Posts
This is a picture of my Grandpa Al. He was my Mom's dad. My memories of him from my childhood are a little vague, but there are certain things that are pure Grandpa Al. "Holy Smokes" was an oft used exclamation of surprise. He had a Cudahy accent; that's an area south of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I can't describe it to you. I just know that I recognize it when I hear it. He wasn't a big drinker, but in social situations he generally drank beer. His face always seemed to be whiskery, although he shaved pretty much every day. He was a bit deaf, and spoke loudly because of it. We were loved by him. He did what he could to take care of us. He was more likely to be cheerful and find constructive work to do than to mope and moan about things that couldn't be changed.
If I am doing my math correctly, he turned 87 in March.
Up until two years ago, Grandpa Al lived alone in a house. He mowed his lawn in the summer, raked his leaves in the fall, and shoveled his walk in the winter. He was slowing down, and two years ago made the decision to move into an apartment in a retirement community. He was still driving until a month ago.
My Grandpa Al was a tough, sweet man. He was a good man. He served his community, he lent a hand when he could. He was young, young, young for being 87 years old. His mind was sharp, and - until a month ago - his body was behaving itself pretty well.
If I can age as well as my Grandpa Al, I will be very well satisfied with my life.
I posted about my Grandpa just about a month ago. He'd suffered a heart attack, and I asked for prayers and good, healing thoughts to be sent his way.
Thank you for the overwhelming response. I know that it helped.
Grandpa came through his quintuple bypass surgery with flying colors. The doctor said that Grandpa's heart was healthier than some 60 year olds'.
He was on the road to recovery, and for the first couple of weeks, he seemed to be doing pretty well. Recovery was slow, but he did seem to be bouncing back.
As time went on, though, he experienced one setback after another. His digestive system turned against him, and his team of doctors (he had so many of them, I lost count) couldn't really determine what would the be best course of action for him. He was uncomfortable, in pain, and stuck in bed. A place he'd rarely been stuck before.
On Monday morning, he was taken in for emergency surgery on his intestines (it is unclear to me if it was his small intestine or his colon). There was a blockage that needed to be removed. Before this surgery, he told my aunt that he'd had a good, long life and that he was happy. I think he had his doubts about surviving this whole thing.
He woke up from that surgery, breathing tube in his mouth - so he couldn't talk to the family that was there, but my Mom said that he did open his eyes, clearly recognized her, and gave her a wink.
As the day went on, his temperature began to rise.
Early this morning, the doctors determined that it would be best if his colon was removed, to take the most infected part out of his body. His chance of survival was low, but the odds were better than if he didn't have the surgery at all.
Grandpa didn't wake up from this surgery. The family made the difficult, heartbreaking decision to remove him from all life support at 7:00 PM. Once he was off the machines, he lingered for about fifteen minutes, and then he died.
I am so very lucky that I was in my home town this past weekend. I had the chance to see my Grandpa while he was still alive. It means the world to me that the last thing I ever said to him was "I love you, bub."
My heart hurts, and there are tears, of course there are.
But, I also find myself wondering if Grandma is giving him hell, up there in heaven.
You see, she died almost two decades ago, when I was twelve. I remember someone, maybe my aunt, asking him about the open casket at Grandma's funeral. It seems that Grandma had been adamant about not having an open casket. "Well," said my Grandpa, "I guess I'll hear about it when I see her again."
I know that he knew this, but I'm going to type it anyway. Grandpa, I love you and I miss you like crazy.
This is National Headache Awareness Week. Show us what gives you a headache.
Ever had this stuff? It's PURE MSG. My mom was a huge fan...after all it has 60% less sodium than salt. And 100% chance of inducing a blinding migraine.
What could we do to create a world with less violence?
I don't know that we can do anything. I think that the phrasing of the question implies that any suggestions I make (or you make...or he makes...or she makes) will be followed by everyone.
So, perhaps the question should be "What can you do to create a world with less violence?"
1. Learn how to count to ten.
2. Utilize my counting to ten skills as necessary
a. Remember to count to ten when I am driving and other drivers are exhibiting some imbecility.
4. Re-read To Kill a Mockingbird...or watch it. That Gregory Peck is awful easy on the eyes.
June is bustin' out all over!
And here are some of the monthly observances. I have taken all of my information from here. I have also highlighted my favorites.
Monthly Observances
Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
Cancer from the Sun Month
Child Vision Awareness Month
Children’s Awareness Month
Dairy Alternative Month
Effective Communications Month
Fireworks Safety Month
Gay & Lesbian Pride Month
International Childhood Cancer Campaign Month
International Men’s Month
Dairy Month
June is Lane Courtesy Month
June is Perennial Gardening Month
June is Turkey Lovers Month
National Accordion Awareness Month
National Aphasia Awareness Month
National Candy Month
National GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) Month
National Iced Tea Month
National Rivers Month
National Rose Month
National Safety Month
National Soul Food Month
National Steakhouse Month
Pharmacists Declare War on Alcoholism Month
Potty Training Awareness Month
Professional Wellness Month
Rebuild Your Life Month
Skyscraper Month
Student Safety Month
World Infertility Month
Weekly Observances
1-7
National Headache Awareness Week
Black Single Parents Week
7-14
International Clothesline Week
8-14
National Automotive Service Professionals Week
National Flag Week
9-15
Men’s Health Week
Superman Week
12-15
Youth Cowboy Poetry Week
Nursing Assistants Week
15-21
Universal Fathers Week
22-28
Carpenter Ants Awareness Week
National Mosquito Control Awareness Week
6/28-7/04
Fish are Friends, Not Food Week
6/28-7/05
National Prevention of Eye Injuries Week
6/29-7/05
Freedom from Fear of Speaking Week
Special Recreation Week
Daily Observances
June 1
National Cancer Survivors Day
Pen Pal Day
June 2
Leave the Office Early Day
National Bubba Day
June 4
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression Day
June 6
D-Day
June 6-7
World Donut Day
June 7
Belmont Stakes
Daniel Boone Day
June 7-8
Banana Split Day
June 8
Abused Women and Children Awareness Day
Race Unity Day
Write to Your Father Day
June 10
Ball Point Pen Day
June 12
Loving Day
Nursing Assistants Day
June 13
Blame Someone Else Day
Friday the 13th (The only one in 2008!)
June 14
Army’s Birthday
World Blood Donor Day
Croquet Day
Family History Day
Flag Day
World Juggling Day
June 15
Father’s Day
Native American Citizenship Day
Nature Photography Day
June 16
Bloomsday (Celebrating James Joyce’s Ulysses)
Fudge Day
June 17
Stewarts Root Beer Day
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
June 19
Garfield the Cat Day
Recess at Work Day
World Sauntering Day
Juneteenth
June 20
Take your Dog to Work Day
Toad Hollow Day of Thank You
World Refuge Day
June 21
Baby Boomer’s Recognition Day
Go Skateboarding Day
Vinegar Day
June 22
Descendents Day
Stupid Guy Thing Day
June 23
Let It Go Day
Public Service Day
June 24
Celebration of the Senses Day
Fairy Day
National Columnists Day
June 26
Handshake Day
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
National Bomb Pop Day
June 27
Decide to be Married Day
“Happy Birthday to You” Day
Helen Keller Day
National HIV Testing Day
June 28
Great American Backyard Campout Day
June 29
Gay and Lesbian Parade Day
Log Cabin Day
Special Recreation Day for the Disabled
But I'm beginning to have my share of pride in it.
http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_9270265
There are many pithy comments I can make right now, but I'll limit myself to "Well, it's about time."
Baby shower time.
My sister-in-law will soon be subjected to a baby shower planned by me and my sister. Because there is an unwritten rule, there will be the required goofy games and pointless prizes at this little shindig.
I've talked my sister into a "star" theme. As in...those heavenly bodies...or maybe as in movie stars.
Probably a combination of both.
The main reason for choosing this (and, please...remember I am required to be hokey or cheesy. It's a law. And I don't break laws...well, expect, maybe, for the speed limit....) is the fact that we can do the following:
Hand out party favors that have a little tag reading "Thanks for coming to the sneak preview of our little star".
Give out movie gift certificates as prizes - Useful and fun. Much better than, say, a baby bottle filled with Starburst candies (although, come to think of it...that would be pretty darn useful as well. Yum! Starbursts!).
The decorations will be a heavenly theme - stars, moon, night sky, and so on.
I plan to make a mix of music to have playing in the background, and I'd like for the songs I choose to go along with this theme.
Any suggestions?
So far, I've checked out my small collection of jazzy music (I think it's jazz. What would Sinatra and Dean Martin be?)
Anyway, here's my short list:
Stardust (Nat King Cole), Moonlight Serenade (Glenn Miller Orchestra), Fly Me to the Moon (Tony Bennett), It's Only a Paper Moon (Nat King Cole), Blue Moon (Elvis Presley), Allegheny Moon (Anne Murray).
I tend to prefer this type of music, so my collection is not wide in its variety. I don't want anything too loud or jarring.
Who is an audiophile? Help me out here!
What is one thing you MUST do before you go to bed at night?
It isn't really just one thing, but a series of steps in a Very Necessary Process.
Step 1 - Find the Marmie Cat.
Step 2 - Catch the Marmie Cat.
Step 3 - Tote the Marmie Cat to "Cat Central" (a little sun room we have that has all of the cat perches - rarely used - the cat food and water dishes, and a shelf with miscellaneous cat items (brushes, container of cat nip, cat treats, etc).
Step 4 - Pry open Marmie Cat's Mouth, pop in evening dose of Methimazole. (A medication used to control his overactive thyroid)
Step 5 - Persuade Marmie Cat to swallow.
Step 5.5 - Pry open Marmie Cat's Mouth, check to see if pill has slid down his gullet.
Step 6 - Repeat Step 5 as necessary.
Step 7 - Release Marmie Cat.
Step 8 - Grovel to Marmie Cat by offering cat treats.
Step 9 - Fill food dish with fresh kibble.
Step 10 - Fill water dish with fresh water.
The Marmie Cat would be delighted to skip over steps one through seven, but we can't do that and expect him to maintain his health.
With the fresh food and water, however, we (humans) are permitted to sleep peacefully through the night*.
*Night officially ends at 12:00 am. Anytime after that Marmie Cat feels that it is his right to wake us and haul our lazy a**es out of bed.
Hello again. My mom called minutes after I posted my last message.
She had some comforting things to say.
First, although they are keeping him sedated, Grandpa was able to follow directions that the nurses gave him (squeezing a hand, wiggling a toe). That's a good sign.
He is scheduled to go in for surgery tomorrow morning. Grandpa will be having 3 bypasses during the surgery.
His surgeon feels that he has a 95% chance of survival. She also thinks that he is extremely lucky. The type of heart attack he had is one that has a low survival rate. Part of what helped Grandpa is that he was out among people when it happened and someone started CPR right away. Add to this, the cops and ambulance arrived within minutes of someone calling 911. As I mentioned before, he was airlifted to a Milwaukee hospital that has a really good reputation for working with cardio-vascular health.
Of course, there are always risks associated with surgery, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It helps to hear that the surgeon said that Grandpa is in better shape than some fifty year olds she knows.
So, hopeful news. Thank you again for the healthy, positive thoughts.
Mom and my step-dad made it home from their vacation in Michigan (where they were when they got the call about Grandpa's heart attack) safely. They went directly to the hospital and were there by about 4am this morning.
Grandpa is on a ventilator, and therefore cannot talk. However, he did wake up and recognize them, which I know really relieved my mom.
The doctors are going to do a couple of tests today and hope to get him in for surgery tomorrow. Mom should have an update for me later today sometime. I'll let you know what I hear from her.
Thank you so much for the good thoughts and vibes you're sending his way. You are all great, great people.
