Thursday, May 26, 2005
M*A*S*H marathon...............................
So, last Monday I went to Wal-mart to get some blank video tapes, because we wanted to record a program. While I was in the electronics section, I looked at the display of DVD movies and TV show collections. I have wanted to collect the DVD's of The West Wing for some time now. But, our particular Wally world had only season 3, at a cost of $44.92. I thought that was high even for Wal-mart. I saw a collection for one of my favorite all time shows, M*A*S*H. I eagerly picked it up, thinking "I'll start my collection today!" Alas, it was for season seven. No stock of seasons 1-6. But the price was only $23.97. Works for me!
And so, for myself and IE (my dear wife) our evenings have been spent watching the episodes of season seven of M*A*S*H, without commercials, in broadcast order. Season 7 was the final full season for Gary Burghoff, who played Radar. I suppose we will have to go to Best Buy or Circuit City to see what they have in stock. IE, before we were married, collected VHS copies of the classic Star Trek show from the 60's. Personally, in addition to M*A*S*H, the other two series I would like to collect, are the Carol Burnett Show, and the Dick Van Dyke Show. Maybe I'll check eBay.......lol.
Otherwise, how are things? IE is just about fully healed from her surgery. However, she found out today that her only home health care client, is back in the hospital. She had worked for H earlier this week. H has MS, and it is quickly taking its toll.
Have a good day.
Later people.
Monday, May 23, 2005
I've been tagged!
I am now really a member of the blog community!
I've been tagged by Leandra! :-)
Here goes:
1. Total # of books I've owned: well over 200
2. Last book I bought: Heaven is a Place on Earth by Dr. Michael Wittmer
3. Last book I read: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
4. Books which mean a lot to me:
a. The Holy Bible. The owner's manual for my life
b. Any titles in the "Left Behind" series
c. Peanuts Classics/Peanuts Treasury by Charles M. Schultz
d. The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows, 3rd Edition.
I tag groovyvic, Bridget Unnel, and Pincushion.
:-)
I've been tagged by Leandra! :-)
Here goes:
1. Total # of books I've owned: well over 200
2. Last book I bought: Heaven is a Place on Earth by Dr. Michael Wittmer
3. Last book I read: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
4. Books which mean a lot to me:
a. The Holy Bible. The owner's manual for my life
b. Any titles in the "Left Behind" series
c. Peanuts Classics/Peanuts Treasury by Charles M. Schultz
d. The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows, 3rd Edition.
I tag groovyvic, Bridget Unnel, and Pincushion.
:-)
Chapter 11 and other random things......................
Last Tuesday, the company I work for, Collins & Aikman based in Troy MI, filed for chapter 11 reorganization. I have been here 17 years, and have gone through several ownership changes, but this is the first time any of them filed chapter 11. In doing so, they are restructuring the company and have been promised some operating capital, but I don't have much to do, because most of the vendors we do business with will not send us material unless we pay cash up front. However, we have all been assured that there will be no interruption in paychecks, and no layoffs at this time. We'll see....................
IE (my dear wife) continues to recover from the surgery. Saturday, we went grocery shopping. We had not gone for a while, and so we stocked up. By the time we checked out, IE was spent, and in some pain. So I loaded up the van, and I drove home. That is significant because IE drives the van, always, even if I'm with her, no matter where we go. It seems to be a trend. Around my area, if I see a vehicle with a male adult and a female adult in it, 80% of the time the woman is driving. It's an issue of control. Don't let anyone tell you differently. However, I digress..........................
I am still struggling with my voice. I want to avoid another doctor office visit; but if it gets no better, then I have no other choice. IE thinks I have an allergy to grass (the green kind that grows in your front yard, not a doobie..........LOL), but I'm not completely convinced. We'll see what happens.
I don't even watch the national news anymore. I am to the right politically, but by the same token, I am not in lock step with the Republican party. The GOP has problems on the national level, and here in Illinois, it is nothing but a sick joke. I am leaning more and more toward the Constitution Party, which advocates strict interpretation of the US Constitution, with the national government doing no more, and no less, than what is set forth in the document. No political party is perfect, and it certainly is not the answer to the problems that beset our country today.
Here endeth the political rant..........................
Have a good day.
Later people.
Friday, May 20, 2005
As the week winds down.............
all thoughts are towards the weekend. Ahhh.......rest and relaxation. Maybe.
IE (my dear wife) continues to recover from the emergency appendectomy. She tends to be a slow healer...........and I am not as patient as I should be. Funny how that works, since my crud has lingered on for more than a week now. Voice still rough........prolly a sinus infection.......if it gets worse, I will see the doctor about it. From the end of January, when this blog was born, through today, I have spent so much time in doctor's offices, ER's, and hospital rooms that I could just scream..............if indeed I could even make an intelligible sound. LOL
IE thinks that this latest illness with me is because I am allergic to grass. Specifically the act of mowing grass. And not just because I don't really like mowing, either. Funny how I seen to be sick and falling apart three months after turning 40...............
Thanks to all who stop by my blog. Please feel free to comment........if you do, I'll visit your blog.
I am so excited because my blog is listed on TWO others! Today, hit the links on this page to PinCushion's blog, and Fiddle Dee Dee especially.
Have a good weekend.
Later people.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
It happens when you least expect it.....................
I have been busy since I last blogged.
Last Thursday, I mowed my lawn. Not a big deal..............except that I became very ill as a result. Friday night and Saturday I had a loss of energy that rendered me unable to function beyond the very basics. Sunday, just as I was beginning to regain some energy, IE (my dear wife) woke up with severe pain in her right abdominal area. She was in a lot of pain, but wanted to ask her mother (a retired RN) about it. Finally, at 3:30 pm, IE got hold of her mother and described her condition. UW (her mom) said, get her to the emergency room.
Arrived at ER around 4:25 pm. Examined IE, and put her in a room just off the ER. Tests were run.....cat scan and so forth,......which included a horrible lemonade-mixed concoction for her to drink prior to the tests.........finally at 9:30 pm, we had the results. Her appendix was very inflamed, and needed to come out. They called in the surgeon.....he talked with us at 10:30 pm, and she was taken to surgery at 11:30 pm. It was a laproscopic procedure........inserted a tube with a video camera thru her navel......then two small holes in her belly with more tubes.......and they broke that sucker up, and sucked it right out. It took around an hour.
I was escorted to an empty waiting room on the third floor of the hospital to wait. All the boring (and I do mean BORING) magazines I could stand..........and a TV locked on one channel. No remote. So I got caught up on the glamourous lives of soap opera stars, and two infomercials on real estate investing. She got back to her room just after 2 am.........I stayed with her for about 25 minutes, making sure all was well.......then I drove home. I needed sleep, and not in a little hospital recliner. Got home around 3 am, called off from work (I clock in daily at 6 am), and went to bed.
Woke up around 7:30 am, got cleaned up and dressed, and back to the hospital. When I got there, IE was going to sit up and take a sponge bath. When she sat up, she lost her breakfast. So she laid back down. She still had pain, and took frequent hits of the morphine drip. Came to find out, it was the morphine making her sick and unable to pee. The surgeon came to see her at noon, and decided to keep her another night. She made progress through the day, including a big reduction of using the morphine drip. As a result, she was able to then pee, which was one of the conditions for her to go home. The other being able to eat. I stayed with her until 9:30 pm, and went home to sleep.
Tuesday morning when I got there, IE had eaten breakfast, and kept it down. Her surgeon signed the papers for her release. After a shower and picking up prescriptions, we got home at 12 noon. She is still sore, but doing well. Meanwhile at this writing, I have lost my voice due to a bad cold and sinus infection with junk in my chest,...........I don't think I need to elaborate.
So now you're up to date. Even in her illness, IE can still find it in her heart to mock me and my lack of voice......LOL
Later people
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Back to "normal".................
My usual work hours are 6am-2:30pm. It sounds good from the standpoint of clocking out at 2:30, but 4:30 am (wake-up time) comes awful early. Oh well.....................
After work yesterday, I stopped by my church to change the message on our lighted sign. It's easy enough, and doesn't take long. Went home and began doing the dishes. Before we married, IE (my lovely wife) and I decided on who would do two of the most important household chores. She does laundry; I do dishes. Everything else............depends on who gets to it first. After a week away from our house, our refrigerator had become...........well............less than fresh and clean. So I began the project. After working on it for awhile, I needed to bring in the big reinforcements: AJAX cleanser and Formula 409. Removal of contents first, and then the cleaning ingredients applied. Then IE and I went out to eat. I figured that the combination of cleaners would work on their own, and all I had to do was wipe it down and out. That was correct. With the cleaning of the fridge accomplished, I turned to the next project: installing a new outside light near our front door. I read the directions (OMG; a MAN reading directions? LOL) and got started. It was the pictures I had trouble with. I called IE for help. She is good at reading picture directions. But even these got her frustrated; so I became frustrated, and we yelled at each other. She went back to her PC mahjongg game. I did get the light installed, without electrocuting myself. I did apologize for my behavior. She did not deserve to be yelled at.
IE, who hadn't been feeling well all day, wanted ice cream. Not just any ice cream though. A Dairy Queen Banana Split Blizzard. So we got in the car to go, and it began raining. By the time we got there, it was POURING DOWN rain. I got our treats, the rained had calmed down, and we went home.
I have more things to do at home today, and IE has a meeting of our church's women's ministry tonight. Seems pretty mundane..........but you know what? Mundane is not bad...............as long as you don't make it a habit..............which I am easily prone to do. And as long as I recognize that, and try to keep things interesting, then everything will be okay.
While you're here, hit some of the links I've put on here, especially the blogs. They will be worth your time.
Later people.
After work yesterday, I stopped by my church to change the message on our lighted sign. It's easy enough, and doesn't take long. Went home and began doing the dishes. Before we married, IE (my lovely wife) and I decided on who would do two of the most important household chores. She does laundry; I do dishes. Everything else............depends on who gets to it first. After a week away from our house, our refrigerator had become...........well............less than fresh and clean. So I began the project. After working on it for awhile, I needed to bring in the big reinforcements: AJAX cleanser and Formula 409. Removal of contents first, and then the cleaning ingredients applied. Then IE and I went out to eat. I figured that the combination of cleaners would work on their own, and all I had to do was wipe it down and out. That was correct. With the cleaning of the fridge accomplished, I turned to the next project: installing a new outside light near our front door. I read the directions (OMG; a MAN reading directions? LOL) and got started. It was the pictures I had trouble with. I called IE for help. She is good at reading picture directions. But even these got her frustrated; so I became frustrated, and we yelled at each other. She went back to her PC mahjongg game. I did get the light installed, without electrocuting myself. I did apologize for my behavior. She did not deserve to be yelled at.
IE, who hadn't been feeling well all day, wanted ice cream. Not just any ice cream though. A Dairy Queen Banana Split Blizzard. So we got in the car to go, and it began raining. By the time we got there, it was POURING DOWN rain. I got our treats, the rained had calmed down, and we went home.
I have more things to do at home today, and IE has a meeting of our church's women's ministry tonight. Seems pretty mundane..........but you know what? Mundane is not bad...............as long as you don't make it a habit..............which I am easily prone to do. And as long as I recognize that, and try to keep things interesting, then everything will be okay.
While you're here, hit some of the links I've put on here, especially the blogs. They will be worth your time.
Later people.
Monday, May 09, 2005
The story of a special child...conclusion...and weekend wrapup
Hello all.
The story ends Friday evening around 8 pm with the return of Ronald's parents D & M. After going in to see him, they ordered pizza, and we four adults had dinner together. Around 9:20 pm, IE (my dear wife) fell. More to the point, the kitchen chair she was sitting in collapsed under her, sending her to the floor. It seemed like it happened in slow motion. I saw it going on, but could do nothing to stop it. She landed on her right side, with her fanny absorbing most of the fall. She had a sore butt the rest of the night, but thankfully, she was not injured.
Saturday, I got up early to complete some projects at my church. Arriving home just after noon, IE said that her paycheck had come in the mail. She works as a "homemaker" for an agency providing care to the elderly, and for the IL Dept. of Human Services as a CNA. It was in the latter capacity that she was caring for Ronald, and he remains one of her clients. Anyway, we went to the bank to cash her check, then headed to Champaign IL (15 miles south, home of the University of Illinois) for lunch at Steak-N-Shake. Next, we visited The Home Depot, where designer Doug Wilson (Trading Spaces) was appearing. We missed his presentation, but got an autographed photo. IE also got a Trading Spaces book, and Doug turned to a section that had his design tips, and signed it just for her, with X's and O's. She got a kick out of that. We bought some painting supplies, and then went to a local antique show. IE looks around in antique malls and shows for memorabilia having to do with Garfield, the cartoon cat. Didn't find anything......
After Baskin Robbins ice cream, we ate dinner at our favorite buffet restaurant, and then went to a concert by local Christian band Sons and Daughters. The lead singer, at one time, was signed to CBS Records, in a group with a hit song, but found it empty. He rediscovered his faith, and he and his wife now lead this group. They are very good musicians. www.sonsanddaughters.org
Sunday, after church, we took our friends Jim and Diane (who are like parents to me, since my mom and dad are both gone) to a new restaurant in our town called Polito's Cafe. The owner is a real chef, and specializes in Cajun foods, like blackened fish, and even a dish with alligator(!). It was a Mother's day buffet, and the food was OUTSTANDING! Afterwards, we visited Jim's mother at the nursing home where she resides. It is a private institution run by the Knights of Columbus organization. Very clean, bright, and the staff is top notch.
Sunday evening was another church service, then IE and I went home and I cooked hamburgers on the George Foreman Lean, Mean, Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine. For good measure this weekend, I installed a doorbell at our house, and bought a new floor lamp. AND called all four of my mom's surviving sisters for Mother's day.
!Whew!
And to think......I once believed that I had nothing to say on this blog.........................
Can't promise it will always be this interesting, but I will continue to document what happens..........and go from there.
Later people.
The story ends Friday evening around 8 pm with the return of Ronald's parents D & M. After going in to see him, they ordered pizza, and we four adults had dinner together. Around 9:20 pm, IE (my dear wife) fell. More to the point, the kitchen chair she was sitting in collapsed under her, sending her to the floor. It seemed like it happened in slow motion. I saw it going on, but could do nothing to stop it. She landed on her right side, with her fanny absorbing most of the fall. She had a sore butt the rest of the night, but thankfully, she was not injured.
Saturday, I got up early to complete some projects at my church. Arriving home just after noon, IE said that her paycheck had come in the mail. She works as a "homemaker" for an agency providing care to the elderly, and for the IL Dept. of Human Services as a CNA. It was in the latter capacity that she was caring for Ronald, and he remains one of her clients. Anyway, we went to the bank to cash her check, then headed to Champaign IL (15 miles south, home of the University of Illinois) for lunch at Steak-N-Shake. Next, we visited The Home Depot, where designer Doug Wilson (Trading Spaces) was appearing. We missed his presentation, but got an autographed photo. IE also got a Trading Spaces book, and Doug turned to a section that had his design tips, and signed it just for her, with X's and O's. She got a kick out of that. We bought some painting supplies, and then went to a local antique show. IE looks around in antique malls and shows for memorabilia having to do with Garfield, the cartoon cat. Didn't find anything......
After Baskin Robbins ice cream, we ate dinner at our favorite buffet restaurant, and then went to a concert by local Christian band Sons and Daughters. The lead singer, at one time, was signed to CBS Records, in a group with a hit song, but found it empty. He rediscovered his faith, and he and his wife now lead this group. They are very good musicians. www.sonsanddaughters.org
Sunday, after church, we took our friends Jim and Diane (who are like parents to me, since my mom and dad are both gone) to a new restaurant in our town called Polito's Cafe. The owner is a real chef, and specializes in Cajun foods, like blackened fish, and even a dish with alligator(!). It was a Mother's day buffet, and the food was OUTSTANDING! Afterwards, we visited Jim's mother at the nursing home where she resides. It is a private institution run by the Knights of Columbus organization. Very clean, bright, and the staff is top notch.
Sunday evening was another church service, then IE and I went home and I cooked hamburgers on the George Foreman Lean, Mean, Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine. For good measure this weekend, I installed a doorbell at our house, and bought a new floor lamp. AND called all four of my mom's surviving sisters for Mother's day.
!Whew!
And to think......I once believed that I had nothing to say on this blog.........................
Can't promise it will always be this interesting, but I will continue to document what happens..........and go from there.
Later people.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Thank you everyone.
Thanks to everyone who has stopped by this week.
And, thanks to a special friend, I now can add links to my favorite blogs and websites.
A few of them can be found to the left of this page.
Have a great weekend, people!
I'm out.
The story of a special child.....part 3
Winding down....................
Our time with Ronald is winding down. One more night, tonight, and then we expect his parents, D & M, to arrive home between 5-6 PM, central time, on Friday. IE (my lovely wife) is hoping to be able to take him outside in his specially designed chair; the temperature is supposed to reach 70 degrees today.
Something I haven't blogged about is the two cats who live in the home............Mariah, and Miko, both females. Mariah is pure white, and skinny (not unhealthy so), and sooooo soft. She is the social one........she will climb on your lap when you are seated, and follow you around, especially if you are attempting to go outside. She would like nothing better than to escape to the outdoors. Miko, on the other hand, runs if you get too close. She is definitely D's cat; he is the only one who can touch, pet, or hold Miko.
There is an amusing characteristic about Miko.......if someone happens to be using the downstairs bathroom (where the cats' food and litter box is located), and doesn't close the door, Miko will walk right in and stay with you the whole time you're in there. Once IE discovered this, she took advantage. Because of Ronald's specialneeds, the cats are locked in this bathroom at night. And Miko hides at night. So................IE goes into this bathroom in the early evening, to use it, and here comes Miko. After taking care of business, IE quickly gets out of the room, leaving Miko all alone. From there, it is quite easy to gather Mariah and deliver her to the room. 3 nights ago we had quite a time capturing Miko. She was behind the couch. So I went to one end and moved in to touch her. Naturally, she went the other way, where IE was waiting (like a hockey goalie) to scoop her up. Since then, using our new found knowledge, we have them in their room by 7:30.
IE can't wait to get back to our home. She says that when she gets there, she will drop her bags, go to the bedroom, and go right to sleep. And yet, in the short term, she will miss Ronald, as will I.
IE usually at Ronald's for a few hours a week, as needed, Thursdays-Sundays. During the week, (M-W) she is in home health care working for an elderly lady who needs help with homemaking.
I think I'm going to miss being around Ronald as much as I have been this week...........but I can always visit........and this year I want to be a better uncle to my two nieces (age 11 & 7) and my 3 year old nephew. You know, do stuff with them, take them places........last year we took the 7 year old to the (IL) State Fair. She had a good time...........and so did we. :-)
Thanks to all who have left comments. Especially to PinCushion, who has added a link of this blog, to hers! WOW!!!!!
Please check out her blog site:
www.painauchocolat.blogspot.com
You will like what you see there. I know I did.
Speaking of which, can anyone give me some pointers on how I can do the same here on my blog? There are several blogs that I would like to link to.
If there is no post tomorrow, I will wrap up our story on Monday.
Later people.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
The story of a special child.......part 2
The last couple nights & days have been rough. IE (my dear wife) has had to deal with young Ronald pulling out his feeding tubes on at least two occasions, prompting calls to the nurse to reinsert them. IE is a certified nurse assistant, but is not allowed to do reinsertions. She has gotten less sleep than usual, and today developed a headache. She has been so caring and loving toward this young guy who cannot do anything for himself........but truth be told, she is exhausted. I try to help where I can; laundry and other little things that she asks of me. It will be sometime Friday evening before we are back in our own home. She does not complain, though. It is something she wanted to do.........the adoptive parents, D & M, have needed this time away, and they are so deserving of it. Three grown children of their own, and they have fostered or adopted five others, who have had various problems. People with loving hearts for children like that.................you just can't say enough about them.
On the lighter side, I was the winner in a local radio trivia contest this morning. The question:
"What four word phrase did Richard Nixon say on Laugh-In?"
SOCK IT TO ME
Among the prizes are movie tickets to "The Phantom of the Opera." After this past week, this should make for a nice evening out. IE deserves it. Many times I feel like I don't deserve her, but I shake that off, and realize just how blessed I am.
Later people.
On the lighter side, I was the winner in a local radio trivia contest this morning. The question:
"What four word phrase did Richard Nixon say on Laugh-In?"
SOCK IT TO ME
Among the prizes are movie tickets to "The Phantom of the Opera." After this past week, this should make for a nice evening out. IE deserves it. Many times I feel like I don't deserve her, but I shake that off, and realize just how blessed I am.
Later people.
Monday, May 02, 2005
The story of a special child.
Last Friday night, IE (my wife) began a one week term of providing home health care for a special young man. His name is Ronald. He is 13 years of age, and he has cerebral palsy, and Crone's (?) disease. He is unable to stand on his own, he cannot speak clearly, and he is fed and medicated by tubes entering his left side. His adoptive parents, D & M, have finally gone on a much needed, and deserved, vacation; a cruise to the Bahamas. IE is in their home 24/7 caring for Ronald. As of this writing she has not been outside the house since Friday afternoon, because of the special care Ronald requires. She has not complained; she is devoted to this young boy and his care. She is, as you might imagine, exhuasted. I have been staying there with her; D & M insisted that I was welcome to do so. They even purchased food for us to eat during our stay. D & M are so devoted to their family, which includes 8 children, half of whom were adopted, even with their special needs.
I now know why IE is so devoted to Ronald and his care. Even though he cannot speak words, he is truly a sweet and delightful boy. One of the duties that must be performed is catherization; for Ronald, this is accomplished by inserting a thin clear tube into a hole in his navel, and draining his bladder. As you might imagine, he absolutely hates it. Whenever possible, I have helped IE as she does this task. Not being a trained medical professional, my contribution is holding Ronald's left hand in mine and rubbing his chest during the cath, in an effort to calm him. When it goes well, it is quickly accomplished. When it doesn't, it can be a chore. But it is worth it. In his own way, he communicates with us. He makes sounds that, when interpreted, mean, "Good guy, good guy." He says that a lot during cath. And we remind him that he is a good guy. If not for going to work each day, I would be there now.
A comment was left for me concerning my previous post of April 28.
To Anonymous * I say: Thank you. I did not take you as being mean. You were, and are, correct. I hope that today's post is the beginning of a whole new attitude when it comes to detailing what is going on in my life. Because, for this week at least, my perspective has changed quite a bit...
If you have a special child, or children, in your life, let them know how much you love them. They are precious gifts....no matter what their limitations might be. And if your kids are what we would term "normal," do the same. Whether they acknowledge it or not, they need that from the adults who love them.
More tomorrow. The length of this post is unusual for me; I beg your indulgence.
Later people..
