A day when we remember our wounded and lost that have served the country. A day to honor our soldiers. A day of hot dogs, hamburgers and family get togethers. A day to honor those that you have lost in your family and the friends that have moved on. However, today I am going to use it as a day to honor my support system.
I've told the story before about the time my dad was helping paint our church when he fell off of the ladder. The emergency room doctor was a friend of ours. When dad came into the emergency room Dr. W asked my dad "what in the world happened John?" My dad responded "I was up on the ladder making peace with the lord and the damn devil pulled the ladder out from under me."
That is what this week has felt like. The damn devil pulled the ladder out from under me. Things are great now. I'm almost back emotionally to where I was before the Klamath Falls trip. I've had several great days in a row. What turned it around was my support system. It always surprises me how people will crawl out of the wordwork to help you when things aren't going just exactly right for you.
First, I want to thank all of you. The comments you made and the emails that you sent were extremely helpful. Thank you all for being there.
Second, my nephew-in-law and niece. The night there eating ribs was the turning point. Now my nephew (in law really but from now will be referred to as my nephew) and I have scheduled a trip to fly together to see my brother. I haven't flown since 9-11 and it is going to be great to have a flying buddy on my first trip out. We are going in the middle of June right before my birthday. It will be a good test before I fly alone.
Third, my brother. He seldom or never calls but he got wind of my bad week and took the time to call. That is great that he cares. It helped to talk to him because he had the same kind of week that I did. Must have been in the air.
Fourth, my sister. We are so different in politics but we are always there for each other.
And last but not least my mother. This really came to forte last night when she was willing to try something I thought that she would never try and I was so proud of her for not only trying but succeeding. Mom can't walk a long distance easily. We bought her a mobile wheelchair that s he has been trying around Chehalem Springs. When she goes outside to practice she does it with me. We are building up her confidence and she is getting better at. There is a Wendy's about a half of mile from where she is staying. Last night I convinced her to ride the wheelchair to Wendy's for dinner. She took the wheelchair, I walked next to her or behind her. She made it with flying colors. It darn near killed me trying to keep up with her but I made it too. When we got home she called my sister. She was proud of herself, sis and I where proud of her. It was such a great feeling for everyone. Way to go Mom. Made for a great end to a great day.
OK, everyone. In one of the next few days I am going to ask you what is on your bucket list. What you want to accomplish or do before you die. I am having a trouble filling out mine so that is why it will be the next few days instead of tomorrow. So far I only have two items on my list.
Have a great holiday everyone!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Nice Day and Top Chef
Yesterday was a great day and what I needed at the time. So things are looking up and I am back on the path to abnormalcy. Gosh I don't know when I've had a worse week, maybe the week that dad died. But even then the emotions weren't as strong as they were the last few days. I loved my dad and he was a really good man but the last few years with dementia he just wasn't the man he was and when he moved on there was a certain amount of relief that buffered the sadness.
Yesterday I took Mom home to start cleaning out her house and shred a lot of her documents that she had that she needed to get rid of. We still have a ton of cleaning to do. I fixed lunch for the two of us. I cook sometimes and nobody has died as a result of my cooking yet. When we left we went over to my niece and nephew-in-law's for ribs. This is the niece that is the pharmacist. I love her husband, he is just one of these quiet unassuming guys that will always be there if you need him. He also cooks the best ribs! The two of them have two kids, Natalie, 6, and Carson,5, that are just the greatest kids. So well behaved and fun to be around. It was just the kind of evening Mom and I needed. Then when we got back to Chelam Springs they immediately basically kidnapped Mom and sent her to the bridge room to play bridge because they were one player short. Mine and her blood pressure are now back now to normal.
On to Top Chef. After almost quiting watching the show a few weeks back I am glad I stuck with it. The last four weeks have been outstanding. I loved the kids episode, the wedding wars, the protect and serve, and this week's restaurant wars. For those that don't watch the show what they did this week is to divide into two teams, take a vacant wharehouse, and start basically two restaurants. The team that does the best menu wins and one of the three member team gets a prize. The team that loses one of their team members goes home. Before going on to the restaurant wars they have a quickfire challenge. This time, the way up there chefs had to go to basically a greasy spoon and cook breakfast. One of the chefs, Lisa, actually burnt styrofoam. The winner of the Quckfire Challenge gets an advantage at the elimination challenge, the winner was Antonia. Because she won she got to pick her two teammates and picked the top two chefs, Richard and Stephanie. The other team was Dale and Lisa both nut cases and Spike a weird dude. Of course Richard, Stephanie, Antonia won, Dale, Lisa, and Spike lost. The losing team could have done better had they worked together but Dale and Lisa get along about as well as the Bobbits did. Dale is really one of the top four chefs but he was sent packing when Lisa probably should have gone. One of the reasons that I liked this week is Tom C the head judge wasn't there. I can't help but think that the fact that Stephanie won wasn't related to him not being there.
Looking forward to a nice day today. The brother of the pharmacist is coming up with his family to have lunch with Mom at Chehalem Springs. Greg his wife Angela, two of his children, Chelsie and Katie, and the exchange student from Italy that they have staying with them, Julie will all be there. It should make for a good day.
May this be a great day for all of you.
Yesterday I took Mom home to start cleaning out her house and shred a lot of her documents that she had that she needed to get rid of. We still have a ton of cleaning to do. I fixed lunch for the two of us. I cook sometimes and nobody has died as a result of my cooking yet. When we left we went over to my niece and nephew-in-law's for ribs. This is the niece that is the pharmacist. I love her husband, he is just one of these quiet unassuming guys that will always be there if you need him. He also cooks the best ribs! The two of them have two kids, Natalie, 6, and Carson,5, that are just the greatest kids. So well behaved and fun to be around. It was just the kind of evening Mom and I needed. Then when we got back to Chelam Springs they immediately basically kidnapped Mom and sent her to the bridge room to play bridge because they were one player short. Mine and her blood pressure are now back now to normal.
On to Top Chef. After almost quiting watching the show a few weeks back I am glad I stuck with it. The last four weeks have been outstanding. I loved the kids episode, the wedding wars, the protect and serve, and this week's restaurant wars. For those that don't watch the show what they did this week is to divide into two teams, take a vacant wharehouse, and start basically two restaurants. The team that does the best menu wins and one of the three member team gets a prize. The team that loses one of their team members goes home. Before going on to the restaurant wars they have a quickfire challenge. This time, the way up there chefs had to go to basically a greasy spoon and cook breakfast. One of the chefs, Lisa, actually burnt styrofoam. The winner of the Quckfire Challenge gets an advantage at the elimination challenge, the winner was Antonia. Because she won she got to pick her two teammates and picked the top two chefs, Richard and Stephanie. The other team was Dale and Lisa both nut cases and Spike a weird dude. Of course Richard, Stephanie, Antonia won, Dale, Lisa, and Spike lost. The losing team could have done better had they worked together but Dale and Lisa get along about as well as the Bobbits did. Dale is really one of the top four chefs but he was sent packing when Lisa probably should have gone. One of the reasons that I liked this week is Tom C the head judge wasn't there. I can't help but think that the fact that Stephanie won wasn't related to him not being there.
Looking forward to a nice day today. The brother of the pharmacist is coming up with his family to have lunch with Mom at Chehalem Springs. Greg his wife Angela, two of his children, Chelsie and Katie, and the exchange student from Italy that they have staying with them, Julie will all be there. It should make for a good day.
May this be a great day for all of you.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Perfect Storm Plus Top Chef Report
The perfect storm hit my life this week. It has been a tough week.
This is what happened this week:
1. A computer crash where I lost all my bookkeeping data for 2008. I hate Windows Vista. It took at least part of two days getting all the information back in my system. Everything is restored except my company books but I will have to wait for my May bank statement to completely restore that.
2. My strong emotional reaction to the trip to Klamath Falls which made me kind of depressed.
3. Mom was so sick on Tuesday that I think we almost lost her. She was sick all day but didn't tell anyone at Chehalem Springs nor did she call me. The only reason I found out is that I went out to watch Dancing With The Stars with her and found her in the chair in her apartment. She had her dinner delivered which is unusual for her. Her blood pressure was out of sight. She wouldn't let me call 911, she just doesn't want to go to the hospital anymore. She would rather die at home. It makes it a hard balance for me do I call or not? I didn't but I did take measures to get her blood pressure down. Nitro, aspirin, relaxing techniques. Fortunately while I was there she got better. A lot better. It did make me face what life would be like without her.
4. I got a letter in the mail about a death of someone that shouldn't have affected me but did. When I first started the blog I made a post about an Internet date that I had that was awful. I didn't tell the full story. I was communicating with a lady from Florida for a couple of years, she was deaf so without a TTY I couldn't check her out by phone. She read lips. I paid for her to come out and visit in 2003. The second day here she had a heart attack. I saved her life. The kicker is that I found out she was married when the emergency room doctor gave me her husband's phone number and told me to call him. The doctor normally wouldn't do that but she was 3,000 miles from ham and I was her only contact. I did call the husband and he wouldn't come out so I ended up having to pay for a special flight back to Florida for her. Of course I stopped contact with her until early this year when I was doing some things on the computer and she imed me and said a couple of things that were bothersome, like she would always love me and she would like to establish contact again. I wasn't really rude but said no thank you and blocked her. This week I got a letter from her husband that she had a heart attack and died. For some reason that really bothered me. It also stunned me that the husband would feel free to contact me.
So there you have my week now on to Top Chef.
One of the blogs I go to regularly is http://satellitesistersblog.blogspot.com/ Sheila has a complete report on Top Chef and is pretty right on, look for a post: Sheila: I Love a Braised Short Rib.
Since all my readers are women while you are there you might want to visit their web site.
http://www.satellitesisters.com/index.html They are five real sisters and there is probably something there for each one of you. Julie the oldest does international news, Liz the next oldest is into the elections, Sheila the middle sister does mostly funny things like The Cozy Couch, Monica the next youngest does the music and a product testing with Sheila, and the youngest, Lian, is the mother of two teenage boys and reports on how busy she is with that.
I will give my Top Chef Report tomorrow.
This is what happened this week:
1. A computer crash where I lost all my bookkeeping data for 2008. I hate Windows Vista. It took at least part of two days getting all the information back in my system. Everything is restored except my company books but I will have to wait for my May bank statement to completely restore that.
2. My strong emotional reaction to the trip to Klamath Falls which made me kind of depressed.
3. Mom was so sick on Tuesday that I think we almost lost her. She was sick all day but didn't tell anyone at Chehalem Springs nor did she call me. The only reason I found out is that I went out to watch Dancing With The Stars with her and found her in the chair in her apartment. She had her dinner delivered which is unusual for her. Her blood pressure was out of sight. She wouldn't let me call 911, she just doesn't want to go to the hospital anymore. She would rather die at home. It makes it a hard balance for me do I call or not? I didn't but I did take measures to get her blood pressure down. Nitro, aspirin, relaxing techniques. Fortunately while I was there she got better. A lot better. It did make me face what life would be like without her.
4. I got a letter in the mail about a death of someone that shouldn't have affected me but did. When I first started the blog I made a post about an Internet date that I had that was awful. I didn't tell the full story. I was communicating with a lady from Florida for a couple of years, she was deaf so without a TTY I couldn't check her out by phone. She read lips. I paid for her to come out and visit in 2003. The second day here she had a heart attack. I saved her life. The kicker is that I found out she was married when the emergency room doctor gave me her husband's phone number and told me to call him. The doctor normally wouldn't do that but she was 3,000 miles from ham and I was her only contact. I did call the husband and he wouldn't come out so I ended up having to pay for a special flight back to Florida for her. Of course I stopped contact with her until early this year when I was doing some things on the computer and she imed me and said a couple of things that were bothersome, like she would always love me and she would like to establish contact again. I wasn't really rude but said no thank you and blocked her. This week I got a letter from her husband that she had a heart attack and died. For some reason that really bothered me. It also stunned me that the husband would feel free to contact me.
So there you have my week now on to Top Chef.
One of the blogs I go to regularly is http://satellitesistersblog.blogspot.com/ Sheila has a complete report on Top Chef and is pretty right on, look for a post: Sheila: I Love a Braised Short Rib.
Since all my readers are women while you are there you might want to visit their web site.
http://www.satellitesisters.com/index.html They are five real sisters and there is probably something there for each one of you. Julie the oldest does international news, Liz the next oldest is into the elections, Sheila the middle sister does mostly funny things like The Cozy Couch, Monica the next youngest does the music and a product testing with Sheila, and the youngest, Lian, is the mother of two teenage boys and reports on how busy she is with that.
I will give my Top Chef Report tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Mom, Emotions, Dancing, and A Great Baseball Story
The trip to Klamath Falls set me back emotionally for a few days. I know this sounds really weird after all the complaining about the time spent at Mom's but when I got back from K. Falls I was really missing the contact with her. Weird, not emotions I thought I would experience. So I went out and had dinner with her at the retirement place and stayed and watched Dancing With The Stars with her. We had a really nice time. Don't worry I'm not going to do anything rash like move her home, I am really done with the intense type of caregiving.
Dancing With The Stars was great last night. Kristi easily won the night. I did think that Jason got jobbed. His free style deserved a perfect score. Jason should have been second and Cristian third. I am hoping the final two are Jason and Kristie.
Two years ago Jon Lester a picture with the Boston Red Sox was told that he had cancer. Yesterday in an amazing comeback story he pitched a no hitter! Wow what a neat story.
May this be a great day for all of you.
Dancing With The Stars was great last night. Kristi easily won the night. I did think that Jason got jobbed. His free style deserved a perfect score. Jason should have been second and Cristian third. I am hoping the final two are Jason and Kristie.
Two years ago Jon Lester a picture with the Boston Red Sox was told that he had cancer. Yesterday in an amazing comeback story he pitched a no hitter! Wow what a neat story.
May this be a great day for all of you.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Conquering Fears
One of the reasons that I took the trip to Klamath Falls was to conquer a fear that I had. There is always an event that you experience that shapes your life. With me it was the car accident that I had when I was 18. As part of the accident it left me with several fears, some of which are just there and have little or no impact on how I lead my life. One of those low impact fears is that since the accident I’ve been to scared to go on the road where the accident happened and haven’t been back to the site of the accident. The one thing that that fear has done is left some questions in my mind that have prevented me from moving completely beyond the accident. Sort of a nagging prevention of happiness.
I apologize to Pat, Mary, and Bev and others that have heard the story so many times before but for those of you that are new to me I thought the background would be helpful to understand the impact it had on my life and the need to answer some questions about it and to conquer the fear of being on the road where the accident happened. When I was 18 I was a college student in Ashland, Oregon. As you have seen by the previous post my parents lived in Klamath Falls, Oregon. My sister lived in Hollywood, California and was having a troubled pregnancy. I was going home that weekend to run the family business to free up my parents to go to Hollywood to be with my sister. A lot of Klamath Falls kids went to college at Ashland so when someone was going home from college a lot of kids hitched a ride. Counting myself their were five of us in the car, Randy, Larry, Greg, John, and myself. The distance between Klamath Falls and Ashland is 60 miles by a route called The Greensprings Drive. The Greensprings drive is a curvy mountain road with often deep embankments on the side of the road. We got exactly 29 miles from Ashland when a semi-truck coming the opposite direction that was 48 feet longer (the law allowed only 45) was coming around the same curve that I was, to avoid missing me he swerved and jackknifed I hit his rear duals. The whole front side of my Impala caved in on me, pinning me in the car. All other passengers were able to get out without suffering any injuries except Larry who had a minor cut on his forehead. It took them three hours to cut me out of the car. They were afraid the car might roll backwards and go over an embankment if the tow truck didn’t hook it up properly. The tow truck finally decided the dash was the thing keeping me from moving and after removing a piece of chrome that had pierced my thigh hooked up the truck to the dash and pulled it off of me. I was awake for most of it but as soon as they got me out of the car I went into a pain induced coma. They took me to Ashland because they thought one mile would make a difference of me living or dying. All I remember is arriving at the hospital and two attorneys from the trucking company waiting for me in the emergency room. As soon as they heard of the accident they were on the road from Portland to get a statement from me. I have no idea why the doctors let them interview me but they did, I was barely coherent, and they took a statement from me that eventually lead to a huge seven hundred dollar settlement for me. 700 bucks. I also got the citation. The truck driver had a history of citations , was to long for the road but I was a college kid so it was my fault. The ticket was for driving on the wrong side of the road.
After a few days of touch and go they decided I was going to live but weren’t sure what was causing the amazing pain that was causing me to go in and out of comas. The pain once caused an hallucination where doctors said I did something that no other patient had done. At the time I had no feeling below the waist. I was in a pelvic sling. Those things are awful. I had a dream that I was in jail and had to get out. When they came into the room I was out of the sling on the floor. They moved me to Medford where there was a nicer hospital to do an exploratory surgery. They found a damaged psiatic (sp) nerve. The injuries were numerous, a broken hip, the cut nerve, a ruptured kidney, a dislocated hip, ten broken toes, a broken pelvis and so on. Doctors put the chance at me walking again at about 20% and most likely I would spend my life in a wheelchair. I beat the odds.
The good impact the accident had on me is it showed me how resilient I am, it helped me discover a sense of humor that I didn’t know I had, it showed me how many friends that I do have as I got letters from every where, and it directed me towards an occupation that I was good at. When the doctors mentioned the wheelchair thing I decided I needed an occupation that I could do sitting down so I changed my major from Physical Education to Accounting and went from a D student to Phi Beta Kappa.
The bad impact it had on me is it left me with a partially paralyzed left foot and an artificial hip socket. It also set me back socially. The hot dating years where you meet your first wife or husband are between 18 and 26. Those years I was recovering instead of dating. It made me about the most inexperienced man my age with women on the planet. One of the reasons I never married. I think I would have met someone and married had I had those social years that I lost. You just never know. Today I walk just fine, the foot doesn’t hold me back. Several here have seen me walk and they say they only see a limp when I’m tired. I’m also working on the fear of women thing.
One of the questions that I had about the accident was if there was anything that I could have done to avoid the accident. When in Klamath Falls I took the Greensprings Drive to the accident site. It wasn’t near as fearful of a drive as I thought it would be. I was able to pinpoint the accident site by a mile post. I was also able to park my car not far from there in a turnout and walk back to the site. The answer was very clear, I could have avoided hitting the truck but I couldn’t have avoided an accident. I closed my eyes and placed myself back to the day of the accident. I put myself in my car, I saw the semi coming. The choice was hitting the semi or turning the car and going over a six thousand foot embankment and kill everyone in my car. It was actually an amazing bit of driving that divine intervention had to have helped.
One fear off my list. I can move on now. What fear would you like to conquer?
I apologize to Pat, Mary, and Bev and others that have heard the story so many times before but for those of you that are new to me I thought the background would be helpful to understand the impact it had on my life and the need to answer some questions about it and to conquer the fear of being on the road where the accident happened. When I was 18 I was a college student in Ashland, Oregon. As you have seen by the previous post my parents lived in Klamath Falls, Oregon. My sister lived in Hollywood, California and was having a troubled pregnancy. I was going home that weekend to run the family business to free up my parents to go to Hollywood to be with my sister. A lot of Klamath Falls kids went to college at Ashland so when someone was going home from college a lot of kids hitched a ride. Counting myself their were five of us in the car, Randy, Larry, Greg, John, and myself. The distance between Klamath Falls and Ashland is 60 miles by a route called The Greensprings Drive. The Greensprings drive is a curvy mountain road with often deep embankments on the side of the road. We got exactly 29 miles from Ashland when a semi-truck coming the opposite direction that was 48 feet longer (the law allowed only 45) was coming around the same curve that I was, to avoid missing me he swerved and jackknifed I hit his rear duals. The whole front side of my Impala caved in on me, pinning me in the car. All other passengers were able to get out without suffering any injuries except Larry who had a minor cut on his forehead. It took them three hours to cut me out of the car. They were afraid the car might roll backwards and go over an embankment if the tow truck didn’t hook it up properly. The tow truck finally decided the dash was the thing keeping me from moving and after removing a piece of chrome that had pierced my thigh hooked up the truck to the dash and pulled it off of me. I was awake for most of it but as soon as they got me out of the car I went into a pain induced coma. They took me to Ashland because they thought one mile would make a difference of me living or dying. All I remember is arriving at the hospital and two attorneys from the trucking company waiting for me in the emergency room. As soon as they heard of the accident they were on the road from Portland to get a statement from me. I have no idea why the doctors let them interview me but they did, I was barely coherent, and they took a statement from me that eventually lead to a huge seven hundred dollar settlement for me. 700 bucks. I also got the citation. The truck driver had a history of citations , was to long for the road but I was a college kid so it was my fault. The ticket was for driving on the wrong side of the road.
After a few days of touch and go they decided I was going to live but weren’t sure what was causing the amazing pain that was causing me to go in and out of comas. The pain once caused an hallucination where doctors said I did something that no other patient had done. At the time I had no feeling below the waist. I was in a pelvic sling. Those things are awful. I had a dream that I was in jail and had to get out. When they came into the room I was out of the sling on the floor. They moved me to Medford where there was a nicer hospital to do an exploratory surgery. They found a damaged psiatic (sp) nerve. The injuries were numerous, a broken hip, the cut nerve, a ruptured kidney, a dislocated hip, ten broken toes, a broken pelvis and so on. Doctors put the chance at me walking again at about 20% and most likely I would spend my life in a wheelchair. I beat the odds.
The good impact the accident had on me is it showed me how resilient I am, it helped me discover a sense of humor that I didn’t know I had, it showed me how many friends that I do have as I got letters from every where, and it directed me towards an occupation that I was good at. When the doctors mentioned the wheelchair thing I decided I needed an occupation that I could do sitting down so I changed my major from Physical Education to Accounting and went from a D student to Phi Beta Kappa.
The bad impact it had on me is it left me with a partially paralyzed left foot and an artificial hip socket. It also set me back socially. The hot dating years where you meet your first wife or husband are between 18 and 26. Those years I was recovering instead of dating. It made me about the most inexperienced man my age with women on the planet. One of the reasons I never married. I think I would have met someone and married had I had those social years that I lost. You just never know. Today I walk just fine, the foot doesn’t hold me back. Several here have seen me walk and they say they only see a limp when I’m tired. I’m also working on the fear of women thing.
One of the questions that I had about the accident was if there was anything that I could have done to avoid the accident. When in Klamath Falls I took the Greensprings Drive to the accident site. It wasn’t near as fearful of a drive as I thought it would be. I was able to pinpoint the accident site by a mile post. I was also able to park my car not far from there in a turnout and walk back to the site. The answer was very clear, I could have avoided hitting the truck but I couldn’t have avoided an accident. I closed my eyes and placed myself back to the day of the accident. I put myself in my car, I saw the semi coming. The choice was hitting the semi or turning the car and going over a six thousand foot embankment and kill everyone in my car. It was actually an amazing bit of driving that divine intervention had to have helped.
One fear off my list. I can move on now. What fear would you like to conquer?
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Can't Go Home Again
As most of you know I took a trip last week to Klamath Falls, Oregon the town that I went to high school in, graduating from Klamath Union High School. Good old K.U.H.S. to get in touch with some of my old roots. I really didn't like either living there or going to high school there. We moved there from Pocatello, Idaho when I was in the fourth grade. Two of the reasons we moved were because my sister was getting involved with a bad crowd and my parents thought a new start would be good for her and my brother was really shy and withdrawn and my parents thought a move would be good for him. The only one of the the three kids doing well in Idaho was yours truly. I was the outgoing one. The move to Oregon went well for my sister and my brother but kind of set me back. My brother and I magically switched personalities with him becoming the outging one and without a doubt me becoming the shyest kid in Klamath Falls. My sister became head cheerleader, My brother became an all-state star in three sports, and I won an Opie look alike contest.
My parents picked Klamath Falls because my dad had a background in hardware. He was district manager for a company that eventually became Cotter & Company. Right before the move my dad and my Uncle Frank owned a roofing company. Uncle Frank was a certified carpenter and wanted to do something on his own. There was a Coast To Coast Hardware Store for sale in Klamath Falls. Dad sold his interest in the roofing company to Uncle Frank and purchased the Coast to Coast Store in Klamath Falls.
When we lived there downtown Klamath Falls was the place for businesses to be. Our store was on 11th & Main. The start of the business hub. Our house was on Alameda Street. The last house you saw as you left Klamath Falls on Highway 97. Alameda Street was at the bottom of the most ritzy place to live in good old K. Falls, Pacific Terrace.
Going back this time was a real eye opener because every where we lived or had a business was now in slum like areas. The town has grown but the business part of the town has grown out away from Main street and the residential area the ritzy area has moved both up and out.
This is K.U.H.S. dirtier and smaller than I remembered.
This is the front view of where our hardware store was. All of us kids were required to work in the family business to earn our keep. When I complained about the job dad got me a job on a farm weeding onions. I was happy to quit the farm job and go to work back at the family store.
This is the side view of where the store used to be.
To give you and idea of what a slum like area where we lived is now is this is the house next door to where we used to live.
This is a side view of the house we used to live in. When we lived there it was a beautiful white and well kept. This picture makes it looks nicer than it is. The paint has chipped and it is an ugly pinkish color. My brother and I shared a bedroom in the very back of the house. Our bedroom had its own door to the outside world. If you look very carefully beyond the fence you can see the door. It wasn't beyond my brother to come in the house's front door to meet his curfew, say good night to Mom and dad, then a couple hours later leave through our bedroom door. That stopped one day when he had a fender bender and the police called my parents. Mom "it couldn't be our son he is asleep in the back bedroom." That was until she looked in the bedroom. I got in trouble for not telling on the older brother. Something I would have never done. My brother got grounded for the rest of his life, and there was a dead bolt lock put on the outside of our bedroom door.
This is the front view of the house we spent most of our years in Klamath Falls in.
Hope this weekend brings you joy and love!
My parents picked Klamath Falls because my dad had a background in hardware. He was district manager for a company that eventually became Cotter & Company. Right before the move my dad and my Uncle Frank owned a roofing company. Uncle Frank was a certified carpenter and wanted to do something on his own. There was a Coast To Coast Hardware Store for sale in Klamath Falls. Dad sold his interest in the roofing company to Uncle Frank and purchased the Coast to Coast Store in Klamath Falls.
When we lived there downtown Klamath Falls was the place for businesses to be. Our store was on 11th & Main. The start of the business hub. Our house was on Alameda Street. The last house you saw as you left Klamath Falls on Highway 97. Alameda Street was at the bottom of the most ritzy place to live in good old K. Falls, Pacific Terrace.
Going back this time was a real eye opener because every where we lived or had a business was now in slum like areas. The town has grown but the business part of the town has grown out away from Main street and the residential area the ritzy area has moved both up and out.
This is K.U.H.S. dirtier and smaller than I remembered.
This is the front view of where our hardware store was. All of us kids were required to work in the family business to earn our keep. When I complained about the job dad got me a job on a farm weeding onions. I was happy to quit the farm job and go to work back at the family store.
This is the side view of where the store used to be.
To give you and idea of what a slum like area where we lived is now is this is the house next door to where we used to live.
This is a side view of the house we used to live in. When we lived there it was a beautiful white and well kept. This picture makes it looks nicer than it is. The paint has chipped and it is an ugly pinkish color. My brother and I shared a bedroom in the very back of the house. Our bedroom had its own door to the outside world. If you look very carefully beyond the fence you can see the door. It wasn't beyond my brother to come in the house's front door to meet his curfew, say good night to Mom and dad, then a couple hours later leave through our bedroom door. That stopped one day when he had a fender bender and the police called my parents. Mom "it couldn't be our son he is asleep in the back bedroom." That was until she looked in the bedroom. I got in trouble for not telling on the older brother. Something I would have never done. My brother got grounded for the rest of his life, and there was a dead bolt lock put on the outside of our bedroom door.
This is the front view of the house we spent most of our years in Klamath Falls in.
Hope this weekend brings you joy and love!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Top Chef & Rejection
Top Chef was good the other night. The swearing is still a little to much and the way the competing chefs treat each other is sometimes annoying. Dale and Stephanie made the top two and in normal Top Chef sexist fashion Dale won when Stephanie should of. It is much harder to make a healthy soup that is filling then it is to make what Dale made. Andrew was rejected. He was sent packing. I was happy to see him go, especially after he used air quotes, not once but twice. Air quotes just annoy me, I guess it is one of my personality quirks. Andrew took his rejection with class that he hadn't shown before now. I am hoping that the next two to go are Spike and Lisa. I want the finals to be Richard, Dale, Stephanie, and Antonia. While I want Stephanie to win I think Richard is the favorite but the underdog with a real shot at it is Antonia.
Speaking of rejection, I heard a story on the radio while I was driving back from Klamath Falls. An animal shelter does personality tests before allowing someone to adopt a cat. If the adopter doesn't match anyone of the personalities of the available cats they are rejected as owners. First they give a the cat a personality test. They then determine if the cat is social, anti-social, the type of cat that will just sit on your lap while you are reading, or the type of cat that will sit on the book that that you are reading. Then they give the human the same test. No you they don't test humans on how well they use scratching posts but they do test the human for pesonality types.
Now this got me to thinking. Eharmony.com does once in a while reject applicants. I wonder what would hurt most being rejected by a human dating site or by an animal shelter. I think the animal rejection would hurt the most. I'm used to the human kind of rejection. One of the reasons that I am heterosexual instead of bisexual is being rejected by one gender is enough, thank you very much.
OK, I am curious, what would bother you the most, being rejected by a dating site or being rejected by a animal shelter?
May this be day fille with acceptance for all of you.
Speaking of rejection, I heard a story on the radio while I was driving back from Klamath Falls. An animal shelter does personality tests before allowing someone to adopt a cat. If the adopter doesn't match anyone of the personalities of the available cats they are rejected as owners. First they give a the cat a personality test. They then determine if the cat is social, anti-social, the type of cat that will just sit on your lap while you are reading, or the type of cat that will sit on the book that that you are reading. Then they give the human the same test. No you they don't test humans on how well they use scratching posts but they do test the human for pesonality types.
Now this got me to thinking. Eharmony.com does once in a while reject applicants. I wonder what would hurt most being rejected by a human dating site or by an animal shelter. I think the animal rejection would hurt the most. I'm used to the human kind of rejection. One of the reasons that I am heterosexual instead of bisexual is being rejected by one gender is enough, thank you very much.
OK, I am curious, what would bother you the most, being rejected by a dating site or being rejected by a animal shelter?
May this be day fille with acceptance for all of you.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Mom, Dancing, and On The Road Again.
Dancing With The Stars was great last night. I actually think they underscored a few dancers and overscored Marissa. My top couple for the night was Jason and Edyta with just a teeny tiny bit over Kristi and Mark. Cristian and Cheryl were a close third. Tony and Marissa weren't even close to the top three and they should be going home tonight. I'm thinking Kristi and Jason are the winnners. I'd kind of like to see Kristi win since a woman hasn't won Dancing With The Stars since season one.
I go to the doctor in about an hour to get the results of my tests. Then tomorrow morning I am taking off on another short trip. Be gone three days. I am going to my old high school haunts, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Kind of to get in touch with my youth. I want to see if the house we lived in in high school still there, visit the high school (and college) that I went to, and visit the graves of my grandmother and cousin. I will have some pictures of the trip when I return. The trip down is a very pretty drive. You go over the Willamette Pass and go right by Salt Creek Falls. Just beautiful country. Klamath Falls is also the same altitude as Denver so has so pretty scenery in its own right. I might check in when I am gone but will definitely report back in on Saturday.
I go to the doctor in about an hour to get the results of my tests. Then tomorrow morning I am taking off on another short trip. Be gone three days. I am going to my old high school haunts, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Kind of to get in touch with my youth. I want to see if the house we lived in in high school still there, visit the high school (and college) that I went to, and visit the graves of my grandmother and cousin. I will have some pictures of the trip when I return. The trip down is a very pretty drive. You go over the Willamette Pass and go right by Salt Creek Falls. Just beautiful country. Klamath Falls is also the same altitude as Denver so has so pretty scenery in its own right. I might check in when I am gone but will definitely report back in on Saturday.
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This is my Mom's Mother Day's picture taken this Sunday. She looks darn good for a woman in her nineties.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
A Tribute To Mothers
For My Mom
Thank you for not disowning me when at Kindergarten Bible School graduation the minister asked "What was the first thing that Noah did when he got off of the Ark?" and I answered "Get Drunk."
Thank you for teaching me that women are as good as and sometimes better than men.
Thank you for teaching me that the word acceptance is better than the word judgment.
Thanks for believing me and not the seventh grade teacher when the teacher told you that I was to stupid to learn. Thank you for forcing an IQ test the results of which ended up with me in the gifted program with a new teacher.
Thanks for teaching me that every living soul has good in them.
That you for teaching me that the heart of of a person means more than their sex, orientation, or color.
Thank you for teaching me one of life's greatest lessons. Put a bandaid on it, it will get better.
Thank you for not believing the doctor when he told you that your 18 year-old son wouldn't make it through the night.
Thanks for believing me and not the doctor when the doctor told you that your teenage son would be in a wheelchair all his life and I said I would walk without aid and did. We did it together.
Thank you for teaching me that if someone takes something from me that they needed it more than I did.
Thank you for all the chicken soup that seemed to cure everything.
Thank you for teaching me that my opinion mattered.
Thank you for listening to me, it taught me to listen to others.
Thank you for being liberated long before Women's lib and teaching me that I can be liberated too.
Thank you for standing behind me when I needed a little shove to get going.
Thank you for standing beside me when I need your support.
Thank you for standing ahead of me when I needed guidance.
Thank you for being you.
Thank you for making me the man I am today.
Thank you for being my Mom.
Thank you for not disowning me when at Kindergarten Bible School graduation the minister asked "What was the first thing that Noah did when he got off of the Ark?" and I answered "Get Drunk."
Thank you for teaching me that women are as good as and sometimes better than men.
Thank you for teaching me that the word acceptance is better than the word judgment.
Thanks for believing me and not the seventh grade teacher when the teacher told you that I was to stupid to learn. Thank you for forcing an IQ test the results of which ended up with me in the gifted program with a new teacher.
Thanks for teaching me that every living soul has good in them.
That you for teaching me that the heart of of a person means more than their sex, orientation, or color.
Thank you for teaching me one of life's greatest lessons. Put a bandaid on it, it will get better.
Thank you for not believing the doctor when he told you that your 18 year-old son wouldn't make it through the night.
Thanks for believing me and not the doctor when the doctor told you that your teenage son would be in a wheelchair all his life and I said I would walk without aid and did. We did it together.
Thank you for teaching me that if someone takes something from me that they needed it more than I did.
Thank you for all the chicken soup that seemed to cure everything.
Thank you for teaching me that my opinion mattered.
Thank you for listening to me, it taught me to listen to others.
Thank you for being liberated long before Women's lib and teaching me that I can be liberated too.
Thank you for standing behind me when I needed a little shove to get going.
Thank you for standing beside me when I need your support.
Thank you for standing ahead of me when I needed guidance.
Thank you for being you.
Thank you for making me the man I am today.
Thank you for being my Mom.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Ashland
This is the front yard that I saw as I backed out of thje driveway. Since I 've lived in my townhouse I've had five neighbors, all young married couples. All have moved out because the wife got pregnant and they needed a larger space. The current neighbor is putting their townhouse on the market because guess what? The wife is pregnant and they need more space. The very first neighbor that I had the wife was a stockbroker and loved to garden on weekends. She thought the single dude living next door needed a more beautiful yard and planted these bushes for me before she moved out. They are perfect for me because they are very low maintenance. I do nothing and they bloom every spring and look beautiful.
On the way down to Ashland I stopped at the Rogue River scenic rest area. This is where the movie THE RIVER WILD starring Meryl Steep and Kevin Bacon was filmed. It was a really good tense movie. However, in true Oregon fashion the natives weren't in awe of having famous stars in their area instead they were upset that the stars might ruin some of the scenery by trashing the scenic areas.
Another view from The Rogue River Scenic Rest Area.
Another view of the Rogue River Scenic Area.
This is the hotel I was staying at and the view that I saw right out of the room.
This is a new theatre built within the last two years. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has three theatres. The three theatres are the Bowmar Theatre, the Outdoor Theatre, and This one which is called the new theatre.
Hope this is a great day for all of you.
FENCES
One of the nice things about the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is that it isn't all Shakespeare all the time. There are some other unique choices of plays to see. Last year the most attended play at the Shakespeare Festival was The Diary of Anne Frank. This year so far one of the most attended plays has been August Wilson's FENCES. Check out the festival at their home page http://www.osfashland.org/
I loved Fences. The acting was top notch, the set design was unbelievable, the story touching. In 1957 when this play begins nine black studneds, protected by federal troops, desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Shakespeare play most likened to FENCES is King Lear for both the magnitude of the main characters and the tragedy each writer presents. In the play Wilson asks us the question as to why we resist change and transition, since we all need them to progress forward.
Charles Robinson as Troy was amazing and Shona Tucker as his wife was top notch. The supporting cast couldn't have been better. Check out the theatres in you area to see if FENCES is playing near you.
A little more about Fences from Wikepedia:
The play begins on payday, with Troy and Bono drinking and talking. Troy's character is revealed through his speech about how he went up to their boss, Mr. Rand, and asked why black men are not allowed to drive garbage trucks (they are garbage men). Rose and Lyons join in the conversation. Lyons, a musician, has come to ask for money, confident he will receive it.
A few days later, Cory tells Troy that a man from North Carolina will come to talk about Cory's future in football, and that he will be offered a scholarship. Troy was also a sports star when he was younger, a baseball player in the Negro Leagues, only to be disheartened that the Major Leagues began to accept black players only when Troy was too old to play. Troy allows his son to play football only on the condition that Cory keeps his after-school job at the supermarket. Cory, although knowing that this is impossible, accepts Troy's offer. By the next scene, we learn that Troy has won his case and is the first black man to drive a garbage truck in Pittsburgh. As he is boasting to Bono about his past struggles with his father, Cory comes in, enraged because Troy has told the football coach that Cory cannot play football anymore because he didn't keep his job at the A&P. Troy views Cory's insubordination as "strike one." Two more strikes, and Troy will kick him out.
In the next scene, Troy bails Gabriel out of jail after Gabriel was arrested for disturbing the peace. Bono warns Troy about not "messing" with Alberta and sticking with Rose. Troy says he realizes Rose's value, but then admits to her that he is having an affair with Alberta, and she is pregnant. Rose is distraught that she put all her faith in Troy and yet he betrayed her. When Troy grabs her arm, Cory comes from behind him and shoves Troy down. Troy admonishes his son that this act is "strike two" and tells him not to strike out. For the next few months, all Troy does is come home, change, and go to Alberta's house. No one in the family talks to him.
Six months later, Rose receives a call from the hospital. Alberta has given birth to a baby girl, but Alberta has died in childbirth. When Troy comes home with the baby, Raynell, he asks Rose to act as the mother. Rose agrees to this for the sake of the child, but tells Troy that he is now a "womanless man." She leaves, and Troy sits in the entrance to the house. When Cory tries to push his way past him, Troy is enraged and demands that Cory say "Excuse me." Cory then points out that the house is not really Troy's but rather is Gabriel's. The two men fight, trying to hit each other with a baseball bat. Troy doesn't say so, but it is "strike three." Troy wins and expels Cory, and tells him to provide for himself.
The next scene is set seven years later, at Troy's funeral. Cory returns, now a Marine. At first, he refuses to come to Troy's funeral, but after Rose admonishes his rebellion and after he and Raynell sing an old song of Troy's, he concedes. Gabriel comes and tries to open the gates of Heaven, by blowing on his horn. This fails, and the gates only open when Gabriel does a traditional African dance.
Following is a picture I took of the opening set design.
I loved Fences. The acting was top notch, the set design was unbelievable, the story touching. In 1957 when this play begins nine black studneds, protected by federal troops, desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Shakespeare play most likened to FENCES is King Lear for both the magnitude of the main characters and the tragedy each writer presents. In the play Wilson asks us the question as to why we resist change and transition, since we all need them to progress forward.
Charles Robinson as Troy was amazing and Shona Tucker as his wife was top notch. The supporting cast couldn't have been better. Check out the theatres in you area to see if FENCES is playing near you.
A little more about Fences from Wikepedia:
The play begins on payday, with Troy and Bono drinking and talking. Troy's character is revealed through his speech about how he went up to their boss, Mr. Rand, and asked why black men are not allowed to drive garbage trucks (they are garbage men). Rose and Lyons join in the conversation. Lyons, a musician, has come to ask for money, confident he will receive it.
A few days later, Cory tells Troy that a man from North Carolina will come to talk about Cory's future in football, and that he will be offered a scholarship. Troy was also a sports star when he was younger, a baseball player in the Negro Leagues, only to be disheartened that the Major Leagues began to accept black players only when Troy was too old to play. Troy allows his son to play football only on the condition that Cory keeps his after-school job at the supermarket. Cory, although knowing that this is impossible, accepts Troy's offer. By the next scene, we learn that Troy has won his case and is the first black man to drive a garbage truck in Pittsburgh. As he is boasting to Bono about his past struggles with his father, Cory comes in, enraged because Troy has told the football coach that Cory cannot play football anymore because he didn't keep his job at the A&P. Troy views Cory's insubordination as "strike one." Two more strikes, and Troy will kick him out.
In the next scene, Troy bails Gabriel out of jail after Gabriel was arrested for disturbing the peace. Bono warns Troy about not "messing" with Alberta and sticking with Rose. Troy says he realizes Rose's value, but then admits to her that he is having an affair with Alberta, and she is pregnant. Rose is distraught that she put all her faith in Troy and yet he betrayed her. When Troy grabs her arm, Cory comes from behind him and shoves Troy down. Troy admonishes his son that this act is "strike two" and tells him not to strike out. For the next few months, all Troy does is come home, change, and go to Alberta's house. No one in the family talks to him.
Six months later, Rose receives a call from the hospital. Alberta has given birth to a baby girl, but Alberta has died in childbirth. When Troy comes home with the baby, Raynell, he asks Rose to act as the mother. Rose agrees to this for the sake of the child, but tells Troy that he is now a "womanless man." She leaves, and Troy sits in the entrance to the house. When Cory tries to push his way past him, Troy is enraged and demands that Cory say "Excuse me." Cory then points out that the house is not really Troy's but rather is Gabriel's. The two men fight, trying to hit each other with a baseball bat. Troy doesn't say so, but it is "strike three." Troy wins and expels Cory, and tells him to provide for himself.
The next scene is set seven years later, at Troy's funeral. Cory returns, now a Marine. At first, he refuses to come to Troy's funeral, but after Rose admonishes his rebellion and after he and Raynell sing an old song of Troy's, he concedes. Gabriel comes and tries to open the gates of Heaven, by blowing on his horn. This fails, and the gates only open when Gabriel does a traditional African dance.
Following is a picture I took of the opening set design.
Heading Home, Dancing, Top Chef.
Heading home in a minute and tonight when I get home will post some pictures from Ashland and maybe in the next couple of days do a post about the play, FENCES, that I went to. I really had a nice time being away and am looking forward to going on the road again next week. Mom had a couple of minor emergencies but she figured it out for herself. One last bit of information I received this morning is that the caregiver doesn't have cancer. I am so thrilled by that news and wanted to thank you for all your prayers.
Dancing With The Stars was great and I was surprised to see Mario go. I really thought Marissa or Cristian would go. Marissa has been dancing really well and Cristian was amazing. My guess is that the final three will be Kristi, Jason, and Marissa. The final two Kristi and Jason. The winner Kristi. I didn't see the top dances of all time show as I was at the play but I heard it was great TV. Sorry I missed it.
I watched Top Chef last night and for the second week in a row I really enjoyed it and although I really wanted Spike to bite the dust Nikki was a just elimination. My guess is it was an elimination tie between Nikki and Spike and Tom cast the deciding vote and we all know what way he is going to vote. Nikki actually seemed happy to be eliminated so she could distance herself from Dale. I loved what Richard did when he was picked the winner and passed the title to Stephanie. She really did deserve it with the cake she cooked on such short notice. For those that don't watch Top Chef what happened last night was first a relay then and wedding challenge. There were two teams of four. Andrew, Richard, Stephanie, and Antonia on one side. Spike, Nikki, Lisa, and Dale on the other side. After the relay was won by the Richard side the teams had fourteen hours to get food together for a wedding the next day. The Richard side had to cook a buffet for 125 people on the bride's side. The Dale side had to cook a buffet for 125 on the groom's side. Both sides cooked 14 hours straight then had to serve the food after the wedding. They were all probably up for 20 hours minimum. Richard's side won. They not only had the most cooking talent on their side they worked extremely well together. Dale's side lost. Dale was an ass. Nikki should have taken control and didn't. Any team that has both Richard and Stephanie on it will never lose a challenge. Good show, looking forward to next week.
Hope this will be a great day for all of you.
Dancing With The Stars was great and I was surprised to see Mario go. I really thought Marissa or Cristian would go. Marissa has been dancing really well and Cristian was amazing. My guess is that the final three will be Kristi, Jason, and Marissa. The final two Kristi and Jason. The winner Kristi. I didn't see the top dances of all time show as I was at the play but I heard it was great TV. Sorry I missed it.
I watched Top Chef last night and for the second week in a row I really enjoyed it and although I really wanted Spike to bite the dust Nikki was a just elimination. My guess is it was an elimination tie between Nikki and Spike and Tom cast the deciding vote and we all know what way he is going to vote. Nikki actually seemed happy to be eliminated so she could distance herself from Dale. I loved what Richard did when he was picked the winner and passed the title to Stephanie. She really did deserve it with the cake she cooked on such short notice. For those that don't watch Top Chef what happened last night was first a relay then and wedding challenge. There were two teams of four. Andrew, Richard, Stephanie, and Antonia on one side. Spike, Nikki, Lisa, and Dale on the other side. After the relay was won by the Richard side the teams had fourteen hours to get food together for a wedding the next day. The Richard side had to cook a buffet for 125 people on the bride's side. The Dale side had to cook a buffet for 125 on the groom's side. Both sides cooked 14 hours straight then had to serve the food after the wedding. They were all probably up for 20 hours minimum. Richard's side won. They not only had the most cooking talent on their side they worked extremely well together. Dale's side lost. Dale was an ass. Nikki should have taken control and didn't. Any team that has both Richard and Stephanie on it will never lose a challenge. Good show, looking forward to next week.
Hope this will be a great day for all of you.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
I'm Pumped
I'm taking off on my trip tomorrow, was going to leave today but my doctor called Friday and wants me to come in for a blood test tomorrow. Usually, I go in every six months but the last time I went in to see him all the tests were so outstanding that he wants me to come in every three months for a while. He wants to take me off of some medication if I get the same report I got the last time. He is afraid with as well as I am doing all my signs will go to low. This is a great thing to hear from my doctor. So I will leave after my blood test tomorrow.
The other thing that I am pumped about is Mom. I just got off of the phone with her and she was so doggone happy. Happiest she has been in a very long time. Susan, the regular caregiver whose main job is at a retirement home, V who also works at a retirement home, and V's friend Jim who lives at a retirement home visited mom last night. Susan came for dinner. She is a very accomplished musician and singer. Before dinner was served she sang and played the piano. I guess several residents stopped by Mom's table and thanked Susan. After, J and V got there the four of them went to the fifty styles cafe and got the juke box going. J & V danced and did very well according to Mom. I guess while they were dancing and listening to the juke box several residents stopped by and joined them. One of the residents, a woman who used to sing in Hollywood, sang with Susan and the Juke Box. After they got done singing and dancing. Mom, J, V, and Susan played Scrabble. This just makes me so happy that they all had fun. So much fun in fact that they are all coming to visit Mom on Monday night and they are all going to the media room to watch Dancing With The Stars. Susan and V, remember they work at a facility, absolutely loved the place and both picked up applications before they left to see if they can get a job there. Jim who lives in another facility thought he had died and went to heaven. He is considering moving there. They all asked Mom how many places I had to look at before finding one "this nice". It is so darn good to hear that positive feedback and for Mom to hear it!
Keep praying for Susan and that her cancer isn't spreading!
The other thing that I am pumped about is Mom. I just got off of the phone with her and she was so doggone happy. Happiest she has been in a very long time. Susan, the regular caregiver whose main job is at a retirement home, V who also works at a retirement home, and V's friend Jim who lives at a retirement home visited mom last night. Susan came for dinner. She is a very accomplished musician and singer. Before dinner was served she sang and played the piano. I guess several residents stopped by Mom's table and thanked Susan. After, J and V got there the four of them went to the fifty styles cafe and got the juke box going. J & V danced and did very well according to Mom. I guess while they were dancing and listening to the juke box several residents stopped by and joined them. One of the residents, a woman who used to sing in Hollywood, sang with Susan and the Juke Box. After they got done singing and dancing. Mom, J, V, and Susan played Scrabble. This just makes me so happy that they all had fun. So much fun in fact that they are all coming to visit Mom on Monday night and they are all going to the media room to watch Dancing With The Stars. Susan and V, remember they work at a facility, absolutely loved the place and both picked up applications before they left to see if they can get a job there. Jim who lives in another facility thought he had died and went to heaven. He is considering moving there. They all asked Mom how many places I had to look at before finding one "this nice". It is so darn good to hear that positive feedback and for Mom to hear it!
Keep praying for Susan and that her cancer isn't spreading!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
The good is Mom has now been in her new place going on four days and seems to be adjusting. She has already done more in those four days then she did in a month while at her house. She went to an ice cream social and played bridge. So she is at least trying.
Two bits of bad. I haven't been able to distance myself because there seems to always be something. One day she forgot to charge her phone so had no method of comminication and I had to go out there to get it charged. Another day she wanted some stuff from her house and so on. When I leave on Monday and then again next week will be the only time that I will really be able to distance myself if she keeps forgetting things. Oh well.
The other bad has more to do with one of my personaliy quirks then it does with Mom. I am germ conscious not phobic. Where I spend time around an elderly parent I have to try to avoid germs that can be carried to the parent. If the elderly get sick it can always turn in something worse and they may never recover. In addition to being germ conscious I also dislike immensely when a stranger stands extremely close to me. Anyone I know fine, they can stand as close as they want. But a stranger? When the stranger stands close I get a real claustrophobic feeling and sometimes have trouble breathing. Friday Wal-Mart had some things on sale that I needed so I took the almost hour drive out there. Gathered my stuff and was standing in the checkout line when the man behind me moved as close to me as one could get. Not only was he standing close, he was coughing and sneezing. Normally I wouldn’t have said anything but I felt he knew I was uncomfortable and was acting to make me even more so. Every time I moved away from the man, he moved closer. I finally said to the guy “look the only people I let stand this close to me are the ones that I want to have my baby.” Then I got out of line, put the basket out of everyone’s way, went to the rest room and washed up and then went home. I’ll buy the stuff another day. What should have I done?
Now the ugly and it is really ugly. The regular caregiver discovered a cyst on her back and it is cancerous. She has an opertion scheduled on next Wednesday. Please pray for her and wish her the best. I am sorry that she has cancer but somebody must have been watching over us because the timing of this is amazing. The caregiver would have had to take a lot of May off and we would have to hired someone else. Having Mom in a facility is just such a relief now. Even the caregiver said she is so happy Mom is taken care of because she won't worry about her and can concentrate on her health. Susan we wish you the best!
May this be a great day for you.
Two bits of bad. I haven't been able to distance myself because there seems to always be something. One day she forgot to charge her phone so had no method of comminication and I had to go out there to get it charged. Another day she wanted some stuff from her house and so on. When I leave on Monday and then again next week will be the only time that I will really be able to distance myself if she keeps forgetting things. Oh well.
The other bad has more to do with one of my personaliy quirks then it does with Mom. I am germ conscious not phobic. Where I spend time around an elderly parent I have to try to avoid germs that can be carried to the parent. If the elderly get sick it can always turn in something worse and they may never recover. In addition to being germ conscious I also dislike immensely when a stranger stands extremely close to me. Anyone I know fine, they can stand as close as they want. But a stranger? When the stranger stands close I get a real claustrophobic feeling and sometimes have trouble breathing. Friday Wal-Mart had some things on sale that I needed so I took the almost hour drive out there. Gathered my stuff and was standing in the checkout line when the man behind me moved as close to me as one could get. Not only was he standing close, he was coughing and sneezing. Normally I wouldn’t have said anything but I felt he knew I was uncomfortable and was acting to make me even more so. Every time I moved away from the man, he moved closer. I finally said to the guy “look the only people I let stand this close to me are the ones that I want to have my baby.” Then I got out of line, put the basket out of everyone’s way, went to the rest room and washed up and then went home. I’ll buy the stuff another day. What should have I done?
Now the ugly and it is really ugly. The regular caregiver discovered a cyst on her back and it is cancerous. She has an opertion scheduled on next Wednesday. Please pray for her and wish her the best. I am sorry that she has cancer but somebody must have been watching over us because the timing of this is amazing. The caregiver would have had to take a lot of May off and we would have to hired someone else. Having Mom in a facility is just such a relief now. Even the caregiver said she is so happy Mom is taken care of because she won't worry about her and can concentrate on her health. Susan we wish you the best!
May this be a great day for you.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
An Enjoyable Top Chef
Maybe it was just the mood I was in but I really enjoyed Top Chef last night. The kids made it fun and gave us a different look at the chefs' personalities. Even Tom seemed a little nicer although he still annoys me.
In my humble opinion this is the first time this season that they got both the winner and the one sent packing right. Antonia won and Mark got sent packing. Now if we can get rid of Spike I will be in seventh heaven. What a wuss that Mark is, he loses several notches on his man belt for whining about Tom not liking him. Gosh for the last several weeks I thought Mark was only staying on because he had compromising pictures of Tom with Janet Reno. The two people I like the most endeared me even further this segment. Stephanie took her criticism like a man and I respect her for that. I actually hope she wins. Richard moved up a little in my book for showing some emotion about wanting kids. My two biggest regrets are never marrying and never having children so I can relate to what Richard was saying.
Next week looks interesting but it also looks like a setup for disaster. I will hang in there one more week now because this week was watchable.
May all your dishes be enjoyable.
In my humble opinion this is the first time this season that they got both the winner and the one sent packing right. Antonia won and Mark got sent packing. Now if we can get rid of Spike I will be in seventh heaven. What a wuss that Mark is, he loses several notches on his man belt for whining about Tom not liking him. Gosh for the last several weeks I thought Mark was only staying on because he had compromising pictures of Tom with Janet Reno. The two people I like the most endeared me even further this segment. Stephanie took her criticism like a man and I respect her for that. I actually hope she wins. Richard moved up a little in my book for showing some emotion about wanting kids. My two biggest regrets are never marrying and never having children so I can relate to what Richard was saying.
Next week looks interesting but it also looks like a setup for disaster. I will hang in there one more week now because this week was watchable.
May all your dishes be enjoyable.
Mom's New Home.
This is the stitch and bitch area as you come in the door. It is where residents meet to chat and a couple times a week a knitting club meets here.
Mom moved into her new home yesterday. Things went pretty well. I did keep my sister and mom from killing each other which was a good thing. Told sis to take a deep breath several times and it worked.
This is the library
This is the game room where they have game nights. Bridge Club is Friday nights. Scrabble club meets daily.
This is the media room where they can watch movies or gather together to watch TV shows that are popular among the residents.
In addition to the regular dining room they have a 50's style cafe
where they can go to to read, indulge in ice cream, drink coffee, and listen to the juke box.
This is the 50 style's cafe.
This is a private dining room where residents can have private dinner meetings with family and friends. This is a free service.
This is the coffee bar open 24 hours a day. They quit serving leaded coffee at 5 and don't do the full coffee impact again until 6 the next morning.
This is the dining room where the regular meals are served. Guests can join the residents at anytime for three bucks a meal.
Now on to Mom's apartment.
This is mom's bedroom and bed.
This is still Mom's bedroom where she can look out the window from her bed to see mountains and trees.
This is mom's dining room in her apartment.
This is mom's living room. If she decides to stay here for good we will bring her 32 inch tv from home.
Sis, Her husband, Mom, and I had dinner there the meal was gourmet all the way.So what does everyone think of Mom's new digs? Didn't Sis do a great job of decorating? Thanks everyone for their good thoughts and prayers, keep them coming because I really think this will be better for mom if she lets it be!
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Busy Week Starts
Hi there everyone. Just to let everyone know that I probably won't be posting as much the next couple of weeks as I have been. Today we are getting unexpected company from South Dakota, tomorrow is our casino day, Wednesday is the day Mom moves, and Sunday I am taking a small trip to Ashland for a few days. I might post Thursday to tell how the move went and I will check in from time to time and if time allows post a message or two. I just didn't want anyone to worry if I disappeared from the blog for a few days or for a couple of weeks.
I'm really looking forward to me time and some worry free time with Mom safely in place.
Hope for the best for all you!
I'm really looking forward to me time and some worry free time with Mom safely in place.
Hope for the best for all you!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Young@Heart
I was having a real need for an indie movie so yesterday I went out to watch a documentary entitled YOUNG@HEART and I cannot say enough good things about this movie. While it is a little slow starting and the narrator needs to shut up I will promise you four things about this movie: 1. You will not be disappointed. 2. You will laugh. 3. You will cry. and 4. You will leave the theatre profoundly affected.
The documentary is about a chorus where the average age of the members is 80 that tour first England and then the U.S. singing rock songs. Not Neil Diamond mind you but Punk Classics. Sonic Youth's Schizophrenia, The Talking Heads' Life During Wartime, Allen Toussaint's Yes We Can Can. The choir is based in an assisted living center in Northampton, Ma.
The humor in the movie is in the wonderful members of the chorus as they deal with age and dying, the profoundness is the brutal honesty of the aging process, and the joy of the music is hearing songs we all know that now have a different meaning. The meaning of Clash's Should I Stay or Should I Go is so profoundly different when sung by someone in their 90's. A Statue would cry at Cold Play's Fix You when sung by Fred accompanied by the rhythm of an oxygen tank.
There are so many scenes that are fun to watch and so many touching scenes, especially one in a prison, that the run time of 107 minutes fly by.
Please go to this movie. Don't Tivo it. Go to it. Take a friend, a husband, some tissues and talk about it afterward. Bev and Pat you two would especially enjoy this movie.
For more about the YOUNG@HEART chorus you can go to their web page at:
http://www.youngatheartchorus.com/
The documentary is about a chorus where the average age of the members is 80 that tour first England and then the U.S. singing rock songs. Not Neil Diamond mind you but Punk Classics. Sonic Youth's Schizophrenia, The Talking Heads' Life During Wartime, Allen Toussaint's Yes We Can Can. The choir is based in an assisted living center in Northampton, Ma.
The humor in the movie is in the wonderful members of the chorus as they deal with age and dying, the profoundness is the brutal honesty of the aging process, and the joy of the music is hearing songs we all know that now have a different meaning. The meaning of Clash's Should I Stay or Should I Go is so profoundly different when sung by someone in their 90's. A Statue would cry at Cold Play's Fix You when sung by Fred accompanied by the rhythm of an oxygen tank.
There are so many scenes that are fun to watch and so many touching scenes, especially one in a prison, that the run time of 107 minutes fly by.
Please go to this movie. Don't Tivo it. Go to it. Take a friend, a husband, some tissues and talk about it afterward. Bev and Pat you two would especially enjoy this movie.
For more about the YOUNG@HEART chorus you can go to their web page at:
http://www.youngatheartchorus.com/
Friday, April 25, 2008
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
I almost thought of titling this "A Window Into My Life" because that is really what it is.
Yesterday was an IRS Audit. I like representing clients before the IRS. For some reason the IRS just doesn't scare me, women yes, the IRS no. I guess one of the reasons that I like representing clients before the IRS is that I am fairly good at it and have never really "lost" an audit. The reason there is a picture on my profile is that is how I was dressed yesterday when I represented a client, J.T., before the IRS. I'm not happy with the picture, still 18 pounds from my goal and the resolution of the picture is terrible but I promised the client that she could take my picture and I would put it on my profile if we won her audit. There is no magic to my success it is just that I win the civility challenge when it comes to the IRS auditors. The IRS auditors are just normal people, like you and I, just doing their job. You can disagree with them in a tactful manner and if you and the auditor hit a wall you can move the audit up to the supervisor in a way that doesn't punnish the auditor. What happened with J.T. is that she was being audited for deducting investment advisor fees. When we prepared her 2006 return while she was sitting at my desk(my kitchen table) we called her broker for the amount that she paid for investment advise. They gave us a number, we deducted that number. Then when she got the audit notice we called the broker to have him write a letter verifying the amount that he previously gave us and found out that he had given us the wrong amount. We deducted six thousand bucks more than she paid. We then got a letter from the broker admitting that he gave us the wrong amount. I warned the client that she might owe about two grand.
Before the audit J.T. and I went to lunch. I always meet with my clients the day of the audit, give them a little speach to settle them down, and tell them what to expect. Some of the questions the IRS ask during an audit are, Did you do any bartering? Did you have any cash transactions in excess of ten thousand dollars? After telling J.T. what she would be asked I gave my little speach, be honest, don't volunteer information, don't lie, be yourself, be nice, don't ever raise your voice. The auditor was actually a very pretty, very nice young woman. She asked every question that I told J.T. she would ask and J.T. passed with flying colors. Then we got down to numbers. I admitted to the mistake, gave her the letter from the broker admitting he screwed up, and told the auditor that J.T. would pay whatever she owed today if she had an adjustment. Auditors are not rated by how much money they collect, they are rated by how many audits they close. If the auditor closed the audit yesterday she would get brownie points and because we had a letter showing the adjustment wasn't our fault there would be no penalties if the auditor accepted the letter. The auditor made the six grand adjustment, ran the numbers on the computer and because of a quirk in the law involving alternative minimum tax J.T. ended up not owing a penny. Wow, were angels watching over J.T. and I are what?
Today Mom and I are going to lunch with the son of a long time friend, C.R. Those that have been with the blog since the beginning probably remember a post that I did about a long time friend that had passed away, http://thedahnreport.blogspot.com/2008/01/in-memory-of-carrie-richardson.html , Carrie. One of the things that came out of her passing is me reconnecting with her son. He is an amazing guy and one thing I didn't realize is that he was the global marketing vice president for TIVO up until a month ago. I had a connection that I didn't know! He starts a new job with a new company Monday. Board of Director appointment and a v.p. position. I've been emailing with C.R. and saw him at the memorial. Mom hasn't seen him for years and C.R. really wants to see Mom so we are heading out to have lunch with him. Turns out C.R.'s wife owns a restaurant in the Cedar Hills area and that is where we will meet him. Should be a fun day.
Tomorrow is the start of a big week for yours truly. Sister is arriving here from Utah to start the process of Mom moving to Chehalem Springs for respite care. Sis is going to help her pack and decorate her apartment. Mom moves the 30th. When Sis visits, Mom, Sis, her husband, and I always take a day and go to Spirit Mountain Casino. They have great food and I will indulge in my favorite, sweet potato fries. I will also indulge in some gambling. Last time I was there I won nineteen hundred bucks, I hope history repeats itself. OK, folks need your help here. Please pray and send good thoughts that the next few days will be easy for Mom, Sis, and myself. That the move will be easy and that Mom's life will get better once she is in her new digs.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Yesterday was an IRS Audit. I like representing clients before the IRS. For some reason the IRS just doesn't scare me, women yes, the IRS no. I guess one of the reasons that I like representing clients before the IRS is that I am fairly good at it and have never really "lost" an audit. The reason there is a picture on my profile is that is how I was dressed yesterday when I represented a client, J.T., before the IRS. I'm not happy with the picture, still 18 pounds from my goal and the resolution of the picture is terrible but I promised the client that she could take my picture and I would put it on my profile if we won her audit. There is no magic to my success it is just that I win the civility challenge when it comes to the IRS auditors. The IRS auditors are just normal people, like you and I, just doing their job. You can disagree with them in a tactful manner and if you and the auditor hit a wall you can move the audit up to the supervisor in a way that doesn't punnish the auditor. What happened with J.T. is that she was being audited for deducting investment advisor fees. When we prepared her 2006 return while she was sitting at my desk(my kitchen table) we called her broker for the amount that she paid for investment advise. They gave us a number, we deducted that number. Then when she got the audit notice we called the broker to have him write a letter verifying the amount that he previously gave us and found out that he had given us the wrong amount. We deducted six thousand bucks more than she paid. We then got a letter from the broker admitting that he gave us the wrong amount. I warned the client that she might owe about two grand.
Before the audit J.T. and I went to lunch. I always meet with my clients the day of the audit, give them a little speach to settle them down, and tell them what to expect. Some of the questions the IRS ask during an audit are, Did you do any bartering? Did you have any cash transactions in excess of ten thousand dollars? After telling J.T. what she would be asked I gave my little speach, be honest, don't volunteer information, don't lie, be yourself, be nice, don't ever raise your voice. The auditor was actually a very pretty, very nice young woman. She asked every question that I told J.T. she would ask and J.T. passed with flying colors. Then we got down to numbers. I admitted to the mistake, gave her the letter from the broker admitting he screwed up, and told the auditor that J.T. would pay whatever she owed today if she had an adjustment. Auditors are not rated by how much money they collect, they are rated by how many audits they close. If the auditor closed the audit yesterday she would get brownie points and because we had a letter showing the adjustment wasn't our fault there would be no penalties if the auditor accepted the letter. The auditor made the six grand adjustment, ran the numbers on the computer and because of a quirk in the law involving alternative minimum tax J.T. ended up not owing a penny. Wow, were angels watching over J.T. and I are what?
Today Mom and I are going to lunch with the son of a long time friend, C.R. Those that have been with the blog since the beginning probably remember a post that I did about a long time friend that had passed away, http://thedahnreport.blogspot.com/2008/01/in-memory-of-carrie-richardson.html , Carrie. One of the things that came out of her passing is me reconnecting with her son. He is an amazing guy and one thing I didn't realize is that he was the global marketing vice president for TIVO up until a month ago. I had a connection that I didn't know! He starts a new job with a new company Monday. Board of Director appointment and a v.p. position. I've been emailing with C.R. and saw him at the memorial. Mom hasn't seen him for years and C.R. really wants to see Mom so we are heading out to have lunch with him. Turns out C.R.'s wife owns a restaurant in the Cedar Hills area and that is where we will meet him. Should be a fun day.
Tomorrow is the start of a big week for yours truly. Sister is arriving here from Utah to start the process of Mom moving to Chehalem Springs for respite care. Sis is going to help her pack and decorate her apartment. Mom moves the 30th. When Sis visits, Mom, Sis, her husband, and I always take a day and go to Spirit Mountain Casino. They have great food and I will indulge in my favorite, sweet potato fries. I will also indulge in some gambling. Last time I was there I won nineteen hundred bucks, I hope history repeats itself. OK, folks need your help here. Please pray and send good thoughts that the next few days will be easy for Mom, Sis, and myself. That the move will be easy and that Mom's life will get better once she is in her new digs.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Top Chef Summary and A Question For The Bloggers
If there was a contest between a couple of people to see who could do the most pushups and one person set a goal of fifty pushups but only could make it to forty-five and the other person set a goal of thirty pushups and did the thirty pushups who is the winner? If you are the Top Chef judges the person that did the thirty pushups would win. What am I talking about? This is the second time this season that the women were more creative than the men and were punished for it. I don’t exactly remember the contestants involved when they had the film themed segment but the men chose a movie with the word chocolate in the title and the women chose IL POSTINO. What movie would be harder to make a dish themed towards it? The men won with a chocolate dish and the women lost despite doing very well with a much harder dish to make. Last night the cooks had to make word themed dishes with words that were obtained through a Second City performance. Nikki and Mark drew the easiest with purple, depressed, and bacon. Richard and Dale would have had the easiest if the word tofu hadn’t been added to green and perplexed. Stephanie and Jennifer drew menage a trois the most difficult to cook towards. Richard and Dale probably should have won but there is no way that Stephanie and Jennifer’s menage a trois of orange with goat cheese, asparagus, salad, and olive tapenade should have been in the bottom two and Jennifer should not have been packing. Stephanie and Jennifer probably would have been better off making three home made hot dogs, three homemade donuts, coloring the donuts orange and putting the hot dogs through the center of the doughnuts. Nikki and Mark should have been in the bottom two and Mark should have been sent home. I could make the dish they made. It really looks like the women are going to have to dumb themselves down to win this season’s Top Chef. That type of sexism hurts both men and women. Why can’t the judges see that? Oh and if Tom C. puts his fist to his mouth one more time I am going to write to Top Chef and see if they will burp him before every show.
Now the question for the ones reading the blog to answer. The question is how is how other people see you different than you see yourself? You can use any example you like. Here are some of mine:
Other people have said that I live to the beat of a different drummer, I see myself as normal.
Other people have said I was bull headed, I see me as persistent.
Other people have said I am compassionate, I see me as too sensitive.
Other people have said I am one of the funnier people they know, I see myself as to serious to be funny.
OK, your turn.
Now the question for the ones reading the blog to answer. The question is how is how other people see you different than you see yourself? You can use any example you like. Here are some of mine:
Other people have said that I live to the beat of a different drummer, I see myself as normal.
Other people have said I was bull headed, I see me as persistent.
Other people have said I am compassionate, I see me as too sensitive.
Other people have said I am one of the funnier people they know, I see myself as to serious to be funny.
OK, your turn.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Dancing, Desserts, and Tomorrow's Question
Dancing With The Stars The Results Show was really good last night. As expected Marlee Matlin was sent home and did so in a very classy manner. Also last night they had some really great dance performances from two couples that were under 13. Amazing. Next week it is going to be really hard to predict who goes home. I am guessing that it will be down to Mario and Marrissa.
Tonight on Top Chef it wll be desserts and comedy. It's a dessert storm when the chefs must create sweets. Then the food gets funny when comedy troupers from Chicago's Second City teach the cooks the fine art of improvisation. Pasty chef Johnny Iuzzini is the guest judge. I almost quit watching Top Chef after last week but someone asked me to hang in there with them and I will. However, hanging in there may have a great payoff as tonight's show looks like it will be a great watch!
The most comments I got on any post since I've been doing the blog is when I asked the readers of the blog what some of their favorite things were. I loved hearing your choices. And I would like to learn more about all of you. The question on tomorrow's blog is going to be, what are the differences between how you see yourself and how others see you? Example, others have told me that I am charming yet I see myself as to shy to be charming. So get your thinking caps on folks.
May this be a great day for all of you.
Tonight on Top Chef it wll be desserts and comedy. It's a dessert storm when the chefs must create sweets. Then the food gets funny when comedy troupers from Chicago's Second City teach the cooks the fine art of improvisation. Pasty chef Johnny Iuzzini is the guest judge. I almost quit watching Top Chef after last week but someone asked me to hang in there with them and I will. However, hanging in there may have a great payoff as tonight's show looks like it will be a great watch!
The most comments I got on any post since I've been doing the blog is when I asked the readers of the blog what some of their favorite things were. I loved hearing your choices. And I would like to learn more about all of you. The question on tomorrow's blog is going to be, what are the differences between how you see yourself and how others see you? Example, others have told me that I am charming yet I see myself as to shy to be charming. So get your thinking caps on folks.
May this be a great day for all of you.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Marlee Goes Home Tonight
A really great Dancing With The Stars last night. The way I rated the dancers:
1. Kristi - just an amazing Jive, deserved a 30.
2. Cristian - top notch foxtrot. Really, really good.
3. Marissa - They finally dressed her properly and she lived up to the stylish costume with a stylish dance.
4. Shannon - she was almost in tears at the judges comments. They were way to hard on her. And what is with Samantha Harris anyhow? Did she really have to grill them about their relationship? Who the freak cares.
5. Mario - Good dance.
6. Jason - my football guy let me down.
7. Marlee. Sorry because I love her but her dance wasn't really that good.
Already out - Monica Seles, Penn Jillette, Steve Guttenberg, Adam Corrolla, Pricella Pressley.
The repeat dance tonight - the group dance or Kristi's jive.
The one going home tonight - Marlee.
1. Kristi - just an amazing Jive, deserved a 30.
2. Cristian - top notch foxtrot. Really, really good.
3. Marissa - They finally dressed her properly and she lived up to the stylish costume with a stylish dance.
4. Shannon - she was almost in tears at the judges comments. They were way to hard on her. And what is with Samantha Harris anyhow? Did she really have to grill them about their relationship? Who the freak cares.
5. Mario - Good dance.
6. Jason - my football guy let me down.
7. Marlee. Sorry because I love her but her dance wasn't really that good.
Already out - Monica Seles, Penn Jillette, Steve Guttenberg, Adam Corrolla, Pricella Pressley.
The repeat dance tonight - the group dance or Kristi's jive.
The one going home tonight - Marlee.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Books, Movies, and Trips
Hello everyone back from a weekend of doing things away from the computer. Reading, going to movies, Pyschic Fairs, and making decisions.
First the reading. I've been noticing lately that the really good writers read a lot and they read authors whose style they like. I really like the writing style of William Bernhardt. His court room scenes are the most realistic of any attorney turned writer that I read. For me, Bernhardt is a much better writer than John Grisham. Just not as well known. Bernhardt's books do have kind of a liberal tint so be forewarned about that. I started Bernhardt's latest Ben Kincaid novel Friday, CAPITOL CONSPIRACY. It is about a president using a terrorist attack to attempt to change the constitution to give the president more power. Sound familiar? I am seven chapters into it and enjoying it very much. Symply you started reading David Baldacci because of one of my suggestions and I am betting that you will like Bernhardt as well. For more about Bernhardt and his writings you can visit his web site, http://williambernhardt.com/ .
Now, the movies. I love movies. There is nothing like forgetting the world while sitting in a dark theater and getting totally lost in the entertainment before you. I went to two movies this weekend. Leatherheads and Smart People.
Leatherheads stars Renee Zellweger and George Clooney. It was directedy by Clooney and co-written by Duncan Brantley and one of the best sports columnist in the business, Rick Reily. It reminds me of Friday Night Lights in one way. Friday Night Lights uses football as the centerpiece of it but really isn't about football just in the same way Leatherheads uses football as its centerpiece but is about more than football. While the chemistry between Zellweger and Clooney is off the charts, the third wheel in the romantic triangle, John Krasiniski steals the movie. The basic plot is that Dodge Connelly (Clooney) is the team captain of the Bulldogs in a struggling pro football league in 1925. Clooney comes up with an idea that saves the league. That is to convince a college football star and war hero, Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski) to drop out of college to earn big bucks. Zellweger plays a newspaper reporter assigned to get the goods on Rutherford for her paper. Sit back and enjoy this movie. It will remind you of the old Clark Cable-Deborah Kerr chemistry movies. In spots laugh out loud funny, it spots touchingly romantic, and a nice but different ending. One football for Krasinski, One football for the chemistry between Clooney and Zellweger, one football for costume design. Three footballs. Don't let you not liking football keep you away from this flick.
Smart People stars Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, and movie stealer Thomas Haden Church. Unlike 21 which was about smart people being incredibly stupid SMART PEOPLE is really about smart people, just smart people being real. Dennis Quaid plays a college professor, Lawrence Wetherhold, with a daughter, Vanessa Wetherhold (played by Page), whose goal is to get a perfect score on her SATs. Thomas Haden Church plays the freeloading brother of Quaid. I usally don't like freeloaders but I loved Church being Chuck Wetherhold in this movie. There were a few times that I wanted to shake some sense into good old Chuck but he is just so darn fun in this movie. Parker plays Dr. Janet Haritgan who becomes Lawrence Wetherford's love interest through an accident that brings Wetherford to the emergency room. As a shy guy that really often doesn't know what to do or say on a date I could relate well to Professor Wetherford. Unlike JUNO that had one of the worst predator male characters in the history of movies SMART PEOPLE had a man gentle enough to do the right thing when a situation presented itself. God love him. One football for Church, One football for Page, One football for the movie not being JUNO, One football for a man doing the right thing . Four footballs. Go and enjoy.
Now the trip. I've decided to take baby steps. I haven't traveled since 9-11 and am somewhat afraid of traveling by anything other than by car. I've come to the conclusion that taking a long trip as my first travel outting might not the brightest thing that I have ever done. Also, Mom has gotten worse and I'm not so sure how realistic it is for me to be a long ways away from her base right now. So what I am going to do for the month of May is to do small trips while Mom is in respite care and then if I do the baby steps well take my big ten day LA trip in August. In May I will go to the Coast, to Ashland, Maybe even to Klamath Falls to visit the grave of a cousin that I had that died several years ago at the age of 14 and say the proper good bye that I've never said, and maybe to locations that I've never been. I will also use the time that I have to get my house and affairs in order should I do decide to move at some point.
May this day bring you love and happiness.
First the reading. I've been noticing lately that the really good writers read a lot and they read authors whose style they like. I really like the writing style of William Bernhardt. His court room scenes are the most realistic of any attorney turned writer that I read. For me, Bernhardt is a much better writer than John Grisham. Just not as well known. Bernhardt's books do have kind of a liberal tint so be forewarned about that. I started Bernhardt's latest Ben Kincaid novel Friday, CAPITOL CONSPIRACY. It is about a president using a terrorist attack to attempt to change the constitution to give the president more power. Sound familiar? I am seven chapters into it and enjoying it very much. Symply you started reading David Baldacci because of one of my suggestions and I am betting that you will like Bernhardt as well. For more about Bernhardt and his writings you can visit his web site, http://williambernhardt.com/ .
Now, the movies. I love movies. There is nothing like forgetting the world while sitting in a dark theater and getting totally lost in the entertainment before you. I went to two movies this weekend. Leatherheads and Smart People.
Leatherheads stars Renee Zellweger and George Clooney. It was directedy by Clooney and co-written by Duncan Brantley and one of the best sports columnist in the business, Rick Reily. It reminds me of Friday Night Lights in one way. Friday Night Lights uses football as the centerpiece of it but really isn't about football just in the same way Leatherheads uses football as its centerpiece but is about more than football. While the chemistry between Zellweger and Clooney is off the charts, the third wheel in the romantic triangle, John Krasiniski steals the movie. The basic plot is that Dodge Connelly (Clooney) is the team captain of the Bulldogs in a struggling pro football league in 1925. Clooney comes up with an idea that saves the league. That is to convince a college football star and war hero, Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski) to drop out of college to earn big bucks. Zellweger plays a newspaper reporter assigned to get the goods on Rutherford for her paper. Sit back and enjoy this movie. It will remind you of the old Clark Cable-Deborah Kerr chemistry movies. In spots laugh out loud funny, it spots touchingly romantic, and a nice but different ending. One football for Krasinski, One football for the chemistry between Clooney and Zellweger, one football for costume design. Three footballs. Don't let you not liking football keep you away from this flick.
Smart People stars Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, and movie stealer Thomas Haden Church. Unlike 21 which was about smart people being incredibly stupid SMART PEOPLE is really about smart people, just smart people being real. Dennis Quaid plays a college professor, Lawrence Wetherhold, with a daughter, Vanessa Wetherhold (played by Page), whose goal is to get a perfect score on her SATs. Thomas Haden Church plays the freeloading brother of Quaid. I usally don't like freeloaders but I loved Church being Chuck Wetherhold in this movie. There were a few times that I wanted to shake some sense into good old Chuck but he is just so darn fun in this movie. Parker plays Dr. Janet Haritgan who becomes Lawrence Wetherford's love interest through an accident that brings Wetherford to the emergency room. As a shy guy that really often doesn't know what to do or say on a date I could relate well to Professor Wetherford. Unlike JUNO that had one of the worst predator male characters in the history of movies SMART PEOPLE had a man gentle enough to do the right thing when a situation presented itself. God love him. One football for Church, One football for Page, One football for the movie not being JUNO, One football for a man doing the right thing . Four footballs. Go and enjoy.
Now the trip. I've decided to take baby steps. I haven't traveled since 9-11 and am somewhat afraid of traveling by anything other than by car. I've come to the conclusion that taking a long trip as my first travel outting might not the brightest thing that I have ever done. Also, Mom has gotten worse and I'm not so sure how realistic it is for me to be a long ways away from her base right now. So what I am going to do for the month of May is to do small trips while Mom is in respite care and then if I do the baby steps well take my big ten day LA trip in August. In May I will go to the Coast, to Ashland, Maybe even to Klamath Falls to visit the grave of a cousin that I had that died several years ago at the age of 14 and say the proper good bye that I've never said, and maybe to locations that I've never been. I will also use the time that I have to get my house and affairs in order should I do decide to move at some point.
May this day bring you love and happiness.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Unexpected Communications
This is one of those posts where you are going to have to hang in there until the end to give me a chance to connect all the dots.
Those of you that have been with the blog since it started know that I started a fitness routine in November. I haven't reached my goals as fast as I wanted but I am getting there. To say it has been easy would be a lie because it hasn't been, in fact it has been very difficult. There have been many times when I wanted to stop what I was doing and eat a whole cake. It just seems like whenever I get in one of those moods something comes out of mid-air to motivate me to stay the course.
Since my brother moved to Wyoming over fifteen years ago he has called me twice. Once when his wife left him. Of course sometimes tact isn't in my makeup and when he told me his wife left him my response, "Good, I didn't like the bitch anyhow." Probably not the best thing to say considering that a month later my brother and his wife got back together and since have been one of the happiest married couples that I know. I'm still living down my comment. But I digress, the second time he called me was yesterday. My brother's daughter is my Mom's pharmacist. I always pick up my Mom's drugs from my niece at her pharmacy. Yesterday I picked up some drugs for Mom and talked for a bit with my niece then went home. Five minutes after I got home the phone rang and it was my brother. As soon as I left the pharmacy my niece had called my brother to tell him how healthy I looked, that the change was dramatic, that I was walking fast, and that she was proud of me and he should be too. God, I love my niece, she didn't say anything to me because there were to many people in line at the pharmacy but she sure found a way to make sure I stay the course! My brother called to tell me how happy he was that I was getting in shape and that life changing decisions are never easy. He was probably the most encouraging that I've ever seen him. We talked for almost two hours!!
I also got another unexpected communication yesterday in the form of an email. I am not into celebrity adulation but I will admit that there is one celebrity blog that I go to. Yesterday one of the famous hostesses posted a message about Top Chef and I posted a comment. A little bit later I got what I thought was a notification of a comment on the blog from the hostess. When I went to the blog to respond there was no comment to respond to, I checked my email again and the hostess had sent me an email! Wow what an upper. She thanked me for the "sweet comment" that I had posted earlier in the day on another thread (maybe it was sweet but it was also accurate), agreed with something I said about Top Chef and asked me a question about a contest that I entered.
An unexpected phone call from my brother and an unexpected email from a funny, talented woman that I've admired for a long time. Could the day have been any better?
May you hear from long lost friends and people you admire today!
Those of you that have been with the blog since it started know that I started a fitness routine in November. I haven't reached my goals as fast as I wanted but I am getting there. To say it has been easy would be a lie because it hasn't been, in fact it has been very difficult. There have been many times when I wanted to stop what I was doing and eat a whole cake. It just seems like whenever I get in one of those moods something comes out of mid-air to motivate me to stay the course.
Since my brother moved to Wyoming over fifteen years ago he has called me twice. Once when his wife left him. Of course sometimes tact isn't in my makeup and when he told me his wife left him my response, "Good, I didn't like the bitch anyhow." Probably not the best thing to say considering that a month later my brother and his wife got back together and since have been one of the happiest married couples that I know. I'm still living down my comment. But I digress, the second time he called me was yesterday. My brother's daughter is my Mom's pharmacist. I always pick up my Mom's drugs from my niece at her pharmacy. Yesterday I picked up some drugs for Mom and talked for a bit with my niece then went home. Five minutes after I got home the phone rang and it was my brother. As soon as I left the pharmacy my niece had called my brother to tell him how healthy I looked, that the change was dramatic, that I was walking fast, and that she was proud of me and he should be too. God, I love my niece, she didn't say anything to me because there were to many people in line at the pharmacy but she sure found a way to make sure I stay the course! My brother called to tell me how happy he was that I was getting in shape and that life changing decisions are never easy. He was probably the most encouraging that I've ever seen him. We talked for almost two hours!!
I also got another unexpected communication yesterday in the form of an email. I am not into celebrity adulation but I will admit that there is one celebrity blog that I go to. Yesterday one of the famous hostesses posted a message about Top Chef and I posted a comment. A little bit later I got what I thought was a notification of a comment on the blog from the hostess. When I went to the blog to respond there was no comment to respond to, I checked my email again and the hostess had sent me an email! Wow what an upper. She thanked me for the "sweet comment" that I had posted earlier in the day on another thread (maybe it was sweet but it was also accurate), agreed with something I said about Top Chef and asked me a question about a contest that I entered.
An unexpected phone call from my brother and an unexpected email from a funny, talented woman that I've admired for a long time. Could the day have been any better?
May you hear from long lost friends and people you admire today!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tax Season is over, Dancing Recap, and Top Chef Preview
April 15th is gone and life will go back to somewhat normal for me now. This was an interesting tax season as it was my first one in several years that I wasn't self-employed. One thing that I learned about myself this year was is that I like a set schedule. The agreement that I had with the firm that bought my business was that I would be available to them whenever they called. If a previous client requested that I be there for their interview I would be called in and often on short notice. I've been with a lot of my clients a long time so a good share of them requested me. It made it almost impossible to plan things. Next year I am going to shoot for set schedule, be here Monday and Friday for example. Then they can set my appointments on those days and I can plan life around them. A couple of weeks ago I wanted to go to an event in Bend and wasn't able to because the day before the event I got called and told of several appoints the day of and after the event. A set schedule will avoid those kind of conflicts.
Took Mom out to lunch yesterday and on the way out to lunch stopped by the firm that bought my business so she could meet, Paul, Mark, and their wifes. Mom thought they were the nicest men and just absolutely loved them. The last time I sold my business (I've built two firms from scratch and sold them) Mom disliked immensely one the the guys that bought it. Thought he was jealous of me. This time Mom was enamored with both Paul and Mark. She thought Paul was very good looking (though she said not as good looking as me. He is much better looking than moi but she is my Mom so what can I say?), with Mark she thought he had the most loving face. She feels more comfortable now with my choice to sell. Mom used to work in my office and connected with a lot of my clients and was afraid that they wouldn't be treated well by the new firm. That worry has now subsided. By the way the two guys did something for me that was just the nicest thing for them to do, they gave me a gift certificate to a book store. I've worked at several firms on a part-time basis and they are the first ones to show appreciation with a gift. These guys are great. You can check out these guys at http://sherwoodcpas.com/aboutus.html
As I expected Pricella Presley was eliminated from Dancing With The Stars last night. She was scored the lowest by the judges on dance night and last week she was in the bottom two. Combining those two things it was almost a guarantee that she would be gone. The Suprise was that Lisa's hunk, Cristian, was also in the bottom two. He shouldn't have been. The way I ranked the dancers, of course, didn't match up with the scores of the judges. I will say that whomever is dressing Marissa should be shot. They are dressing her in a fashion that shows off her weaknesses when she dances. It is really unfair to her. My rankings: 1. Mario. 2. Kristi.
3. Jason . 4. Cristian. 5. Shannon. 6. Marlee. 7. Marissa. 8. Pricella. Eliminated to date: Monica Seles, Penn Jillette, Steve Guttenberg, Adam Corella, and Pricella. By the way, I loved the performance by Blunt.
Tonight on Top Chef is a Tailgating episode. The remaining chefs are asked to create a dish that compliments a drink as the guest judge is Windy City chef Paul Kahan. You can read an interview with Mr. Kahan at http://www.globalchefs.com/chef/archive/chef018kahBio.htm
May this be a great day for all of you.
Bill
Took Mom out to lunch yesterday and on the way out to lunch stopped by the firm that bought my business so she could meet, Paul, Mark, and their wifes. Mom thought they were the nicest men and just absolutely loved them. The last time I sold my business (I've built two firms from scratch and sold them) Mom disliked immensely one the the guys that bought it. Thought he was jealous of me. This time Mom was enamored with both Paul and Mark. She thought Paul was very good looking (though she said not as good looking as me. He is much better looking than moi but she is my Mom so what can I say?), with Mark she thought he had the most loving face. She feels more comfortable now with my choice to sell. Mom used to work in my office and connected with a lot of my clients and was afraid that they wouldn't be treated well by the new firm. That worry has now subsided. By the way the two guys did something for me that was just the nicest thing for them to do, they gave me a gift certificate to a book store. I've worked at several firms on a part-time basis and they are the first ones to show appreciation with a gift. These guys are great. You can check out these guys at http://sherwoodcpas.com/aboutus.html
As I expected Pricella Presley was eliminated from Dancing With The Stars last night. She was scored the lowest by the judges on dance night and last week she was in the bottom two. Combining those two things it was almost a guarantee that she would be gone. The Suprise was that Lisa's hunk, Cristian, was also in the bottom two. He shouldn't have been. The way I ranked the dancers, of course, didn't match up with the scores of the judges. I will say that whomever is dressing Marissa should be shot. They are dressing her in a fashion that shows off her weaknesses when she dances. It is really unfair to her. My rankings: 1. Mario. 2. Kristi.
3. Jason . 4. Cristian. 5. Shannon. 6. Marlee. 7. Marissa. 8. Pricella. Eliminated to date: Monica Seles, Penn Jillette, Steve Guttenberg, Adam Corella, and Pricella. By the way, I loved the performance by Blunt.
Tonight on Top Chef is a Tailgating episode. The remaining chefs are asked to create a dish that compliments a drink as the guest judge is Windy City chef Paul Kahan. You can read an interview with Mr. Kahan at http://www.globalchefs.com/chef/archive/chef018kahBio.htm
May this be a great day for all of you.
Bill
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Hello Everyone
I haven't fallen off of the face of the earth just that life is pretty much the same and I haven't really had anything new to share. Also the weather has been just absolutely beautiful here and us Oregonians have to bask in it while we can. When there is nice weather it is against the law in Oregon to stay inside.
I'm curious about the folks reading this blog and if the mood strikes you I would love you to answer the following questions:
1. What was the happiest day in your life?
2. What accomplishment that you had during life are you the most proud of?
3. What is your favorite TV show?
4. Who is your favorite actor?
5. Who is your favorite actress?
I will give my answers now:
1. When after an eight year recovery I took a step without the aid of a cane, crutch, or leg brace. There is no feeling that I've had that comparest to that.
2. Winning the Helen Keller Award for charity work, for toy drives for the Children's hospital and abused womens' shelters, being on the Estate Planning Committe of a cancer research center specializing in breast cancer, and raising money to buy shoes and socks for poor grade school kids.
3. Tough one but tie between Dancing With The Stars and Top Chef.
4. Also tough. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, and a few others.
5. Dead Audrey Hepburn. Alive Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Laura Linney.
May the day bring you love and happiness.
I'm curious about the folks reading this blog and if the mood strikes you I would love you to answer the following questions:
1. What was the happiest day in your life?
2. What accomplishment that you had during life are you the most proud of?
3. What is your favorite TV show?
4. Who is your favorite actor?
5. Who is your favorite actress?
I will give my answers now:
1. When after an eight year recovery I took a step without the aid of a cane, crutch, or leg brace. There is no feeling that I've had that comparest to that.
2. Winning the Helen Keller Award for charity work, for toy drives for the Children's hospital and abused womens' shelters, being on the Estate Planning Committe of a cancer research center specializing in breast cancer, and raising money to buy shoes and socks for poor grade school kids.
3. Tough one but tie between Dancing With The Stars and Top Chef.
4. Also tough. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, and a few others.
5. Dead Audrey Hepburn. Alive Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Laura Linney.
May the day bring you love and happiness.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Meetings, Dancing, Top Chef's Latent Sexism
First, let's welcome Dona to the blog Dona's blog is at, http://mrgreenjeans.blogspot.com/.
Second, The meeting at the Chehalem Springs Assisted Living Center went very well. The people there were so nice. They showed us the room Mom will be in and it is a beautiful one bedroom apartment looking out towards a golf course. Her home in King City is on a golf course so this might make the transition easier if she decides to stay there for good. Mom felt good about the meeting, at least that is what she told me. Lately the caregiver is telling me what Mom has been saying to her and it really hasn't matched what Mom has been saying to me. To me Mom has been positive about the move, to the caregiver Mom has been really negative about the move. I really don't know if it is Mom not coming clean or the caregiver being worried about losing her job so that she is directing Mom towards not liking it. It is hard to really know what is the truth when three different stories are invovled. I'm going to look at it as Mom telling me the truth because that is the most positive.
Third, Dancing With The Stars was great this week. I love the Waltz and several of the couples danced the waltz. Others danced the Paso Doble which really isn't one of my favorites. Although I thought the judges overscored everyone the dancing was still very high quality and I ranked them as follows: 1. Shannon. I gave her points for not being able to practice with Derek this week and to switch from Jonathan's training to Derek just isn't that easy. She pulled it off. 2. Kristi. She needs to loosen up. She has technical down, now she needs to get life down. 3. Jason. He really has it harder than most because of his height and how much taller than he is than Edyta. Hard to have good posture when you have to stoop over to hold your partner. 4. Mario. 5. Marlee. She did miss a couple of steps but still a beautiful dance. 6. Marissa. Great comeback. 7. Pricella. 8. Adam. Elimated was Adam and I was extremely happy to see him go.
Fourth, Watched Top Chef last night and it hit me like a ton of bricks why I am not enjoying the show this year. It isn't the unlikable contestants it is the latent sexism of head judge Tom Colicchio. Zoi should not have been eliminated last night, Spike should have been. I recorded the show like I always do and then replayed it a couple of times and replayed in slow motion once. You can see how sexist Tom really is by they way he speaks differently to the men and women and by his body movements and how he stands when he is with one sex or another. Tom is an old time cook from the time when there was a lot of discrimination against women in the cooking industry, when all the top restaurants would only hire men as chefs. I'm afraid he still has a lot of those old tapes. My guess is this season's winner will come down to being between Richard and Stephanie and Tom's vote will go to the man when Stephanie really deserves to win. If that happens this will be my last season of watching Top Chef.
Finally. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LADY VOLS IN WINNING THE NCCAA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP!! WAY TO ROOT YOUR TEAM ON THE VICTORY MARY Z!
Second, The meeting at the Chehalem Springs Assisted Living Center went very well. The people there were so nice. They showed us the room Mom will be in and it is a beautiful one bedroom apartment looking out towards a golf course. Her home in King City is on a golf course so this might make the transition easier if she decides to stay there for good. Mom felt good about the meeting, at least that is what she told me. Lately the caregiver is telling me what Mom has been saying to her and it really hasn't matched what Mom has been saying to me. To me Mom has been positive about the move, to the caregiver Mom has been really negative about the move. I really don't know if it is Mom not coming clean or the caregiver being worried about losing her job so that she is directing Mom towards not liking it. It is hard to really know what is the truth when three different stories are invovled. I'm going to look at it as Mom telling me the truth because that is the most positive.
Third, Dancing With The Stars was great this week. I love the Waltz and several of the couples danced the waltz. Others danced the Paso Doble which really isn't one of my favorites. Although I thought the judges overscored everyone the dancing was still very high quality and I ranked them as follows: 1. Shannon. I gave her points for not being able to practice with Derek this week and to switch from Jonathan's training to Derek just isn't that easy. She pulled it off. 2. Kristi. She needs to loosen up. She has technical down, now she needs to get life down. 3. Jason. He really has it harder than most because of his height and how much taller than he is than Edyta. Hard to have good posture when you have to stoop over to hold your partner. 4. Mario. 5. Marlee. She did miss a couple of steps but still a beautiful dance. 6. Marissa. Great comeback. 7. Pricella. 8. Adam. Elimated was Adam and I was extremely happy to see him go.
Fourth, Watched Top Chef last night and it hit me like a ton of bricks why I am not enjoying the show this year. It isn't the unlikable contestants it is the latent sexism of head judge Tom Colicchio. Zoi should not have been eliminated last night, Spike should have been. I recorded the show like I always do and then replayed it a couple of times and replayed in slow motion once. You can see how sexist Tom really is by they way he speaks differently to the men and women and by his body movements and how he stands when he is with one sex or another. Tom is an old time cook from the time when there was a lot of discrimination against women in the cooking industry, when all the top restaurants would only hire men as chefs. I'm afraid he still has a lot of those old tapes. My guess is this season's winner will come down to being between Richard and Stephanie and Tom's vote will go to the man when Stephanie really deserves to win. If that happens this will be my last season of watching Top Chef.
Finally. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LADY VOLS IN WINNING THE NCCAA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP!! WAY TO ROOT YOUR TEAM ON THE VICTORY MARY Z!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Prayer, Sports, Mom, and Notes.
I haven't been blogging the last couple of days because my life is kind of boring lately and I haven't had much to say. I still haven't got much to say but just thought I would post some tidbits and ask for some prayers and good thoughts for a person I don't even know.
On one of the blogs that I visit daily a woman posted that she has breast cancer and is undergoing treatments. She asked for prayers. I don't know Pat S. from Bend, Oregon but I do know that most people that post here are women and would certainly wish the best for her. I also know that the old Women Issues Group has done marvelous things through the power of prayer and good thoughts. So everyone say a little prayer and muster all your good thoughts for Pat S. not to be confused with the Pat that I do know and who posts here.
Guess who is the new basketball coach at Oregon State University? Michelle Obama's brother, Barrack's brother-in-law, Craig Robinson. The last two seasons Robinson was the head coach at Brown University and the previous six seasons was assistant coach at Northwestern
University. Robinson said Barrack might attend a couple of games this next season.
Congratulations to University of Kansas in winning the NCCA men's basketball championship. Good luck tonight to the Lady vols against Stanford as they go for the NCAA women's basketball championship.
Tomorrow at 1:00 Mom and I have a meeting with the nurse at Chehalem Springs to evaluate Mom for what kind of care she needs. This is a pre-meeting before she goes there in May. Please wish for the best for Mom and I.
NOTES:
AARP turned 5o this month. Wonder if they started receiving their own literature.
I found out yesterday how to lose ten pounds in less than thirty seconds. Move the scale from the tile bathroom floor to the carpet before taking your weight.
From The Oregonian, women who pack wieght around their wastes inseat of their buttocks and thighs face an increased risk of dying prematurely. A study of 44,636 women published Monday in the journal Circulation found that women with waists of 35 inches or greater had an 80 per cent higher chance of premature death compared with those waists measureed 28 inches or smaller.
That is it for the day. May this be a day of health and happiness for all of you.
On one of the blogs that I visit daily a woman posted that she has breast cancer and is undergoing treatments. She asked for prayers. I don't know Pat S. from Bend, Oregon but I do know that most people that post here are women and would certainly wish the best for her. I also know that the old Women Issues Group has done marvelous things through the power of prayer and good thoughts. So everyone say a little prayer and muster all your good thoughts for Pat S. not to be confused with the Pat that I do know and who posts here.
Guess who is the new basketball coach at Oregon State University? Michelle Obama's brother, Barrack's brother-in-law, Craig Robinson. The last two seasons Robinson was the head coach at Brown University and the previous six seasons was assistant coach at Northwestern
University. Robinson said Barrack might attend a couple of games this next season.
Congratulations to University of Kansas in winning the NCCA men's basketball championship. Good luck tonight to the Lady vols against Stanford as they go for the NCAA women's basketball championship.
Tomorrow at 1:00 Mom and I have a meeting with the nurse at Chehalem Springs to evaluate Mom for what kind of care she needs. This is a pre-meeting before she goes there in May. Please wish for the best for Mom and I.
NOTES:
AARP turned 5o this month. Wonder if they started receiving their own literature.
I found out yesterday how to lose ten pounds in less than thirty seconds. Move the scale from the tile bathroom floor to the carpet before taking your weight.
From The Oregonian, women who pack wieght around their wastes inseat of their buttocks and thighs face an increased risk of dying prematurely. A study of 44,636 women published Monday in the journal Circulation found that women with waists of 35 inches or greater had an 80 per cent higher chance of premature death compared with those waists measureed 28 inches or smaller.
That is it for the day. May this be a day of health and happiness for all of you.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Crimes Against The Elderly
Get ready to get your hackles up. There was a story in this morning's Oregonian that just breaks your heart. Here goes,
"A 35 year-old man accussed of breaking into an elderly woman's home three times, and sexually abusing her during one encounter was arrested Friday morning, police said.
Robert Earl Orr faces three counts of first degree burglary and one count of first-degree sexual abuse."
If that isn't heart breaking enough read the following:
"The 91-year-old victim did not report the crimes, which occurred over a 2 1/2 week period, until the third break-in to Northeast Portland Home." "The victim told police she didn't want to worry her daughter and feared her family would want to move her out of her house."
SHOCKED? Well the article continues;
"The woman's fear of reporting the crime is not unusual, said Portland Sgt. Margaret Bahnson, who oversees two Portland officers assigned to crimes against the elderly. According to the Sgt., ONE IN SIX CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY GO UNREPORTED. The reasons given for not reporting is that the elderly are embarassed by the crime, shameful that they happened, they don't want to leave their home or they don't want to think they can't take care of themselves.
If Orr is guilty may he rot in Hell. Hell may even be to good for him.
Check out oregonlive.come for the full article in the metro section.
Comments anyone?
"A 35 year-old man accussed of breaking into an elderly woman's home three times, and sexually abusing her during one encounter was arrested Friday morning, police said.
Robert Earl Orr faces three counts of first degree burglary and one count of first-degree sexual abuse."
If that isn't heart breaking enough read the following:
"The 91-year-old victim did not report the crimes, which occurred over a 2 1/2 week period, until the third break-in to Northeast Portland Home." "The victim told police she didn't want to worry her daughter and feared her family would want to move her out of her house."
SHOCKED? Well the article continues;
"The woman's fear of reporting the crime is not unusual, said Portland Sgt. Margaret Bahnson, who oversees two Portland officers assigned to crimes against the elderly. According to the Sgt., ONE IN SIX CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY GO UNREPORTED. The reasons given for not reporting is that the elderly are embarassed by the crime, shameful that they happened, they don't want to leave their home or they don't want to think they can't take care of themselves.
If Orr is guilty may he rot in Hell. Hell may even be to good for him.
Check out oregonlive.come for the full article in the metro section.
Comments anyone?
Friday, April 4, 2008
Coffee News
Took Mom and one of the caregivers out to dinner last night. At the restaurant they had this little newspaper called The Coffee News that had a lot of little interesting tidbits in it. Thought I would share some of the tidbits with you this morning but before I do wanted to update you on the latest with my Mom.
A couple of nights ago Mom and I had a very good talk. Best talk we have had in ages. Mom now has gone from viewing the month at Chehelam Springs as a negative to viewing it as a positive. She has even asked questions about what would happen if she decides to stay there for good. I'm so happy that she has changed her thinking and I have to attribute that to all your good thoughts and prayers.
Now on to the tidbits in the coffee news:
According to The Guiness Book of Records the longest marriage is eighty-three years. I know some marriages that didn't last eighty-three days.
Then there was a couple quotes, "It is important to watch what you eat. Otherwise, how are you going to get it into your mouth." or "The trouble with talking to fast is that you may something you haven't thought of yet."
Trivia? Who coined the phrase "The Iron Curtain"? It was coined by Winston Churchill when he was prime minister of Britain. In 1946 he gave a speech in Missouri and used the phrase "an iron curtain has descended across the continent."
Interesting stories? How about this one. Dylan Hargreaves is autistic, but the family's new pet, a macaw named Barney, has helped the boy to speak. The four year-old is so intrigued by the parrot that he has begun to learn some of the words squawked by Barney, like "Dad," and "Mom," and "Bye" and "Hello." Rob Hargreaves, Dylan's dad, actually bought the parrot for his wife, Michelle, never guessing it would help Dylan so profoundly. "The bird has changed our lives," he says. The Blackburn, England family is grateful for its effect on the boy and is excited at the prospect that Dylan may soon graduate to two-syllable words.
May this be a day filled with love and happiness for you all.
A couple of nights ago Mom and I had a very good talk. Best talk we have had in ages. Mom now has gone from viewing the month at Chehelam Springs as a negative to viewing it as a positive. She has even asked questions about what would happen if she decides to stay there for good. I'm so happy that she has changed her thinking and I have to attribute that to all your good thoughts and prayers.
Now on to the tidbits in the coffee news:
According to The Guiness Book of Records the longest marriage is eighty-three years. I know some marriages that didn't last eighty-three days.
Then there was a couple quotes, "It is important to watch what you eat. Otherwise, how are you going to get it into your mouth." or "The trouble with talking to fast is that you may something you haven't thought of yet."
Trivia? Who coined the phrase "The Iron Curtain"? It was coined by Winston Churchill when he was prime minister of Britain. In 1946 he gave a speech in Missouri and used the phrase "an iron curtain has descended across the continent."
Interesting stories? How about this one. Dylan Hargreaves is autistic, but the family's new pet, a macaw named Barney, has helped the boy to speak. The four year-old is so intrigued by the parrot that he has begun to learn some of the words squawked by Barney, like "Dad," and "Mom," and "Bye" and "Hello." Rob Hargreaves, Dylan's dad, actually bought the parrot for his wife, Michelle, never guessing it would help Dylan so profoundly. "The bird has changed our lives," he says. The Blackburn, England family is grateful for its effect on the boy and is excited at the prospect that Dylan may soon graduate to two-syllable words.
May this be a day filled with love and happiness for you all.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Reality TV
Top Chef should be interesting tonight as they are doing a film themed show. The dishes they make will have a film theme. Seems like a good show to me.
I am deciding whether or not I want to continue to watch the show because the contestents are so unlikable. However, I have to stick with it until I find out if I won the at home challenge with my audacious aphrodisiac burger.
Dancing With The Star The Elimination was awful last night. To early for Steve Guttenberg to go home. It should it have been Marissa or Adam. Adam will probably stay on to long as Howard Stern is shilling for him on his radio show. I was extremely happy to see that Shannon stayed on. She doesn't have much of a fan base but she dances extremely well dancing so I wanted her to stay on. This is how I rated Monday night's dances:
Shannon
Kristi
Cristian
Pricilla
Jason
Marlee
Mario
Steve
Adam
Marrissa
May this be a great day for all of you!!
I am deciding whether or not I want to continue to watch the show because the contestents are so unlikable. However, I have to stick with it until I find out if I won the at home challenge with my audacious aphrodisiac burger.
Dancing With The Star The Elimination was awful last night. To early for Steve Guttenberg to go home. It should it have been Marissa or Adam. Adam will probably stay on to long as Howard Stern is shilling for him on his radio show. I was extremely happy to see that Shannon stayed on. She doesn't have much of a fan base but she dances extremely well dancing so I wanted her to stay on. This is how I rated Monday night's dances:
Shannon
Kristi
Cristian
Pricilla
Jason
Marlee
Mario
Steve
Adam
Marrissa
May this be a great day for all of you!!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
They Were So Nice
I talked to the people at Chehalem Springs today and they were just so nice. Chehalem Springs is an assisted living center in Newberg, Oregon where mom has agreed to go for the month of May. When I talked to them today the were expert and professional and extremely accomodating. Among the things they told me were:
1. Mom can choose whether she wants a studio apartment or a one bedroom apartment for the same price for respite care. They want her to pick the kind of apartment that she thinks she might like if she moved there for good. Then if she decided to stay she wouldn't have to move again.
2. They will place her in an apartment near the elevator so that she doesn't have far to walk to either the dinning room or the activity room.
3. They said they had bunch of movie ins of really nice ladies that were a bundle of fun and that that bunch would make sure mom would get out and do things while she was there. That they would even push her in a wheelchair if they were going to do things that required long walking. They play cards, games, have ice cream socials, book clubs, etc. They will make sure that Mom will do something every day.
I'm really excited that they have been so professional about this. They all sound so nice and caring that it can't help but make me think this is the right place for mom not only for respite care but for good if that is what she decides she wants to do.
I do think that if Mom gives it half a chance she will love it. I am kind of afraid that no matter what she won't like it, that she has already made her mind not to like it. I'm basing that on the comments that she has made recently, like "no matter where I go it will be a wharehouse" or to my sister "if it is such a nice place you move there." I am praying and need your prayers too that mom opens up her mind a tad to a good time. I believe in miracles.
May each one of your days be filled with a miracle.
1. Mom can choose whether she wants a studio apartment or a one bedroom apartment for the same price for respite care. They want her to pick the kind of apartment that she thinks she might like if she moved there for good. Then if she decided to stay she wouldn't have to move again.
2. They will place her in an apartment near the elevator so that she doesn't have far to walk to either the dinning room or the activity room.
3. They said they had bunch of movie ins of really nice ladies that were a bundle of fun and that that bunch would make sure mom would get out and do things while she was there. That they would even push her in a wheelchair if they were going to do things that required long walking. They play cards, games, have ice cream socials, book clubs, etc. They will make sure that Mom will do something every day.
I'm really excited that they have been so professional about this. They all sound so nice and caring that it can't help but make me think this is the right place for mom not only for respite care but for good if that is what she decides she wants to do.
I do think that if Mom gives it half a chance she will love it. I am kind of afraid that no matter what she won't like it, that she has already made her mind not to like it. I'm basing that on the comments that she has made recently, like "no matter where I go it will be a wharehouse" or to my sister "if it is such a nice place you move there." I am praying and need your prayers too that mom opens up her mind a tad to a good time. I believe in miracles.
May each one of your days be filled with a miracle.
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