Wednesday, August 30, 2006
A wild and wacky last few days
Last Saturday IE and I helped her birth mother move. Sue has a lot of stuff..........a LOTTTT of stuff. She's moving into a smaller apartment, but in a newly built complex for senior citizens 62 and older; she's 64. Didn't get it all moved; not with two minivans and only the three of us. She needs more help than we can give her.
Sunday night IE became nauseated during our pastor's sermon. (No, it wasn't his fault, LOL) Within 45 minutes she was doubled over in severe pain. Went to the ER; an IV was administered with nausea and pain meds. ER doc seems to think it was a gall bladder attack. She is getting a sonogram today at 1 pm to see what's going on.
A cold and rainy day here in our corner of IL. High temps in the 70's through next week though. That's cool.
*Midweek Musings*
-The Emmys really sucked. A plane crash skit, when the whole country knew of the KY crash earlier that day? Yeesh.
-Katie Couric takes over CBS Evening News on Sept. 5. Yawn.
-Pastor Tom at Blessings and Other Stuff has decided to suspend his blog indefinitely. Been there. Hope to read you again soon brother.
Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
Sunday night IE became nauseated during our pastor's sermon. (No, it wasn't his fault, LOL) Within 45 minutes she was doubled over in severe pain. Went to the ER; an IV was administered with nausea and pain meds. ER doc seems to think it was a gall bladder attack. She is getting a sonogram today at 1 pm to see what's going on.
A cold and rainy day here in our corner of IL. High temps in the 70's through next week though. That's cool.
*Midweek Musings*
-The Emmys really sucked. A plane crash skit, when the whole country knew of the KY crash earlier that day? Yeesh.
-Katie Couric takes over CBS Evening News on Sept. 5. Yawn.
-Pastor Tom at Blessings and Other Stuff has decided to suspend his blog indefinitely. Been there. Hope to read you again soon brother.
Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Update and "Midweek Musings"
Is it possible that summer is almost over? Now, you must understand, I have my own view of when "summer" is, which doesn't go along strictly with the calendar. To me, "summer" begins on the Friday before Memorial Day, and concludes on Labor Day. I guess I got used to that during my school days sooooo long ago. LOL
I have taken on additional tasks at my job. I am a quality auditor on the receiving dock at my plant (known as Plant 3). On Aug. 11 the lady who performed this job at Plant 2, was laid off. She was told it was for one week, but if she returned to work, it would not be in our department. So I now have responsibility for the work at both plants 2 & 3. Back in December of 2003, she had a stroke at work. I filled in for her at that time while doing my own work. She returned to work after six weeks. The reason for her layoff is lack of work; i.e., reduced amount of product coming in for inspection. It is not that I can't handle the workload; rather, it is maintaining two offices, following all procedures, working with two very different shipping departments......you get the idea.
IE (my lovely wife) continues to struggle with knee pain. In a previous post I detailed this. She is scheduled for therapy beginning after Labor Day; if successful, great. If not she will need surgery. I worry about the effect of possible surgery on her job status; in 2001 she was terminated from her job when she could not report back six weeks after rotator cuff surgery on her right shoulder. Canned on Christmas Eve, no less. She likes the day care center where she is now, but her co-worker, working with toddlers, gave her 2 week notice yesterday because her teaching credentials from Wisconsin, do not transfer to Illinois, according to the Dept. of Children & Family Services. The center was forced to cut her pay, and she gave her 2 weeks. Because of this, I am fearful of what surgery on IE will do to her position. We'll deal with it if it comes.
"Midweek Musings":
*Does anyone really care that Tom Cruise was canned by Paramount Pictures?
*Does anyone really care that the Emmy Awards show is on this Sunday night?
*K-Fed? Who is that? (as if we didn't know) And what is he doing "rapping" and using filthy language at the Teen Choice Awards?
*I voted for GW Bush twice; first time, glad to do so. Second time, started out glad, but starting to wonder......
Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
I have taken on additional tasks at my job. I am a quality auditor on the receiving dock at my plant (known as Plant 3). On Aug. 11 the lady who performed this job at Plant 2, was laid off. She was told it was for one week, but if she returned to work, it would not be in our department. So I now have responsibility for the work at both plants 2 & 3. Back in December of 2003, she had a stroke at work. I filled in for her at that time while doing my own work. She returned to work after six weeks. The reason for her layoff is lack of work; i.e., reduced amount of product coming in for inspection. It is not that I can't handle the workload; rather, it is maintaining two offices, following all procedures, working with two very different shipping departments......you get the idea.
IE (my lovely wife) continues to struggle with knee pain. In a previous post I detailed this. She is scheduled for therapy beginning after Labor Day; if successful, great. If not she will need surgery. I worry about the effect of possible surgery on her job status; in 2001 she was terminated from her job when she could not report back six weeks after rotator cuff surgery on her right shoulder. Canned on Christmas Eve, no less. She likes the day care center where she is now, but her co-worker, working with toddlers, gave her 2 week notice yesterday because her teaching credentials from Wisconsin, do not transfer to Illinois, according to the Dept. of Children & Family Services. The center was forced to cut her pay, and she gave her 2 weeks. Because of this, I am fearful of what surgery on IE will do to her position. We'll deal with it if it comes.
"Midweek Musings":
*Does anyone really care that Tom Cruise was canned by Paramount Pictures?
*Does anyone really care that the Emmy Awards show is on this Sunday night?
*K-Fed? Who is that? (as if we didn't know) And what is he doing "rapping" and using filthy language at the Teen Choice Awards?
*I voted for GW Bush twice; first time, glad to do so. Second time, started out glad, but starting to wonder......
Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
Friday, August 18, 2006
The surprise party for IE's birthday came off very well. Our anniversary was the next day. We agreed to postpone the celebration until the weekend, which is now here. Whoo Hooo! Off to Red Lobster for us either tonight or tomorrow night. She deserves it. In fact, she deserves better than what I can give her, but I digress.
I don't know if any of you watched the series "America's Got Talent" with Regis Philbin, but the winner was announced last night. Eleven year old(!) Bianca Ryan of Philadelphia won the million dollar first prize. I'm glad for her. The first time I heard her sing on the show, I said to IE, "They should just give her the million dollars RIGHT NOW!" It is somewhat ironic in that American Idol judge Simon Cowell was executive producer of AGT, and so young children were allowed to compete, yet Idol has an age limit from 16-29. Of course, Idol is designed to find the next singing star, where AGT was open to all kinds of acts. Just found it interesting.........
Have a great weekend, and until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
I don't know if any of you watched the series "America's Got Talent" with Regis Philbin, but the winner was announced last night. Eleven year old(!) Bianca Ryan of Philadelphia won the million dollar first prize. I'm glad for her. The first time I heard her sing on the show, I said to IE, "They should just give her the million dollars RIGHT NOW!" It is somewhat ironic in that American Idol judge Simon Cowell was executive producer of AGT, and so young children were allowed to compete, yet Idol has an age limit from 16-29. Of course, Idol is designed to find the next singing star, where AGT was open to all kinds of acts. Just found it interesting.........
Have a great weekend, and until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Eight Years Together
Today marks the completion of eight years of marriage for IE and myself. Here is a 'brief' rundown of how we got together:
In 1997 I was really struggling with being single. Then my pastor gave a message on being contented. The point being that, as Paul said, we are to be content in every circumstance, knowing that God is in control. I realized that I had been so concerned about my singleness that I was actually being disobedient. That summer I did something for myself. I took a summer class in broadcasting at the local community college. My dream since age 13 had been to be a radio announcer. Taking the class was a step toward realizing that dream. It was a fun course. Toward the end of the class, my instructor told me that he had recommended me to the manager of a local country music station to fill a weekend overnight shift. I was happy. I was on the air, and I was beginning to find contentment.
In April of 97 I met IE for the first time when she and her mother visited our church. IE and her mother became regular attenders. In October IE became a Christian. Following that event, she joined the choir, and I began to befriend her. On New Year's Eve, we were both at a get together at the home of some friends. I was scheduled to go on the air at midnight. IE and I were seated next to each other during the party. We talked and got to know each other better. I had to leave the party at 11pm to make it to the station. I hated to leave. Four days later, on a Saturday, during a period of time when I should have been sleeping, IE called me. We agreed to have dinner and see a movie. I fell in love that night. And told her so. She was more cautious. It took her two weeks. After a whirlwind six-week courtship, I proposed at a church Valentine's Day banquet. She said yes. Six months later, on August 15, 1998, we were married.
We have had tough times. IE has been hurt more than I would have expected. Rotator cuff surgery, a chronic back condition, emergency appendectomy, current problems with her right knee (which may or may not require surgery)....I tease her that with this history of physical injuries she should be playing for the Cubs......LOL! (Tom and Zoner, it's a joke) :-)
We do not have children. Adoption is our only hope. The price tag is currently out of our reach. Plus our ages (I am 41; IE just turned 42) probably works against us. IE is currently working toward being certified as a pre-school teacher through the day care center where she works. I am very proud of her. I don't know what I would do without her.
That's our story. As Paul Harvey would say, "Eight years.....on their way to forever together."
Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
In 1997 I was really struggling with being single. Then my pastor gave a message on being contented. The point being that, as Paul said, we are to be content in every circumstance, knowing that God is in control. I realized that I had been so concerned about my singleness that I was actually being disobedient. That summer I did something for myself. I took a summer class in broadcasting at the local community college. My dream since age 13 had been to be a radio announcer. Taking the class was a step toward realizing that dream. It was a fun course. Toward the end of the class, my instructor told me that he had recommended me to the manager of a local country music station to fill a weekend overnight shift. I was happy. I was on the air, and I was beginning to find contentment.
In April of 97 I met IE for the first time when she and her mother visited our church. IE and her mother became regular attenders. In October IE became a Christian. Following that event, she joined the choir, and I began to befriend her. On New Year's Eve, we were both at a get together at the home of some friends. I was scheduled to go on the air at midnight. IE and I were seated next to each other during the party. We talked and got to know each other better. I had to leave the party at 11pm to make it to the station. I hated to leave. Four days later, on a Saturday, during a period of time when I should have been sleeping, IE called me. We agreed to have dinner and see a movie. I fell in love that night. And told her so. She was more cautious. It took her two weeks. After a whirlwind six-week courtship, I proposed at a church Valentine's Day banquet. She said yes. Six months later, on August 15, 1998, we were married.
We have had tough times. IE has been hurt more than I would have expected. Rotator cuff surgery, a chronic back condition, emergency appendectomy, current problems with her right knee (which may or may not require surgery)....I tease her that with this history of physical injuries she should be playing for the Cubs......LOL! (Tom and Zoner, it's a joke) :-)
We do not have children. Adoption is our only hope. The price tag is currently out of our reach. Plus our ages (I am 41; IE just turned 42) probably works against us. IE is currently working toward being certified as a pre-school teacher through the day care center where she works. I am very proud of her. I don't know what I would do without her.
That's our story. As Paul Harvey would say, "Eight years.....on their way to forever together."
Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
Monday, August 14, 2006
A (hopefully) big surprise.
It's August, and there are lots of birthdays and anniversaries of family and friends this month. Today, my wife IE celebrates #42. I have a surprise get-together planned at one of our favorite restaurants, Ryan's Buffet. Our friend Terri, who is one of the managers, helped me set it up. I don't think IE has any idea. Hee Hee.
Yesterday was my friend Lisa's birthday. I called her and we talked for about fifteen minutes. I've known her since I was 17, and she was 14. One of the big blessings of my life is the fact that we are still friends, and still in touch. We went to my senior prom together. (I think she felt sorry for me.....LOL) She has been, and continues to be, a dear friend. I am so thankful for her. Her husband Don is a good guy as well, and they have 3 kids. In fact, Don videotaped my wedding to IE.....eight years ago tomorrow. That's right, wife's birthday on August 14, wedding anniversary on August 15. Convenient, eh? Through everything, Lisa has been a good and dear friend. I am blessed.
IE loves me so much, and I sometimes feel so undeserving of her. She is a beautiful, sweet, loyal woman who is quiet and a bit shy until she knows you. Then she can open up and be a lot of fun. I don't know what I would do without her. I had accepted the fact of lifelong batchelorhood....even become content with the thought....and then, along she came. She has not had things easy....but has overcome the obstacles, and has accomplished good things, and I am very proud of her.
Tomorrow's post will include the story of how IE and I got together.
Until then, keep your stick on the ice.
Yesterday was my friend Lisa's birthday. I called her and we talked for about fifteen minutes. I've known her since I was 17, and she was 14. One of the big blessings of my life is the fact that we are still friends, and still in touch. We went to my senior prom together. (I think she felt sorry for me.....LOL) She has been, and continues to be, a dear friend. I am so thankful for her. Her husband Don is a good guy as well, and they have 3 kids. In fact, Don videotaped my wedding to IE.....eight years ago tomorrow. That's right, wife's birthday on August 14, wedding anniversary on August 15. Convenient, eh? Through everything, Lisa has been a good and dear friend. I am blessed.
IE loves me so much, and I sometimes feel so undeserving of her. She is a beautiful, sweet, loyal woman who is quiet and a bit shy until she knows you. Then she can open up and be a lot of fun. I don't know what I would do without her. I had accepted the fact of lifelong batchelorhood....even become content with the thought....and then, along she came. She has not had things easy....but has overcome the obstacles, and has accomplished good things, and I am very proud of her.
Tomorrow's post will include the story of how IE and I got together.
Until then, keep your stick on the ice.
