Time well spent

Joining the world of -- missing puppies and he was ...

Goodbye dear friend, Thunderheart. Your last months were unattractive, arthritis and little joy. Oh, but the joy you brought to others. You went camping, cooking, with girlscouts, boyscouts -- walking with others, defending them too. Your Halloween costume was never the same year to year. You put up with being used as a pillow, dress up doll ... makeup and nails painted. You got treats and handfed when a puppy and as an old man. You up and left to wander home -- walking at least 60 miles, foolish boy!

You were as much family as any, though Mom intermittantly let you have control of furniture. You barked at dogs, never acknowledging yourself as one. You let birds fly around you and ate spiders. Sweet boy, I'm sorry you died alone. You shouldn't and couldn't have lived forever, but you broke hearts when you died.

Bark in heaven ... your new home!
...
From Debbie:
"We are sad today. My baby Thunder left us yesterday night. Peacefully , perhaps, as it was in the middle of the kiechen wit all of us nearby klistening to the bronco game.

Tony and I took him to be cremated today. I think I am in a bit of shock s I find myslef doin htings for the two dogs. I grab enough biscuits for two dogs, two leashes, two waters, two

p opsickels. I can hear him barking and breathing. I miss him lots. We keep talking about all the manny, many good times he gave us, joined with us. He helped me raise the 5 children, climbed mountatins, swam in maintain streams and slept in hotel rooms. Pretty special german shepherd."

Social Climber

What seems like ages, she does step, by painful step, sometimes faster the next day. Today, Lois had physical therapy out-patient and came home sore, but with good attitude. She is making little strides ... here and toward success and independance. She is doing better with diabetes, treating her disease with greater respect. She is still on injected insulin up to four times daily, plus once at night. The insulin isn't nearly as expensive as the bloomin' syringes. I can see why, money-crunched persons needing them would re-use them. The needles, as small as there are, are thankfully not well-suited for IV drug users.

Thomas, as secretary of an engineers' club has been trying to get speakers for them, with some success and some hopes dashed. Wouldn't you know it, Comcast was, by far, the most difficult to find a person. Father talked with four people on the phone, then went to local branch and talked with two others, only to get a business card for yet another. Methinks, it's a wasteful beauracracy -- you're comcast dollars going to thick middle management and paperwork.

Marcus has reached restful states. For two days in a row, woke rested and not so grouchy and stupid. Scratch that -- I'm always stupid, but now to a lesser degree. I've no win on the job search, but I'm not crying yet. Keep up the good spirits, I think we are!

Mum enters

Mum enters
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

On Wednesday, Mum enters happy to be home. She wept, having not been home for 3 weeks. She wasn't "out of the woods" yet, in that she has appointments after appointments for physical therapy, coumadin testing, and more.

Her medicine list increased and may shift after some time. She is back on injected insulin, but with weight management, exerceise, meal management, that too might fade.

She is adjusting to life at home. Thomas put together parts in bathroom so that she could properly use them and get out of them. Her knees are stronger than they have been, but she is perpetually sore and in pain at other times. She's happy to be home and might try to go to church this weekend.

Home

After 3 weeks and lots of pain and suffering, mother has returned; somewhat victoriously home. The appointments are done though. There are diabetic appointments, coumadin appointments and PT appointments, none of which are in the same builidng. She's gone from walker to rider.

uplifting

Mother's doctor and personnel here meet today to discuss progress and likely discharge date. The word is that it might be in a couple of days. That is, well, fantastic! She walks on her own, picked up something on the floor and is pretty much indepedant.

There is a penny bet between Thomas and Marcus RE: discharge date. I bet on Friday, Thomas on Thursday, and a nurse who heard of the penny bet went in for Wednesday. I hope the nurse wins!

Standing ovation!

Today in mother’s workout, I got to see her stand for periods of time – perhaps ten minutes standing, then five minutes sitting. She played cards while standing. I don’t know the therapy accomplished with that. She got back to room in pain, and I read to her. She had some “throbbing” pain and requested me to rub her legs for moments only. I read some to her and later, she stopped. She fell asleep on her on accord. Shortly before her 11:39 PT she had pain meds and the nurse then requested at-home med sheet. Thankfully I brought this today. The nurse added this to the bundle/file folder of her mess. She predicted that Mom would be out by the weekend. I mentioned to her the penny bet that Father and I had on her discharge date, I bet on Friday, he on Thursday. Though, I don’t know how close she might have come, the nurse guessed Wednesday. Hey, wouldn’t that be grand!

She is in good spirits and is obviously growing strong. Her late morning PT was a little late, as there were some more critical need patients that took longer than expected. In lieu of this, mother spun around and got to be better on her wheelchair. She’s the new NASCAR wheeler, perhaps.

Curse it! I have to finish early … my battery low and no plug in sight in the therapy room. Blast!

She stood -- a great, momentous day!

She walked

Lois normally goes to and from therapies with wheelchair, but ... today, done today without smoke and mirrors, but rather walker. Kick butt! She goes stronger and more confident. She might even be toning down on pain meds and dealing with it fantastically. I'm very proud of her accomplishments -- she should be.

She got visited this weekend by Beth and Tom who ate cafeteria food -- a dangerous gamble. They seemed to work out okay. They didn't call to confirm their safe return home.

Tokens of Concern

Bird centerpiece

Birds of a feather ornament

And I should mention ... cards, books, guests, calls ... they all mean something
prayers, hopes, love -- nothing is wasted.

shout in the dark

While under the veil of pain meds and pain my mother was repeatedly asked her DOB for verification -- right med for right patient; she grew tired of being continually asked. "You'd think you'd right it down" -- fairly funny.


Having a perpetually dry mouth, mother drinks lots of liquid -- generally water and has such found and identified each and every restroom on the premises. Her meds contribute to this.

Experiences

The schedule for therapies changes, as do the therapists. There is a job board and each patient is given a daily roster of whom they see and when. The patients, by the third day, are expected to come on their own accord to the designated areas for therapy. They are each, also, responsible for their own pain management and requesting of pain meds.

Mom seems satsified with the place presently. Today was assessment, where the therapists determine her weak areas for study and improvement. She is tired and sore, but I think will work through it just okay. She was not as good in the regular hospital with the thearapists, but I feel here, she will be better.

They have meals always at the same time and she likes the meals there much better than at hospital (main). She used a wheeled walker today and likely will have that upon completion of therapy. Overall, I'm happy with what I have seen, in that they push her to successfully complete in a reasonable amount of days (2-14; average 10).

Father and I returned in the afternoon and Mother was happy that she learned how to use a shower bench to enter the tub for a shower. She did a lot of moving today and was tired early. She found that a walker with wheels worked much better. She still has much to learn and strength to gain.

Good news for her, I found the AC, for her room was, well ... hot.

Entered rehab (first full day)

Her left knee. Her staples were removed today. She had two remining ones until a nurse came in and removed the last two around 10 20.

One view of her room (115). You can see one of two leg slings for bed exercises here.
There is another bed in this room. Her roommate left today.

This is a picture of the rehab therapy room. It doesn't show how very large it is and the varied instruments and impliments in the room. This place has many therapists.

Another move

long day ... Mom is in rehab hospital finally. She is in room 115, bed 1. I have a local number, but miffed it and missed the 888 number. I'm not too sure she's up to calls yet, but will give you the number that I have. She has a roommate today, but her roommate leaves tomorrow. The room is small, but I feel that she'll be moving around with therapies enough that won't much matter.

Thursday

Lois has blood in her urnine, which may be yeast infection, maybe because of her blood thinners, or something else. An orthopedic PCA (patient care assistant) found this, but made no call on it at all -- not his area. So, there's a mystery, I guess. She is growing stronger and stood on her own to bid farewell to neighbor who came in today to wish her well. This old neighbor didn't know at all that Lois was in hospital. She felt shameful for that, whereas she shouldn't.

Lois got calls from two daughters in Indy. Bethy said that it, "made her week" to hear from Mom and that she was doing so well.

There isn't any more word of when she'll get out of that area and then to rehab, but supposedly she might get her staples out tomorrow. After that, she stands a good chance of leaving hospital for rehab (24 hours or less) depending on all circumstances and heart rate/arhythmmia, etc.

Lois started in a bad mood from last night -- though waning. This morning she was attempting to use the bathroom when she was intruded upon twice. Her snide attitude toward the nurses may backfire on her eventually. She was unfriendly to all but three.

Pastor Keith came into hospital about the middle of her PT time, by the time he got up there, she might have been close to finishing -- it was unclear if he was going there immediately. He did say that he was there to say hi to her and check on her. He's a good man!

Stronger

Lois did something wonderful today, she stood up on her own with a lot of pain. She hadn't the strength a while ago, but now she does. She was delighted to know that she could shower, just not soak her incissions. She was going to shower with the help of Gaylene (PCA also secetary), opted for sponge bath. She hadn't had a real bath since admitting. She feels human again!

One of the doctors from the orthopedic group stopped by and later the cardiologist, both of whom felt she would likely leave hospital in two days for rehab hospital. That was more good news. Still, further, her heart arhythmmia might be controlled by coumadin, so she might not have any further procedures for that. The other option might have been for paddles to jump-start her heart into correct rhyme.

It was good she was moved only when she was, as regular rooms weren't available last week, for whatever reason. There is just good news after good news.

I understand that Uncle Karl will undergo hand surgery soon, a fairly quick surgery, and that Aunt Dorothy who has untreatable shingles will either respond to new pain meds or undergo surgery to eliminate the pain. I hope that the meds work.

She's walkin', yes indeed

Mother is making greater strides. She felt urgency and walked, painfully, to the bathroom. Who you don't see in the picture is Thomas pushing the pole, for Lois cannot use a walker and pull the pole.

Earlier with the physical therapist, she walked to the nurses' desk and then into the hallway, erecting a flag to mark her achievement. The orthopedic PCA (patient care assistant; aka nurse's aide, aka; tech -- who might very well have a masters) came to see Lois today and was pleased with her range of motion. Her also wants her now to work on straightening her legs/knees, very imporant for standing.

The good news is, she might be moved yet again tomorrow or Wednesday -- to rehab, but nothing is certain.

Being fed

Lois can feed herself, but here, Thomas is feeding her some breakfast. She got a little pissy and ordered little for breakfast. She was better later on because the physical therapist fixed the Continuous Passive Motion (PCM) machine. This bends her legs up and down, like walking or pedaling. It ensures that through progress, that she gets to a full range of around 120 degrees of full bending. She has had some difficulty before, but when she's grumpy -- no one can well talk with her.

She was good around 11:45, but quickly fell asleep. She has good care, but the pharmacy is late in getting drugs always. They were every time I've been there with family and self. Lois has a host of meds that she can and does take for pain. Virtually, all of it can sedate her and help her complete her physical therapy. The lack of a mabel is a problem still -- 24 hours after seeking one, still no mabel (bedside toilet).

Her heart, according to father, looks as good as it has in hospital this trip. Let's hope that whatever the heart doctors are going to do, they do it, and she can move on to the next place -- physical rehab.

She's moved!

Here, she's looking at a wrong menu to order her dinner. She chose her dinner; father called it in. The person taking the order said that since she's on a diabetic diet and on cardiac floor -- the number are actually different on the menus. She wasn't allowed to order what she ordered, but he said -- skip it, go ahead.

Moments later, the man came up to the room and talked again about it. Later still, 5:30 a dinner was brought to her -- nothing that she ordered. How could a guy who personally visited the room error -- I don't know. After that, she was moved to a room that would hold some of her orthopedic apparatus. She was "happier" in the new room.

The nurses in the ICU made her so mad that she fumed for half the day. She's in telemetry now and possibly/likely to be there until she's sent to rehab hospital.

full of

While in hospital, Mum drinks quite a bit of water.  The nurses must "account" and record the volume of her urine output.  They were all amazed at the patient Niagra.  One nurse had to drump two full containers from the catheter bag.  In the end, I can summarize that she's full of **is and vinegar.

 

I believe that she'll have extrafamiliar guests this weekend, but times and persons are really -- well, a mystery.

Much written about nothing

Lois would like to thank everyone for all the great well-wishing and love and prayers. Thomas and Marcus also appreciate it.

New News: it might be that Lois will be sent to a cardiac telemetry unit for study. What they will do there, I haven't the faintest idea. I have no concrete information when she will get there, or if indeed that she will be there, let alone the room and phone availability.

Holloway Health News

Father and I went to see Mom last night. She was yet, even better stronger (bionic, though not working for the government). I was mislead or presumed too much in thinking that she would be directly moved from ICU to rehab. The orthopedic doctor (intern, approved by lead doctor) stated that she would move back to the orthopedic floor for a few days, then to the rehab hospital.

Hey ... more days at the hospital, joy of joys. The good news there, is realistic visiting hours. It's likely a 7-9 or 8-8 schedule with less strict guidelines. It isn't clear when that will happen, but guesses and rumors are within a couple of days.

I sleep but don't rest, and father rests but doesn't sleep. I'm mentally okay, but sore and he's physically okay (though weakened by poor sleep) but groggy.

Also good, is that Mother has a good rapport with the nursing staff. They are all wonderful!

Step Workout

Mother was working a bit this morning on her PT, self-guided, with wincing. The physical therapist was due to come in later on this morning. She is working a little harder.

She is still in ICU for high blood pressure, which seems -- at the moment, to be lowered. She also has arterial fibrillation a type of heart arrhythmia. It is not serious and is common. She has a history of heart arrhythmia and heart problems. The cardiologist hasn't yet come in today, but will assess her yet again. It is with high hopes that she is sent to the rehab soon.

The surgeon seems pleased with the knees and pops in, for maybe moments, then leaves. Mum's not sure on him, as he looks very short at her knees to make an assessment.

She has had a few surprise guests, including Pastor Keith from the church and Don, from the Sunday school class. There are many prayers for her. Pastor Keith mentioned that there are four people from church in hospital this week.

Mom seems in good spirits, all things considered, but is still a bit confused at times, though clearer. She has a devil of a time sleeping, so takes meds (some low to mid level narcotics) to rest well and lessen pain. These, I feel, are a cause of her confusions, delusions, hallucinations. Her fears and hallucinations are much, much less than before.

She is lucid and talks freely and is seeking more home and creature comforts for her room in ICU. I hope and pray that she gets out of there soon. She is only one drop that keeps her there, and that can be an oral medicine. She is off the nitro drip that kept her there.

Rest unassured

Father didn't play golf yesterday. His partner didn't want to play in gloom and mist. A couple of players went on to experience heavier rain before quitting. Father also finsihed early with poker -- not winning and came home to rest. This morning, he looked unrested. On the way back from hospital, he was blinking often. Marcus was driving, making the trip less scary.

Mother wasn't rested. She was loopy with sleeplessness, pain meds, and other meds. She ate more of a meal today. Last night, she tried the veggie lasagna and ate it pretty well. She had "perfect shaped" french toast which she ate most. Her appettite is slowly returning. She's plain tired of being there, I can't blame her. Her vitals are still high yielding yet another day there in ICU.

She is also experiencing "sub" week, in that two of her regular doctors have substitutes this week (those fellow doctors working in a group). I don't think she likes that too well.

This evening

Mother had PT and hated it, but apparently did very well. They didn't have her do it in the afternoon. Her friend, Betty, came in while Betty herself was in hospital. Her daughter Patsy was there. Betty is unsure about moving to rehab hospital. Mother seemed optimistic.

She was in good spirits, but was very sore. She liked her first meal today -- veggie lasagna. She favors the diabetic sweets though, pudding, cheesecake. She did more time on the auto bending machines. Her pain is less, but her work is greater. She is to move more and has a series of exercises that she is to do.
She hasn't really slept, so that hopefully is in the works tonight. She doesn't watch TV as much of it is crud and crude. She gets pestered at least every hour, usually more often.

Father, needing a break, went golfing today. The weather was continually misty today, but they all went. He was to follow that with poker. He hinted that he may not make it all night, but would try. He is still looking groggy and sleepy.

Marcus found the hospital courtesy wi-fi helpful.

confidence high

I, and I alone, visited my mother last night in hospital.  She was in fairly good spirits.  It took a couple of hours to get an IV person to get the blood into her veins.  She was given two more units of blood, as after two days of waiting, the numbers came back still a little low.  She took less pain meds today.

 

My father is a wreck, but I'm around so that he can unwind with some golf and poker.  He's in a weekly golf league on Tuesdays and plays poker about every other week on Tuesday.  He was plain whipped so I went to hospital and saw mom.

 

There is a woman there, pacing unable to do much, while her husband is to undergo heart surgery again.  She looks my age, but I understand that she's fifty (she hides it very well).  I could do little but wave to her.  Still, she paces.

 

I found that, when I get a chance to walk -- it's much like a full marathon, shedding weight from my shoulders and back, feeling better -- then slump, back into waiting.  My eyes feel heavy, but I can't sleep well.

"I don't know what I'm doing.  No one will tell me.  I think this was a big mistake Grandma.  I don't think I belong here."+

 

 

+ Platoon

As a simple side note, my brother-in-law wrote to the folks, graciously thanking them for the birthday card and gift.  His year is another round of BS and that's not bachelors.  I read the letter to Mom, and I dare say that his letter was hurried, as it was a tad difficult to read.  Mind you, I can read preschool writing.  His broad loops -- old French style, made it an interesting, but challenging bit.

 

Much to Mother's worry and bewilderment, is that her friend, Betty will be discharged from same hospital on Wednesday, there transferred to rehab, though different than Mother's prospective rehab hospital++.  Mom may or may not see her again soon.

 

Betty's daughter must decide where Betty is to go.  Her daughter's hands are "full" with many other obligations.  On top of that, Betty is not interested in assisted living -- nor are most/all patients in nursing homes.

 

++ assignment of rehab hospitals is based on:  need, criteria, ratios.

1.  need -- can patient do rehab in other fashion, not in-house

2. basis of need -- phsyical, neurological

3. New to me:  ratios.  There are some facilities that must maintain ratios of say (percentages picked out of thin air) 62% physical rehab (limb removal, replacement), 25% neurological (e.g.: siezure), 12% other (other prosthetic like eye, inner eye, etc.).  So, a building can't be 100% hip and knee replacement patients.

 

That's crazy, but that's insurance policy/demands, and government standards for payout.

--

It is very, very, likely that Mother will be at the campus rehab at Lutheran, but that hasn't been made as she's not yet in her standard room.

machines

Mother is improving and she is "attached" to machines that bend her knees.  She isn't doing as much on PT as they would like, so they are using machines to do it for her.  She claimed that it wasn't too bad -- felt good.  I'm sure that she was stiff, but isn't up to lifting her legs and doing much of anything on her own.

 

She's clearer, focussed and hoping and dreaming of going to REHAB hospital soon.  I think that it'll be later, perhaps next Monday, as her Pulse, Heart rate and Blood Pressure are all too high, despite a nitro drip and a couple other meds.  The doctors came about to see her, ensuring her that she won't sleep.  In a retort to a doctor who came in while she was drifting off to sleep, "how can I".

 

She's in better spirits.

Painful irony

You're in pain, you want meds to kill the pain. You are given lots of meds. Somewhere, you develop a reaction to the meds. Suddenly, paranoia sets in. There is no recovery until it is leeched from your system. Lois experienced this for several days.

Late this morning, sans loads of morphine, she was lucid and responsive to conversation. Later, she was finally asleep. Beth, Debbie, Jennifer all bade her goodbye.

Today, so far, was better.
..............
A call from Dorothy was that her pain had not subsided. Tears of pain--untamed. God be with them both!

a funny thing happened on the way to craziness

Father was trying to sit in the convertible chair/sofa in the room. It pulls out, making an uncomfrotable bed. In trying this, he slid out with his neck on the back and his legs pulling away with the sofa part. It was a funny adventure.

Lois is constantly asked her birthday before receiving any medicine and now does it out of the blue, as a perfunctory response. Poor woman, no one wishes that!

Hairpins

Thursday, things went well, the surgery completed faster than they thought. Mother thereafter was in pain. They loaded her up as much as they could, but she wept and cried all day and night. Father stayed with her during the night, but he didn't sleep.

Friday, I picked up father to get him to sleep at home. I returned to the hospital where things went for the worse, culminating in her uncontrolled high blood pressure. After twelve hours of dangerous levels, Dr. Reddy (her cardiologist) relocated her to the ICU, at 12 midnight. They were kind enough to provide father with a room, where he slept for around 4 hours, but not well.

While in ICU she is better, feeling less pain on her knees and legs and a sonogram seemed to confirm no blood clotting. Her back spasms are frequent and are strong. The pain meds making her somewhat to greatly incoherant. On the plus side, she sat up and dangled her legs off the bed this morning.

During the day with IVs everywhere, she had a much better Blood Pressure. I hope that tomorrow she is moved to a regular unit with no high blood pressure. This will mark day three, hopefully the period where things improve.

Bethy, Debbie, Jennifer (Diane's elder daughter) came to visit. Jessica wears a hat of concern for her grandma -- Diane is way busy.

Marcus has discovered a new pain -- likely ulcer (s). They'll become manageable when the stress lowers, whenever that is.

Hospital

reasons why I don't sleep
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

The surgery went just fine -- finishing early. Getting her into room, longer, getting her out of pain -- mostly unsolved. She is animal tranquilized, but that may not be enough. Today was very difficult.

Father rested in her room last night. He didn't sleep. When he came home, he got little sleep. Beth and Marcus were there with her, then Marcus picked up Diane's Jessica and later Jennifer came to see Lois.

It was just not good. More in later post.

Pain, strain, wait

Lois was in pain last night, but missed it this morning until ... she was ready to go to doctor's. She had made an appointment with her pain management doctor for 9:15 today. He guessed it was back spasms and offered her some sample drugs to see if they worked. Lois was worried that her rehab would be frought with tears of pain doubled from her back.

She rested and had a chance to pack up what she wanted for the rehab. Thankfully, Thomas and Marcus can do laundry service for her.

Thomas is on a cloud ... drifting uncontrollably. He can't concentrate on anything. Marcus has saved bits, and I do mean bits, of sanity with obsessing with a few items. No one will be in good shape tomorrow. Beth is coming up tonight and Diane plans to come to hospital upon ensuring that Jessica is at school.

The pastor called and indicated that he would be around the area in hospital to offer prayer and love, hopefully before the surgery. That just kicks it, doesn't it? There you are in gown, maybe covered in sheet, and church persons come by -- well, either accept the well-wishing or prefer your pride. I'd say skip the pride.

I plan on taking just about anything to get to sleep tonight. If I could hit myself with a mallot, I would.

Agony of defeat

Wicked week, but better than the last.
Lois had painful bouts, but kepts tears to minimum. Thomas is tripping over ideas and his own feet. Marcus appears calmer, better, but is "little boy" the atom bomb -- prone to fits of anxiety ... pouncing on tidbits of frustration. Soundbites and news -- little discussed.

Of disgust, Lois' liking of pain. She's worried about her rehab, considering her back pain. In either a moment of panic or clarity, she called a pain management doctor, with whom she's worked before, to handle the pain. She hopes that perhaps upping the Oxy will put moxy in her step. She hopes at least less grit in her teeth.

Upswells of hope and love are offered as a friend, now adrift in feelings of helplessness, dropped by today. She wondered, hintingly, if I would wake Lois to chat with her. I didn't, as Lois was in pain and my main concern is and was that she get to hospital on Thursday without knocking herself out with pain. Friend, Betty is in hospital (previous post) and will be in rehab at the same time as Lois. Perhaps they will meet each other in their efforts there.

Father's golf, as cathartic as it might be is no substitute to mother's well-being. He is as capable of thinking as a clam ... open sometimes, but mainly filtering. Marcus is a bit more capable, but stressed. Lois' health is primarily his worry. Onto that, money and job and a few other things that are left undiscussed.

I'm glad I don't smoke as now, I would be a Pennsylvania steel mill belching out smog and soot as surely as I exist. Mother rests poorly, father poorly ... thankfully, a spit of good news

Father's bone scan, though more intensive than planned, turned up nothing, according to father. Still, his shoulder is a mild wreck, he prefers not to drive and his knee was the focus of the bone scan. In my heart, my mind ... doubt. Cynical and skeptical to the last ... Marcus drags doubt, concern and sorrow, in every step.

Mother's confession of procrastination was a welcome laugh. She delcared today that it was great that she'd be in rehab center where they don't take excuses, no passes, no, "no"'s. She'll have to do the work; pain and all. And in that, I am glad that pain ahead she's mandated herself to assistance.

It's plastic, it's rectangle, it's filled with sand

and poop. This week is viewed in litter box.

Tuesday: rotten, really nothing more to say on it, other than plain rot. Father had a chance to play golf and poker.
Wednesday: slightly better, but Father didn't golf
Thursday, almost as rotten as Tuesday.
Friday: Thomas, Lois and Marcus went into hospital for Lois' pre-admission testing. Lois claimed it was to be 30 minutes, but that was far off. It lasted nearly 4 hours. She learned some, as did Thomas and Marcus. In leui of lunch that they missed they caught some 4:30 dinner.
Saturday: Sluggish. Father and I went to look at convalescent care items and bought a couple of things. Two salespersons were at the one store. One wanted to sell everything, the other was less pushy.

Father and Marcus replaced a toilet seat which took herculean efforts, six tools and 40 minutes. The old metal bolts were rusted and the plastic nuts didn't move. After making no headway with the dremel, Marcus hacked away slowly with a sawblade, 4 sheets of paper thick.

We finished today with Lois' back hurting again. This week bit me already, otherwise I would have invited it to do so.

Also, we found out that an old friend, Betty, was in hospital for other checking when she had a grand mal seizure. I know little else. Her daughter is due to come down tonight or tomorrow. Betty was worried about getting old and having to be in a nursing home ... this might eliminate choices.
....
Marcus still hasn't found a job. He will now be fighting with MetLife to process his paperwork that they have had for three-five weeks, to give him some of HIS money. He's none-too happy. The Tums corporation has opened a new branch due to increased sales, in a related story.

Goodnight sweetheart, well, it's time to go.

No monuments this week. No grand vacations or leaps. There was one giant leap for Jenny-kind Saturday in that she left for freshman year at Purdue. This week only (sounding like an ad) is strictly freshman orientation. Jenny and Jessica haven't been truly apart from each other in a a long, long time, though wtih Jenny having a steady (serious) boyfriend, Gary, the sisters have spent less time together. This will be a hard separation for both.
I'm not too worried for Jenny, she'll either stick with her core (Vetrinary Science) or pursue something else. Schoolwork wasn't a terrible problem for her.

The Freygangs borrowed Thomas' van. Father and I went to prepare it for the move -- yank seats, vaccuum and wash. The vaccuuming was long-since needed, but it looked better quickly. The auto wash did an okay job, but father and I noticed not one bubble of soap during the wash, leaving us with skepticism. Jenny wasn't packed well for the trip and her room looked like either:
A: earthquake focussed on her room, sending everything everywhere, mostly to the floor
B: all personal belongings were put in blender andit was set on maximum spread

This week, Thomas and Marcus did a little painting. On Friday, Lois got a coumadin level check and Father picked up a new Lutheran Hospital map with the parking garage and two buildins that Lois will visit during surgery and rehab. After that, Thomas, Lois, and Marcus ate a lunch at Cracker Barrel, which was noisy enough to deafen the deaf. Conversation wasn't really possible.

Unstated to anyone, Marcus took a look around and saw, what looked like a partially filled soda bottle on a table. The bussers (table cleaners) didn't attempt to move it. I thought this gross, until ... 20 minutes later, I noticed one on another table. "Think rabbit ... think!" They were, instead, snapple-shaped bottles that contained syrup for breakfast meals. I'm scho schtupid!

Thomas and Lois got threee plates of food each. They didn't eat it all. Had the meat been not as dry, surely they would have had a better meal. They each disliked the grits and the sausage gravy. I ate fish, some of which was fried in oil with fried chicken, giving it that chicken flavor -- yuck! It wasn't all bad.

After the vehicle exchange on Saturday, the three went to an Italian restaurant, Casa Grill. The service was slow, the table uncleaned in a spot, which I didn't mention to anyone. Father got their signature salad -- large bowl that he couldn't finish (bottomless?) Mother got a hoagie fillet of sole sandwhich that she didn't finish that came with side pasta. Marcus finished all of his lunch at 2:30 (very late lunch) as he didn't eat breakfast.

After that, Lois plummeted into Stephen King's Misery, in that her captor "pain" delivered well her doses of pain -- back aching to the point of near tears. Her dialogue with the pain sounded mantra-like or hail Marys. Unable to sleep but spots, she failed to make it to church again. Father, sleeping only a bit better had to attend as he was head usher.

Marcus read through more, this time completely, worthless job postings. Tripling the number of postings today wasn't a good trade for quality. Quantity only helps at particular times.

Jessica is to come to mow father's lawn, but we'll find out if that happens. It being only the three of them at the house this weekend -- I would guess that they'd go to see a movie together, their family enjoyment. In contrast, Thomas, Lois, and Marcus played cards with mixed results. Father typically lost, especially when playing King's Corner. Playing 7up (card game), he fared better.

Circling Hell?

Try as I might, I can't find out why she's there!

I called Diane today about her and Mom's appointment with sewing. Apparently Hell hath no fury like ill fortune.
She was calling from the road to pick up her son, Joseph, who got pulled over twice in the same day. His offenses are unknown to me, at this time. Last night her husband James (my brother-in-law of course) got into an accident and might have whiplash. Her elder daughter, Jennifer, might have a bladder infection again. Yikes!
I guess that if you are LIVING in hell, it really isn't Hell, as Hell is continual death and absence/distance from God -- mett out as you did in life. Here, Diane has the upside down horseshoe birthmark, She calls it Murphy's Law extreme. If something can go wrong, it will -- twice in one day.

The folks were doing okay yesterday. Father played iron well, but putted terribly. Overall, he had fun, but disappointed with his, "short game". Lois had some difficulty with soreness and rest. Amazingly, few doctor appointments this week. Next week -- anew.

Father has a bone-scan scheduled, midtime between here and Lois' surgery. Today marks the two-week mark before her double bionic knees, being the $6 Billion Woman, or at least that's what is billed to Medicaid/Medi-Care and other supplements.

weekend

Beth and Tom came up this weekend with their dogs Samson (in photo lying next to father) and Argos, black German Shepherd (not shown here). Tom wanted to exercise them a bit and work on training. Argos is larger than Samson, and is less than a year old. Tom hopes to get him trained for Schultzhund -- canine sporting.
While Father, Tom, dogs and I were at the park, Lois, Beth, Diane were out drinking tea and choosing fresh bread. Though not too hot, Marcus was chewed apart by mosquitoes.

It was very nice to have the Loves come up to visit, however short it was. The Loves and the folks watched Pride and Prejudice, well, not father as he snoozed through it. I declined.

Bethy emailed me, wanting me to call Tom, for she grabbed his keys and her new building couldn't make outside calls at that time. Sounds like the building was all ready, right?

Wet paint

Father and I were painting again. This time, it was the upstairs hallway walls. It seems to be my lot in life to paint. The seemingly thousands of corners from five doorways took a long, long while. In the middle of painting I got a call about a sales job that I likely don’t want, selling financials to senior citizens.

We finished and when we were cleaning out brushes and trays, the outside well (not where one gets water) was filled with paint water and plant material. Water went nowhere, because of the plant waste. I thought that it would eventually drain and went in to wash my hands then shower.

I went to the basement (opposite side of well) and the paint water had crept in, along the floor. I dropped scrap towels to hold back what could have been a flood. I went outside and bailed the excess water from the well while Father dropped more towels on the floor. After the well was 5 mm filled with water, very safe, I returned to clean up the mess.

It had crept under a storage cabinet, thankfully plastic and easier to move. It also went under the clothes washer, so we had to move it and clean the mess there. Yikes! It had been a while seen the cabinet and the washer had pulled back. Goo, eww ... and gross! Suffice to say that the energy I had for the second coat of paint today, was spent on the water disaster. I am spent. Father had a sore back, so we called it a day at the half (12:00)

The good news is that God was looking out for us, in that it rained heavily in the afternoon and the plugged well would have been an issue, perhaps.

Mother was a little more energetic today and spoke with hospital about appointment. Diane was supposed to come over to work with Mom on some small patches for their sewing tomorrow. At the time of this writing, she had yet to show.

To make walking difficult, most of the walls upstairs were wet, but dried fairly quickly. At 3:00, the rails were up and it was as good as it was going to be for today. Father thought that one coat would do, but Marcus wasn't sure.

The wound that would not heal

Mother has an August 24th surgery appointment.  Mother complained about a leg injury that hasn't successfully healed for 3 years.  Nice -- a nurse who doesn't check into it.  Against her will, Father took her to the doc.

According to the doctor, they need to take a biopsy to verfiy his suspicions that it's pre-cancerous.  Since an incision might bring on an infection, he suggested that she not take this action now, so close to surgery.  Some more about which to worry.

 

Today was a long one.  Lois is sore, Thomas is plain bushed.  The news isn't good.  Welcome to the weekend.

In lighter news, Diane and family are supposed to take a mini-vacation to lovely Monticello, Indiana for a day at Indiana Beach (large, long lake with rides, etc.)

 

Beth, Tom, and their canine companions Samson and Argos are due to come up this weekend.  It should be fun, much more fun than the drive, wait, bad news.

Books, interview, appointment

Lois now has a surgery appointment -- 6:30 a.m. August 24th. Good golly, miss Molly! Following this, P.T. and convalescent care for weeks. All of this in consideration, Lois has chosent to dive right in.

Father, tired of his recent book -- "dry" as he called it, found a book at the library, the basis for the movie, End of the Spear. It should be, well, potentially more interesting, depending on authorship.

Marcus had an interview today -- short, simple, "I might call you next week" was the ending statement. Granted, I didn't come into the new-smelling of new carpet office, dressed in either tie or suit in the 96 degree humid, rainy weather. I suppose that had I perfectly shaved before, that might have lent itself to a better first impression. I have no high hopes for this job.

Lois was too sore to successfully go sewing today, so she didn't. Diane, who was to sew with her, chose not to go, in favor of better using her time to sort out the Purdue affairs as Jenny has dubious housing for college. Jessica was with her, but spent much time, quietly sitting -- seemingly bored. It was, however, good to see them.

Happy Anniversary to the folks today

My father called today after Mom saw the doctor.  He has okayed the double knee replacement surgery.  It might be another month or so before it happens, but it was joyous news, none the less.

 

Today is their anniversary, so in celebration they are going out to a fancy-schmancy meal somewhere ... I was not given that info.

 

My sister sent me an electronic (e-card, via hallmark) for the folks.  Laptops are great, as I can tote that bad boy around and show them -- hey!  Here's your romance card, c/o my little (but older) sister.

Monday musings

We went to Cheng's Chinese Buffet for dinner; Thomas, Lois, Diane (above), Jessica, Jenny, Jenny's boyfriend Gary, and Marcus. When we got back, Jenny and Gary went to do their thing, meanwhile Jessica mowed the grass in slightly cooler temperatures. The morning is the only cool time of day, but she's sleeping.

Diane's ear is healing -- cotton here to limit visual seeping. She's doing okay, hearing fine and in fairly good spirits. Lois is in pretty good spirits, having done another Coumadin test today and due to have another on Friday. Diane and Lois are to sew in a class on Thursday. Thomas still has a sore shoulder, which is ever-so-slowly improving -- so he says. The new house potpourri is something like IcyHot or BenGay, but generally smells strong and works weak (ly).

Marcus is still resume posting and getting poorer and poorer sleep, as well as poorer and poorer in general. After a short email from Uncle Jack, I know that Dorothy is still in pain, though on pills -- not much change or good. Weather's not, health is not -- summer 2006 is hot sweaty, smelly and in need of improvement.

Sadly, I have little chance to speak with the Orozcos, so I'm not sure how well they are doing. Johnny is set to do football practice for school -- though possible that stomach injuries will hurt greater until fully healed.

Beth's job is moving 15-30 minutes East. She has an even longer drive. She's darn-near a scenic highway to get to Fort Wayne in a much shorter time than on I-69, but that shows how far she is from her NW Indy home in Zionsville.

Today is Tuesday -- golf day, let us hope that it marks a start of GREAT HEALTH FOR EVERYONE, that Father can golf and that no one has ditch-digging duties today.

Board stiff

Lois is still having back pains, intermittant as to degree. Thomas decided, blast it "I'll firm up that mattress with wood" and so he and Marcus went to Lowes and got a 5/8" thick piece, cut had it cut once and placed the proverbial pea under the mattress. Father claimed that it did firm up the mattress a little, but the mattress is already firm.
Much to Lois' disappointment -- I caught this, a photo of her lurking about. She later had long, nice conversations with daughters Beth and Debbie at different times. This summer, she's putting away sweaters. She got them out for a particular restaurant that is typically colder than the Arctic circle, but this time -- not. Jessica was with Lois, Thomas and Marcus at the time.

Returning to a greater level of normalcy, Lois was up for more hours today either dealing with the pain or experiencing less of it. It was a great relief to see her moving and existing. Father too, was more at ease, as her bed rests sit poorly on his heart and mind.

This afternoon, they spent some time watching super-exciting ... golf. Yeah! Didn't I title this bored stiff, well it rhymes anyway.

Marcus has spent now years at the computer reading help useless ads and creating accounts with six some companies apart from the recruiting companies for which he already has accounts. I think now I remember teaching two half-days kindergarten, in teaching virtually the same thing twice. Each day different, each child different, yet sometimes reading a very long-winded tale as prescribed by the lesson, boring the snot out of the kids and you, despite my Robin Williams like attempt to liven the puppy.

I think that the math textbooks were animated next to reading job postings. My word! Also, the jobs often boast poor pay, lots of travel and "duties include, but aren't limited to ..." Marcus, in no uncertain words, has said he hates it.

Entertaining themselves last night, Thomas and Lois watched British comedies on the local PBS. They didn't favor Monty Python's Flying Circus, but liked the "older generation" comedies. Some should just be thrown onto TV Land, gaining yet another earnest viewship.

Fair Tales

Glass Sliver

Mother has had some back pain for some time and the other night it was terrible and she spent a lot of time out of it. She got up to get sherbert, as the Germanic Cinderella did -- or in this version she did. In getting it she knocked over her glass -- really glass, into the sink. As fortune would have it, she found a large piece with her foot. She called out to her fairy Godmother, but she was on vacation in Quebec, so her substitute Marcus came to help. Upon inspection, she was bleeding from the broken vessels -- flowing like a river. Anyway, with some luck, Marcus found the large piece and yanked it out. Mother winced and forgot the pain. Despite patching the flood with band aids, she bled. I cut apart a sock of mine to keep her sheets from running red. It worked. Cinderella, awoke in the morning without the prince pursuing her, but she did find that her glass sliver was found. She now lives happy unbloody after.

Diane went to hospital for ear surgery and did okay. Sadly, she didn't take well to the anestesia and spent her time home puking and resting poorly under lots of fans.

....

We finished the evening with poker games, a visit to the Liberty Diner and finally the DVD of TV show Gross Anatomy. It's not my type of show, but Jessica liked it.

Poker

Tuesdays are Thomas' poker nights with friends, every other Tuesday and they rotate turns as hosts. It's interesting to note that while they have been playing for maybe 10+ years like this, why they would argue about poker. Last night, while not serious, there was a dispute about poker. Father laughed off the rock-paper-scissors battle with, "We've only been playing for years. You'd think we'd know the rules by now." In the end, I think there was "no fault" and the game continued.

In mid-game, around 9 o'clock, the adult kids come up to feast and feast and feast. I have included this picture because it reminded me of Disney's Bug's Life, "They come; they eat; they leave." Later this was a mantra. This is what I saw when they left to continue playing. What I don't get is why, if the trash in 22" from you, why you don't throw stuff away. I guess it just doesn't make sense to me.


Also, there was in Father's case; ... he eats, he pains like mad. There were hot wings as well as BBQ wings and they fluttered in him though alive -- according to father. In re-using my chicken statement--ran like a chicken to the medicine cabinet. After a night of unrest, he declared, "I think we're gonna be pitching out the hot wings". He dared not let Mother try them as she doesn't like hot and responses poorly to it.

Lois was again, so very sore that she spent much time unavavilable. Earlier in the day, using an ice pad -- simply a honey packet sheet (30 x 50) filled with water, then frozen; broken in a few areas soaking some parts of the bed. Mother was ejected from her rest due to the levee breaking. Anyway -- change of sheets -- good as new -- ice sheet went to trash. There is another one, but empirical data shows it's prone to puncture.

Marcus went out on a trek, prior to returning to help with food prep/settings. On my trip I got a few interesting pictures. I saw two muskrats eking out a living on the very low, dirty river. To my surprise, there was also a duck -- common, and a stork. It was a good photography day.

The directions on the wings was 20 minutes at 400. That didn't work worth squat! I think either the oven is wrong in it's setting or the instructions were a bit off. The wings took double the time and were still .. not fully warm. Nuts! The food, as you can see above, was eaten and everyone, I guess had a good time. There were two smokers who left their butts somewhere no one could find, as they weren't in the ashtrays father set out for them. Come time for mowing and I'll suppose we'll see them in the street or somewhere.

I twice played poker with these guys. The first time, I lost $20 in two hours, then quit. I lost only $5 over four hours the next time. I might play sometime later when they are missing a person, but that ratio isn't so good.

Poker

Tuesdays are Thomas' poker nights with friends, every other Tuesday and they rotate turns as hosts. It's interesting to note that while they have been playing for maybe 10+ years like this, why they would argue about poker. Last night, while not serious, there was a dispute about poker. Father laughed off the rock-paper-scissors battle with, "We've only been playing for years. You'd think we'd know the rules by now." In the end, I think there was "no fault" and the game continued.

In mid-game, around 9 o'clock, the adult kids come up to feast and feast and feast. I have included this picture because it reminded me of Disney's Bug's Life, "They come; they eat; they leave." Later this was a mantra. This is what I saw when they left to continue playing. What I don't get is why, if the trash in 22" from you, why you don't throw stuff away. I guess it just doesn't make sense to me.


Also, there was in Father's case; ... he eats, he pains like mad. There were hot wings as well as BBQ wings and they fluttered in him though alive -- according to father. In re-using my chicken statement--ran like a chicken to the medicine cabinet. After a night of unrest, he declared, "I think we're gonna be pitching out the hot wings". He dared not let Mother try them as she doesn't like hot and responses poorly to it.

Lois was again, so very sore that she spent much time unavavilable. Earlier in the day, using an ice pad -- simply a honey packet sheet (30 x 50) filled with water, then frozen; broken in a few areas soaking some parts of the bed. Mother was ejected from her rest due to the levee breaking. Anyway -- change of sheets -- good as new -- ice sheet went to trash. There is another one, but empirical data shows it's prone to puncture.

Marcus went out on a trek, prior to returning to help with food prep/settings. On my trip I got a few interesting pictures. I saw two muskrats eking out a living on the very low, dirty river. To my surprise, there was also a duck -- common, and a stork. It was a good photography day.

The directions on the wings was 20 minutes at 400. That didn't work worth squat! I think either the oven is wrong in it's setting or the instructions were a bit off. The wings took double the time and were still .. not fully warm. Nuts! The food, as you can see above, was eaten and everyone, I guess had a good time. There were two smokers who left their butts somewhere no one could find, as they weren't in the ashtrays father set out for them. Come time for mowing and I'll suppose we'll see them in the street or somewhere.

I twice played poker with these guys. The first time, I lost $20 in two hours, then quit. I lost only $5 over four hours the next time. I might play sometime later when they are missing a person, but that ratio isn't so good.

Folks in unrest?

Father reads a book -- notice where the glasses are!

Mother calling people -- after getting the pink slip.

...

Or perhaps, not so.

not chicken

nervous perhaps, but not chicken.  Okay, chicken.  Lois went to the Red Dragon today, which is the pseudonym for the nurse practitioner at her endricrinologist's office.  Mom generally fears her retalitory hissing, breathing fire and admonishments.  Today, perhaps partly due to her "forgetting" her meter, fire breathing wasn't fascilitated.  Aparently a dragon has to be agnry for it to work.  Lois' levels seemed not too far out of line.  Good news!

 

I met Thomas and Lois for lunch today at Richards where they had an all-you-can-eat chicken lunch/dinner.  Lois had that and I had the smell of it in my car on my secondary run -- errand to pick up a couple things for Father's poker party.  Smells like chicken.  I used to eat that?

 

Now, emboldened by the carpool lane of surgery, Lois plans on scheduling for knee replacement.  She's not sure now, but plans on getting both of those buggers done at once.  Later she will sew with Diane at a class.  Jessica plans to come over to mow father's lawn for a bit of cash.

 

Marcus plans on reading more job listings.  I read 500 some short, some detailed job listings.  Many were not for me -- either "proven sales record", or ambiguous, or I didn't have the proficiency in some design programs, Adobe, inDseign, etc.  I'm still looking.

 

I understand that Uncle Jack has a great heart.  Well, I knew that, but the doctor stated that he was envious of Jack's healthier heart.  Though Jack gets winded, he's doing fine.  Noew; we need to get Dorothy out of pain and we're all on the track to better health!

earning badges

Thomas earns a new badge or rank. The tricky chipmunk that has eluded Marcus for so long, has been caught. After a quick incarceration, the chipmunk was deported to another region, far, far away. A spokesperson for the chipmunk remarked the the chipmunk, having illegally obtained a large cache of seed and food would have to start over, in a more competitive area with other chipmunks and similarly ranking mammals.

Lois is still sore and resting more. Father took over food to the church food bank/pantry and was an usher again and head counter. I suppose that's better than a bean counter, in some respects.

On Tuesday, Father will host poker, and so there is going to be a mad dash to put this away, that away ... and prep for mass consumption which may or may not happen. At times, the poker guys eat like Ethiopians on their vaction in America, other times sparingly. Who knows what will happen. With the potential for players, it might be baseball -- ninth inning with nine players.

watching and waiting

doll collection
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

Lois felt lousy last night -- too many hours in uncomfortable charis. She was restless and spent much of today resting.

Father got a chance to read some of one of the two books he's started.

Thomas and Lois got to see English lampooning with a British comedy, c/o Netflix.

Marcus worked on a few things, but seemed to accomplish nothing, but not necessarily so.

The animals have graced the house with their presence in that the hummingbirds have again found the food, the squirrels were naughty and crawled onto the bird feeder and the rabbits nicely cleaned up the mess. Marcus has been trying to catch a couple of nefarious chipmunks, to no avail. Rascally critters always run away from danger -- well away from Marcus. Some time he will prevail.

ant on ceiling

ant on ceiling
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

Yes. Everytime I think that we kill a mess of them with cyanide or other poisons, the rotters return. They are in the sink -- near their hive, near the stove, in the dishwasher (however that happens). We need a gecko, not Geico to eat the finks and leave bird-like messes everywhere. Hmm ... poisoning seems like the better (clearner) way.

Father bought two books today, offering opposing viewpoints. Lois went with Daine to do more sewing learning. Not much to report, but we are alive.

And the good news is

Lois went to the doctor today and this heart doctor cleared her for surgery. Now when they schedule it is who knows, but she can get her knee(s) fixed and after PT she should feel much, much, much better!

Okay people, Diane checked out okay, Lois did. Now everyone jump on board please. Aunt Dorothy, Jack ... come one aboard ... happy news day, I hope that pain is slaughtered like small pox.

Bethy too has been improving. I need all the wagons in the same direction -- go toward healthy.

What makes a great piece of toast?

Glasses. That's right, glasses. Mom tried to make toast in her tired stupor and lopped on a schload of what was supposed to be butter. Then, looking, she found that it wasn't butter. She had cottage cheese on toast. Grudingly she ate it and claimed, "it wasn't bad". Ho ho, I say ... fib! Don't eat and sleep at the same time. Porr tired Mom wandered around much of tioday... tired and unsure. Her error made me laugh. Well worth posting. Love you Mom!

Thursday rain

as opposed to yesterday when there was sun, cooler, Lois went to a Coumadin clinci appointment and later to Bible study. Father decided not to golf -- shoulder still sore. Marcus helped Diane with technical questions, finally reccommending a diffeent strategy: process prints at a store.

Her computer is wickedly ill-equipped to handle, manage, and print photos. I likened it to an abbacus, for the convenience of conversation with Beth. I suspect that she will call me again to help her with other computer issues concerning a summer project for school -- starting 3 or so weeks from now for teachers. tick-tock-tick-tock.

Marcus hasn't found an advertising job locally, but there are several in Indy. By locally, I mean within an hour, including South Bend -- workplace of Diane's husaband Jim. I am none-too pleased with all of that, but not discouraged too badly. I didn't expect a new-field job in moments.

There may or may no be golf for Father tomorrow, as he plans to do so.

Bonanza

or not.  Diane came over last night to work with Lois a bit on sewing.  I left, so I'm not sure on how that went, nor for how long.  I went to the festival, paid too much for parking, had a long walk, long wait, stink of cigarettes, and a lackluster 20 minute fireworks display.

 

Today Lois is awake, alive, maybe not kicking, but has things to do.  Jessica is supposed to mow the grass, but it is car-hood frying day.  It's hot and humid enough to cook meat in foil -- in minutes.  I hope that Jessica doesn't come at the hottest time and poison herself with sun and heat and wipe out for a day.

 

Father's littel adventure was finding wasps and directing Marcus to kill them.  I don't worry much, but when they make house in your house (or siding) I chose killing or relocating.  The are tenascious little bug(gers) finding anyplace to say for a bit.  I have yet to have a convenient time to show Jessica which bees you can pet.

 

Last year I showed her that some bees, especially when well fed, you can pet, though interupting their feeding by picking them away from food, is welll, not good.  You can pet them while they are feeding.  I rather enjoy it -- communing with nature.  They are the cows of the pollenators world.

 

Father will host poker next week.  They usually have 8 players, but they have now ... a potential for nine, which makes dealing with one deck difficul to complete many of the poker variations they like.

dinner at Cheng's

Lois, Thomas, Jessica (Diane's youngest), and Marcus had dinner at a Chinese Buffet.  Jessica ate lots of dessert.  You'd think she'd be fat, but nope.  She's growing taller; I'm growing wider.

 

We got fortune cookies at the end of the meal.  Jessica's was the oddest:

"You will receive a fortune. (cookie)"

Mother's was quirky, but differently:

"All troubles you have can pass away very quickly."

Thomas and Marcus got fortunes, but they weren't significant.  Confuscionism meets the West in fortune cookies.  Anyway, we ended the evening with High School Musical, a Disney movie.  It wasn't very good.

 

Thomas and Jessica found it in a video vending machine -- kid you not.  I'll ask Father to write about how the thing truly works, as I wasn't there.  Lois got pulled into a phone conversation -- long, so didn't see much of the movie.

 

Marcus took home Jessica and spoke with Diane and Jim for a long, long time (~ 4 hours).  Jim stopped at 1 and Diane and Marcus were finished at 2.  Diane's summer is now going to be filled with an assignment, courtesy of her boss at school.  When she described it, it seems like a trial in humility.  The federal government sat on a tack and now has some more paperwork for everyone to file.

 

Diane, Jim and Marcus discussed the disgust with movies in general.  Similtaneously the TV was showing Top 2005 worst movies as per Roger Ebert and partner.  I don't trust critics as they laud movies from an underdog director -- the movie full of pasture waste or pander to the masses of a movie that's neat to watch only once.

 

Father took some food for church, but Mother, who was up late again, didn't go.  The food pantry, a service to the community that gives discounted/free food to needy families in the area, doesn't have enough donations to give one meal a week to each family.  It's shameful.  The church, however, does take in a great deal of weekly money, but it's spent on funding other things, so again the poor get the short end.  Anyway ... it's a good cause, and perhaps later things will improve.

 

Despite the heat and humidity, Jessica is supposed to mow the grass today.  She has few ways of earning money as she is just 14 and needs a work permit to get most jobs.  She mows Thomas' lawn for money.  Good luck to her in the heat.

semi-orante lion

semi-orante lion
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

Thanks to Cheng's Chinese Buffet for the great food and service. The owner is talkative and informed me about the reason behind the lion.

The lion is the "King of the Beasts" and therefore, symbolically it shows the royalty or authority. In China these are common as symbols of power. The dimension of red was not discussed by is luck and life.

Let me tell ya!

I believe I essentially left or eluded to a cartoonish, "TO BE CONTINUED" on my last post. Lois is returning to a higher state of functioning. Father golfed, as mentioned before, so he claims that--although the pain isn't going away, "I'm learning to deal with it". Admirable, but faulty, in that there are some pains that can be reduced-eliminated. Anyway, Fort Wayne in having its 3 Rivers Festival. The alternating heat and rain have spoiled this year.

I skipped it. I sometimes go downtown with friends, but not this year. One family have a "ritual" of riding the helicopter down there. It's pricey, but their boy, Charlie, loves it. I didn't hear it this year, they might not being running it. This same family has other family; they went down and shucked out boku bucks on entertainment. Last year a ferris wheel ride for each person -- regardless of age was $4. Yikes! Skip that all over.

Jessica, Diane's youngstest and nearly tallest child, visited us today and we played Kanasta. Jessica and I were partners and we kicked tail! Lois and Thomas (Mom and Dad) had good cards one game, but timing failed them. The next game, cards were certainly against them.

We tried Chinese food!

Friday - enemy spotted, scout escaped

In a continual battle for supremacy, the city’s contracted Inliner and ourselves, this morning, the flakes returned.  I wonder what they’re really doing.  It certainly isn’t doing it right the first, second, third, or fourth time.

 

Thomas was feeling a little better, having missed golf on Tuesday due to weather, it pained him to miss more.  He played 9 holes on Wednesday, but rarely plays more than twice a week.  He got tee times and played this morning.  He had to ask the fools to move their trucks blocking the drive and then negotiate around a poorly placed car.

 

Meanwhile, Marcus was working and took note of a few things:  the car parked wrong on the street was that of a supervisor who spent her time in the car the entire couple hours they were here.  You may recall my complaining about them before.  Anyway, if a supervisor doesn’t know how to park or realize that the car on the opposite side of large trucks makes passing difficult/impossible, that person shouldn’t have that job or responsibility.  Also… why on trash day?  All the time they appear on trash day with large trucks that block streets.  What fools!

 

Yesterday I saw a hawk or falcon.  It didn’t stay long, so I'm not sure.  It grabbed a bird – smaller one, and the other flew away toward the predator – likely too scared and slow to know what happened.  It took its prey to a tree to eat it there.  I feed the birds and the birds feed the birds.  Also, the circle is more complicated … the birds sloppily spill food, feeding the squirrels and the chipmunks.

 

The 3 River’s Festival is going on this week but the folks have missed it.  Lois has been feeling too poor to go and in the afternoon sauna, its not wise to go.  Marcus, while interested in candid shots might go, the parking fees are criminal.  We’ll see what, if anything, is shot or done for the festival.  The prices are rising faster than inflation, so that’s another reason why it might be skipped this year.  Fort Wayne charges vendors too much and they in turn try to make profit on their season – summer, for the whole year.  It’s not a consumer-friendly business.

Bumps in the night

Yesterday, much of Indiana got rain. Thankfully here, though light, it was continual. It was good for plants and crops, but not if you needed to do something outside.

I saw a bird pop out of nowhere. It hopped away from me, then shelted itself under a bush. It eluded my attempts at photographing it. Anyway, during a break from the rain, I stepped out to find it again. It had kept in the same area, but left the bush. ++ bird in the hand, worth two ...

I was hoping to relocate the bird to safer quarters, but it fled from me. I was reminded of the phrase, trying to catch a chicken ... not an easy feat. Small birds are more delicate, so in favor of not hurting it, I stopped trying to "help" it. In my adventures of chasing it, four adult robins were trying desperately to indimidate me, noise -- within 10' of me, to no avail. Later, they still seemed peeved. I thought that birds were supposed to have short memories. Likely my car is "whiter" now.

Mother had a wicked night with aches and pains. She didn't sleep much and I found her on the downstairs floor, still in pain and misery. To bed she went, hopefully to feel better. I don't expect to see her until the afternoon, poor woman. Father will spend today pacing like a hungry caged animal, unable to help her, so in stress cage he'll exist. I have grown accustomed to this stress coaster and am a little better equipped to deal with it.

Last night was another night of neighobor noise, but milder -- loudest things were stereos. Still, stress kept me wriggling like a worm on a hook. My sleep was faulty and my stress isn't any better. I have been a light sleeper for a long while. I try to sleep lightly also due to 6 years ago, the neighborhood had a series of 6-9 house invasions, break-ins, robberies. Once, thankfully no one was hurt, a robber was in the house during children's sleepover. I don't think that you would recover quickly to feel safe then.

Since then, I have slept lightly. With four phones available (2 cell) there is little chance of phone line severing to prevent cops being called. I would like to brazenly attack and brutalize anyone would endanger the family, but my first goal should, and hopefully would be to call the cops and let all persons in the house know that police have been called.

A few neighbors have dogs, but they are friendly enough, a robber might make the gamble. One neighbor has a high-pitched-voiced dog that whines like a siren to be pet. While not an attack dog, this certainly would wake you.

preparing for painting

preparing for painting
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

Prep time = 20 mintues. Painting = 11 mintues. Laying the plastic on the steps was a challenge, as the tape wasn't holding it. Ther was little splatter. This is yet another step in painting the inside of the house before selling it. This should finish the upstairs when the walls are finished. I had a good luck at my impending doom, standing on the banister looking down at plastic.

The folks seem to think it looks good so far, one more coat to do today!

Painting day!

go here for photos of the event ... one ceiling over two stairs. At the time of this writing, no falls.

It was a silly old thing.

Kasey looks at camera

Kasey looks at camera
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

Kasey, aka Houdini loves to escape from her prison yard. She was out Sunday (July 9, 2006) and saw the folks on their way to church. According to the folks, she looked happy and seemed to recognize them as they drove by.

Ha ha, grinned the escapee as she wandered still more.

There is another dog next door, name of Daisy, but she isn't nearly so bright. She responds so quickly to treat, that she'd never be "free" for long.

Quilting not quitting

Recapping: Mother finished a quilt, now that she's more skilled.

Father's soreness hasn't left and on some days, he reports very painful experiences. I have some guesses, but I'm no doctor. Father seems resistant to the idea of seeing one again, believing (more hoping) that the pain will go away in just one more week, which he repeats like a mantra. It has affected his golf and life, but ... I digress:

3 Rivers Festival is upon us like a shadow demon -- come, spend too much money in the heat of Fort Wayne. I think this year I'll not do much again. Last year I was there but 4 hours, this year likely the same. The folks likely won't do much as Mom's knees are bugging; one more than the other, and father's shoulder being sore and not likely to drive when he can avoid it.

The 4th of July Fireworks display, I understand, was a dud. The end of festival fireworks tend to "rock" and I'll try to see those. This year they'll be fired late due to Indiana's adoption of the Daily Savings Time lie. No one has shown real numbers to qualify the shift from stone to flesh, or not moving clocks to moving clocks.

Diane's birthday was this weekend, but her weekends are busy, generally with gunk and junk that builds up over the week. Her school work -- reports are stacked at the door, making a pile like Christmas decorations -- yes nearly that high. Now, as they are in folders, files and boxes, you'd think that they wouldn't be safe, but one never knows. I think electronic filing and completion are a smarter way to go. PDF filing. I think I'll file a form HBTY - ASAP 1959*

Happy birthday Diane!

I see also that Aunt Dorothy's birthday is approaching -- shark-liker perhaps?

* HBTY ASAP 1959 = Happy Birthday to You, As soon as possible the year of her birth

Reaping what she sews

After many classes, Lois has been frustrated with sewing, as a general rule. Diane and she have been working together, and finally, Lois has finished a project -- as she has many incompletes. Her quilt, 2.4' x 2' is American-Patriotic, a centerpiece for a dining table.

Last night she finished patching up the holes that were sewing misses or perhaps missus (marriage to the process of sewing). With this taste of victory, it seems likely that Lois will combat the projects, finding victory within weeks.

Thomas has plans to paint hallways, ceilings, and living room -- with the free-labor of Marcus. This is two-fold in that is has been a bugger of a long time since it was done, and Thomas and Lois hope to move, I believe, within around two years to a smaller house with utilitarian features, such as bathroom handles, laundry on main floor and fewer, if any, steops. Moving ... and packing -- that will be "fun". There are piles and piles here that will take weeks in themselves to sort.

Marcus' friends put a bid on a house and hope to get it. It would seem that it is within the area of Thomas, Lois and Marcus -- at present. They are going to see their first year anniversay soon. What a way to celebrate -- in a new house, right? They are soon to fill it with their things and new things to be acquired.

former flower bed

former flower bed
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

At the Love household, there are many such spots where Argos has dug and slept -- silly ol' puppy.

Sleepy Lois and Thomas went out to get bird seed for the winged pigs around here. They eat, well, like birds -- pounds far exceeding their body weight. Their substantial waste creating weeds and millet plants around the circular base of the feeders.

Marcus has battled trees, trumpet plants and grasses this year, mostly to his defeat. Along the North side of the house -- lesser amount of sun, is a patch of ground that weeds and moss always consume. His bane -- trumpet plants -- undefeatable by natural means.

Marcus is still refining his resume' while Lois' knees are painful -- claimed to be an 11 on a ten-point scale, and Thomas' shoulder is still a wreck. Last night he wore a layer of topical cream like (Icy Hot or Ben Gay), but seemingly is not really better today. Man!

Firey beginning and end to July 4th

sparks & pops from fireworks
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

Well, the rain in the morning and early afternoon held a cloud of doubt whether there would be fireworks, but the sun and clear night prevailed -- explosions everyone!

Thomas, Lois, and Marcus were at the Freygangs for the 4th. Lois and Diane were downstairs sewing, which left Father and Marc to sit around and talk. Finally, Diane came up and asked that Father make the pork ribs (pre-cooked). Lois doesn't like her ribs sloppy and gooey like most people, so Father was light on the sauce. Marcus ate fish (shrimp) as other meat is unapealing to him (smell).

One of the Freygangs cooked a communal dessert -- a pizza pan size cookie with super sweet frosting and fruit topping. Later, everyone got more sugar with ice cream.

The girls were happy about firing rockets and fireworks; no longer relegated to spectators alone. Despite her best efforts, Jennifer couldn't light a pair of rockets to fire similtaneously.

Father bought a fair amount of fireworks. The girls like the parachute type, but many failed to eject from their rocket and plummeted to the rocket cooking the chute. Angel tried to get into the mix of things by having her face right in the fireworks. She also rolled in the blackened grass, for dog reasons humans cannot fathom.

The girls disliked the Roman candles as they were limited in number of shells and the speed at which they fired. Marcus tried to speed up things by lighting a series, but each burst blew out the lighter he was using to light the others. Typical of Marcus -- a couple tipped over sending pellets horizontally through the grass. No one was hurt.

For a finale', the girls like the mortar shells. We tried to get three to fire at once, but that never happened. Jenny was able to ignite me with firey debris and Jessica's oddly exploded in the firing tube rather than launch out then explode.

Neighbors all around had thunderous quake fireworks sounding more like artillery and cluster bombs than real fireworks. Others still, had neat low trajectory shells that lit up nicely.

-- Sad to say that Lois got ill early Wednesday morning and puked the ice cream she had, as well as most of dinner. Not the fireworks and explosives we sought.

Defusing the bomb

Thomas had to go through many, many steps to fix his glitchy computer. Supposedly AOL admitted that there was an AOL way of fixing his McAffe problem, in that it wouldn't update. It was a package bonus of AOL, which was no great surprise to Marcus that there were errors. AOL is a virus that should not be on computers, second is Windows. Even XP is prone to errors, but much less so than earlier versions. Yikes!

Anyway ... after hours, Thomas now has his computer where he had it before. Good luck with AOL (Aways Override Links with spam)

Sights & seens

I went down to Indy this weekend and saw a Ferrari speeding -- what a fool! If you were going to speed -- do it in a vehicle less conspicuous. It would make sense in car more typically found in Indiana ... not that car! I also passed a professional stage mover truck -- concert stages, though seemingly exposed to weather. I saw mules or donkeys -- unclear which, on a farm also many campers. A couple of places had so many it looked more like a hive or colony than a camp site around an overfished, stocked pond and a highway next to them.

I was amazed that only a small section of the highway was coned off for "repair". I wasn't surprised that there was not a bit of equipment or even a shovel seen there.

Beth had surgery and is recovering from it. Tom has been working on a game "Mechwarriors Mercenaries", circa 1999/2001 ever after not created. He has learned some about programming it for scenarios. He's also interested in Schultzhund training and I got to "help" with that, for what it was worth.

Thomas and Lois had a good, but quiet weekend. Lois still isn't feeling great, but is growing stronger (somewhat) and is working more on her sewing, as assisted by classes that she and Diane take. Having been spoiled, as Thomas has stated, with Netflix DVDs, they each find commercials intolerable, as the rented movies have none. TiVo watchers also get to FF through sections to get to the shows they taped. Friends have TiVos -- novel if you watch a lot of TV, stupid investment if you don't. One night I helped a friend put in a larger hard drive to record more shows at higher resolution -- it was easy, but not written out by TiVo. He found a place that had instructions.

Stubborn old branch

old branch
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

Well, I understand that Tom has been trying to get this cursed thing down for months, with only some success. He had been swinging it back and forth to loosen it. I asked to try it once and pop -- off it came. Tom was none too happy that I was the victor then, after all of his valiant fights with it.

The dogs, Argos and Samson were happy to gnaw off bits of the spilinters, especially when it was regarded as naughty.