Week at a glance

Sat. 5/13 - Happy Birthday Darryl!

Sun 5/14 - Happy Mother's Day! Visit the family for celebrations & gift exchanging. Also, Happy Birthday Becky

Mon 5/15 - Dad goes in for stress test and possibilty of stents. Slight change in plans. Dad has stress test, immediately transported to Hartford Hospital for emergency quadruple bypass. Oops, another change in plans, need to get Dad's BP under control, bypass scheduled for Wed.

Tue 5/16 - Quiet day. Work, as usual, then visit Dad at Hospital

Wed 5/17 - Happy Birthday to me! Dad goes in for quadruple bypass at 1:00. I leave work about 3:00 to keep Mom company at Hartford Hospital. Dad's surgery goes without complications and he's out of surgery about 6:00 and made comfortable in ICU. I headed home around 7:00.

Thu 5/18 - Dad's breathing tube was removed, he's walking around and doing well. Unfortunately, Uncle Edmond is now admitted to hospital in Maine with shortness of breath. Shadow brought me a belated birthday present around 6:00 am --- a Blue Jay. His first ever catch. Quickly catch Shadow and put him outside. Determine the bird is still alive but has broken leg and maybe injured wing (or just in shock). Bird is now cornered in the dining room (with food & water) and I'll determine what to do when I return home from work. No visiting Dad today, I have bird to attend to! Return home to find bird is now missing. I'm only guessing but I'd say the wings are fine. After much searching I locate the bird -- snug in my bed!! No doubt about it, it's wings are fine, I couldn't catch the bird. I opened the back door and did my version of a "round up", heading the bird towards the door. Finally bird finds open door and flew away.

Fri 5/19 - Dad not doing well at all. Didn't sleep Thu night and not able to hold down food. Again, I didn't visit because Dad wasn't up to having visitors. Uncle Edmond was checked out and determined his previously inserted stents were fine and they found no blockage. However, he has now been diagnosed with emphysema. Should be discharged Sat.

Sat 5/20 - Dad still not holding down food but did sleep better. Uncle Edmond will NOT be released today because he was having chest pains last night. They are keeping him in for observation. I won't be seeing Dad today. My apartment looks like Hurricane Katrina aftermath. My clothes refuse to jump into the washer and wash themselves. I can't trust Shadow to the grocery shopping.

I NEED A CRUISE!!!!!!!!

This is a recent picture of Mike. Now you can judge his but for yourself.

Comment of the day:

One of the Operations Managers was leaning over my cubicle wall, speaking with another co-worker on the other side. As I turned my chair, I discovered there was a butt in my face and couldn't resist the comment.

"Mike if you're going to put your butt in my face, atleast give me a butt to look at!"

Mike rarely misses a comeback opportunity. However, he was laughing too hard to tell me "It's not the size that matters!"

Memories.......

Today, while everyone was requesting July 3rd as a vacation day, I smiled knowing I had previously requested the whole week off. Thankfully, I reminded my boss before he gave the day off, to a co-worker that is suppose to cover for me. I plan to be in Maine that week and getting my fill of Lobster, Pat's Pizza, Governor's, LaBree's Doughnuts and Italian Sandwiches.

Anyway, I was talking with another co-worker about my cousin, Joey, and the family "bash" he has every July 4th. Of course, whenever I speak of family back in Maine, I get a little homesick. I was probably closet to my cousins Juanita, Vicki & Joey. Nita and I fought like siblings, until we moved to CT. You would have thought we were sisters the way we fought. Of course, I always managed to get my way. She never said it, but I was probably called "The Tattler". All I had to do was run to Memere, crying, "Nita won't let me play....." and of course, Nita would get in trouble. What fond memories I have! Nita, if you're out there, reading this, I do apologize for all the times I got you in trouble. Not that you didn't deserve it but I apologize for tattling :)

I can't recall what Vicki and I would play (probably made up games or with dolls and dress-up) but I know we played together all the time. At this time in my life, I'm closest to Vicki and we keep in touch all the time. I always stay with Vicki and traverse the State of Maine, in search of scenery and "wicked good" eats.

Joey helped the "tomboy" in me. We'd climb trees (apple trees as I recall) and build forts. One year, while spending the Christmas Holidays in Maine, Joey lent me his ice skate, so I could learn to skate. Not that anyone was volunteering to teach me. My cousins left me to fend for myself in the "swamp" where they would ice skate. Using branches from bushes, I pulled myself along the open areas of the swamp. When a big gust of wind would come along, everyone would run (or skate) to a protected clump of bushes. There I am, barely standing and trying to pull myself to the protected area, while they are snug, warm and watching me.

Anyway, I thought I would post a picture of us, in our VERY early years. The gorgeous 2 year old child on the left is yours truely. The "ears" belong to 3 (?) year old Joey. Shirley Temple wanna be is 4(?) year old Vicki.