on the field) with our esteemed President Obama giving the commencement address, we didn't attend...instead, we watched the President's approximately 25-minute address in the air conditioned comfort of our living room in Tucson. And, son Steven was nowhere to be seen on that sizzling, sardine-packed field.
A combination of conditions led to our decision to stay in Tucson and not attend the field ceremony, and instead, to attend the College of Design graduation in Tempe on May 14. That was the real deal where Steven actually walked on the stage and received his diploma. And it was in an air-conditioned sports arena at ASU.
Our decision was preceded by Steven's diabolical plan to foil our hearing Obama's address in the flesh. We had 6 tickets reserved for the stadium event. It was up to the student (aka Steven) to pick up said tickets at a campus location. Steven had already made up his mind that he did not want to participate in the mass graduation. He based his decision on the fact that he would have to be present for rehearsal at the stadium at 3 pm on a very hot (100+) day, after enduring the heavy security screening being conducted becuz of Obama's visit. He also said that he was concerned for Nana and us having to wait in the blazing sun for at least 90 minutes to pass thru the screening. Then, the seats we would be assigned were a crap shoot. We may have lucked out or we may have been up yonder dodging the small jets arriving at Sky Harbor. In any case, he let his opportunity to fetch our tickets lapse beyond the deadline. When i learned of this, i freaked out and scolded him to no end, threatening things i don't wanna repeat here. He begged my forgiveness, saying he moved heaven and earth trying after the deadline to score the tickets. Sooooooo, that's why we watched the graduation ceremony at home. No one at the stadium event got their diploma, and several folks, including students, were treated for heat exhaustion. Maybe Steven was right after all.
The May 14 College of Design graduation was much more comfortable. It was indoors and lasted about an hour and a half. Approximately 800 students were presented individually with their diplomas. We took pictures with those little disposable cameras from the drugstore, and professionals took photos of each grad as he/she left the stage. Afterward, due to time constraints, we went to the nearby Chompie's Deli in Tempe for a late supper.
On the following Saturday, we hosted a celebratory cookout. David's aunt Darlene and cousin Mark came down from Phx for the day. I grilled sweet Italian sausage; burgers; Nathan's beef franks; and red, yellow and green peppers. Had a mixed salad of fresh fruit as a side, and all the usual accompaniments. Darlene and Mark stayed til after sunset talking about David's uncle John, who passed away in Dec 08 and David's Dad, who passed away in Jan 09, as well as catching up on other family events. I believe a good time was had by all.
Nana left us on Monday, May 18, and her return flight was much improved over the first adventure.
Not much else to say about May 09, except that Vern worked on getting the foundation laid for the greenhouse. As of today, he has the bottom section of the thing built and battened down on landscape timbers and about 2 tons of sand raked out inside the structure as the base for the humongous concrete pavers we are using for the floor. Slow going, but that's life with Vern.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Tia Wooobeee as she continues to slowwwwwwwly recover from biliary surgery. She had a ruptured gall bladder and some post-surgery complications that have kept her down and out for 2 months now. We wish her the best and send all our love.
My next post will continue with June and July to recount my snoozer of a life for posterity.
Love and peace to all of you.
a
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Christos Voskres! Христос воскресе!
Hola, familia y amigos!
Getting ready to watch Steven graduate from ASU on May 13 and again on May 14 from the College of Design. We are so very, very proud of our son for his perseverance and endurance in a highly challenging curriculum.
Vern's mom, Imazo, plans to fly to Tucson to join us for a wee vacation and to attend the commencement. I am pumped because our new President will be delivering the commencement address. This will be the first time that I have ever personally seen or heard a President speak! And what a great speaker he is. It is indeed an honor for all graduating to hear his thoughts on their future and the changes planned for our nation.
On the home front, we had guests in our front yard yesterday...a backhoe digging up the phone utility near the edge of our property under the direction of the man who owns about 300 lots in Diamond Bell Ranch (most are 1 or more acres), our subdivision, which is part of a working cattle ranch. Vern went over to see what they were doing and found out that the guy owns the vacant lot next to us. He offered to sell it to us for $25K. We may take him up on the offer to preserve the desert space and our unobstructed view of Kitt Peak and the Baboquivari Mountains. I will be paying off our credit card debt in the near future. If we can get him down to $20K, we'll likely make an offer.
After the backhoe trampled everything in its wake near the utility boxes, the driver maneuvered it thru the cacti to our backyard, where Vern had him level off a 12 x 25 ft area to place my new greenhouse. What good fortune! Now we can place the landscape timbers and concrete blocks that we are going to use for the greenhouse floor. Vern has been assembling pieces of the structure in the garage, which is overflowing and which I cannot use to park my car. Since it will be heating up in May, I'd like to have all the boxes out of there so I can park. My car is black, so it of course absorbs every uv ray it receives.
I am enjoying my new office. Feels like a throne room after the tiny one I occupied for almost 6 years.
Vern didn't get the lateral position at the corrections officer training academy, but i don't think it bummed him out any. The drive would've improved and so would the hours, but what the heck, if it is meant to be, it will be and if not, so be it.
Imazo sounds much better and stronger as she recovers from gall bladder surgery. Now we as a family are faced with our Auntie Ruby (vern's dad's sister) having laparoscopic surgery next Friday to remove a cyst on her ovary. She was diagnosed with the problem last week after spending a full day in the ER of a local hospital. There is no certainty that the cyst is benign, and if it is not, there may be further abdominal tissue removed during the surgery. Ruby had a similar cyst removed along with her other ovary over 40 years ago, and it was benign. Our prayers are that this one will be as well.
Meanwhile, we are keepin' the faith and enjoyin' spring sunshine and wildflowers. Right now we have pink, purple, yellow and orange trees, shrubs, and flowers surrounding us. Also, the trees are leafing out that lovely yellow-green color that they do as summer approaches. The 90 degree pool beckons me as I type this. Guess I'll go for a lap swim when I am through.
May the Force be with you all. Congratulations to Aunt Barbara and cousing JoAnne on their new great-grandbaby and grandbaby! And may you all rejoice in the resurrection this Easter Sunday! Christos Voskres!! Христос воскресе!
Enjoy Easter with my peeps at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSokEF1XXis
Intro is chanting...followed by Ruthenian music.
a
Getting ready to watch Steven graduate from ASU on May 13 and again on May 14 from the College of Design. We are so very, very proud of our son for his perseverance and endurance in a highly challenging curriculum.
Vern's mom, Imazo, plans to fly to Tucson to join us for a wee vacation and to attend the commencement. I am pumped because our new President will be delivering the commencement address. This will be the first time that I have ever personally seen or heard a President speak! And what a great speaker he is. It is indeed an honor for all graduating to hear his thoughts on their future and the changes planned for our nation.
On the home front, we had guests in our front yard yesterday...a backhoe digging up the phone utility near the edge of our property under the direction of the man who owns about 300 lots in Diamond Bell Ranch (most are 1 or more acres), our subdivision, which is part of a working cattle ranch. Vern went over to see what they were doing and found out that the guy owns the vacant lot next to us. He offered to sell it to us for $25K. We may take him up on the offer to preserve the desert space and our unobstructed view of Kitt Peak and the Baboquivari Mountains. I will be paying off our credit card debt in the near future. If we can get him down to $20K, we'll likely make an offer.
After the backhoe trampled everything in its wake near the utility boxes, the driver maneuvered it thru the cacti to our backyard, where Vern had him level off a 12 x 25 ft area to place my new greenhouse. What good fortune! Now we can place the landscape timbers and concrete blocks that we are going to use for the greenhouse floor. Vern has been assembling pieces of the structure in the garage, which is overflowing and which I cannot use to park my car. Since it will be heating up in May, I'd like to have all the boxes out of there so I can park. My car is black, so it of course absorbs every uv ray it receives.
I am enjoying my new office. Feels like a throne room after the tiny one I occupied for almost 6 years.
Vern didn't get the lateral position at the corrections officer training academy, but i don't think it bummed him out any. The drive would've improved and so would the hours, but what the heck, if it is meant to be, it will be and if not, so be it.
Imazo sounds much better and stronger as she recovers from gall bladder surgery. Now we as a family are faced with our Auntie Ruby (vern's dad's sister) having laparoscopic surgery next Friday to remove a cyst on her ovary. She was diagnosed with the problem last week after spending a full day in the ER of a local hospital. There is no certainty that the cyst is benign, and if it is not, there may be further abdominal tissue removed during the surgery. Ruby had a similar cyst removed along with her other ovary over 40 years ago, and it was benign. Our prayers are that this one will be as well.
Meanwhile, we are keepin' the faith and enjoyin' spring sunshine and wildflowers. Right now we have pink, purple, yellow and orange trees, shrubs, and flowers surrounding us. Also, the trees are leafing out that lovely yellow-green color that they do as summer approaches. The 90 degree pool beckons me as I type this. Guess I'll go for a lap swim when I am through.
May the Force be with you all. Congratulations to Aunt Barbara and cousing JoAnne on their new great-grandbaby and grandbaby! And may you all rejoice in the resurrection this Easter Sunday! Christos Voskres!! Христос воскресе!
Enjoy Easter with my peeps at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSokEF1XXis
Intro is chanting...followed by Ruthenian music.
a
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Tiptoe Thru The Tulips
Mundane life is basically the same here in the Old Pueblo.
Vern's Mom, Imazo, is doing incrementally better at home, so we hear from other kin. Her sisters-in-law, Mae and Ruby, have been very kind to visit her frequently and go out to eat and play with her around Knoxville. They've been to many of their favorite haunts---Cracker Barrel, Louis', Litton's---since Imazo was sprung from the hospital, and Ruby has chauffered her to handle business matters. Jeff (V's bro') and his wife Peggy also spend regular time with her, and her sisters from down in Monroe and Bradley counties (i.e., the "country") as well as sister/nieces in Ohio chat with her often via Ma Bell. We wish we could be there to help as well, but it's a long hop to TN. So we FTD'd flowers (15 giant tulips) instead. Until the redbuds and dogwood pop their color at the end of March, it's a constantly depressing drab view out the winter window in TN. Our intent was to brighten her day.
On Monday of this past week, V had an oral board interview for a lateral position at the Corrections Officers Training Academy here in Tucson. It is the location of the training he completed 9 years ago when he was hired by the State. He told me he didn't think he'd get it, and I responded, "Never assume anything." If he gets the position, he'd have a shorter drive to work and more fun, since he'd be teaching new hires how to babysit inmates, rather than doing it himself.
I ventured into town 3 days this week to my new and glorious office. Actually, it's twice as big as the previous one, but smells like a bunch of old wet sneakers. GSA is going to replace the carpet (didn't happen as scheduled before I moved in) and paint. Thus, the office will no longer smell of sneakers but of new carpet and paint. I can work at home while the fumes are dissipating. The windows in the Fed'l bldg do not open (rats!); I sure wish they did. We are like prisoners inhaling 40-year-old recycled air, replete with myriad mystery mold spores and ancient farts.
Yesterday, I did my second lap swim of 2009 in our 95-degree pool. The first was about a month ago during a warm spell, when the water was 88 degrees. Since then, the water temp. declined because of cool nights and windy days, and now, with a bunch of sunshine and 80-degree days, is akin to bathwater. Felt good to flex the ole muscles and sleep it off (12 hours!).
We'll probably be headed soon to breakfast at the local diner at Ryan Airfield, about 15 miles from our home. On Sundays, we often combine the trip with a visit to the county dump (afterward, of course) to save gas and time. We've taken visiting family there (diner not dump), as maybe some of you recall. Todd (the owner) uses only fresh ingredients, so I shouldn't refer to the place as a "diner", but rather an "upscale diner". Both of us usually have a corned beef hash breakfast. Alternatives are a 3-egg omelette bf or a buckwheat waffle w/ strawberries and real whipped cream.
Steven confirmed this week that he will graduate from AZ State U on May 14 at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to venture westward to support him. He asked me if we needed tickets for anyone else. I told him I doubted it (hated to disappoint him).
Cooler air temps today (70s) and breezy as a California storm passes across AZ to our north. Trees we planted in Feb are leafing out and my potted flowers are a-bloomin'. Humidity is generally less than 10% every day and watering daily is a must!
Hope y'all are healthy and blessed.
a
Vern's Mom, Imazo, is doing incrementally better at home, so we hear from other kin. Her sisters-in-law, Mae and Ruby, have been very kind to visit her frequently and go out to eat and play with her around Knoxville. They've been to many of their favorite haunts---Cracker Barrel, Louis', Litton's---since Imazo was sprung from the hospital, and Ruby has chauffered her to handle business matters. Jeff (V's bro') and his wife Peggy also spend regular time with her, and her sisters from down in Monroe and Bradley counties (i.e., the "country") as well as sister/nieces in Ohio chat with her often via Ma Bell. We wish we could be there to help as well, but it's a long hop to TN. So we FTD'd flowers (15 giant tulips) instead. Until the redbuds and dogwood pop their color at the end of March, it's a constantly depressing drab view out the winter window in TN. Our intent was to brighten her day.
On Monday of this past week, V had an oral board interview for a lateral position at the Corrections Officers Training Academy here in Tucson. It is the location of the training he completed 9 years ago when he was hired by the State. He told me he didn't think he'd get it, and I responded, "Never assume anything." If he gets the position, he'd have a shorter drive to work and more fun, since he'd be teaching new hires how to babysit inmates, rather than doing it himself.
I ventured into town 3 days this week to my new and glorious office. Actually, it's twice as big as the previous one, but smells like a bunch of old wet sneakers. GSA is going to replace the carpet (didn't happen as scheduled before I moved in) and paint. Thus, the office will no longer smell of sneakers but of new carpet and paint. I can work at home while the fumes are dissipating. The windows in the Fed'l bldg do not open (rats!); I sure wish they did. We are like prisoners inhaling 40-year-old recycled air, replete with myriad mystery mold spores and ancient farts.
Yesterday, I did my second lap swim of 2009 in our 95-degree pool. The first was about a month ago during a warm spell, when the water was 88 degrees. Since then, the water temp. declined because of cool nights and windy days, and now, with a bunch of sunshine and 80-degree days, is akin to bathwater. Felt good to flex the ole muscles and sleep it off (12 hours!).
We'll probably be headed soon to breakfast at the local diner at Ryan Airfield, about 15 miles from our home. On Sundays, we often combine the trip with a visit to the county dump (afterward, of course) to save gas and time. We've taken visiting family there (diner not dump), as maybe some of you recall. Todd (the owner) uses only fresh ingredients, so I shouldn't refer to the place as a "diner", but rather an "upscale diner". Both of us usually have a corned beef hash breakfast. Alternatives are a 3-egg omelette bf or a buckwheat waffle w/ strawberries and real whipped cream.
Steven confirmed this week that he will graduate from AZ State U on May 14 at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to venture westward to support him. He asked me if we needed tickets for anyone else. I told him I doubted it (hated to disappoint him).
Cooler air temps today (70s) and breezy as a California storm passes across AZ to our north. Trees we planted in Feb are leafing out and my potted flowers are a-bloomin'. Humidity is generally less than 10% every day and watering daily is a must!
Hope y'all are healthy and blessed.
a
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Life in West Overshoe, Kansas
Yes, it's true folks. Delilah Dreggs has risen off her lazy duff.
Catching up since December will require some serious memory retrieval, but since it's long(er) term that remembering what I had for breakfast, I'm confident all will be recollected just fine.
January of this year was chaotic. David's Dad, Hugh, went downhill fast, health-wise. By mid-January, he was in St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, having been admitted following a routine trip for a medical appointment. He had a "spell" in the hospital van that had picked him up at his residence to transport him to his appointment. The spell was soon diagnosed as a heart attack. He spent a week in the hospital, during which time he was pumped full of Lasix, a drug that lessens edema, til they could pump no higher dose within acceptable health limits.
When we visited TN in December, Hugh's legs were immense, Alley-Oop-like, and he couldn't walk 10 steps with a walker without pausing to catch his breath and to ease the pain of walking on them. I understand from kin that, while in the hospital, his stomach, arms and hands ballooned, and Imazo, my mother-in-law, removed his wedding ring to ensure that it wouldn't have to be excised from his finger down the road.
Hugh was in the hospital about 5 days when the doctor's released him to return home to "hospice" care, an indication of the gravity of his condition. He returned home to a hospital bed with a window view on Wednesday, and within 24 hours on Thursday, he passed away from a fatal heart attack. My brother-in-law Jeff attempted resuscitation, but was unsuccessful. We pray that all his suffering vanished with the ascension of his soul.
Fortunately, before Hugh died, I had secured a flight for David (Vern) to Knoxville that Saturday. I had to scurry to find flights for myself and Steven to attend the funeral. Steven flew out of Phoenix, and we flew from Tucson. Initially, Vern's trip was to be a visit with his dying Dad, and it was to last from Saturday to Saturday. Instead, it became a much sadder excursion, but it did allow him time to spend with Imazo, pre- and post-funeral.
Steven and the rest of Hugh's grandsons (there are no granddaughters) were pall bearers. It was cold and rainy (what else is new?) in Knoxville, fit weather for such a sad occasion.
Although I was barely in Knoxville for 2.5 days, David and I managed to drive to Cade's Cove in the Smoky Mtns. to enjoy the albeit soggy scenery and foraging wildlife. It was surreal as we rode around the 11-mile cove loop. More grazing deer than we'd ever, in all our years in TN, enjoyed on our trips to the mountains. A 6-point buck jumped a fence on the right side of the road, stood to the left of our car and grazed a bit on some tasty grass on the edge of the road, then jumped the left fence to continue his supper in that pasture. Wow! Our kingdom for a camera!!
I returned to AZ on Tuesday while Vern stayed on. Steven flew home Monday, because school had just commenced at ASU. He had a great flight with a whole seat to himself to lie down and rest.
I had a rain delay and was packed like a sardine into a window seat, where I had to hold my water for 4.5 hours while a German lady in the middle seat snoozed on her tray table. I didn't want to piss her off by awakening her. I squirmed a lot (no leg room) and read a new non-fiction book I'd bought in Knoxville, "The Well-Dressed Ape". It relates the similarities/disimilarities between the human species and the rest of the animal kingdom. While it's a great book, it could not succeed in tricking my brain to forget about my bladder. When we arrived in Tucson, I pushed and shoved and scratched and bit til I reached relief on the porcelain throne.
Back in Tucson, I basked in the sunny glow of Arizona winter, enjoying the 80-degree weather and ragging on Vern every time we talked.
Unfortunately, Bozhe eavesdropped on my braggadocio, promptly reminding me to be humble by bestowing a nasty cold on me. I hadn't had a sore throat in 10 years out West, but this one was a doozy. With a head full of snot and lungs corroded with something similar, I was out of work for a week. Took well into February til I felt any relief.
February was relatively uneventful. We purchased some trees and potting posies, which are now gracing the patio as added color. Vern planted two fig trees among the flagstone beyond the pool deck. We also bought a windmill palm that he put in at the other end of the pool. After we traveled to San Diego at the end of February to see my endocrinologist at Scripps, we stopped in Yuma and dug up some volunteer palms along the farm roads. He planted them next to the small koi pond (minus koi) and fountain we have to the left of the patio. Then, he planted a honeysuckle and jasmine to climb up the patio trellis and two crepe myrtles next to the pool fence in front of the patio. Fingers crossed, all will endure and prosper.
On our return from San Diego, we made a side trip to Algodones, a small village in Mexico 6 miles west of Yuma. There, we procured a bunch of very low cost medicine for a total of $30. Bless his heart, Vern waited in line to go thru customs for an hour, on foot. The place was rampant with snowbirds, stocking up for their Winnebago trips back to WA, ID, MT, OR, and Canada. We ate at a favorite haunt in Yuma, Ronnie's Pizza, before returning to Tucson. Ronnie is from Philly and makes me homesick with his thin-crust monster pies! YUMMM-O!
We're into March now, and with it has come more illness. Vern's mom became ill last weekend and Jeff took her to St. Mary's emergency room, where they diagnosed a gall bladder bloated with 81 years worth of assorted stones. They immediately scheduled her for surgery the next day, and she underwent a laproscopic excision of the nasty bladder. She remained in the hospital until this past Friday (almost a week), and though she is at home now, she says she feels quite weak and not very hungry.
When she and I spoke, she said she'd never felt pain like that in her life. I commiserated with her. I had serious 3 a.m. gall bladder attacks for years until the day mine was removed via emergency surgery in 1984. Unluckily for me, they hadn't invented the laproscope back then. Thus, they sliced a big incision down my right side. OOOOOGLY thing, a forever reminder of what it took to get rid of that awful pain. For me, the aftermath of surgery was peace, and a strong desire to ingest every fatty food I could get my hands on to 'test the waters'.
We talked with Imazo last evening, and we are praying that she takes care of herself and that her family and friends continue to look out for her. We'd love for her to come to AZ to stay awhile and recuperate.
Moving to a totally different topic, I am moving to an office TWICE the size of my present one, which I've occupied since arriving at the Coronado National Forest in August 03. Vern and I packed up my papers/stuff yesterday; the movers are coming Monday. The Forest is moving several folks around to better align staff with others in their same department and to reduce our human footprint in the Federal building that we occupy. This cuts down on the payments we make to GSA, who manages the building.
Today, Vern had to work a 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. shift to cover vacationing staff on graveyards. At the moment, he should be having the oil changed in his truck, after which he'll be home to enter dreamland for a few hours.
This week was Spring Break for Steven, but he spent it working at the restaurant, getting in some additional time to help pay the bills. I did our taxes and his, and he will be getting almost $8000 returned, since he qualified for a $7500 "first-time homebuyer credit", which is a no interest loan from the Fed treasury. He has to pay it back annually for 15 years with his Fed'l tax return. Just his luck, right after he bought the home, a new program was emplaced to provide first time homebuyers with an $8000 tax credit, no repayment needed. Suxxx, huh.
Steven is on schedule to complete all his credits for a B. A. in Design Studies this semester. If all goes well, he'll graduate on May 16. He says he's glad to have a break in college, but has not ruled out returning for a master's degree. We are keeping our eyes on opportunities with the Fed'l gov't in the PHX area. Because his GPA is over 3.0, he qualifies for entry-level jobs with the Fed'l gov't as an outstanding scholar. Let's hope and pray for an opportunity to bless him.
My fingers are now tired from all the typing. So glad I don't maintain this blog daily. On a final note, today i'm making Liver and Onions for supper, baking some cranberry-nut bread, doing neverending housework.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. What a drag...........
Love and peace to all my peeps,
a
Catching up since December will require some serious memory retrieval, but since it's long(er) term that remembering what I had for breakfast, I'm confident all will be recollected just fine.
January of this year was chaotic. David's Dad, Hugh, went downhill fast, health-wise. By mid-January, he was in St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, having been admitted following a routine trip for a medical appointment. He had a "spell" in the hospital van that had picked him up at his residence to transport him to his appointment. The spell was soon diagnosed as a heart attack. He spent a week in the hospital, during which time he was pumped full of Lasix, a drug that lessens edema, til they could pump no higher dose within acceptable health limits.
When we visited TN in December, Hugh's legs were immense, Alley-Oop-like, and he couldn't walk 10 steps with a walker without pausing to catch his breath and to ease the pain of walking on them. I understand from kin that, while in the hospital, his stomach, arms and hands ballooned, and Imazo, my mother-in-law, removed his wedding ring to ensure that it wouldn't have to be excised from his finger down the road.
Hugh was in the hospital about 5 days when the doctor's released him to return home to "hospice" care, an indication of the gravity of his condition. He returned home to a hospital bed with a window view on Wednesday, and within 24 hours on Thursday, he passed away from a fatal heart attack. My brother-in-law Jeff attempted resuscitation, but was unsuccessful. We pray that all his suffering vanished with the ascension of his soul.
Fortunately, before Hugh died, I had secured a flight for David (Vern) to Knoxville that Saturday. I had to scurry to find flights for myself and Steven to attend the funeral. Steven flew out of Phoenix, and we flew from Tucson. Initially, Vern's trip was to be a visit with his dying Dad, and it was to last from Saturday to Saturday. Instead, it became a much sadder excursion, but it did allow him time to spend with Imazo, pre- and post-funeral.
Steven and the rest of Hugh's grandsons (there are no granddaughters) were pall bearers. It was cold and rainy (what else is new?) in Knoxville, fit weather for such a sad occasion.
Although I was barely in Knoxville for 2.5 days, David and I managed to drive to Cade's Cove in the Smoky Mtns. to enjoy the albeit soggy scenery and foraging wildlife. It was surreal as we rode around the 11-mile cove loop. More grazing deer than we'd ever, in all our years in TN, enjoyed on our trips to the mountains. A 6-point buck jumped a fence on the right side of the road, stood to the left of our car and grazed a bit on some tasty grass on the edge of the road, then jumped the left fence to continue his supper in that pasture. Wow! Our kingdom for a camera!!
I returned to AZ on Tuesday while Vern stayed on. Steven flew home Monday, because school had just commenced at ASU. He had a great flight with a whole seat to himself to lie down and rest.
I had a rain delay and was packed like a sardine into a window seat, where I had to hold my water for 4.5 hours while a German lady in the middle seat snoozed on her tray table. I didn't want to piss her off by awakening her. I squirmed a lot (no leg room) and read a new non-fiction book I'd bought in Knoxville, "The Well-Dressed Ape". It relates the similarities/disimilarities between the human species and the rest of the animal kingdom. While it's a great book, it could not succeed in tricking my brain to forget about my bladder. When we arrived in Tucson, I pushed and shoved and scratched and bit til I reached relief on the porcelain throne.
Back in Tucson, I basked in the sunny glow of Arizona winter, enjoying the 80-degree weather and ragging on Vern every time we talked.
Unfortunately, Bozhe eavesdropped on my braggadocio, promptly reminding me to be humble by bestowing a nasty cold on me. I hadn't had a sore throat in 10 years out West, but this one was a doozy. With a head full of snot and lungs corroded with something similar, I was out of work for a week. Took well into February til I felt any relief.
February was relatively uneventful. We purchased some trees and potting posies, which are now gracing the patio as added color. Vern planted two fig trees among the flagstone beyond the pool deck. We also bought a windmill palm that he put in at the other end of the pool. After we traveled to San Diego at the end of February to see my endocrinologist at Scripps, we stopped in Yuma and dug up some volunteer palms along the farm roads. He planted them next to the small koi pond (minus koi) and fountain we have to the left of the patio. Then, he planted a honeysuckle and jasmine to climb up the patio trellis and two crepe myrtles next to the pool fence in front of the patio. Fingers crossed, all will endure and prosper.
On our return from San Diego, we made a side trip to Algodones, a small village in Mexico 6 miles west of Yuma. There, we procured a bunch of very low cost medicine for a total of $30. Bless his heart, Vern waited in line to go thru customs for an hour, on foot. The place was rampant with snowbirds, stocking up for their Winnebago trips back to WA, ID, MT, OR, and Canada. We ate at a favorite haunt in Yuma, Ronnie's Pizza, before returning to Tucson. Ronnie is from Philly and makes me homesick with his thin-crust monster pies! YUMMM-O!
We're into March now, and with it has come more illness. Vern's mom became ill last weekend and Jeff took her to St. Mary's emergency room, where they diagnosed a gall bladder bloated with 81 years worth of assorted stones. They immediately scheduled her for surgery the next day, and she underwent a laproscopic excision of the nasty bladder. She remained in the hospital until this past Friday (almost a week), and though she is at home now, she says she feels quite weak and not very hungry.
When she and I spoke, she said she'd never felt pain like that in her life. I commiserated with her. I had serious 3 a.m. gall bladder attacks for years until the day mine was removed via emergency surgery in 1984. Unluckily for me, they hadn't invented the laproscope back then. Thus, they sliced a big incision down my right side. OOOOOGLY thing, a forever reminder of what it took to get rid of that awful pain. For me, the aftermath of surgery was peace, and a strong desire to ingest every fatty food I could get my hands on to 'test the waters'.
We talked with Imazo last evening, and we are praying that she takes care of herself and that her family and friends continue to look out for her. We'd love for her to come to AZ to stay awhile and recuperate.
Moving to a totally different topic, I am moving to an office TWICE the size of my present one, which I've occupied since arriving at the Coronado National Forest in August 03. Vern and I packed up my papers/stuff yesterday; the movers are coming Monday. The Forest is moving several folks around to better align staff with others in their same department and to reduce our human footprint in the Federal building that we occupy. This cuts down on the payments we make to GSA, who manages the building.
Today, Vern had to work a 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. shift to cover vacationing staff on graveyards. At the moment, he should be having the oil changed in his truck, after which he'll be home to enter dreamland for a few hours.
This week was Spring Break for Steven, but he spent it working at the restaurant, getting in some additional time to help pay the bills. I did our taxes and his, and he will be getting almost $8000 returned, since he qualified for a $7500 "first-time homebuyer credit", which is a no interest loan from the Fed treasury. He has to pay it back annually for 15 years with his Fed'l tax return. Just his luck, right after he bought the home, a new program was emplaced to provide first time homebuyers with an $8000 tax credit, no repayment needed. Suxxx, huh.
Steven is on schedule to complete all his credits for a B. A. in Design Studies this semester. If all goes well, he'll graduate on May 16. He says he's glad to have a break in college, but has not ruled out returning for a master's degree. We are keeping our eyes on opportunities with the Fed'l gov't in the PHX area. Because his GPA is over 3.0, he qualifies for entry-level jobs with the Fed'l gov't as an outstanding scholar. Let's hope and pray for an opportunity to bless him.
My fingers are now tired from all the typing. So glad I don't maintain this blog daily. On a final note, today i'm making Liver and Onions for supper, baking some cranberry-nut bread, doing neverending housework.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. What a drag...........
Love and peace to all my peeps,
a
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Into The Darkness? Not moi......
For anyone who cares, my excuse for the lapse in posting is being "off for the holidays".
We have a new President about to be inaugurated, and my heart is singing and dancing with optimism. Over many decades of life, I've seen the ebbs and flows of good and bad economic conditions, peace and war, high times and high unemployment. I've never, however, observed such pervasive public depression as I do today.
The immediacy of the internet combined with the advanced technological state of U.S. media inflate the gloom, doom, and apocalyptic predictions that inundate us. To remain somewhat distant from this woe, I don't watch the dire news on TV or listen to it on radio, and I keep my nose to the grindstone, not acknowledging the worst until it actually happens. Our elder generation of Americans have lived our future in their past. Knowing what transpired during the Great Depression, I pray not only for me and mine, but for all who are increasingly affected by misgovernment and misdeeds.
Instead of wallowing in the darkness, I choose to count my blessings every day.
I am employed, David is employed, Steven is employed. We are healthy, but not wealthy, and moderately wise.
David (aka Vern) and I made a quick trip to TN in mid-December to visit his kin for the holidays. His Dad has been in declining health because of kidney failure related to congestive heart disease. His mobility is extremely compromised. We hope that medical science will be able to ease his suffering with dialysis in the near future. It was therapeutic, especially for David, to spend quality time with his parents and his aunts, uncles and brother and family.
Steven continues to progress toward his Bachelor's degree from AZ State this spring. He is on the Dean's list for the Fall 08 semester and quite enjoys working full time as a sushi chef. He is immersed in cosmetic remodeling of the inside of his newly purchased home in Tempe, where he is landlord to 2 roommates.
Holidays were quiet. Steven visited us for an overnight and Christmas dinner of Big Bird. My sister sent us some kielbasi and pierogi from a Chicago deli. My God, I was in heaven! Every time I opened the fridge, the smell of garlic wafted up and stimulated my senses until I had to grab a quick bite! In no time at all, three lbs of kielbasi bit the dust. I let Vern have a few pieces, but he didn't stand a chance with me being home during the day over the holidays. Gifts to ourselves this year included a backyard greenhouse for me, a future flat-screen TV for Vern (when our present one kicks the bucket), and a stainless steel stove exhaust hood for Steven's new home.
The weather is always lovely this season in Tucson, and each glorious day of sunshine and warmth invigorates my spirit. I'm anxiously awaiting the burst of spring wildflowers and increasingly longer days. Bad karma on me, I watch the Weather Channel and secretly giggle upon viewing subfreezing temperatures, ice, and snow in other parts of the U.S. I know...I know....two steps backward on the stairway to heaven for such gloating.
On a sad note, my good friend Patty in Tennessee lost her mother suddenly on January 3. The pain of such loss is immeasurable. My heart and prayers go out to her and her family.
Until I have another original thought, I wish blessings on all who read this.
We have a new President about to be inaugurated, and my heart is singing and dancing with optimism. Over many decades of life, I've seen the ebbs and flows of good and bad economic conditions, peace and war, high times and high unemployment. I've never, however, observed such pervasive public depression as I do today.
The immediacy of the internet combined with the advanced technological state of U.S. media inflate the gloom, doom, and apocalyptic predictions that inundate us. To remain somewhat distant from this woe, I don't watch the dire news on TV or listen to it on radio, and I keep my nose to the grindstone, not acknowledging the worst until it actually happens. Our elder generation of Americans have lived our future in their past. Knowing what transpired during the Great Depression, I pray not only for me and mine, but for all who are increasingly affected by misgovernment and misdeeds.
Instead of wallowing in the darkness, I choose to count my blessings every day.
I am employed, David is employed, Steven is employed. We are healthy, but not wealthy, and moderately wise.
David (aka Vern) and I made a quick trip to TN in mid-December to visit his kin for the holidays. His Dad has been in declining health because of kidney failure related to congestive heart disease. His mobility is extremely compromised. We hope that medical science will be able to ease his suffering with dialysis in the near future. It was therapeutic, especially for David, to spend quality time with his parents and his aunts, uncles and brother and family.
Steven continues to progress toward his Bachelor's degree from AZ State this spring. He is on the Dean's list for the Fall 08 semester and quite enjoys working full time as a sushi chef. He is immersed in cosmetic remodeling of the inside of his newly purchased home in Tempe, where he is landlord to 2 roommates.
Holidays were quiet. Steven visited us for an overnight and Christmas dinner of Big Bird. My sister sent us some kielbasi and pierogi from a Chicago deli. My God, I was in heaven! Every time I opened the fridge, the smell of garlic wafted up and stimulated my senses until I had to grab a quick bite! In no time at all, three lbs of kielbasi bit the dust. I let Vern have a few pieces, but he didn't stand a chance with me being home during the day over the holidays. Gifts to ourselves this year included a backyard greenhouse for me, a future flat-screen TV for Vern (when our present one kicks the bucket), and a stainless steel stove exhaust hood for Steven's new home.
The weather is always lovely this season in Tucson, and each glorious day of sunshine and warmth invigorates my spirit. I'm anxiously awaiting the burst of spring wildflowers and increasingly longer days. Bad karma on me, I watch the Weather Channel and secretly giggle upon viewing subfreezing temperatures, ice, and snow in other parts of the U.S. I know...I know....two steps backward on the stairway to heaven for such gloating.
On a sad note, my good friend Patty in Tennessee lost her mother suddenly on January 3. The pain of such loss is immeasurable. My heart and prayers go out to her and her family.
Until I have another original thought, I wish blessings on all who read this.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
EDWIN STARR: War! What Is It Good For? (Absolutely Nothing!!)
Can you believe it?
I'm going to post again.....is the sky falling, Chicken Little? is it snowing in the desert? Has Sarah Palin become qualified to potentially govern our nation of 300 million people rather than a measly 650,000 citizens, predominantly oil workers and Inuits, in Alaska?
I have always not liked politics very much. Who could really get into it when you grow up watching multiple politically motivated assassinations within a decade, wars fought against an ideology (communism), money spent going to the moon rather than helping the disenfranchised at home?
In the recent past, the only politician who captured my attention was Bill Clinton. I am impressed by eloquent and articulate speakers like Bill, however, NOT without consideration for what they are saying. Mostly, like many boomers, I was attracted to Bill's youth and down-to-earth demeanor. Not an old fart, not a rich Ivy League blowhard, but a down-home guy with a silver tongue.
And on the edge of another reality, I liked the John McCain who used to be...the one who marched to the beat of his own drum. I sooooo respect his strength of conviction while a POW in Hanoi. An American hero he is and was, but our powers that be did not regale him in the ilk of an Eisenhower or Patton. While McCain sacrificed his health and physical being and was acknowledged with military honors for such, he was never elevated to the high priesthood of those whose intellectual abilities won wars.
I believe wars are the Achilles heel of mankind. We've got a wonderful planet to occupy and an omnipresent sun that allows plants to photosynthesize to support life. Why can't humans be content with what they have and leave other humans to cultivate their own gardens? Did God punk us with an innate desire to ultimate destroy all humanity in His name?
The Viet Nam years sculpted my "passive activism" toward the injustices that gov'ts impose upon their citizens when they justify "war".
During the escalation of VN, I watched as my male friends sweated the Federal number plucking that decided their fate. Low number, on the chopping block....high number, make a novena for the rest of your life.
My ex-husband enjoyed a deferment due to a heart murmur. One of my classmates in college got a deferment because he was allergic to wool. Another joined the Marine Corps band to blow on the baritone horn rather than wade thru the rice paddies. My brother-in-law joined the National Guard, at a time when those folks rarely served even one term of duty overseas. Others went and were never the same again. Had I had 'cojones' during the draft years, i'd have been shoveling manure on a farm in Saskatchewan.
Because of his tours in VN, one of my high school mates, a talented athlete, has not known even a nanosecond of the quality of life that I and other mates have experienced as we head into our 60s. He has resided for many years in a nursing home in PA after decades of wandering the streets of Wyoming Valley in a green military trench coat, regardless of ambient temperature and season, speaking in tongues that not even God could interpret.
None who went to Korea, VN, Iraq I, Iraq II and Afghanistan came or will come home to the hero's welcome that we recall watching on the news films made in NY City when WWII ended. Instead, today's military heroes (i.e., every one who serves) arrive home not to the resounding joy that characterized the end of WWII, but with limbs missing, brain cells addled, joy lost... and to date about 5000 who are silent forevermore. Something's VERY wrong with this picture.
Yes, Nancy Grace remembers a fallen hero during each of her broadcasts. (You go, girl.) And local morning, noon, and evening news shows across America pay isolated tribute to the fallen or incapacitated servicemen who are known among their audience. Don't our soldiers merit a much more impressive THANK YOU for their toils and sacrifice? Why hasn't our vacuous President, who is on a first-name basis with Christ, been more vocal and visible when our soldiers return to US soil. Is it because he knows that those of them who are still able to draw a breath and/or walk or hold a cup of coffee are going to be sent back to harm's way?
I believe that President Bush has a heart, and that he no doubt grieves personally for lives lost and disrupted by the Iraq war.
But I'm tired.
Tired of my leaders sending my homies to fight in distant lands whose names we often can't pronounce in order to "engage terrorists on their own turf". I respect Gov. Palin for her courageous support of her eldest son as he departed US soil for Iraq. Ditto for Senator Joe Biden. I pray their loved ones remain safe. But I honestly think they should never have had to go there in the first place.
And so, I've decide to support the candidate who wants to bring them home soon...the same candidate who wants to talk diplomatically rather than impulsively whack someone of a different religion, skin color, ideology, sexual orientation, etc. with the big stick he carries.
I wish i could feel better now that i've vented. Perhaps a dreamless nap will get me thru the next few hours. Thanks for listening.
Love and peace to all.
a
I'm going to post again.....is the sky falling, Chicken Little? is it snowing in the desert? Has Sarah Palin become qualified to potentially govern our nation of 300 million people rather than a measly 650,000 citizens, predominantly oil workers and Inuits, in Alaska?
I have always not liked politics very much. Who could really get into it when you grow up watching multiple politically motivated assassinations within a decade, wars fought against an ideology (communism), money spent going to the moon rather than helping the disenfranchised at home?
In the recent past, the only politician who captured my attention was Bill Clinton. I am impressed by eloquent and articulate speakers like Bill, however, NOT without consideration for what they are saying. Mostly, like many boomers, I was attracted to Bill's youth and down-to-earth demeanor. Not an old fart, not a rich Ivy League blowhard, but a down-home guy with a silver tongue.
And on the edge of another reality, I liked the John McCain who used to be...the one who marched to the beat of his own drum. I sooooo respect his strength of conviction while a POW in Hanoi. An American hero he is and was, but our powers that be did not regale him in the ilk of an Eisenhower or Patton. While McCain sacrificed his health and physical being and was acknowledged with military honors for such, he was never elevated to the high priesthood of those whose intellectual abilities won wars.
I believe wars are the Achilles heel of mankind. We've got a wonderful planet to occupy and an omnipresent sun that allows plants to photosynthesize to support life. Why can't humans be content with what they have and leave other humans to cultivate their own gardens? Did God punk us with an innate desire to ultimate destroy all humanity in His name?
The Viet Nam years sculpted my "passive activism" toward the injustices that gov'ts impose upon their citizens when they justify "war".
During the escalation of VN, I watched as my male friends sweated the Federal number plucking that decided their fate. Low number, on the chopping block....high number, make a novena for the rest of your life.
My ex-husband enjoyed a deferment due to a heart murmur. One of my classmates in college got a deferment because he was allergic to wool. Another joined the Marine Corps band to blow on the baritone horn rather than wade thru the rice paddies. My brother-in-law joined the National Guard, at a time when those folks rarely served even one term of duty overseas. Others went and were never the same again. Had I had 'cojones' during the draft years, i'd have been shoveling manure on a farm in Saskatchewan.
Because of his tours in VN, one of my high school mates, a talented athlete, has not known even a nanosecond of the quality of life that I and other mates have experienced as we head into our 60s. He has resided for many years in a nursing home in PA after decades of wandering the streets of Wyoming Valley in a green military trench coat, regardless of ambient temperature and season, speaking in tongues that not even God could interpret.
None who went to Korea, VN, Iraq I, Iraq II and Afghanistan came or will come home to the hero's welcome that we recall watching on the news films made in NY City when WWII ended. Instead, today's military heroes (i.e., every one who serves) arrive home not to the resounding joy that characterized the end of WWII, but with limbs missing, brain cells addled, joy lost... and to date about 5000 who are silent forevermore. Something's VERY wrong with this picture.
Yes, Nancy Grace remembers a fallen hero during each of her broadcasts. (You go, girl.) And local morning, noon, and evening news shows across America pay isolated tribute to the fallen or incapacitated servicemen who are known among their audience. Don't our soldiers merit a much more impressive THANK YOU for their toils and sacrifice? Why hasn't our vacuous President, who is on a first-name basis with Christ, been more vocal and visible when our soldiers return to US soil. Is it because he knows that those of them who are still able to draw a breath and/or walk or hold a cup of coffee are going to be sent back to harm's way?
I believe that President Bush has a heart, and that he no doubt grieves personally for lives lost and disrupted by the Iraq war.
But I'm tired.
Tired of my leaders sending my homies to fight in distant lands whose names we often can't pronounce in order to "engage terrorists on their own turf". I respect Gov. Palin for her courageous support of her eldest son as he departed US soil for Iraq. Ditto for Senator Joe Biden. I pray their loved ones remain safe. But I honestly think they should never have had to go there in the first place.
And so, I've decide to support the candidate who wants to bring them home soon...the same candidate who wants to talk diplomatically rather than impulsively whack someone of a different religion, skin color, ideology, sexual orientation, etc. with the big stick he carries.
I wish i could feel better now that i've vented. Perhaps a dreamless nap will get me thru the next few hours. Thanks for listening.
Love and peace to all.
a
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Part Deux de New York
I promised to recount our visit to Rochester, NY, for my nephew Nicholas' wedding to Alison Schmitt. This is primarily for me to document things that have occurred in the recent past, as the storage sites in my brain are rapidly decreasing in number.
We'll start on the morning after our 3:30 a.m (Wed., 7/23) arrival at Rochester. Of course, we slept into the afternoon. Nick and Alison had a little gift basket in our hotel room....so nowwwwwww, isn't it? i didn't do a damn thing for the folks from outta town who attended my Wedding Numero Uno.
Late Wed p.m., Nick phoned and offered to dine with us at a bistro just across the parking lot from the hotel. It was not a college hangout, but was of the ilk that catered to youth. Lotsa tv's turned to sports and other stuff, huge bar, and the roar of lotsa folks chatting. We ate a lovely meal and toasted a few times to the groom. His bride arrived later, and we toasted her as well. Steven and I drank a bottle of wine toasting.
Our childhood friend and quasi-sistah, Kathleen, arrived on wheels from Wilkes-Barre that evening. We all decided it would be more comfortable to move across the parking lot in a different direction to the Residence Inn, which unlike the Courtyard Marriott, offered breakfast and dinnertime hot snaxxx. So David (aka Vern) scored us two rooms and we moved there asap. (Another reason I wanted to move was the non-compliant guest in the room next to ours who smoked like a chimney.) Steven took off with Nick and Alison, and I have no idea where they went.
Next day, Thurs, 7/24, my sister en familia arrived from Ithaca (about 100 miles southeast). The plan was that we would do a family dinner in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to relive the visit to NF that we did jointly 18 years prior. At the event in 1990, my sistah and I sang with the band playing by the pool (uninvited, there was no karaoke back then)at the hotel where we stayed. Song was "The Happy Wanderer", a German beergarden ditty.
Things have changed quite a bit among the attractions, hotels, etc., but the Canadian Falls remain brilliant. We dined at a posh restaurant overlooking the Falls (spitting distance) on which colored lights gaze at night. Dinner was good, but verrrry expensive. When we'd been to the same place 18 years prior, it was a seafood joint that had mediocre overpriced food and a great view. This time it had very good pricey food and a still-great view.
After dinner, we meandered to the outlook before heading back. Nick, his brothers Peter and Mike, and Steven headed out into the wild night to engage in traditional bachelor party activities. I won't repeat their antics here for fear of the NF, Ont., police reading this and issuing warrants for any or all of them. Suffice it to say, they each looked like crap the next day, all day, thru the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. They had a hotel room in NF, but probably didn't use it til morning thru early afternoon.
When they returned to Rochester, it was for the rehearsal at Alison and Nick's church. I can't recall the church's name, but it was a contemporary structure in a very nice middle class neighborhood with lotsa trees. Afterward, we headed down to the shores of Lake Ontario for a post-rehearsal dinner hosted by my sister and her husband, Mike.
The festivities were held in a Coast Guard Auxillary Bldg sitting aside one of the canals that serves the Port of Rochester. One of Alison's relatives had a power boat, and many of the younger kids in her family enjoyed several rides. Nick is in the auxillary and i think Alison's family is active in it as well.
Jo Anne (Jay), my sister, fed us Cajun chicken, rice, veggies, and shrimp kabobs. The chicken and fixin's were catered by a local restaurant. Her husband Mike and Alison's father (his name is no longer in my brain) cooked them on a couple onsite grills. Jay did a wonderful job of planning and executing the reception.
After the rehearsal dinner, we retreated to the comfort of our hotel.
The wedding was at 2:30 pm on Saturday, 7/26. As expected, it was simple and lovely. I was one of 3 lay readers....I read a responsorial Psalm. Damn near fell on my way to and from the lectern, cuz I was wearing these black velvet, open-toe stilletos that matched the sparkly black dress that my sister had bought for me to wear. Totally inappropriate for a plump old broad like me.
The music at the wedding ceremony was outstanding. Both Alison and her brother are seasoned musicians and vocalists. Her brother sang a hearty baritone rendition of Ave' Maria.
Reception was at 6 at the local Country Club....a sit down dinner with choice of entree following a free cocktail and hors d'oeuvres hour. They had a dj/karaoke in lieu of a live band. Needless to say, we made fools of ourselves singing and dancing til 12:30 a.m., when the dj ended the party with Frank Sinatra and all of us crooning New York, New York. Steven and his cousin Peter (my sister's youngest) rapped a version of Baby Got Back. My sister and her kids sang Crazy Little Thing Called Love. My niece Natalie soloed on Can't Help Falling in Love. Nat asked the dj to play a CD of Serbian gypsy music, to which the family danced a "kola". It was a great time. My sister feigned wonder during my wild dancing about how quickly I had "recovered" from my bout valley fever. I told her i wasn't recovered, but I had decided that i'd rather have a good time and die, then not party at all.
Next morning (Sunday), we went to a park on Lake Ontario after breakfast at a greasy spoon that Alison's family frequents. I was sooooooooooooooooooooo tired. I have not danced that much for over 25 years. After the park, we drove back to Jay's house in Ithaca. We stopped along the NY Thruway for a light repast at a Sbarro (pizza). Also stopped at a gas station somewhere on the east side of Cayuga Lake for some huge tasty muffins.
Stayed in Ithaca Sunday night and Monday night. I crashed as soon as we got there (8 p.m.....the partying caught up with me). Over the next few days, Jay and Mike hauled us around to various points of interest. We went to an Indian restaurant for lunch. All Vern had on his plate was lettuce and tomato. It was a buffet of mystery dishes, and he's not a very adventurous eater. Jay asked them to bring him some tandoori (spicy) roast chicken, which, thankfully, he ate.
Mike drove us back to Rochester on Tuesday afternoon for our connecting flight to JFK en route to PHX. It was not nearly as draining as the TO: ROC flight. Still, we learned that flying JETBLUE thru JFK suxxxx big time. Our flight from ROC was on time, but we circled over the tri-state area for awhile due to heavy traffic. Everything was cool with our next flight to PHX until we got in line on the runway. There we sat for a couple hours waiting on airport staff to clear a disabled plane from a runway. While we were waiting, i had to use the potty. Steven had moved from the center seat next to me to an aisle seat in front of me. As I passed his seat, he grumbled at me "I hate you for scheduling these flights." Thank you very much, my son.
The plane eventually took off, and despite a head wind, we flew at almost 600 mph to make it to PHX about 1/2 late at 11 pm. Steven's friend Alan picked us up and deposited us back at the condo where he lives. We, then, drove back to TUS, arriving around 2 a.m. Another exhausting trip.
Vern had to work the next day, but i stayed home to rest. I have no idea how he made it thru the day. Sometimes i think the man sleeps with his eyes open.
Anyway, that's the end of our story. Nick and Ali left the following Friday for a 2-week honeymoon in Germany. Someone in her family gave them a week at a German resort as a gift, and then they planned to stay with some of her kin in Germany.
They as well as we have since settled down to our normal routines.
Catching up on other non-events in my life, V and I drove to San Diego a few weeks ago for my biannual endocrinology appointment. Results of blood tests were unsurprising. My blood glucose is maintaining an average of 134, which is a bit higher than normal (doctor's words), but not noteworthy.
I had a chest x-ray as well to check on the valley fever. The radiologist reported the nodule in my right lung to be 1.1 cm x 0.9 cm, which is where it was back in June as I recovered from the valley fever. I need to follow up w/ the pulmonary specialist in TUS about whether or not a CT scan is necessary.
It was very warm and breezy in San Diego, and we enjoyed one night at our favorite haunt, the Pacific Terrace Hotel. We had a terrace room. Left the sliding door screen open all night (locked of course)so we could listen to the surf. Verrrry relaxing. I wish i was rich and could do this more often.
Speaking of rich, I'm $8K poorer thanks to the economy tanking. My gov't 401K dwindled with every fall of a bank or mortgage lender etc. Steven managed to get his mortgage completed by 9/30. Ended up not costing him a dime to buy his house!
Time for a nap-ki for me. V is already in la-la land.
Adios, mi amigos y amigas.
Vaya con Dios.
a
We'll start on the morning after our 3:30 a.m (Wed., 7/23) arrival at Rochester. Of course, we slept into the afternoon. Nick and Alison had a little gift basket in our hotel room....so nowwwwwww, isn't it? i didn't do a damn thing for the folks from outta town who attended my Wedding Numero Uno.
Late Wed p.m., Nick phoned and offered to dine with us at a bistro just across the parking lot from the hotel. It was not a college hangout, but was of the ilk that catered to youth. Lotsa tv's turned to sports and other stuff, huge bar, and the roar of lotsa folks chatting. We ate a lovely meal and toasted a few times to the groom. His bride arrived later, and we toasted her as well. Steven and I drank a bottle of wine toasting.
Our childhood friend and quasi-sistah, Kathleen, arrived on wheels from Wilkes-Barre that evening. We all decided it would be more comfortable to move across the parking lot in a different direction to the Residence Inn, which unlike the Courtyard Marriott, offered breakfast and dinnertime hot snaxxx. So David (aka Vern) scored us two rooms and we moved there asap. (Another reason I wanted to move was the non-compliant guest in the room next to ours who smoked like a chimney.) Steven took off with Nick and Alison, and I have no idea where they went.
Next day, Thurs, 7/24, my sister en familia arrived from Ithaca (about 100 miles southeast). The plan was that we would do a family dinner in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to relive the visit to NF that we did jointly 18 years prior. At the event in 1990, my sistah and I sang with the band playing by the pool (uninvited, there was no karaoke back then)at the hotel where we stayed. Song was "The Happy Wanderer", a German beergarden ditty.
Things have changed quite a bit among the attractions, hotels, etc., but the Canadian Falls remain brilliant. We dined at a posh restaurant overlooking the Falls (spitting distance) on which colored lights gaze at night. Dinner was good, but verrrry expensive. When we'd been to the same place 18 years prior, it was a seafood joint that had mediocre overpriced food and a great view. This time it had very good pricey food and a still-great view.
After dinner, we meandered to the outlook before heading back. Nick, his brothers Peter and Mike, and Steven headed out into the wild night to engage in traditional bachelor party activities. I won't repeat their antics here for fear of the NF, Ont., police reading this and issuing warrants for any or all of them. Suffice it to say, they each looked like crap the next day, all day, thru the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. They had a hotel room in NF, but probably didn't use it til morning thru early afternoon.
When they returned to Rochester, it was for the rehearsal at Alison and Nick's church. I can't recall the church's name, but it was a contemporary structure in a very nice middle class neighborhood with lotsa trees. Afterward, we headed down to the shores of Lake Ontario for a post-rehearsal dinner hosted by my sister and her husband, Mike.
The festivities were held in a Coast Guard Auxillary Bldg sitting aside one of the canals that serves the Port of Rochester. One of Alison's relatives had a power boat, and many of the younger kids in her family enjoyed several rides. Nick is in the auxillary and i think Alison's family is active in it as well.
Jo Anne (Jay), my sister, fed us Cajun chicken, rice, veggies, and shrimp kabobs. The chicken and fixin's were catered by a local restaurant. Her husband Mike and Alison's father (his name is no longer in my brain) cooked them on a couple onsite grills. Jay did a wonderful job of planning and executing the reception.
After the rehearsal dinner, we retreated to the comfort of our hotel.
The wedding was at 2:30 pm on Saturday, 7/26. As expected, it was simple and lovely. I was one of 3 lay readers....I read a responsorial Psalm. Damn near fell on my way to and from the lectern, cuz I was wearing these black velvet, open-toe stilletos that matched the sparkly black dress that my sister had bought for me to wear. Totally inappropriate for a plump old broad like me.
The music at the wedding ceremony was outstanding. Both Alison and her brother are seasoned musicians and vocalists. Her brother sang a hearty baritone rendition of Ave' Maria.
Reception was at 6 at the local Country Club....a sit down dinner with choice of entree following a free cocktail and hors d'oeuvres hour. They had a dj/karaoke in lieu of a live band. Needless to say, we made fools of ourselves singing and dancing til 12:30 a.m., when the dj ended the party with Frank Sinatra and all of us crooning New York, New York. Steven and his cousin Peter (my sister's youngest) rapped a version of Baby Got Back. My sister and her kids sang Crazy Little Thing Called Love. My niece Natalie soloed on Can't Help Falling in Love. Nat asked the dj to play a CD of Serbian gypsy music, to which the family danced a "kola". It was a great time. My sister feigned wonder during my wild dancing about how quickly I had "recovered" from my bout valley fever. I told her i wasn't recovered, but I had decided that i'd rather have a good time and die, then not party at all.
Next morning (Sunday), we went to a park on Lake Ontario after breakfast at a greasy spoon that Alison's family frequents. I was sooooooooooooooooooooo tired. I have not danced that much for over 25 years. After the park, we drove back to Jay's house in Ithaca. We stopped along the NY Thruway for a light repast at a Sbarro (pizza). Also stopped at a gas station somewhere on the east side of Cayuga Lake for some huge tasty muffins.
Stayed in Ithaca Sunday night and Monday night. I crashed as soon as we got there (8 p.m.....the partying caught up with me). Over the next few days, Jay and Mike hauled us around to various points of interest. We went to an Indian restaurant for lunch. All Vern had on his plate was lettuce and tomato. It was a buffet of mystery dishes, and he's not a very adventurous eater. Jay asked them to bring him some tandoori (spicy) roast chicken, which, thankfully, he ate.
Mike drove us back to Rochester on Tuesday afternoon for our connecting flight to JFK en route to PHX. It was not nearly as draining as the TO: ROC flight. Still, we learned that flying JETBLUE thru JFK suxxxx big time. Our flight from ROC was on time, but we circled over the tri-state area for awhile due to heavy traffic. Everything was cool with our next flight to PHX until we got in line on the runway. There we sat for a couple hours waiting on airport staff to clear a disabled plane from a runway. While we were waiting, i had to use the potty. Steven had moved from the center seat next to me to an aisle seat in front of me. As I passed his seat, he grumbled at me "I hate you for scheduling these flights." Thank you very much, my son.
The plane eventually took off, and despite a head wind, we flew at almost 600 mph to make it to PHX about 1/2 late at 11 pm. Steven's friend Alan picked us up and deposited us back at the condo where he lives. We, then, drove back to TUS, arriving around 2 a.m. Another exhausting trip.
Vern had to work the next day, but i stayed home to rest. I have no idea how he made it thru the day. Sometimes i think the man sleeps with his eyes open.
Anyway, that's the end of our story. Nick and Ali left the following Friday for a 2-week honeymoon in Germany. Someone in her family gave them a week at a German resort as a gift, and then they planned to stay with some of her kin in Germany.
They as well as we have since settled down to our normal routines.
Catching up on other non-events in my life, V and I drove to San Diego a few weeks ago for my biannual endocrinology appointment. Results of blood tests were unsurprising. My blood glucose is maintaining an average of 134, which is a bit higher than normal (doctor's words), but not noteworthy.
I had a chest x-ray as well to check on the valley fever. The radiologist reported the nodule in my right lung to be 1.1 cm x 0.9 cm, which is where it was back in June as I recovered from the valley fever. I need to follow up w/ the pulmonary specialist in TUS about whether or not a CT scan is necessary.
It was very warm and breezy in San Diego, and we enjoyed one night at our favorite haunt, the Pacific Terrace Hotel. We had a terrace room. Left the sliding door screen open all night (locked of course)so we could listen to the surf. Verrrry relaxing. I wish i was rich and could do this more often.
Speaking of rich, I'm $8K poorer thanks to the economy tanking. My gov't 401K dwindled with every fall of a bank or mortgage lender etc. Steven managed to get his mortgage completed by 9/30. Ended up not costing him a dime to buy his house!
Time for a nap-ki for me. V is already in la-la land.
Adios, mi amigos y amigas.
Vaya con Dios.
a
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
