Yesterday was Sunday, and I had spent the last 8 hours finishing up my taxes. I'd been on the phone a few times with Mom, who had let me know that Dad had been unresponsive for the last day or so, but there was still nothing new to report.
After putting the final touches on my tax report, I kissed my wife and son, and hopped in the car to go drop the report at my father-in-law's house (he's our tax guy). I called my friend, Brian, to chat a bit, during the 3 minute drive. As I was talking to him, I got a beep...it was Mom.
I hustled to switch over, and it went something like this:
"Mom?"
"Son...Dad passed away...and I'll get back to you."
"Um...OK. Love you, Mom."
"Love you too. Bye."
And there it was. Dad's finally gone. His spirit has left us, and we are left to navigate this world without his particular brand of country wisdom, his humor, and quiet strength.
Mom's probably the toughest woman I've ever met, but I could tell that she wasn't up for a lot of emotional conversation. She tends to plow forward, do what needs to be done, and bury herself in tasks that keep her focus away from more unpleasant thoughts. She'll cry when she has time and privacy to do so. That's just how she rolls. All the arrangements have been made, everything's already handled, and now all that's left is to head to Paynetown, TX for Dad's funeral. That's this Wednesday at 2pm, by the way.
So I dropped off my tax information and headed home. I stopped at the video store to try for Zohan, but it wasn't there. I settled for Leatherheads, thinking that humorous movies will be in demand around our house for awhile. When I got home, I quietly let Christina know that Dad was gone, and we decided to tell Connor later...no sense in making it harder for him to go to sleep. As we finished up our day, I noticed that things were different. Before I had left the house, Dad was still around. Quiet, no doubt, but still around. By the time I had returned, he was gone. Different...and I felt the difference.
Today was to be my triumphant return to teaching. I got up and worked out as soon as I could get started. That accomplished, I fumbled around and tried to remember what else I was supposed to be doing. I was still doing that when Amy, one of my fantastic assistants, called to see why I had missed our meeting at 11am. Crap.
You see, when I'm preoccupied or stressed, two things happen to me: I have trouble making decisions, and I forget things. I had forgotten our meeting.
25 minutes later, I made it to my school to meet with the fabulous Amy to discuss the idea of having a tournament for our junior students. Mom called briefly during the meeting to give me the final funeral arrangements, and then we got back to our discussion. As we finished that up, and my daytime class approached, Amy graciously offered to take the class for me. Apparently, it was obvious that I'm distracted, absent, and not altogether ready to get back to teaching.
Well, she was right. I let her handle that class, and the evening classes with Mark as well, and I came home for the day. We picked up Connor from school, and I sat him down and gently told him about Grandpa's passing. Although he was sad about it, kids are pretty resilient, and he went back to being a kid again almost immediately.
I'm having a slightly rougher time of it, I suppose. I mean, I have no regrets about my relationship with Dad. The week I spent with him during his last days was more meaningful than I can convey, and we parted on the best possible terms. I had accepted his imminent passing, as had he, and figured that I'd be fine.
There's just a touch more finality to this whole thing now. And there's an emptiness that I didn't quite expect. There's no denying that it's there, and it's bugging me. Since it's still pretty new, I'm not that adept at dealing with it yet, although I can say that bowling doesn't help all that much (but that's another story).
I have the feeling that the funeral will bring a certain amount of closure, which will be good for all three of us. There are many ways to deal with my feelings, and I plan to cycle through each of them until I find the best combination of working out, reading, writing, working, playing, meditating, talking, listening, and riding Dad's scooter (which will be here soon). While I'm doing that, I hope that my friends and students will be able to tolerate me until I'm back on my emotional feet.
So if I seem preoccupied, distant, or absent, and if I don't answer emails or messages, please don't take it personally. I've always been good at dealing with my emotions, and although this might take some extra muscle, I'll be fine. Christina's offered to wait on me hand and foot for awhile...who wouldn't feel better with an offer like that on the table?
Take care, everyone. Go hug someone you love, and I'll get back to you.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
There's Just Not Enough "Thank You"
I'm home. I spoke to my Mom this morning, and she told me that Dad's 'happy as a lark', now that some of his family has come up to see him. Joann, Paula, Buddy, and Sissy all hopped a train from Dallas to Chicago and then rented a car to get to Elkhart, and he's been thrilled to have them around.
"Y'all sure took your sweet time gettin' here!" he reportedly said, laughing, when they showed up.
Dad's perked up a bit, and I'm glad. I don't know if he's managed to eat or drink anything other than his 'little Cokes', but the main thing is that he's happy and comfortable at home.
I had a big emotional moment on the plane that I think is worth sharing, but I'll save that for another post. What I want to do now is thank the folks who kept Jade Mountain rolling for me while I was away.
I came in last night, worn out, and planning to visit my school for just a short while, just to touch base and then get home so I could finally get some sleep. As soon as I entered the doorway, I noticed that there was a large pile of stuff underneath the stairs, covered with a canvas. Then, as I climbed the stairs, I noticed that the official school plant was on the landing, and that the window decorations had been changed, making that area much more inviting.
Folks, when I walked in, I had no idea that my SWAT (Sifu Whit's Apprentice Trainees, as they now call themselves) had spent hours redecorating the school while I was gone. It's now much more open, clean, efficient, and fabulous. Old equipment that I had planned to 'someday' sell had been hauled out and placed in storage. Walls had been redecorated. The bathroom had been redecorated. And the storage room had been converted into a SWAT changing room and office.
Wow.
Had I not been worn out, I'd have been crying in front of everyone. As it was, it was a close thing, and I spent much of the time wiping my eyes and sniffling as I strolled around, taking in the 'new' Jade Mountain. They had worked their tails off to do this, all without my knowledge, and just because they wanted to give something back to me, their teacher, and to the school that they have come to cherish.
I was humbled, honored, and deeply touched. I can't thank them enough...I just can't. I've always felt that without devoted students, being a Sifu is kind of useless, worthless. I could have the world's accumulated knowledge of martial arts, but without someone to take it from me, it would just sit there, in my mind and body, with no purpose. My team has made me feel like the greatest Sifu alive. I suppose I can only thank them day by day, skill by skill, and lesson by lesson, for they deserve the very best I can possibly give them. And dinner...I'm taking them all out to dinner.
There isn't enough "Thank you" in the world to express my gratitude towards these fine folks, so I'll try and pile it all into one:
"Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart."
(from left)Bill Landry, Kevin Hall, Renee Bracamonte, Misty Hanson, Sifu Whit, Amy Jones, Terry Thurman, Mark Dong, and Shaun Lawler (not shown)
"Y'all sure took your sweet time gettin' here!" he reportedly said, laughing, when they showed up.
Dad's perked up a bit, and I'm glad. I don't know if he's managed to eat or drink anything other than his 'little Cokes', but the main thing is that he's happy and comfortable at home.
I had a big emotional moment on the plane that I think is worth sharing, but I'll save that for another post. What I want to do now is thank the folks who kept Jade Mountain rolling for me while I was away.
I came in last night, worn out, and planning to visit my school for just a short while, just to touch base and then get home so I could finally get some sleep. As soon as I entered the doorway, I noticed that there was a large pile of stuff underneath the stairs, covered with a canvas. Then, as I climbed the stairs, I noticed that the official school plant was on the landing, and that the window decorations had been changed, making that area much more inviting.
Folks, when I walked in, I had no idea that my SWAT (Sifu Whit's Apprentice Trainees, as they now call themselves) had spent hours redecorating the school while I was gone. It's now much more open, clean, efficient, and fabulous. Old equipment that I had planned to 'someday' sell had been hauled out and placed in storage. Walls had been redecorated. The bathroom had been redecorated. And the storage room had been converted into a SWAT changing room and office.
Wow.
Had I not been worn out, I'd have been crying in front of everyone. As it was, it was a close thing, and I spent much of the time wiping my eyes and sniffling as I strolled around, taking in the 'new' Jade Mountain. They had worked their tails off to do this, all without my knowledge, and just because they wanted to give something back to me, their teacher, and to the school that they have come to cherish.
I was humbled, honored, and deeply touched. I can't thank them enough...I just can't. I've always felt that without devoted students, being a Sifu is kind of useless, worthless. I could have the world's accumulated knowledge of martial arts, but without someone to take it from me, it would just sit there, in my mind and body, with no purpose. My team has made me feel like the greatest Sifu alive. I suppose I can only thank them day by day, skill by skill, and lesson by lesson, for they deserve the very best I can possibly give them. And dinner...I'm taking them all out to dinner.
There isn't enough "Thank you" in the world to express my gratitude towards these fine folks, so I'll try and pile it all into one:
"Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart."
(from left)Bill Landry, Kevin Hall, Renee Bracamonte, Misty Hanson, Sifu Whit, Amy Jones, Terry Thurman, Mark Dong, and Shaun Lawler (not shown)
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Homecoming, Departures
Dad came home today. He's resting comfortably in his own bed, with his wife nearby, and his dog in his lap. He's much more relaxed than he was in the hospital, and I don't blame him one bit.
I got up early this morning, showered up quickly, and gathered up my stuff so that I could spend time with Dad while Mom got her antibiotic shot (that pesky pneumonia is still giving her fits) and finished tying up things with the Hospice folks. She made sure the oxygen tanks showed up, called everyone involved, and generally prepared for Dad's return. We figured we had covered all the bases, and if all went well, Dad was due to leave the hospital at around 3pm (6pm is what I guessed would be the final result...I've never known these things to happen on time.)
There was a lot of quiet time with Dad today. He seemed eager to get home, and asked more than once what time it was. I happily reassured him that we had finished almost everything, and that he'd be home soon. He had more fluid drained from his lungs so that he'd be more comfortable at home. My brother stopped in to see how Dad was doing. The nurses removed his PIC line (nutritional IV) and his other intravenous lines, and I spoke with the nurse regarding various procedures.
Ruth was Dad's nurse during the day, and let me tell you, she was fabulous. She was always great with Dad, and I'll never be able to thank her and the other folks at EGH enough. I always felt that they worked really hard for Dad and cared for him. Thanks, folks!
Then there was a tiny little snag. It seems that we needed two witness to sign a particular form...two folks who knew Dad, but weren't related to him, and weren't employees of the hospital. HOLY CRAP!!! Most of the folks Dad hung out with were family members. The guy who sold him the scooter didn't count, so we were scrambling to find folks to sign this one paper so that Dad could ride in the ambulance and come home.
Mom (who has a hard time asking ANYONE for help) went next door to talk to the fabulous Bree, a stay-at-home mom who knows Dad fairly well. She dropped what she was doing, scooped up her adorable 2yrold daughter and hustled up to the hospital. Next, Mom called the family Pastor, who likewise, jumped in whatever car he drives, probably hollered "YEEEEEEE-HAAAAAWWWWWWW!" and showed up at the hospital mere minutes later. They signed the paper, I signed the paper, and all was well with the world again. Again, thanks are in order.
The Pastor stayed a bit longer to chat with Dad. He quietly let Dad know that he'll be there if needed, and asked if there was anything Dad wanted him to pray for.
There was a moment of silence before I heard him quietly say, "Pray for Mary."
I don't recall many times in my life when I heard emotion touch my father's voice. All that mushy stuff just wasn't comfortable for him, and he was fine to just smile and nod, rather than bare his heart to the world like his oldest son would probably do. And yet, it was there. In what are probably his final days, he's thinking of her...of us. That's Dad.
We readied him for the trip after that, and as 3pm got closer and closer, it became clear that they weren't playing around! He really was going to leave the hospital on time! This left me with a bit of a predicament...I had to find a way to liberate the bedpan. Oh, yes, you know the bedpan of which I speak. That stainless steel vessel of doom that proved the depth of my ignorance...yes, THAT bedpan.
As much as it had embarrassed me, I had gotten rather close to that bedpan. We have a much better relationship now, and I felt that it was an important part of Dad's whole experience. Too important, in fact, to be left behind. So what's a guy to do? I mean...do I clean it out, dry it off, tie it up in a plastic bag, wrap it up in my sweatshirt, and then stuff it into a bigger plastic bag so that I can walk off with it? Me? I'd never dream of such a thing.
Yeah...and monkeys'll fly out of my butt.
The bedpan is now resting comfortably in Dad's bathroom. There it will stay until he no longer needs it. Afterwards, I'm sure it will somehow find its way to Katy.
3pm showed up, and so did the ambulance guys, Rob and Josh. They were polite, efficient, and ready to roll, baby. They carefully slid Dad, waffle mattress and all onto their gurney, and we were off. I did take a moment to pass off a certain bundle to Aunt Linda before climbing into the ambulance with Dad. "Take care of this...it's important." Aunt Linda nodded solemnly, and I followed Dad to his ride.
After passing the house, turning around, and then finding it again, Rob and Josh rolled into the driveway. We brought them inside to see where Dad would be placed, and they promptly ruled out the gurney and the wheelchair. "We'll just have to carry him up. Don't worry, we do this all the time." You know what? The were right. Dad was in his own bed before I could say Jiminy Cricket. There was some discussion with Amy, the Hospice nurse, while we also thanked Rob and Josh for bringing Dad safely home, followed by some scrambling for a bedpan (Dad wasted no time requesting it once he got home) and then we all breathed a huge sigh of relief. Dad's home, at long last. He has three huge oxygen tanks at the foot of his bed, and a host of supplies, medicines, and small machines nearby, but I can see how relieved he is to be back in his own home again.
Since he's been home, he's actually drank a bit of Coca Cola, as well as a bit of water. He's been able to pet his dog Rico any time he wants. And he even talked to his grandson in Katy, my son Connor. That got me, folks. Dad was happily telling Connor that he loves him while Connor chattered away on the other end. Hearing that love in my Dad's voice, a voice unaccustomed to holding that kind of tone, that moved me.
The only other thing I want to mention is something you'd probably see in any MadeForTVMovie. I had some alone time with Dad, and I wanted to tell him something I always felt that he knew, but I seldom said it to him aloud.
"Dad, I just wanted you to know that I'm proud to be your son."
"Yeah...well, I'm proud to have you."
I don't need much from my Dad. He and Mom molded me to be pretty independent, and I'm not a guy who spent his whole life seeking Dad's approval. Honestly, I always felt that I already had it. But a little confirmation at a time like this is extremely meaningful. Dad's a man of few words, and he invested more meaning in those seven than most could express in a 10 page speech. I'm OK with that.
I leave tomorrow morning, knowing that I will probably never see my father alive again. For many, that would be a horrible tragedy, but it's not like that for me. This past week has been a good one for us as father and son, a rare and valuable gift. I'll treasure this time for the rest of my life, and I can sleep at night knowing that I showed Dad how much I love him by being here during these final days. I've also felt his love for me, and feel that he'll always be with me, no matter where I go or what I do.
And by the way, there's always that crazy chance that his sheer toughness will reassert itself, he could go into remission and he'll last for months. That would be just like him, that freakin' tough old coot. I'll keep you posted. In any case, don't waste time where your loved ones are concerned. Tell them you love them every day. You'll feel better...I promise.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Dad's Scooter
Day 6, October 6, 2008
It's quiet here in Dad's room. He's off the BiPAP, and it's a lot easier to understand him with the smaller oxygen mask. He's resting comfortably. Still joking a little bit. He likes to have the nurse call button firmly in his hand at all times, saying that he'd be "up a creek without that beeper...I think they're all asleep back there."
Mom's gone back to the doctor for more tests. I'm hoping that she starts feeling better somehow, but I know that the things that she needs to get done simply must get done, and no one can do them for her. At least her fever is gone.
I thought I'd throw a little video up here for comic relief...OK, it's not that funny, but it makes me laugh. Before I get to the vid, I'll explain a bit about this whole scooter thing.
2 years ago (when Dad was a spry 78 yrs old) his wrecked his truck, and his failing eyesight kept him from renewing his license. Stuck at home, and resenting the loss of his mobility, he got to thinking that a scooter might be a good idea...just the thing for those short trips to the gas station/convenience store or my brother's house nearby. He mentioned it to Mom, who promptly vetoed the idea.
"Have you lost your MIND? NO!!!"
My father was not deterred in the least. Every day, he began to pester her to take him to Ed's Cycles to look at the bikes. Every day, Mom refused. This went on for weeks...every...single...day. Finally, he threatened to just walk there if she wouldn't drive him, and he actually started walking down the street. Mom finally relented, and drove him to the motorcycle shop.
Once there, Dad walked straight over to the Harleys, and Mom turned on her heel and walked back out to sit in the car. "No. Way. I'm not going to be a part of this ridiculousness." Dad waved to her from the store window, but she would not be moved.
Finally, he brought the salesman out to talk to her and assured her that they had found something more suitable. Mom warily exited the car and followed them to the showroom. Here's what she saw:
Its top speed is only about 38 miles an hour...maybe 40, if there's a tailwind. She reluctantly agreed, only because she wanted to give Dad a chance to keep his independence.
They got it home. Dad rode it up the block, and then back down the block, and then laid the bike down in the middle of the road after losing control in some gravel.
And that was that. It went into the garage, and stayed there. Dad dutifully started it, day after day, just to make sure that it continued to function, but he never rode it again.
Mom always said that he wanted me to have it. With gas prices as high as they are, it would be the perfect ride to my school and back. I did have some trouble with it at first, but finally figured things out.
At first, I always suggested that Mom just sell it and if she really wanted me to have a scooter, then just pass the money along and I'd buy one back in Katy. But now that I'm here, and I've ridden it and run my fingers along the scratches left by Dad's wreck...I really want it. THIS scooter. Not a fancier new one, not one that goes faster...THIS one. Because it was Dad's.
I know he only rode it once, but to me, it symbolizes his determined spirit, his desire to do things his own way, his passion for living. How could I just sell it, and buy some new, empty machine with no feeling attached to it? There may come a day when I choose to buy a bigger, better, faster scooter, but not yet...not just yet.
So laugh at me if you will. I know that I'm not exactly the most macho figure on the road with my little red scooter...but I'm ok with that.
It's quiet here in Dad's room. He's off the BiPAP, and it's a lot easier to understand him with the smaller oxygen mask. He's resting comfortably. Still joking a little bit. He likes to have the nurse call button firmly in his hand at all times, saying that he'd be "up a creek without that beeper...I think they're all asleep back there."
Mom's gone back to the doctor for more tests. I'm hoping that she starts feeling better somehow, but I know that the things that she needs to get done simply must get done, and no one can do them for her. At least her fever is gone.
I thought I'd throw a little video up here for comic relief...OK, it's not that funny, but it makes me laugh. Before I get to the vid, I'll explain a bit about this whole scooter thing.
2 years ago (when Dad was a spry 78 yrs old) his wrecked his truck, and his failing eyesight kept him from renewing his license. Stuck at home, and resenting the loss of his mobility, he got to thinking that a scooter might be a good idea...just the thing for those short trips to the gas station/convenience store or my brother's house nearby. He mentioned it to Mom, who promptly vetoed the idea.
"Have you lost your MIND? NO!!!"
My father was not deterred in the least. Every day, he began to pester her to take him to Ed's Cycles to look at the bikes. Every day, Mom refused. This went on for weeks...every...single...day. Finally, he threatened to just walk there if she wouldn't drive him, and he actually started walking down the street. Mom finally relented, and drove him to the motorcycle shop.
Once there, Dad walked straight over to the Harleys, and Mom turned on her heel and walked back out to sit in the car. "No. Way. I'm not going to be a part of this ridiculousness." Dad waved to her from the store window, but she would not be moved.
Finally, he brought the salesman out to talk to her and assured her that they had found something more suitable. Mom warily exited the car and followed them to the showroom. Here's what she saw:
Its top speed is only about 38 miles an hour...maybe 40, if there's a tailwind. She reluctantly agreed, only because she wanted to give Dad a chance to keep his independence.
They got it home. Dad rode it up the block, and then back down the block, and then laid the bike down in the middle of the road after losing control in some gravel.
And that was that. It went into the garage, and stayed there. Dad dutifully started it, day after day, just to make sure that it continued to function, but he never rode it again.
Mom always said that he wanted me to have it. With gas prices as high as they are, it would be the perfect ride to my school and back. I did have some trouble with it at first, but finally figured things out.
At first, I always suggested that Mom just sell it and if she really wanted me to have a scooter, then just pass the money along and I'd buy one back in Katy. But now that I'm here, and I've ridden it and run my fingers along the scratches left by Dad's wreck...I really want it. THIS scooter. Not a fancier new one, not one that goes faster...THIS one. Because it was Dad's.
I know he only rode it once, but to me, it symbolizes his determined spirit, his desire to do things his own way, his passion for living. How could I just sell it, and buy some new, empty machine with no feeling attached to it? There may come a day when I choose to buy a bigger, better, faster scooter, but not yet...not just yet.
So laugh at me if you will. I know that I'm not exactly the most macho figure on the road with my little red scooter...but I'm ok with that.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Dad's Still Dad
Dad's resting. Not much has changed, really. He's still not eating, although he did request a sip of Coca-Cola this morning (we happily obliged). The mottling that had appeared on his feet last night (a sign of poor circulation, and not a good sign at all) was a bit better, but otherwise, the situation is the same.
However, my aunt called Mom this afternoon to tell her that one of the nurses had given Dad morphine, rather than the vicoden that he has been taking for days. Mom blew her top, and called the nurse and tore her a new one. Mom's an artist at that, by the way. Black Sash, 5th degree. You see, the plan was to bring Dad home, get him settled, and THEN start him on the morphine. Once you're on morphine, you're staying on it until you're gone, and Mom had not yet approved that course of action. Dad's been getting on fine with the vicoden, she says, and now, he's in another time zone...he may not even care about getting home. In the nurses defense, a morphine IV injection IS on his chart as a prescribed med for his pain...she just didn't know all the details.
What's done is done, though. The next nurse specifically asked him if he wanted the pain pill or the morphine, and he requested the morphine.
Morphine or not, when we came in to see him after all this came down, he asked us to take his BiPAP mask off so that we could understand him. That accomplished, he said that Uncle Henry had come in to see him earlier in the day.
Uncle Henry: "William, do you want me to pray for you?"
My Dad: "Yeah, pray me up a bedpan!"
And Dad laughed at his own joke. He told us that Uncle Henry dutifully hustled off to find a nurse (Uncle Henry's not a licensed bedpan tech like me), and Dad laughed again. Then he asked us to replace his mask, and he rested from the effort of talking with us.
His body is wasting away, but he's still in there, sharp as a tack. The morphine is relaxing him a ton, and we are concerned that he may not make it home...but he's not in pain now. He's been having a lot of anxiety over his breathing, but now, that stress is far, far less. He's much more comfortable than before.
I'm still searching for the proper emotions regarding the 'jumping of the gun' in regards to Dad getting morphine. I know that no nurse would flippantly push morphine into someone's IV without at least looking carefully at the patients chart. If it didn't happen today, we might have put him on it tomorrow. Or the next day. And he'd have been suffering all the while we waited to approve the stuff.
I really think that we've done pretty much everything that can be done, and each day, we continue to do so. I wonder if the universe might have given a nurse a nudge in that direction so that a good man wouldn't suffer for longer than necessary. He might still make it home after all...we don't know. We're just going to continue with the plan of getting him home ASAP, once we can get things ironed out with the Hospice folks. His time is short, and we know that. We're as ready as we can be, and I know that's not nearly ready enough.
It's nice to know, at least, that Dad's still in there. He's fully aware of what's going on, and he's accepted it. He has chosen to face bravely forward, with his usual unflinching strength and wry humor. I hope and pray that when my time comes I can face it half as well as my dear father.
And by the way, to those of you who have emailed, texted, and commented to show your support...thank you. I'll never be able to repay you for helping me be strong right now.
However, my aunt called Mom this afternoon to tell her that one of the nurses had given Dad morphine, rather than the vicoden that he has been taking for days. Mom blew her top, and called the nurse and tore her a new one. Mom's an artist at that, by the way. Black Sash, 5th degree. You see, the plan was to bring Dad home, get him settled, and THEN start him on the morphine. Once you're on morphine, you're staying on it until you're gone, and Mom had not yet approved that course of action. Dad's been getting on fine with the vicoden, she says, and now, he's in another time zone...he may not even care about getting home. In the nurses defense, a morphine IV injection IS on his chart as a prescribed med for his pain...she just didn't know all the details.
What's done is done, though. The next nurse specifically asked him if he wanted the pain pill or the morphine, and he requested the morphine.
Morphine or not, when we came in to see him after all this came down, he asked us to take his BiPAP mask off so that we could understand him. That accomplished, he said that Uncle Henry had come in to see him earlier in the day.
Uncle Henry: "William, do you want me to pray for you?"
My Dad: "Yeah, pray me up a bedpan!"
And Dad laughed at his own joke. He told us that Uncle Henry dutifully hustled off to find a nurse (Uncle Henry's not a licensed bedpan tech like me), and Dad laughed again. Then he asked us to replace his mask, and he rested from the effort of talking with us.
His body is wasting away, but he's still in there, sharp as a tack. The morphine is relaxing him a ton, and we are concerned that he may not make it home...but he's not in pain now. He's been having a lot of anxiety over his breathing, but now, that stress is far, far less. He's much more comfortable than before.
I'm still searching for the proper emotions regarding the 'jumping of the gun' in regards to Dad getting morphine. I know that no nurse would flippantly push morphine into someone's IV without at least looking carefully at the patients chart. If it didn't happen today, we might have put him on it tomorrow. Or the next day. And he'd have been suffering all the while we waited to approve the stuff.
I really think that we've done pretty much everything that can be done, and each day, we continue to do so. I wonder if the universe might have given a nurse a nudge in that direction so that a good man wouldn't suffer for longer than necessary. He might still make it home after all...we don't know. We're just going to continue with the plan of getting him home ASAP, once we can get things ironed out with the Hospice folks. His time is short, and we know that. We're as ready as we can be, and I know that's not nearly ready enough.
It's nice to know, at least, that Dad's still in there. He's fully aware of what's going on, and he's accepted it. He has chosen to face bravely forward, with his usual unflinching strength and wry humor. I hope and pray that when my time comes I can face it half as well as my dear father.
And by the way, to those of you who have emailed, texted, and commented to show your support...thank you. I'll never be able to repay you for helping me be strong right now.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Decisions.
I'll remember today. At least, parts of it. I've recounted most of what happened earlier, including the lung cancer diagnosis. Now for the latest news:
The lung cancer is of a type I've never heard. It's called malignant mesothelioma, and it's caused from previous exposure to asbestos. Amazingly, Dad didn't get it from smoking all those years. No, his prior work history is to blame this time. Long ago, Dad had the opportunity to join a class action suit against Dow, his employer of 30 years, and he declined. "Hell, I knew it was bad back then, but I chose to work. I'm not gonna sue them when I made the choice myself." Typical Dad. It's inoperable, by the way. In his current condition, he wouldn't survive chemo, radiation, and I don't think that surgery can even be done for this crap. Not that he would survive that, either.
Anyway, they found and identified the cancer cells from the fluid that they took from Dad's lungs. They take the fluid out, and it just comes right back. He's on a real Darth Vader mask now, a BiPAP. He's not getting better.
After spending the morning with Dad (and shuffling me around as well) we came back to Mom's house in the afternoon. Then, Mom got a call from the cancer doctor, and we left the house like it was on fire to get back to the hospital to talk with the doc. He was a very nice man, and he spoke with as much tact and clarity as is possible when delivering this type of diagnosis. We discussed options, the difference between Hospice and Home Care, and we talked about what Dad would probably want. Then, it was time to take all that info to Dad and hear his opinion.
We got back in the room and started to talk to Dad about the situation. As soon as we started talking about the cancer, he said, "Take this mask off!" Thinking he was about to jump out of the bed, we quickly helped him get it off, and then he said, "BEDPAN!" Apparently, he just needed to go, and wanted to make that desire perfectly clear.
Fortunately, I'm a licensed bedpan technician, so we were able to take care of him quickly and easily, but the whole effort still wore him out. Afterwards, we got him comfortable again, replaced the mask, and let him rest for a few minutes.
"I suppose y'all want my decision."
What? We were a touch surprised, thinking that he hadn't heard all of our discussion, but knowing Dad as we do, we should have figured that he'd be paying attention. We said yes, we did certainly want to hear his thoughts on the matter.
"Take me home...make me comfortable...and let me go."
...................................................
It was the tone of his voice that broke me. And inspired me. And reminded me why I love my Dad the way I do. I'm glad I was here to hear him say this. I don't think I've ever heard braver words spoken aloud. I'm just grateful that I've been able to spend this time with him.
There are more details, more thoughts and feelings, and yes, even more humorous commentary, but to be honest, I think I'm done for right now. I'll touch base again tomorrow sometime.
The lung cancer is of a type I've never heard. It's called malignant mesothelioma, and it's caused from previous exposure to asbestos. Amazingly, Dad didn't get it from smoking all those years. No, his prior work history is to blame this time. Long ago, Dad had the opportunity to join a class action suit against Dow, his employer of 30 years, and he declined. "Hell, I knew it was bad back then, but I chose to work. I'm not gonna sue them when I made the choice myself." Typical Dad. It's inoperable, by the way. In his current condition, he wouldn't survive chemo, radiation, and I don't think that surgery can even be done for this crap. Not that he would survive that, either.
Anyway, they found and identified the cancer cells from the fluid that they took from Dad's lungs. They take the fluid out, and it just comes right back. He's on a real Darth Vader mask now, a BiPAP. He's not getting better.
After spending the morning with Dad (and shuffling me around as well) we came back to Mom's house in the afternoon. Then, Mom got a call from the cancer doctor, and we left the house like it was on fire to get back to the hospital to talk with the doc. He was a very nice man, and he spoke with as much tact and clarity as is possible when delivering this type of diagnosis. We discussed options, the difference between Hospice and Home Care, and we talked about what Dad would probably want. Then, it was time to take all that info to Dad and hear his opinion.
We got back in the room and started to talk to Dad about the situation. As soon as we started talking about the cancer, he said, "Take this mask off!" Thinking he was about to jump out of the bed, we quickly helped him get it off, and then he said, "BEDPAN!" Apparently, he just needed to go, and wanted to make that desire perfectly clear.
Fortunately, I'm a licensed bedpan technician, so we were able to take care of him quickly and easily, but the whole effort still wore him out. Afterwards, we got him comfortable again, replaced the mask, and let him rest for a few minutes.
"I suppose y'all want my decision."
What? We were a touch surprised, thinking that he hadn't heard all of our discussion, but knowing Dad as we do, we should have figured that he'd be paying attention. We said yes, we did certainly want to hear his thoughts on the matter.
"Take me home...make me comfortable...and let me go."
...................................................
It was the tone of his voice that broke me. And inspired me. And reminded me why I love my Dad the way I do. I'm glad I was here to hear him say this. I don't think I've ever heard braver words spoken aloud. I'm just grateful that I've been able to spend this time with him.
There are more details, more thoughts and feelings, and yes, even more humorous commentary, but to be honest, I think I'm done for right now. I'll touch base again tomorrow sometime.
News...not good.
Day 4, October 4, 2008
Yesterday was mostly a blur. I chose to stay the night at Dad's room in case he needed anything. This meant no sleep whatsoever for me, but I was able to see that he was passing the night well, and the nurses were taking good care of him. Mom came and got me at 5am, and I crashed for a few hours at her house. Dad didn't improve much yesterday, still gurgling and not getting any stronger. However, I'm now a licensed bedpan specialist.
I did manage to sleep well last night, and awoke this morning to an empty house. I knew that Mom's an extremely early riser, so I called her cell. Things aren't going well this morning...Dad's struggling. She said she couldn't come get me, she was tied up with Dad. I told her I'd think of something.
You guessed it. The scooter. Did I mention Dad's scooter? I've been tooling around the neighborhood on it. I figured that Dad would have just jumped on it and headed out...so I followed his example.
I passed Mom on the way, and she u-turned to catch up with me in the hospital parking lot. Rather than berate me for driving it as I expected, she simply said, "Do you see any other scooters here?"
"No."
"That's because it'll be gone when you get back. Drive it home, and I'll bring you back up here."
"That's crazy! I'm already here!"
"Seriously, it'll be gone when you come out. Get moving."
Have I mentioned that there's no arguing with my Mom? I drove it home. It's a beautiful morning for a drive, anyway.
Now for the news, and it's not good: Dad's got lung cancer. We're going to have a cancer specialist look him over. If there's anything to be done, we want to know, but Dad's too weak for surgery, chemo, or radiation. What else is there to do? We'll find out if there is anything, but it doesn't look like there's much left at this point. If the options are exhausted, we're bringing him home and setting him up in a spare room, to make him as comfortable as possible until the end finally comes. With stronger pain medication, there's a chance he could just slip away before we can even get him home, but we'll just have to take it one step at a time.
Thanks for all your texts, emails, and comments. They really help. Your well-wishes and support will never be forgotten, and they really are helpful during all of this.
Hug your loved ones, folks, and talk to them. There comes a day when all of us deal with this stuff, one way or another. There will be things left unsaid, undone, tales untold, and there lie regrets. There is an awful lot of stuff I'll never know about my Dad...he's too far gone to regale me with tales of his colorful youth, so I'll never know what his favorite pastime was when he was a kid, or who was his first crush, or if he skipped school to go fishing. The stuff I know now is all I'm going to know.
But, I know he loves me. He knows I love him. We've had a good time as father and son, and reached a comfortable companionship over the years. I can certainly live with that.
I'll update when I can. Be well.
Yesterday was mostly a blur. I chose to stay the night at Dad's room in case he needed anything. This meant no sleep whatsoever for me, but I was able to see that he was passing the night well, and the nurses were taking good care of him. Mom came and got me at 5am, and I crashed for a few hours at her house. Dad didn't improve much yesterday, still gurgling and not getting any stronger. However, I'm now a licensed bedpan specialist.
I did manage to sleep well last night, and awoke this morning to an empty house. I knew that Mom's an extremely early riser, so I called her cell. Things aren't going well this morning...Dad's struggling. She said she couldn't come get me, she was tied up with Dad. I told her I'd think of something.
You guessed it. The scooter. Did I mention Dad's scooter? I've been tooling around the neighborhood on it. I figured that Dad would have just jumped on it and headed out...so I followed his example.
I passed Mom on the way, and she u-turned to catch up with me in the hospital parking lot. Rather than berate me for driving it as I expected, she simply said, "Do you see any other scooters here?"
"No."
"That's because it'll be gone when you get back. Drive it home, and I'll bring you back up here."
"That's crazy! I'm already here!"
"Seriously, it'll be gone when you come out. Get moving."
Have I mentioned that there's no arguing with my Mom? I drove it home. It's a beautiful morning for a drive, anyway.
Now for the news, and it's not good: Dad's got lung cancer. We're going to have a cancer specialist look him over. If there's anything to be done, we want to know, but Dad's too weak for surgery, chemo, or radiation. What else is there to do? We'll find out if there is anything, but it doesn't look like there's much left at this point. If the options are exhausted, we're bringing him home and setting him up in a spare room, to make him as comfortable as possible until the end finally comes. With stronger pain medication, there's a chance he could just slip away before we can even get him home, but we'll just have to take it one step at a time.
Thanks for all your texts, emails, and comments. They really help. Your well-wishes and support will never be forgotten, and they really are helpful during all of this.
Hug your loved ones, folks, and talk to them. There comes a day when all of us deal with this stuff, one way or another. There will be things left unsaid, undone, tales untold, and there lie regrets. There is an awful lot of stuff I'll never know about my Dad...he's too far gone to regale me with tales of his colorful youth, so I'll never know what his favorite pastime was when he was a kid, or who was his first crush, or if he skipped school to go fishing. The stuff I know now is all I'm going to know.
But, I know he loves me. He knows I love him. We've had a good time as father and son, and reached a comfortable companionship over the years. I can certainly live with that.
I'll update when I can. Be well.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Seeing Dad
Day 1, Wednesday, October 1, 2008
This morning began way, way too early. 3:40am, to be exact. That’s when my mother-in-law called to let me know that she was in our driveway, ready to come in and watch Connor while my fabulous wife drove me to the airport. To be honest, I don’t remember much about that time period, other than a quick, dark car ride to Houston Intercontinental Airport for a 6am flight to Chicago, then another to South Bend.
We got my ticket on Priceline, and ended up flying United. Even with the $15.00 charge for my one checked suitcase, I will strive to fly United every time from now on. The plane ride was the quietest I have ever experienced…it was quieter than my car! Seating was spacious, and we were greeted with soothing music as we got on board. Wow. This beat Continental hands down!
So I had a good trip to Chicago, but I still don’t remember most of it. I got to O’Hare on time, waddled over to the gate for my connecting flight, and waited. And waited. And waited. Thought about killing myself, changed my mind, then waited some more. Apparently, there was a ‘maintenance issue’ with our intended plane, so the guys in the hangar were sending another one. Or so we thought. Finally, after over an hour of waiting, the attendant announced that they had no idea of the location of our plane, so they were going to rebook us on another flight, which was scheduled to depart at 12:08pm, a full 2 hours after the original.
I could have gotten upset, but I figured I’d be grateful that they decided to put us on a fully functional plane a bit late, rather than a punctual but “Sanford and Son” plane that might have fallen out from under us. Once on the plane, I was pleased to see that it was a decently sized and comfortable plane with cute flight attendants. Sweeeeet. I dozed immediately, and awoke when the pilot announced our imminent landing in South Bend. I made it!
My brother came and picked me up, and it was great to catch up with him during the ride to my Mom’s. Once there, I jumped into her SUV, and we were off to see my Dad.
I finally found out that he actually turns 80 in 10 days (I was never really sure before), and finally, it looks like the years have caught up with him. I turned the corner to enter his hospital room, more than a little concerned at what I might find, but I was relieved to see…my Dad. Older, more shrunken, and wearing a Darth Vader breathing mask, but aside from that extraneous stuff, he’s still every inch my Dad. He hadn’t really eaten anything yet, saying he’s still too weak, but he lifted my spirits by popping off to Mom when she took a look at his IV insertion point and forgot to replace the covers. “Marr-rry!! Cover me up, I’m freezing!” Same old Dad. I could see the years that Mom and Dad have shared in the way she alternately fussed over him and then harassed him to no end. He’d generally respond with one-word answers until he got snarky right back at her. It was good to see that he still has his spirit. The man’s not done with this world just yet. He’s still fighting. “You know, your mother and I have been married for 39 years…and she’s just as mean today as the day I married her!” That got a smile and a quick retort from Mom.
Worried about bedsores, Mom asked me to help roll Dad on his side so she could check him out (none at all, thank goodness), and then we made him as comfortable as we could by rubbing lotion on his legs and feet, and getting more warm blankets. He managed almost a half a cup of warm broth and some tea before wearing out. Hey, when you haven’t eaten for 3 days, that tiny bit of food is a big deal. We’re hoping that this, coupled with the IV therapy that starts tonight, will help him to get over the hump and get well enough to come home.
There’s more, but I’m finally going cross-eyed from the lack of sleep. I’m going to attempt a shower before bed, and then I plan to count sheep until there are none left to count.
Day 2 Thursday, October 02, 2008
After more hours of sleep in a row than I’ve had in months, we were up and out the door at about 8:20am to see Dad. When we got there, he had his breakfast on a tray in front of him, and was actually eyeing it with some intent. Mom could only stay for a few minutes until she had to leave for her antibiotic shot (pneumonia, remember?), so she put in his teeth, and left me to feed him. We chatted a bit as I gave him a few forkfuls of biscuits with gravy and helped him with the orange juice. After a bit, he paused for a moment, and then said those fateful words: “I hate to tell you this, but I have to use the bedpan.”
Oh crap.
I figured it was urgent, so I hustled to find a bedpan and get it situated. In the heat of the moment, I was a bit nervous…I didn’t want Dad to have an accident because I was too slow, so I was scrambling around in a frantic search. I found one, managed to get it under Dad’s rear, but he kept saying “Is it under? It don’t feel like it’s under.” I tried to adjust it again before the nurses came in to rescue us.
This:
is NOT a bedpan. I don’t really know what it is, but it is not, I repeat, NOT a bedpan. I think it’s something you use if you need to puke.
This, however, IS a bedpan:
And let me tell you how hard the nurses had to try to keep from laughing at me, a nearly 40 year old man who didn’t know what the hell a bedpan looks like. I didn’t blame them…I’d have laughed at me, too.
Everything was OK after that. Using the bedpan was quite enough exercise for Dad, and after the nurse came in and helped him finish up, he asked me to take out his teeth and fix him up so he could take a nap. He’s resting comfortably now, finally getting more nourishment from that extra IV line as well as the few bites and sips of food he’s had. They’re bringing a big chair in so that he can sit up in it, rather than stay in bed the whole time, and start him walking again. He’s weak as a kitten, but that’s just his body. His spirit is just fine.
Although he is improving, we are all finding ways to prepare for the inevitable. As strong as his spirit may be, his body just won’t last much longer. It could go in a day, a week, a month…we just don’t know. All we can do is love him, and each other, and see what each moment brings. I know we’ll get by.
By the way, every single nurse that has seen me since the bedpan debacle has actually chuckled and waved at me. How nice.
A quick update from later that day:
A note about the big chair I mentioned: it’s kind of an industrial grade recliner, but it doesn’t act like the ones I’m used to. We put him in it after his tests, and as we got him situated, I put a blanket over his feet, and the extra weight nearly catapulted him across the room. Fortunately, I was there to catch him, and he wasn’t hurt at all…just a bit startled.
Mom showed up again soon afterwards, and we all spent time hanging out with Dad and getting him whatever he needed. Since Dad’s pretty hard of hearing, Mom bellows at him so loudly that it’s actually funny. Likewise, Dad’s responses are still feisty enough to make us laugh. It’s the same way they’ve spoken to each other for nearly 40 years, and that’s just how they roll.
Dad had ordered a Chef Salad, but was too wrung out from tests and various bedpan escapades to eat it, but Mom did manage to get him to take some broth, pudding, and tea. We sat with him for awhile, getting him waffle boots to keep his feet from getting bedsores, turning him every so often, and making sure he was warm and comfortable as possible. Dad rests a lot…just going to the bathroom tears him up the way the half-marathon whips me, so most of the time, there’s not that much for me to do.
Sometimes, I worry that I should be doing more, like reading to him or talking to him more. I know that I won’t have much more time with him…the hours are ticking away, and I have no idea how many are left. However, he assures me that he’s happy to just know that I’m here, and he’s not up to listening to me reading western stories, or to my typically ridiculous anecdotes. I do what I can, and when I don’t know what to do (bedpan issues come to mind), I call the nurses and ask how I can help, even if it means to just stay out of their way while they do their jobs. When Dad’s gone, how much I did for him here in the hospital won’t matter to him a single bit…but it will matter to me. He’s been a great father, so I feel I should be here to do whatever I can to help him through this time.
After dinner, I gathered up some of my toys and came back to the hospital to stay the night, just in case he needs something. I’ll probably doze off at some point, but I can always crash later in the day if need be. I brought my books, some martial arts DVD’s, music, and of course, my laptop. Even though there’s no WiFi here (CAN YOU FRIGGIN’ BELIEVE THAT??!!), I can still get my thoughts down and work on other projects while I’m here.
By the way, I feel I should mention the fact that I’ve been joking with everyone as much as possible ever since I set foot on the ground here. I hope I don’t upset anyone. Some might wonder at the fact that I can joke at all, with my father in such dire shape. They might wonder if I love my Dad. ”How can he be so…so…happy?” they might ask. Well, let me clarify this for you. I’m not happy that he’s in this situation. I’m not happy that I’m probably about to lose my Dad very soon. I’m not happy that my Mom is going to have to live without him when they’ve been together for nearly 40 years. No, I don’t joke because I’m happy, people.
I make jokes because I love my father very much. He and Mom both taught me to be strong in tough situations, because screaming “Why me?” to the heavens never brings a satisfactory answer. Fathers die…all of them. That’s just a part of life, and joking is how I get through each and every day of mine. Dad taught me that a long time ago, and I don’t see a reason to toss out that lesson now. In fact, now’s probably the best time for me to use it. So laugh with me, please. Dad prefers that.
This morning began way, way too early. 3:40am, to be exact. That’s when my mother-in-law called to let me know that she was in our driveway, ready to come in and watch Connor while my fabulous wife drove me to the airport. To be honest, I don’t remember much about that time period, other than a quick, dark car ride to Houston Intercontinental Airport for a 6am flight to Chicago, then another to South Bend.
We got my ticket on Priceline, and ended up flying United. Even with the $15.00 charge for my one checked suitcase, I will strive to fly United every time from now on. The plane ride was the quietest I have ever experienced…it was quieter than my car! Seating was spacious, and we were greeted with soothing music as we got on board. Wow. This beat Continental hands down!
So I had a good trip to Chicago, but I still don’t remember most of it. I got to O’Hare on time, waddled over to the gate for my connecting flight, and waited. And waited. And waited. Thought about killing myself, changed my mind, then waited some more. Apparently, there was a ‘maintenance issue’ with our intended plane, so the guys in the hangar were sending another one. Or so we thought. Finally, after over an hour of waiting, the attendant announced that they had no idea of the location of our plane, so they were going to rebook us on another flight, which was scheduled to depart at 12:08pm, a full 2 hours after the original.
I could have gotten upset, but I figured I’d be grateful that they decided to put us on a fully functional plane a bit late, rather than a punctual but “Sanford and Son” plane that might have fallen out from under us. Once on the plane, I was pleased to see that it was a decently sized and comfortable plane with cute flight attendants. Sweeeeet. I dozed immediately, and awoke when the pilot announced our imminent landing in South Bend. I made it!
My brother came and picked me up, and it was great to catch up with him during the ride to my Mom’s. Once there, I jumped into her SUV, and we were off to see my Dad.
I finally found out that he actually turns 80 in 10 days (I was never really sure before), and finally, it looks like the years have caught up with him. I turned the corner to enter his hospital room, more than a little concerned at what I might find, but I was relieved to see…my Dad. Older, more shrunken, and wearing a Darth Vader breathing mask, but aside from that extraneous stuff, he’s still every inch my Dad. He hadn’t really eaten anything yet, saying he’s still too weak, but he lifted my spirits by popping off to Mom when she took a look at his IV insertion point and forgot to replace the covers. “Marr-rry!! Cover me up, I’m freezing!” Same old Dad. I could see the years that Mom and Dad have shared in the way she alternately fussed over him and then harassed him to no end. He’d generally respond with one-word answers until he got snarky right back at her. It was good to see that he still has his spirit. The man’s not done with this world just yet. He’s still fighting. “You know, your mother and I have been married for 39 years…and she’s just as mean today as the day I married her!” That got a smile and a quick retort from Mom.
Worried about bedsores, Mom asked me to help roll Dad on his side so she could check him out (none at all, thank goodness), and then we made him as comfortable as we could by rubbing lotion on his legs and feet, and getting more warm blankets. He managed almost a half a cup of warm broth and some tea before wearing out. Hey, when you haven’t eaten for 3 days, that tiny bit of food is a big deal. We’re hoping that this, coupled with the IV therapy that starts tonight, will help him to get over the hump and get well enough to come home.
There’s more, but I’m finally going cross-eyed from the lack of sleep. I’m going to attempt a shower before bed, and then I plan to count sheep until there are none left to count.
Day 2 Thursday, October 02, 2008
After more hours of sleep in a row than I’ve had in months, we were up and out the door at about 8:20am to see Dad. When we got there, he had his breakfast on a tray in front of him, and was actually eyeing it with some intent. Mom could only stay for a few minutes until she had to leave for her antibiotic shot (pneumonia, remember?), so she put in his teeth, and left me to feed him. We chatted a bit as I gave him a few forkfuls of biscuits with gravy and helped him with the orange juice. After a bit, he paused for a moment, and then said those fateful words: “I hate to tell you this, but I have to use the bedpan.”
Oh crap.
I figured it was urgent, so I hustled to find a bedpan and get it situated. In the heat of the moment, I was a bit nervous…I didn’t want Dad to have an accident because I was too slow, so I was scrambling around in a frantic search. I found one, managed to get it under Dad’s rear, but he kept saying “Is it under? It don’t feel like it’s under.” I tried to adjust it again before the nurses came in to rescue us.
This:
is NOT a bedpan. I don’t really know what it is, but it is not, I repeat, NOT a bedpan. I think it’s something you use if you need to puke.
This, however, IS a bedpan:
And let me tell you how hard the nurses had to try to keep from laughing at me, a nearly 40 year old man who didn’t know what the hell a bedpan looks like. I didn’t blame them…I’d have laughed at me, too.
Everything was OK after that. Using the bedpan was quite enough exercise for Dad, and after the nurse came in and helped him finish up, he asked me to take out his teeth and fix him up so he could take a nap. He’s resting comfortably now, finally getting more nourishment from that extra IV line as well as the few bites and sips of food he’s had. They’re bringing a big chair in so that he can sit up in it, rather than stay in bed the whole time, and start him walking again. He’s weak as a kitten, but that’s just his body. His spirit is just fine.
Although he is improving, we are all finding ways to prepare for the inevitable. As strong as his spirit may be, his body just won’t last much longer. It could go in a day, a week, a month…we just don’t know. All we can do is love him, and each other, and see what each moment brings. I know we’ll get by.
By the way, every single nurse that has seen me since the bedpan debacle has actually chuckled and waved at me. How nice.
A quick update from later that day:
A note about the big chair I mentioned: it’s kind of an industrial grade recliner, but it doesn’t act like the ones I’m used to. We put him in it after his tests, and as we got him situated, I put a blanket over his feet, and the extra weight nearly catapulted him across the room. Fortunately, I was there to catch him, and he wasn’t hurt at all…just a bit startled.
Mom showed up again soon afterwards, and we all spent time hanging out with Dad and getting him whatever he needed. Since Dad’s pretty hard of hearing, Mom bellows at him so loudly that it’s actually funny. Likewise, Dad’s responses are still feisty enough to make us laugh. It’s the same way they’ve spoken to each other for nearly 40 years, and that’s just how they roll.
Dad had ordered a Chef Salad, but was too wrung out from tests and various bedpan escapades to eat it, but Mom did manage to get him to take some broth, pudding, and tea. We sat with him for awhile, getting him waffle boots to keep his feet from getting bedsores, turning him every so often, and making sure he was warm and comfortable as possible. Dad rests a lot…just going to the bathroom tears him up the way the half-marathon whips me, so most of the time, there’s not that much for me to do.
Sometimes, I worry that I should be doing more, like reading to him or talking to him more. I know that I won’t have much more time with him…the hours are ticking away, and I have no idea how many are left. However, he assures me that he’s happy to just know that I’m here, and he’s not up to listening to me reading western stories, or to my typically ridiculous anecdotes. I do what I can, and when I don’t know what to do (bedpan issues come to mind), I call the nurses and ask how I can help, even if it means to just stay out of their way while they do their jobs. When Dad’s gone, how much I did for him here in the hospital won’t matter to him a single bit…but it will matter to me. He’s been a great father, so I feel I should be here to do whatever I can to help him through this time.
After dinner, I gathered up some of my toys and came back to the hospital to stay the night, just in case he needs something. I’ll probably doze off at some point, but I can always crash later in the day if need be. I brought my books, some martial arts DVD’s, music, and of course, my laptop. Even though there’s no WiFi here (CAN YOU FRIGGIN’ BELIEVE THAT??!!), I can still get my thoughts down and work on other projects while I’m here.
By the way, I feel I should mention the fact that I’ve been joking with everyone as much as possible ever since I set foot on the ground here. I hope I don’t upset anyone. Some might wonder at the fact that I can joke at all, with my father in such dire shape. They might wonder if I love my Dad. ”How can he be so…so…happy?” they might ask. Well, let me clarify this for you. I’m not happy that he’s in this situation. I’m not happy that I’m probably about to lose my Dad very soon. I’m not happy that my Mom is going to have to live without him when they’ve been together for nearly 40 years. No, I don’t joke because I’m happy, people.
I make jokes because I love my father very much. He and Mom both taught me to be strong in tough situations, because screaming “Why me?” to the heavens never brings a satisfactory answer. Fathers die…all of them. That’s just a part of life, and joking is how I get through each and every day of mine. Dad taught me that a long time ago, and I don’t see a reason to toss out that lesson now. In fact, now’s probably the best time for me to use it. So laugh with me, please. Dad prefers that.
Monday, September 29, 2008
There Have Been Better Days...
Word from up north is not that encouraging today. Dad’s not eating, and he’s sleeping quite a bit. Add to that the fact that Mom now has pneumonia and a fever. Sheesh. I know that Dad’s illness is stressing Mom to pieces, and stress lowers the strength of your immune system, so….bingo: pneumonia. Of course, she still plans to just tough it out and do whatever the heck she feels like doing. However, pneumonia with a 103.8° fever is a pretty big monkey to carry on your back, and it showed.
My Aunt Linda, and Uncle Robert (bless them) have been in the hospital pretty much the whole time Dad’s been in there, and Uncle Robert managed to get Mom to head home, take a cold shower, take her meds, and get her feverish butt in bed. He did so by simply saying this: “Mary, if you don’t go home right now and get in the shower, I’ll take you home and put you in there myself…and that’s gonna embarrass the both of us. I’d rather not do that, so get moving.” Wonder of wonders, she did. Knowing Uncle Robert, he’d have done it.
So I’ve been a bit distracted today, worried about my parents. Mom’s tough as old shoe leather (that’s just an expression, Mom…I’m not in any way saying that you LOOK like old shoe leather), but she’s still human. My father’s toughness is freakin’ legendary throughout our family on both sides, but he apparently has his limits. I just hate that we may have finally found out exactly what those limits are.
He’s not done yet, though, and I’m not quite ready to start talking about the good old days I’ve had with him as though he’s already gone. That old man is, in his quiet, stubborn way, still kicking and scratching, clawing and biting, even though it seems to the naked eye that he’s just laying quietly in bed, dozing. It would not surprise me in the least if he perked up tomorrow and started annoying the doctors and nurses again. It’s happened before. I mean, the man has kicked cancer in its proverbial nutsack not once, but twice. A death sentence for some has been nothing but an inconvenience to him. This is a man who lost his left hand in an unbelievably painful fashion while in his thirties, and yet never complained about it within my hearing…NOT. ONE. TIME. He’s a fighter. So I think it’s not unreasonable to hope he gets better, even just for awhile. Hopefully, he’ll challenge me to a grappling match this time. I mean, it should finally be a fair fight since he’s only got one hand, right?
Thanks for the well-wishes, folks. I’ll try and keep y’all updated.
My Aunt Linda, and Uncle Robert (bless them) have been in the hospital pretty much the whole time Dad’s been in there, and Uncle Robert managed to get Mom to head home, take a cold shower, take her meds, and get her feverish butt in bed. He did so by simply saying this: “Mary, if you don’t go home right now and get in the shower, I’ll take you home and put you in there myself…and that’s gonna embarrass the both of us. I’d rather not do that, so get moving.” Wonder of wonders, she did. Knowing Uncle Robert, he’d have done it.
So I’ve been a bit distracted today, worried about my parents. Mom’s tough as old shoe leather (that’s just an expression, Mom…I’m not in any way saying that you LOOK like old shoe leather), but she’s still human. My father’s toughness is freakin’ legendary throughout our family on both sides, but he apparently has his limits. I just hate that we may have finally found out exactly what those limits are.
He’s not done yet, though, and I’m not quite ready to start talking about the good old days I’ve had with him as though he’s already gone. That old man is, in his quiet, stubborn way, still kicking and scratching, clawing and biting, even though it seems to the naked eye that he’s just laying quietly in bed, dozing. It would not surprise me in the least if he perked up tomorrow and started annoying the doctors and nurses again. It’s happened before. I mean, the man has kicked cancer in its proverbial nutsack not once, but twice. A death sentence for some has been nothing but an inconvenience to him. This is a man who lost his left hand in an unbelievably painful fashion while in his thirties, and yet never complained about it within my hearing…NOT. ONE. TIME. He’s a fighter. So I think it’s not unreasonable to hope he gets better, even just for awhile. Hopefully, he’ll challenge me to a grappling match this time. I mean, it should finally be a fair fight since he’s only got one hand, right?
Thanks for the well-wishes, folks. I’ll try and keep y’all updated.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Eddie Bravo seminar...cool, dude.
Yesterday, one of my assistant instructors and I drove up to Waxahachie, TX for a seminar by Eddie Bravo. If you're not familiar with Mr. Bravo, he is (according to Wikipedia) "an American practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who holds a black belt under Jean-Jacques Machado. He is most famous for his win as a brown belt against Royler Gracie by triangle choke in the Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling championships the year 2003, and his unique style of no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, called 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu." BJJ Black Belt Paul Thomas was cool enough to bring Eddie down for a seminar back in 2004, and I really enjoyed the exposure to his system.
Since then, we've been working through his techniques at my school, so we welcomed a chance to work with Eddie and gain some additional insight into his system... we were not disappointed! Eddie is a funny, personable guy, who is so comfortable with his expertise in his system that he has no problem telling everyone "I'm only at about a purple belt level when attacking this arm. But this arm...different story." I like that. He's open, honest, and willing to help every single person in the seminar, whether they were inexperienced newbies or folks who had been training for years. It was well worth the drive and the money, to be sure. At some point, we might very well end up a 10th Planet affiliate...but that'll be a long way off. A long way. In the meantime, we'll keep training, add more competitions to our plan, and see what we can do.
After the seminar, I enjoyed catching up with my cousin, Robin, and her family. It's hard to believe how her boys have grown! Time flies. Next time, I'm bringing my fabulous wife and son so they can all run around together and cause trouble while I train with Eddie. ;-)
My Dad should be out of the hospital soon. The antibiotics seem to be helping, so he's feeling quite a bit better. Even so, I've already bought my plane ticket to go up and visit for a week. Thanks, Priceline! I've never loved William Shatner so much, until he got me a far-less-than-half-price ticket to South Bend, Indiana! I figure that it's better to go hang out with Dad now, while he's feeling better, rather than wait until there's an emergency and risk getting there too late. I'm looking forward to hanging out with the family, and annoying Dad with questions about his youth.
The weather is cooling down, and there's a taste of fall in the air. I love this time of year!! October, with Halloween, my birthday, our wedding anniversary, the Ren Fest, and memories of the Brazoria County Fair, is definitely my favorite month of the year. Any suggestions for a Halloween costume? Anyone?
Take care, folks. And tell someone that you love them. Who knows how many chances you might have to do so.
Since then, we've been working through his techniques at my school, so we welcomed a chance to work with Eddie and gain some additional insight into his system... we were not disappointed! Eddie is a funny, personable guy, who is so comfortable with his expertise in his system that he has no problem telling everyone "I'm only at about a purple belt level when attacking this arm. But this arm...different story." I like that. He's open, honest, and willing to help every single person in the seminar, whether they were inexperienced newbies or folks who had been training for years. It was well worth the drive and the money, to be sure. At some point, we might very well end up a 10th Planet affiliate...but that'll be a long way off. A long way. In the meantime, we'll keep training, add more competitions to our plan, and see what we can do.
After the seminar, I enjoyed catching up with my cousin, Robin, and her family. It's hard to believe how her boys have grown! Time flies. Next time, I'm bringing my fabulous wife and son so they can all run around together and cause trouble while I train with Eddie. ;-)
My Dad should be out of the hospital soon. The antibiotics seem to be helping, so he's feeling quite a bit better. Even so, I've already bought my plane ticket to go up and visit for a week. Thanks, Priceline! I've never loved William Shatner so much, until he got me a far-less-than-half-price ticket to South Bend, Indiana! I figure that it's better to go hang out with Dad now, while he's feeling better, rather than wait until there's an emergency and risk getting there too late. I'm looking forward to hanging out with the family, and annoying Dad with questions about his youth.
The weather is cooling down, and there's a taste of fall in the air. I love this time of year!! October, with Halloween, my birthday, our wedding anniversary, the Ren Fest, and memories of the Brazoria County Fair, is definitely my favorite month of the year. Any suggestions for a Halloween costume? Anyone?
Take care, folks. And tell someone that you love them. Who knows how many chances you might have to do so.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Dad Update, and a Survey
The word from up north is that Dad's doing better. Getting around on his own, eating more, and generally being cantankerous, so that's all extremely good news. Hopefully, he'll be up to his old tricks at the bowling alley or with the snowblower before too long.
So...here's a little survey for a lazy Sunday...
Have you had any beer this week?
Nope…that’s some nasty stuff, and it’s just not for me.
Are you happy with life?
There’s always something that’s temporarily out of reach, but all in all, I’m really, really happy with my situation. I have a great family and great friends, food on the table, and a job that I just LOVE.
Could you cry right now?
Ordinarily, I can cry at the drop of a hat, but at this moment, I’m just not finding anything sad enough or moving enough to bring on those tears
Are you a jealous person?
Far less so than I used to be.
Who do you text the most out of your friends?
That’d be BB.
If you could see one person right now, who would it be?
I do miss my wife (she’s at a scrapbooking retreat)…but I wouldn’t pass up a chance to spank Kelly Clarkson, it’s true. She’s naughty.
What were you doing this morning at 6:30am?
Sleeping like the dead.
What do you need to be doing right now?
Housework. I’ve already done the dishes, so I’m taking a break before tackling the rest.
Where have you lived throughout your life?
Angleton, TX, College Station, TX, Lake Jackson, TX, Houston, TX, and Katy, TX.
Where was your default picture taken?
If I remember correctly, in an airport in Minnesota.
Is there anything silver near you?
My digital camera is kind of chromy-colored…does that count?
What were you doing at 1 AM this morning?
I think I was reading in bed.
Do you wear contacts?
I used to, but my eyesight has seemed to improve over the last couple of years.
What color shirt are you wearing?
White t-shirt, and a green apron. Yeah, I know…sexy!!
Song playing right now?
The Warrior by Scandal. Yes, it’s an 80’s kind of Sunday.
Where were you Friday night?
At Jade Mountain, meeting with my assistant instructors, who are an absolutely fabulous bunch of folks.
Do you wear the seat belt in the car?
Oh, yeah. I consider myself a pretty safe driver these days, but there’s no shortage of idiots out there.
Has anyone ever mistaken you for someone else?
Not that I know of, although there have been a deluded few who commented on a resemblance to Brendan Fraser.
Next vacation you're going on?
Hmmmmm…not sure. We’ll probably go see my folks in Indiana at Christmas.
Do you like to text or call more?
I just LOVE to talk on the phone.
Have you ever kissed someone whose name started with a J?
After checking my lists (that took about .8 seconds), the answer is ‘nope.’
Who last sent you a myspace message?
Paula, an old friend from high school.
Whose bed did you sleep in last night?
The usual. Ours.
Have you held hands with anyone in the past week?
Oh, sure. I hold hands with Monkey every time we walk through a parking lot, and I love to hold hands with my wife when we go out.
What's the last book you've read?
The Navigator by Clive Cussler. Lots of fast-paced adventure!
What are you doing tomorrow?
Working out, teaching, making plans and getting stuff done.
Do you like to cuddle?
I really do, but not for hours. I get cramped if I stay in the same position too long, even if it’s a good position!
What are you doing right now?
Now, why do surveys ask this question? If I’m going to answer this silly thing with any kind of coherence, I need to be paying attention to what I’m doing…right now…which is this survey! Geez. Let me insert my own question here to counteract this silliness…
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself as the head of a small martial arts association that is devoted to the progress of its students, no matter what their skill or talent level. I see myself helping a select few of my students to run their own schools, and gain the joy and fulfillment from martial arts that I have. I see having a slightly larger home due to the addition of another little monkey. And I see myself fending off the almost constant flirtations of Kelly Clarkson and Cathy Dennis. Please, ladies!! There’s enough of me to go around!
Do you have a dog?
No, but I do miss our pugs, Beauty and Beast. They were goofy, snuffling, snorting, fuzzy balls of love.
Three things you feel right now?
Inspired, determined, comfortable. I know…odd.
Are you ticklish?
Why do you want to know? Do you have plans that I should know about? Should I limber up?
Who has your myspace password?
I think just me, but it’s not a big deal around here.
Is the last person you kissed mad at you?
No, my son is having fun and looking forward to part 2 of our Star Wars movie marathon.
Can you last in a relationship for longer then a year?
Let’s check my track record…married my high school sweetheart, stayed together for 12 years. I’m now married to my true love and soulmate, and we’ve been together for almost 11 years. I’m not terribly flaky in that area, folks.
Have you ever had your heart broken?
Oh, yes.
Are you hungry?
That’s like asking me if I’m breathing. Yes, usually.
Does someone like you right now?
Geez, I would certainly hope so!!
Is there a person of the opposite sex that means a lot to you?
You mean, just one person? Yes, of course. There are several in fact…right, Mom?
Have you ever felt replaced?
Um…wow, I don’t think I have. Interesting.
What's stressing you right now?
There have been some organizational changes with my former martial arts association, but I’ve accepted those, so…not really, no.
If you HAD to dye your hair right now, what color would you choose?
What, like the mob is going to waste my family if I don’t dye my hair? Fine…uh…green.
Do your best friends all like each other?
Yep. We all have quite a bit in common. That’s why they are my best friends, and they get along just fine.
Do you remember who you liked in grade seven?
Man, I had probably a crush a month in Junior High…Susan Viator sticks out in my mind, though. I thought she was just beautiful. And like a typical dork, I never said a word to her…just too shy!
Who was the last person you flirted with?
If I’ve flirted with you, would you mind telling me? My skills in that area are quite pitiful, and I’d like to know if I somehow, unknowingly flirted properly.
When did you go back to school?
I’m pretty sure that I’m done with Academia. I love learning new things, so I read a lot, and I love to train and learn new martial arts skills.
How much older than you was the first person you kissed, if they were older?
Is this survey directed at young girls, or what? I was older than the first person I kissed…I think.
What's something that you want to buy, realistically?
A crash pad for my school.
When's your mother's birthday?
October 27.
If you could only see one more artist or band in concert during your lifetime, who would you choose?
Come on…if you know me at all, do you really have to ask?
Who's birthday was last?
Of my immediate family, The Monkey turned 6 last November.
Who's birthday is next?
My darling wife's is this week. Oh CRAP!! IT’S THIS WEEK!!! I’d better get moving…SHOOT!!
What…that’s it? I was just hitting my stride, here! I’m gonna go think of more questions….y’all have a great Sunday.
So...here's a little survey for a lazy Sunday...
Have you had any beer this week?
Nope…that’s some nasty stuff, and it’s just not for me.
Are you happy with life?
There’s always something that’s temporarily out of reach, but all in all, I’m really, really happy with my situation. I have a great family and great friends, food on the table, and a job that I just LOVE.
Could you cry right now?
Ordinarily, I can cry at the drop of a hat, but at this moment, I’m just not finding anything sad enough or moving enough to bring on those tears
Are you a jealous person?
Far less so than I used to be.
Who do you text the most out of your friends?
That’d be BB.
If you could see one person right now, who would it be?
I do miss my wife (she’s at a scrapbooking retreat)…but I wouldn’t pass up a chance to spank Kelly Clarkson, it’s true. She’s naughty.
What were you doing this morning at 6:30am?
Sleeping like the dead.
What do you need to be doing right now?
Housework. I’ve already done the dishes, so I’m taking a break before tackling the rest.
Where have you lived throughout your life?
Angleton, TX, College Station, TX, Lake Jackson, TX, Houston, TX, and Katy, TX.
Where was your default picture taken?
If I remember correctly, in an airport in Minnesota.
Is there anything silver near you?
My digital camera is kind of chromy-colored…does that count?
What were you doing at 1 AM this morning?
I think I was reading in bed.
Do you wear contacts?
I used to, but my eyesight has seemed to improve over the last couple of years.
What color shirt are you wearing?
White t-shirt, and a green apron. Yeah, I know…sexy!!
Song playing right now?
The Warrior by Scandal. Yes, it’s an 80’s kind of Sunday.
Where were you Friday night?
At Jade Mountain, meeting with my assistant instructors, who are an absolutely fabulous bunch of folks.
Do you wear the seat belt in the car?
Oh, yeah. I consider myself a pretty safe driver these days, but there’s no shortage of idiots out there.
Has anyone ever mistaken you for someone else?
Not that I know of, although there have been a deluded few who commented on a resemblance to Brendan Fraser.
Next vacation you're going on?
Hmmmmm…not sure. We’ll probably go see my folks in Indiana at Christmas.
Do you like to text or call more?
I just LOVE to talk on the phone.
Have you ever kissed someone whose name started with a J?
After checking my lists (that took about .8 seconds), the answer is ‘nope.’
Who last sent you a myspace message?
Paula, an old friend from high school.
Whose bed did you sleep in last night?
The usual. Ours.
Have you held hands with anyone in the past week?
Oh, sure. I hold hands with Monkey every time we walk through a parking lot, and I love to hold hands with my wife when we go out.
What's the last book you've read?
The Navigator by Clive Cussler. Lots of fast-paced adventure!
What are you doing tomorrow?
Working out, teaching, making plans and getting stuff done.
Do you like to cuddle?
I really do, but not for hours. I get cramped if I stay in the same position too long, even if it’s a good position!
What are you doing right now?
Now, why do surveys ask this question? If I’m going to answer this silly thing with any kind of coherence, I need to be paying attention to what I’m doing…right now…which is this survey! Geez. Let me insert my own question here to counteract this silliness…
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself as the head of a small martial arts association that is devoted to the progress of its students, no matter what their skill or talent level. I see myself helping a select few of my students to run their own schools, and gain the joy and fulfillment from martial arts that I have. I see having a slightly larger home due to the addition of another little monkey. And I see myself fending off the almost constant flirtations of Kelly Clarkson and Cathy Dennis. Please, ladies!! There’s enough of me to go around!
Do you have a dog?
No, but I do miss our pugs, Beauty and Beast. They were goofy, snuffling, snorting, fuzzy balls of love.
Three things you feel right now?
Inspired, determined, comfortable. I know…odd.
Are you ticklish?
Why do you want to know? Do you have plans that I should know about? Should I limber up?
Who has your myspace password?
I think just me, but it’s not a big deal around here.
Is the last person you kissed mad at you?
No, my son is having fun and looking forward to part 2 of our Star Wars movie marathon.
Can you last in a relationship for longer then a year?
Let’s check my track record…married my high school sweetheart, stayed together for 12 years. I’m now married to my true love and soulmate, and we’ve been together for almost 11 years. I’m not terribly flaky in that area, folks.
Have you ever had your heart broken?
Oh, yes.
Are you hungry?
That’s like asking me if I’m breathing. Yes, usually.
Does someone like you right now?
Geez, I would certainly hope so!!
Is there a person of the opposite sex that means a lot to you?
You mean, just one person? Yes, of course. There are several in fact…right, Mom?
Have you ever felt replaced?
Um…wow, I don’t think I have. Interesting.
What's stressing you right now?
There have been some organizational changes with my former martial arts association, but I’ve accepted those, so…not really, no.
If you HAD to dye your hair right now, what color would you choose?
What, like the mob is going to waste my family if I don’t dye my hair? Fine…uh…green.
Do your best friends all like each other?
Yep. We all have quite a bit in common. That’s why they are my best friends, and they get along just fine.
Do you remember who you liked in grade seven?
Man, I had probably a crush a month in Junior High…Susan Viator sticks out in my mind, though. I thought she was just beautiful. And like a typical dork, I never said a word to her…just too shy!
Who was the last person you flirted with?
If I’ve flirted with you, would you mind telling me? My skills in that area are quite pitiful, and I’d like to know if I somehow, unknowingly flirted properly.
When did you go back to school?
I’m pretty sure that I’m done with Academia. I love learning new things, so I read a lot, and I love to train and learn new martial arts skills.
How much older than you was the first person you kissed, if they were older?
Is this survey directed at young girls, or what? I was older than the first person I kissed…I think.
What's something that you want to buy, realistically?
A crash pad for my school.
When's your mother's birthday?
October 27.
If you could only see one more artist or band in concert during your lifetime, who would you choose?
Come on…if you know me at all, do you really have to ask?
Who's birthday was last?
Of my immediate family, The Monkey turned 6 last November.
Who's birthday is next?
My darling wife's is this week. Oh CRAP!! IT’S THIS WEEK!!! I’d better get moving…SHOOT!!
What…that’s it? I was just hitting my stride, here! I’m gonna go think of more questions….y’all have a great Sunday.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Happenings, feelings, and my freakin' strong boy...
It's been a busy week around here, in many ways. Hurricane Ike left quite a bit of stuff to do, and many of us were lucky in that we only had to contend with gas shortages and power loss. My ailing father returned home from the hospital yesterday, and is feeling more perky today (more on that later). There have been some major adjustments at my martial arts school that I won't go into here, save to say that I'm looking into the future with renewed enthusiasm and freedom, but there's also a bittersweetness to that whole situation.
Here's what happened with my strong son today. His fantastic Mom is away at a scrapbooking retreat this weekend, so Monkey's been with me. Generally, he's pretty well-behaved at my school, and he was entertaining himself for much of the morning with some DVD's in the office. He got bored with them eventually, and wandered into the school, looking for something to do. He started playing around with the weight equipment that we keep in the corner for strength training. As soon as I saw what he was doing, I watched for a bit to see that he was safe, and then went over there to help him out...and brought one of my students with me to film it. Here's the result:
As I mentioned in the clip, he's only about 64 pounds fully clothed. He was doing a Lat Pulldown with 70 lbs. The ones he did before the video was shot actually looked far better than these, but he was just playing around. Go figure. And before anyone get started on me, let me remind you all that I watched him do this by himself for several minutes before I came over to help hold him down...he was doing it for fun, not because I'm trying to make a man out of him.
------------
As I said earlier, my 80yr old Dad is back from the hospital, and feeling better. When I was talking to Mom today, we spoke briefly about the preparations that are in place just in case his time finally comes. She mentioned that everything's already planned out and paid for, including his trip back home to be buried in the family graveyard near Greenville, TX. He also had firmly refused the casket she had picked out for him. Apparently, he didn't share Mom's taste in final resting vessels...not manly enough. "That thing's too dern sissified...you got any pine boxes back there?"
He's home now, and had a wonderful meal of tamales, refried beans, and buttermilk. "Hey, I didn't plan the meal...that's what he wanted." says Mom.
-------------
Have a fabulous weekend, folks. And don't be afraid to follow your dream. It could be a silly, frivolous thing (singing karaoke), or something monumental (climbing Mt. McKinley in Alaska, North America's tallest mountain peak). But have courage, and do the things that call to you. Make your Bucket List now, and get to work. Life can be unbearably short, you know.
PS I know someone who's headed to Alaska next year...guess what they're doing?
Here's what happened with my strong son today. His fantastic Mom is away at a scrapbooking retreat this weekend, so Monkey's been with me. Generally, he's pretty well-behaved at my school, and he was entertaining himself for much of the morning with some DVD's in the office. He got bored with them eventually, and wandered into the school, looking for something to do. He started playing around with the weight equipment that we keep in the corner for strength training. As soon as I saw what he was doing, I watched for a bit to see that he was safe, and then went over there to help him out...and brought one of my students with me to film it. Here's the result:
As I mentioned in the clip, he's only about 64 pounds fully clothed. He was doing a Lat Pulldown with 70 lbs. The ones he did before the video was shot actually looked far better than these, but he was just playing around. Go figure. And before anyone get started on me, let me remind you all that I watched him do this by himself for several minutes before I came over to help hold him down...he was doing it for fun, not because I'm trying to make a man out of him.
------------
As I said earlier, my 80yr old Dad is back from the hospital, and feeling better. When I was talking to Mom today, we spoke briefly about the preparations that are in place just in case his time finally comes. She mentioned that everything's already planned out and paid for, including his trip back home to be buried in the family graveyard near Greenville, TX. He also had firmly refused the casket she had picked out for him. Apparently, he didn't share Mom's taste in final resting vessels...not manly enough. "That thing's too dern sissified...you got any pine boxes back there?"
He's home now, and had a wonderful meal of tamales, refried beans, and buttermilk. "Hey, I didn't plan the meal...that's what he wanted." says Mom.
-------------
Have a fabulous weekend, folks. And don't be afraid to follow your dream. It could be a silly, frivolous thing (singing karaoke), or something monumental (climbing Mt. McKinley in Alaska, North America's tallest mountain peak). But have courage, and do the things that call to you. Make your Bucket List now, and get to work. Life can be unbearably short, you know.
PS I know someone who's headed to Alaska next year...guess what they're doing?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Best Music Video...EVER!!!!
OK, this made me laugh so hard that I nearly shot Monster (the energy drink) out of my nose. Enjoy!!!
Lots of Stuff...
Wow, I was rereading some of my old posts, and noticed that I used to write pretty long, involved entries. I wondered why I haven't done that so much lately, and then I figured it was because things have gotten more and more busy in pretty much all areas of my life...not as much time left over for blogging. So today, I plan to comment on several topics. Just because I can.
I'm currently sitting at Jade Mountain, enjoying the newly-enabled internet access up here. It's so great to be able to check my email, make equipment orders, and do other stuff while I'm here instead of having to wait until I get home. Larry is teaching a Krav Maga class in the other room, and they've got the music thumping...I'm planning to go in and work out on my own in a bit.
Larry's finally teaching here, and I couldn't be happier. We've been friends forever, and I've always respected him as a martial artist, businessman, and as a person. We have big plans for this place, and I'm looking forward to seeing the results of our combined efforts. We'd like to eventually move to a bigger facility, with two training rooms, locker rooms, and a nicer lobby. It'll be fantastic to have two classes going at the same time! And higher ceilings will be a huge relief.
On the home front, we've discovered that my Dad (in the hospital for pneumonia) also has a staph infection in his blood. They've adjusted his medication to compensate, and his prognosis is looking good. In an attempt to lift his spirits, Mom even managed to smuggle his dog, Ricco, in to see him. I'm not really sure how she pulled that off, but it doesn't surprise me in the least. That's just how she rolls.
Lately, I've been thinking of cataloging my Dad's funny stories somewhere. Although he's probably the toughest old coot I've ever met, I know that he won't be here forever, so I figure I should get to work on that kind of thing while he's still around to correct any mistakes I might make. (i.e. "No, it was a mullet that jumped up and hit me in the belly while I was waterskiing, not a perch.") He's got an awful lot of stories, and I know I haven't nearly heard them all, but I think it's time for that project to get going. I may devote a separate blog to that project...I'll keep you posted.
--------------------------------
I was mightily saddened to hear that one of our instructors has had his home mightily damaged during Hurricane Ike. Mr. Shaun Lawler apparently had his ceilings collapse during the storm due to water damage. I'm pretty sure that means that his roof didn't make it. We're all waiting to know what we can do to help, and I'm really glad to find that many of our students are ready and willing to pitch in. Hopefully, we can help him and his family recover from this crisis.
--------------------------------
Getting ready to head to Waxahachie next weekend for an Eddie Bravo jiu jitsu seminar...I've met Eddie only once, and really enjoyed his techniques and teaching style. Several of us are going, and it should be a ton of fun.
--------------------------------
Well, it's time for me to head in and start my training for the day. It's going to be ugly, I'm pretty sure. Wish me luck!
I'm currently sitting at Jade Mountain, enjoying the newly-enabled internet access up here. It's so great to be able to check my email, make equipment orders, and do other stuff while I'm here instead of having to wait until I get home. Larry is teaching a Krav Maga class in the other room, and they've got the music thumping...I'm planning to go in and work out on my own in a bit.
Larry's finally teaching here, and I couldn't be happier. We've been friends forever, and I've always respected him as a martial artist, businessman, and as a person. We have big plans for this place, and I'm looking forward to seeing the results of our combined efforts. We'd like to eventually move to a bigger facility, with two training rooms, locker rooms, and a nicer lobby. It'll be fantastic to have two classes going at the same time! And higher ceilings will be a huge relief.
On the home front, we've discovered that my Dad (in the hospital for pneumonia) also has a staph infection in his blood. They've adjusted his medication to compensate, and his prognosis is looking good. In an attempt to lift his spirits, Mom even managed to smuggle his dog, Ricco, in to see him. I'm not really sure how she pulled that off, but it doesn't surprise me in the least. That's just how she rolls.
Lately, I've been thinking of cataloging my Dad's funny stories somewhere. Although he's probably the toughest old coot I've ever met, I know that he won't be here forever, so I figure I should get to work on that kind of thing while he's still around to correct any mistakes I might make. (i.e. "No, it was a mullet that jumped up and hit me in the belly while I was waterskiing, not a perch.") He's got an awful lot of stories, and I know I haven't nearly heard them all, but I think it's time for that project to get going. I may devote a separate blog to that project...I'll keep you posted.
--------------------------------
I was mightily saddened to hear that one of our instructors has had his home mightily damaged during Hurricane Ike. Mr. Shaun Lawler apparently had his ceilings collapse during the storm due to water damage. I'm pretty sure that means that his roof didn't make it. We're all waiting to know what we can do to help, and I'm really glad to find that many of our students are ready and willing to pitch in. Hopefully, we can help him and his family recover from this crisis.
--------------------------------
Getting ready to head to Waxahachie next weekend for an Eddie Bravo jiu jitsu seminar...I've met Eddie only once, and really enjoyed his techniques and teaching style. Several of us are going, and it should be a ton of fun.
--------------------------------
Well, it's time for me to head in and start my training for the day. It's going to be ugly, I'm pretty sure. Wish me luck!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Yard Cleanup, my Dad, etc.
We waited until today to get started on the yard cleanup, thinking it would be drier. Wrong! It rained like crazy last night!! There were a few parts of Katy that were flooded, but nothing too bad. So after letting it dry up a bit, we donned gloves, workboots, and hats, and got to work.
I hope you enjoyed Connor's dance...he's a natural!
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We found out last night that my Dad's got pneumonia in one lung, so he's been admitted to Elkhart General Hospital. He's in room 2110, and should be there for a week or less, in case anyone wants to call. He's been pretty weak for the last several days or so, and we're glad to at least find out what's been causing the trouble. Antibiotics are hopefully kicking that crap out of his lung so that he can get back to being cantankerous as ever.
--------------------------------------------
Parts of Houston are still without power, and flooded. Galveston (as you might imagine) is an absolute wreck. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered during this storm...and I'm grateful that we've escaped unscathed.
I hope you enjoyed Connor's dance...he's a natural!
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We found out last night that my Dad's got pneumonia in one lung, so he's been admitted to Elkhart General Hospital. He's in room 2110, and should be there for a week or less, in case anyone wants to call. He's been pretty weak for the last several days or so, and we're glad to at least find out what's been causing the trouble. Antibiotics are hopefully kicking that crap out of his lung so that he can get back to being cantankerous as ever.
--------------------------------------------
Parts of Houston are still without power, and flooded. Galveston (as you might imagine) is an absolute wreck. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered during this storm...and I'm grateful that we've escaped unscathed.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Ike Update, 7:15pm
I was not surprised to see that there had been quite a bit of wind damage done to the sign out front. For once, I'm glad I didn't invest in a new sign a couple of months ago! That would have been a waste of about $2000.00. I really feel for the folks who own the store downstairs...their sign was way bigger than ours would have been!
Ike Update, 12noon
I think it should be said that we have been EXTREMELY fortunate out here in Katy. It's so much worse for so many people. We got off lightly, to be sure.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Ike Update, midnight. Windy!
We've had a couple more power outages, but again, they only lasted for a few minutes. We did have a few bad moments when we thought the A/C might be broken, but it's working fine now that I've changed the filter. Wow, that thing was clogged!! Anyway, it's pretty much business as usual around here, except that Monkey's up far later than his accustomed bedtime. Otherwise, Christina's playing Lego Star Wars like a fiend, and I'm surfing the 'net, doing nothing terribly important. If everything's intact in the morning, it'll probably be more of the same. We've cancelled classes at Jade Mountain, so I've actually got a Saturday off. Hopefully, there won't be any big problems to deal with, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Stay safe out there. And find something that makes you laugh. It's good for ya!
Ike Update, 9:30pm. All's well.
So far, so good. Sorry for the lack of light in the video...you can't really see the trees.
My fabulous son was yelling "ACTION!" whenever I would point the camera at the trees...he's full of fun, that one.
I know it's supposed to get worse between here and morning, but I think we may try to get to sleep before too long and if the storm wakes us, then so be it. Otherwise, maybe we'll sleep through the rest of the storm and then wake up tomorrow saying something sexy like..."Is that it?" to which we can reply..."Ah, yeah, baby...that's it!"
(Ahem...if you didn't get that joke, please watch the Business Time video from my Sept 7 post. It might make more sense.)
My fabulous son was yelling "ACTION!" whenever I would point the camera at the trees...he's full of fun, that one.
I know it's supposed to get worse between here and morning, but I think we may try to get to sleep before too long and if the storm wakes us, then so be it. Otherwise, maybe we'll sleep through the rest of the storm and then wake up tomorrow saying something sexy like..."Is that it?" to which we can reply..."Ah, yeah, baby...that's it!"
(Ahem...if you didn't get that joke, please watch the Business Time video from my Sept 7 post. It might make more sense.)
Ike Update, 5:50pm
Wow, things are not looking good in Galveston, but here in Katy, it's just a bit windy.
For Facebook users, you can watch my blog videos at http://sifuwhit.blogspot.com/
Stay safe out there.
For Facebook users, you can watch my blog videos at http://sifuwhit.blogspot.com/
Stay safe out there.
What Hurricane?
Oh...THAT hurricane!! "Ike" is headed our way, and we're hunkered down here at home. Katy is pretty far from the storm surge waters, but that doesn't mean that we won't get a buttload of wind and rain tonight when Ike makes landfall. We're glad that it's just a category 2, rather than something with a bit more "stank" on it.
Everything's closed up, more or less, but we've already made our preparations. We've got tons of DVD's (and a portable DVD player with a battery, thank you very much), books, flashlights, batteries, food, bottled water, and yes, Mom, we will be filling up the bathtubs so that we can continue to flush the toilets if the water service goes out.
Here's a bit of vid from outside...
To be honest, I'd prefer that this be an entirely UNexciting experience. I don't care for that kind of excitement. Here's hoping that everyone makes it through Ike safe and sound. I've got a lot of time on my hands just now, so don't be alarmed if I suddenly start writing some really ridiculous posts.
Everything's closed up, more or less, but we've already made our preparations. We've got tons of DVD's (and a portable DVD player with a battery, thank you very much), books, flashlights, batteries, food, bottled water, and yes, Mom, we will be filling up the bathtubs so that we can continue to flush the toilets if the water service goes out.
Here's a bit of vid from outside...
To be honest, I'd prefer that this be an entirely UNexciting experience. I don't care for that kind of excitement. Here's hoping that everyone makes it through Ike safe and sound. I've got a lot of time on my hands just now, so don't be alarmed if I suddenly start writing some really ridiculous posts.
Monday, September 08, 2008
"I said "WE!!"
OK, this just cracked me up...I don't know how long it'll be available, but here's Kristen Wiig and Seth Rogen on Saturday Night Live.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Funny Half-Marathon video
OK, I think I finally figured out how to load this video. In January of this year (2008), my dear friend Brian was kind enough to come down here and support me during my run of the Houston Half-Marathon. However, this particular event was more troublesome than usual...at least, trying to reach the event was more of a challenge than expected.
Here we go...
Here we go...
Just a little update...
It's been awhile since I've posted, so I figured that I'd sit down and write something. Things have been going pretty well lately...just busy!
First on the list of topics is the fact that Christina and I have decided that it's time to try for another baby. Ah, yeah...it's Business Time.
Now that my schedule is much better (I'm not working at a dayjob plus running Jade Mountain), and she's not working, we feel like the time is right. We want Connor to have a brother or sister, and yes, we miss that baby smell. Not the poo smell, no we miss that powdery, sweet, good-baby smell.
In other news, we just had a huge graduation ceremony at Jade Mountain where we promoted a few of my assistants (congrats on the Brown Sash, Amy, and same to Mark and Renee for their Green Sashes) along with around 30 others. I've been told that there are videos and pics on the way. Seeing everyone at the ceremony was a truly wonderful thing. We've come a long way from a handful of private students who trained in my garage. Now, it feels like we're a huge family, and I'm just thrilled to see how we've grown.
On another martial arts-related note...did you see Chuck Liddell get knocked out last night? WHOA! He got knocked into next month! Rashad Evans, my hat's off to you. Great job. I love to watch Chuck fight, but last night was Rashad's night.
So...that's about it for now. It's Sunday, and we're taking it easy today. I do have plans to take Connor to a local game place, or maybe the laser tag place today. Have a fabulous week, folks!
First on the list of topics is the fact that Christina and I have decided that it's time to try for another baby. Ah, yeah...it's Business Time.
Now that my schedule is much better (I'm not working at a dayjob plus running Jade Mountain), and she's not working, we feel like the time is right. We want Connor to have a brother or sister, and yes, we miss that baby smell. Not the poo smell, no we miss that powdery, sweet, good-baby smell.
In other news, we just had a huge graduation ceremony at Jade Mountain where we promoted a few of my assistants (congrats on the Brown Sash, Amy, and same to Mark and Renee for their Green Sashes) along with around 30 others. I've been told that there are videos and pics on the way. Seeing everyone at the ceremony was a truly wonderful thing. We've come a long way from a handful of private students who trained in my garage. Now, it feels like we're a huge family, and I'm just thrilled to see how we've grown.
On another martial arts-related note...did you see Chuck Liddell get knocked out last night? WHOA! He got knocked into next month! Rashad Evans, my hat's off to you. Great job. I love to watch Chuck fight, but last night was Rashad's night.
So...that's about it for now. It's Sunday, and we're taking it easy today. I do have plans to take Connor to a local game place, or maybe the laser tag place today. Have a fabulous week, folks!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
No Half-Marathon for me...
Every year, I run the Houston Half-Marathon in January. It's become a rather big deal for me. I look forward to it every year, in spite of my almost total lack of marathon training. Each year, I get out there and run my guts out to prove the following to myself and others:
1. The human body is capable of amazing things.
2. Age is just a number. I'm only 38, and many folks think that's old.
3. Determination and optimism count for a lot.
4. Martial arts training is a fabulous all-around training method.
5. On a personal note, when I put my mind to something, I really can make it happen.
Aside from the things I'm trying to prove, the entire experience is a massive amount of fun. I love the energy, the happiness, the laughing, and the overall humor of the day. It's a HUGE number of people all coming together to enjoy an athletic event, and I love every minute of it. And I love being able to tell stories about the race for the rest of the year.
But for 2009, I won't have stories to tell. Well, I'll have wedding stories, I guess. My fantastic brother-in-law and his fiancee (who is a world class runner, I might add), are getting married in Arizona that weekend. I love them both dearly, and I don't think I can attend their wedding AND run the race the next day. In fact, my loving wife has emphatically stated that I would be severely injured if I even tried to get out of going to the wedding. So there goes my race for 2009.
However...
I know there are other races out there. And even other kinds of competitions. Maybe I can use this apparent setback as an opportunity. There's got to be some kind of intense event that I can use to take the place of my usual race in January. Hmmmmm. This could be a blessing in disguise. New experiences could lie in wait for me.
So if you know of anything else I could compete in for the month of January, let me know. And if you know someone who wants a spot in the Houston Half-Marathon, send 'em my way.
1. The human body is capable of amazing things.
2. Age is just a number. I'm only 38, and many folks think that's old.
3. Determination and optimism count for a lot.
4. Martial arts training is a fabulous all-around training method.
5. On a personal note, when I put my mind to something, I really can make it happen.
Aside from the things I'm trying to prove, the entire experience is a massive amount of fun. I love the energy, the happiness, the laughing, and the overall humor of the day. It's a HUGE number of people all coming together to enjoy an athletic event, and I love every minute of it. And I love being able to tell stories about the race for the rest of the year.
But for 2009, I won't have stories to tell. Well, I'll have wedding stories, I guess. My fantastic brother-in-law and his fiancee (who is a world class runner, I might add), are getting married in Arizona that weekend. I love them both dearly, and I don't think I can attend their wedding AND run the race the next day. In fact, my loving wife has emphatically stated that I would be severely injured if I even tried to get out of going to the wedding. So there goes my race for 2009.
However...
I know there are other races out there. And even other kinds of competitions. Maybe I can use this apparent setback as an opportunity. There's got to be some kind of intense event that I can use to take the place of my usual race in January. Hmmmmm. This could be a blessing in disguise. New experiences could lie in wait for me.
So if you know of anything else I could compete in for the month of January, let me know. And if you know someone who wants a spot in the Houston Half-Marathon, send 'em my way.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
A General Update
So we're finally back from all that traveling! The trip, which I talked about in a previous post, was fabulous. I still need to discuss my thoughts on Carlsbad Caverns, but that's going to take a while, so be patient...I'll get to it eventually. As much as we loved the trip, I was totally thrilled to get home.
And two days later, I was on a plane, headed to Florida.
I had long since scheduled a weekend intensive with my Sifu (teacher), who lives out there. Arthur D'Agostino, a world-class taiji and mantis kung fu instructor, lives on a horse farm outside of Tampa, Florida, and he also runs a nutritional store. My good friend and colleague, Israel Flores from Pharr, TX, met me at the airport for the flight, and we were off for a weekend of training.
We didn't waste any time once we got there. Our teacher took us straight from the airport to his store, where he had recently rearranged the shelves to allow for a large training space. We got to it right away, going over the Chen taiji form, Yilu, and its applications. Over the course of the weekend, we did a lot more taiji, and some mantis kung fu as well.
And I have to say that, this time, I think I finally got it. I've been training in Chen taijiquan for some years now, and certain movements were still beyond me...but this time, I think I finally understood everything on a much deeper level. It may not be a big deal to you, but to me, it's a real thrill! It's as though I had been riding a bicycle for years using only one foot, and then suddenly discovered that I could use them both. This knowledge makes the application of the techniques a lot easier and more intuitive. Again, a big deal for me.
So I returned home on Sunday, enthused about being a kung fu/taiji guy and having new stuff to practice.
Also over the weekend, two of my assistant instructors and two other students went to Waxahachie to train with Brandon Quick, one of Eddie Bravo's 10thPJJ brown belts. They came back with lots of video, new moves, new enthusiasm for grappling, and a whole slew of sore spots and minor injuries. Eh, goes with the territory. We're already integrating the seminar information into our classes, and taking it all one step at a time. We're not ready to take the grappling world by storm, to say the least, but I really enjoy grappling. And in today's world, it's a foolish martial artist who doesn't learn something about groundfighting and grappling. I want our students to be educated in traditional martial arts, as well as be able to apply their skills in a real situation.
Anyway, that's what's rolling around in my head lately. Workouts are going well (I did a mile today in 7:18), our 6.5 year old son is swimming like a fish thanks to the Houston Swim Club and Mr. Rudy, and my darling wife is trying to beat the xbox game Psychonaut. Life is good!
And two days later, I was on a plane, headed to Florida.
I had long since scheduled a weekend intensive with my Sifu (teacher), who lives out there. Arthur D'Agostino, a world-class taiji and mantis kung fu instructor, lives on a horse farm outside of Tampa, Florida, and he also runs a nutritional store. My good friend and colleague, Israel Flores from Pharr, TX, met me at the airport for the flight, and we were off for a weekend of training.
We didn't waste any time once we got there. Our teacher took us straight from the airport to his store, where he had recently rearranged the shelves to allow for a large training space. We got to it right away, going over the Chen taiji form, Yilu, and its applications. Over the course of the weekend, we did a lot more taiji, and some mantis kung fu as well.
And I have to say that, this time, I think I finally got it. I've been training in Chen taijiquan for some years now, and certain movements were still beyond me...but this time, I think I finally understood everything on a much deeper level. It may not be a big deal to you, but to me, it's a real thrill! It's as though I had been riding a bicycle for years using only one foot, and then suddenly discovered that I could use them both. This knowledge makes the application of the techniques a lot easier and more intuitive. Again, a big deal for me.
So I returned home on Sunday, enthused about being a kung fu/taiji guy and having new stuff to practice.
Also over the weekend, two of my assistant instructors and two other students went to Waxahachie to train with Brandon Quick, one of Eddie Bravo's 10thPJJ brown belts. They came back with lots of video, new moves, new enthusiasm for grappling, and a whole slew of sore spots and minor injuries. Eh, goes with the territory. We're already integrating the seminar information into our classes, and taking it all one step at a time. We're not ready to take the grappling world by storm, to say the least, but I really enjoy grappling. And in today's world, it's a foolish martial artist who doesn't learn something about groundfighting and grappling. I want our students to be educated in traditional martial arts, as well as be able to apply their skills in a real situation.
Anyway, that's what's rolling around in my head lately. Workouts are going well (I did a mile today in 7:18), our 6.5 year old son is swimming like a fish thanks to the Houston Swim Club and Mr. Rudy, and my darling wife is trying to beat the xbox game Psychonaut. Life is good!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Jade Mountain Grapplers
This past Saturday, I spent much of the time clutching my phone, awaiting updates from my dear friend, Larry. He was with several of our Jade Mountain students at a Houston grappling tournament, their first. Although we really enjoy grappling, it's not our main focus, but our guys were still eager to get out and compete, gain some experience, and have some fun.
From what I hear, everyone gave a good account of themselves, and a couple managed to win their divisions!
Shaun Lawler won 1st in Master's Gi, Heavyweight
Mark Dong won 1st in Master's No-Gi, Lightweight
Other competitors were Kevin Hall, Daniel Loree, and David Mordente, and they all fought their tails off. Several matches went to the scorecards, and we're looking for these guys to bring home some medals in the near future.
Not bad for a bunch of Kung Fu guys! I'm quite proud of all of them.
From what I hear, everyone gave a good account of themselves, and a couple managed to win their divisions!
Shaun Lawler won 1st in Master's Gi, Heavyweight
Mark Dong won 1st in Master's No-Gi, Lightweight
Other competitors were Kevin Hall, Daniel Loree, and David Mordente, and they all fought their tails off. Several matches went to the scorecards, and we're looking for these guys to bring home some medals in the near future.
Not bad for a bunch of Kung Fu guys! I'm quite proud of all of them.
Firsts, and Traveling.
We are currently on vacation. I've never taken a real vacation before. We made travel plans, reservations, rented a car, packed it near to bursting, and hit the road. That was last Saturday. Since then, I've experienced many firsts. For simplicity, I'll just list a few.
I can now say that I've done the following:
1. visited Arizona, New Mexico, and California.
2. taken the subway in Hollywood.
3. walked along Hollywood Blvd, and the Walk of Fame.
4. seen Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
5. stumbled across the premiere of the new X-Files movie, and saw David Duchovny walk the red carpet.
6. got lost in Hollywood.
7. visited Legends MMA Gym.
8. seen many kinds of cactus.
9. climbed a small mountain in Arizona.
10. seen "The Thing".
11. visited Hurricane Harbor.
12. spent some training time with Scott Epstein, a 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt.
13. completed Halo 3.
...and we're not quite finished yet. We're in Carlsbad, NM, tonight, and we're hitting Carlsbad Caverns in the morning before heading home. I've never been there either. If you think that I haven't done much traveling, you're absolutely right.
Of course, we have had the pleasure of staying with family along the way, and that was fabulous. Gordon and Jen put us up in Hollywood, and it was wonderful to see them and their little nugget, Harrison. Cute baby, that one. And then we saw Doug and Julie, and Kim and Gayla in Arizona, and were treated to some good times there, as well.
This trip has been an eye-opener for me. Most of my life, I've stayed very close to home, and been leery of travel. "It costs too much," I used to say. "I don't need to see that stuff," or "I'm doing just fine where I am." Well, I've discovered that I love seeing different parts of the country. It's something that I want to do again, and again. "Without change, something sleeps inside us. The sleeper must awaken." That quote from Frank Herbert's Dune really fits right now. The wonderful, fabulous feeling I experienced on the side of that mountain in Arizona, that's something I'd never have felt if I had never left Katy, TX.
I didn't make it all the way to the top. The footing was a bit tricky, and it was somewhat steep. As I got higher, I could see the rain and lightning that was approaching from the west, and I figured that it might be prudent to get back to Kim and Gayla's house before that stuff got any closer. But before I started back down, I treated myself to a nice, long look around. I could see Phoenix, AZ in the distance, and other mountains all around me. The wind was picking up, but otherwise, there was a wonderful sense of peace and silence, and also a sense of vastness, of wide open space. I loved that. I want more of it. I feel different having experienced it, and it's good.
As I've said, we visit the Caverns tomorrow. I've seen pictures, but I know that they don't do much to depict the true majesty of what's down there. This will be another awe-inspiring event for me, and I'm looking forward to it.
Honestly, this trip wasn't cheap, but it also wasn't crazy-expensive. We packed snacks and sandwiches in a cooler, and ate from it each day rather than stopping to eat at fast-food places, or other restaurants. That saved us a ton of time and money. Special thanks to those relatives who let us crash at their homes for days on end...that saved us a ton as well. It showed me that you most certainly can enjoy seeing new things and new places if you just budget for the trip, and plan carefully.
So I'm already looking forward to another trip, even though this one's not even finished. I've been inspired, refreshed, renewed, and I'm ready to get home and barrel back into my everyday life with fresh enthusiasm.
I can now say that I've done the following:
1. visited Arizona, New Mexico, and California.
2. taken the subway in Hollywood.
3. walked along Hollywood Blvd, and the Walk of Fame.
4. seen Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
5. stumbled across the premiere of the new X-Files movie, and saw David Duchovny walk the red carpet.
6. got lost in Hollywood.
7. visited Legends MMA Gym.
8. seen many kinds of cactus.
9. climbed a small mountain in Arizona.
10. seen "The Thing".
11. visited Hurricane Harbor.
12. spent some training time with Scott Epstein, a 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt.
13. completed Halo 3.
...and we're not quite finished yet. We're in Carlsbad, NM, tonight, and we're hitting Carlsbad Caverns in the morning before heading home. I've never been there either. If you think that I haven't done much traveling, you're absolutely right.
Of course, we have had the pleasure of staying with family along the way, and that was fabulous. Gordon and Jen put us up in Hollywood, and it was wonderful to see them and their little nugget, Harrison. Cute baby, that one. And then we saw Doug and Julie, and Kim and Gayla in Arizona, and were treated to some good times there, as well.
This trip has been an eye-opener for me. Most of my life, I've stayed very close to home, and been leery of travel. "It costs too much," I used to say. "I don't need to see that stuff," or "I'm doing just fine where I am." Well, I've discovered that I love seeing different parts of the country. It's something that I want to do again, and again. "Without change, something sleeps inside us. The sleeper must awaken." That quote from Frank Herbert's Dune really fits right now. The wonderful, fabulous feeling I experienced on the side of that mountain in Arizona, that's something I'd never have felt if I had never left Katy, TX.
I didn't make it all the way to the top. The footing was a bit tricky, and it was somewhat steep. As I got higher, I could see the rain and lightning that was approaching from the west, and I figured that it might be prudent to get back to Kim and Gayla's house before that stuff got any closer. But before I started back down, I treated myself to a nice, long look around. I could see Phoenix, AZ in the distance, and other mountains all around me. The wind was picking up, but otherwise, there was a wonderful sense of peace and silence, and also a sense of vastness, of wide open space. I loved that. I want more of it. I feel different having experienced it, and it's good.
As I've said, we visit the Caverns tomorrow. I've seen pictures, but I know that they don't do much to depict the true majesty of what's down there. This will be another awe-inspiring event for me, and I'm looking forward to it.
Honestly, this trip wasn't cheap, but it also wasn't crazy-expensive. We packed snacks and sandwiches in a cooler, and ate from it each day rather than stopping to eat at fast-food places, or other restaurants. That saved us a ton of time and money. Special thanks to those relatives who let us crash at their homes for days on end...that saved us a ton as well. It showed me that you most certainly can enjoy seeing new things and new places if you just budget for the trip, and plan carefully.
So I'm already looking forward to another trip, even though this one's not even finished. I've been inspired, refreshed, renewed, and I'm ready to get home and barrel back into my everyday life with fresh enthusiasm.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Two Surveys
A = Age: 38
B = Bed size: King
C = Chores you hate: Painting. I don’t like painting.
D = Dessert you love: Chocolate pie!
E = Essential start your day item: uh…several bathroom items, I suppose
F = Favorite actor(s): I love movies, but don’t really have a favorite actor.
G = Gold or Silver: silver
H = Height: 5'-8ish"
I = Instruments you play: clarinet
J = Job title: Sifu (teacher of Chinese martial arts)
L = Living arrangements: House in Katy with Christina and Monkey.
M= My name is: William W. McClendon III
N = Nicknames: Whit
O = Overnight hospital stay: None I can recall, though I was burned badly as a toddler.
P = Favorite quote: "What the French, Toast?”
R = Right or left handed: Right
S = Siblings: 1 brother
T = Time you woke up today: 9:30
U = Unique about you: You've never met another like me, that’s for sure.
V = Vegetable you hate: eggplant can be a bit yucky
W = Worst habit: probably drinking Monster. Not into bad habits much.
X = X-Rays you've had: Just a few…ankle, knee, wrist
Y = Yummy food you make: I’m a whiz with eggs.
Z = ZODIAC SIGN. Scorpio.
------------------------------------
What is a difference between the last two people you kissed?
size, age, and sex. (Wife and son, silly!)
Who was the last person you were under the covers with?
My wife. No wait, there was a huge, laughing tickle fight between my son and me this afternoon, so I think that might count.
Has anyone ever told you you have pretty eyes?
Much to everyone’s shock…yes. If you feel compelled to do so as well, please be my guest.
Do you ever keep arguing when you know you're wrong?
Now, why would I want to do that? I don’t even like to argue!
How is your hair?
Uh…short. And silly. It ignores most of my attempts at style.
Do you like your first name?
I go by my nickname, but I like my first name quite a bit.
Does the person you like like you back ?
Oh, how cute. I would hope that my wife ‘likes’ me back. I’ll ask her.
Have you ever met someone who is amazing?
Oh, yes. I take inspiration from quite a few amazing folks.
How many different people of the opposite sex have you ever really cried to?
Recently? Just my wife. Over the years (especially in high school), probably quite a few.
Who was the last person's voice you heard?
My wife’s.
Do you like your life as of now?
Wow, yes I do!
Regret doing anything in the past week?
There were some chocolate bars that went missing, and I’m pretty sure that I had something to do with that.
How many kids do you want?
We’ve got one…maybe one more. But that’s it!!!
When did you last cry?
I’ve got a blog post about this…probably within the last few days.
Have you ever kissed anyone whose name started with M?
Lemme think….uh…...no?
Have you ever kissed anyone whose name started with H?
Yes.
Do you drink coffee?
That would be a ‘no’.
Do you crack your knuckles?
Nope.
Last thing you drank?
Water
When is your birthday?
October 31…I’m a Boo-Baby!!
Did you kiss or hug anyone today?
Yep.
Ever told someone you loved them and meant it?
Yes, absolutely.
Ever thought about getting your nose pierced?
Nope.
Have you ever broken a bone?
For a guy with my job and hobbies, I’ve been extremely fortunate thus far. Just my pinky toes have been broken.
Who are you talking to right now?
My wife just came home.
Have your parents ever smoked?
Unfortunately, yes. For decades.
Do you want someone back in your life?
Um…sure?
What did you last eat?
Chicken Tortilla Soup. Made it myself!
Has anyone told you they missed you lately?
Yep…a friend just did on Myspace.
Are you wearing any clothes that don't belong to you?
I’m pretty sure these underwear are mine.
If you could seek revenge on someone would you?
In my younger days, maybe, but certainly not now.
Is there anyone who holds your heart at the moment?
Yup.
What is your all time favorite memory?
Geez, I have quite a few.
How many grandmas do you have living?
Sadly, both are elsewhere.
Do you prefer saying 'f#ck' or 'fudge'?
Um…as much as I might enjoy fudge, its effectiveness as a curse word is somewhat limited.
Have you ever kissed anyone with the name starting with A, B, C, D, E, F, or G?
Yes. That’s my story, and I’m sticking with it.
What did you do today?
Amazingly, I did a whole bunch of nuthin’. I get to do that one day a week, and I excel at it.
Had any interesting conversations today?
A few, both verbal and written.
When was the last time you had a sleepover?
BB visited to watch the UFC fights during the weekend of the 4th of July, and we stayed up ‘til 3am or so.
Have you ever loved someone so much it made you cry?
Oh, yes.
Whats the first things you notice about the opposite sex?
Smile, body, and style of movement.
Hugs or kisses?
I’ll take both, please.
How many pillows do you sleep with?
Two.
Do you think (any of) your ex(s) miss you?
My only real ex has passed away.
You know, I think I’m going to sit around one day soon and make up my own survey. Just for fun. I’ll keep you posted.
B = Bed size: King
C = Chores you hate: Painting. I don’t like painting.
D = Dessert you love: Chocolate pie!
E = Essential start your day item: uh…several bathroom items, I suppose
F = Favorite actor(s): I love movies, but don’t really have a favorite actor.
G = Gold or Silver: silver
H = Height: 5'-8ish"
I = Instruments you play: clarinet
J = Job title: Sifu (teacher of Chinese martial arts)
L = Living arrangements: House in Katy with Christina and Monkey.
M= My name is: William W. McClendon III
N = Nicknames: Whit
O = Overnight hospital stay: None I can recall, though I was burned badly as a toddler.
P = Favorite quote: "What the French, Toast?”
R = Right or left handed: Right
S = Siblings: 1 brother
T = Time you woke up today: 9:30
U = Unique about you: You've never met another like me, that’s for sure.
V = Vegetable you hate: eggplant can be a bit yucky
W = Worst habit: probably drinking Monster. Not into bad habits much.
X = X-Rays you've had: Just a few…ankle, knee, wrist
Y = Yummy food you make: I’m a whiz with eggs.
Z = ZODIAC SIGN. Scorpio.
------------------------------------
What is a difference between the last two people you kissed?
size, age, and sex. (Wife and son, silly!)
Who was the last person you were under the covers with?
My wife. No wait, there was a huge, laughing tickle fight between my son and me this afternoon, so I think that might count.
Has anyone ever told you you have pretty eyes?
Much to everyone’s shock…yes. If you feel compelled to do so as well, please be my guest.
Do you ever keep arguing when you know you're wrong?
Now, why would I want to do that? I don’t even like to argue!
How is your hair?
Uh…short. And silly. It ignores most of my attempts at style.
Do you like your first name?
I go by my nickname, but I like my first name quite a bit.
Does the person you like like you back ?
Oh, how cute. I would hope that my wife ‘likes’ me back. I’ll ask her.
Have you ever met someone who is amazing?
Oh, yes. I take inspiration from quite a few amazing folks.
How many different people of the opposite sex have you ever really cried to?
Recently? Just my wife. Over the years (especially in high school), probably quite a few.
Who was the last person's voice you heard?
My wife’s.
Do you like your life as of now?
Wow, yes I do!
Regret doing anything in the past week?
There were some chocolate bars that went missing, and I’m pretty sure that I had something to do with that.
How many kids do you want?
We’ve got one…maybe one more. But that’s it!!!
When did you last cry?
I’ve got a blog post about this…probably within the last few days.
Have you ever kissed anyone whose name started with M?
Lemme think….uh…...no?
Have you ever kissed anyone whose name started with H?
Yes.
Do you drink coffee?
That would be a ‘no’.
Do you crack your knuckles?
Nope.
Last thing you drank?
Water
When is your birthday?
October 31…I’m a Boo-Baby!!
Did you kiss or hug anyone today?
Yep.
Ever told someone you loved them and meant it?
Yes, absolutely.
Ever thought about getting your nose pierced?
Nope.
Have you ever broken a bone?
For a guy with my job and hobbies, I’ve been extremely fortunate thus far. Just my pinky toes have been broken.
Who are you talking to right now?
My wife just came home.
Have your parents ever smoked?
Unfortunately, yes. For decades.
Do you want someone back in your life?
Um…sure?
What did you last eat?
Chicken Tortilla Soup. Made it myself!
Has anyone told you they missed you lately?
Yep…a friend just did on Myspace.
Are you wearing any clothes that don't belong to you?
I’m pretty sure these underwear are mine.
If you could seek revenge on someone would you?
In my younger days, maybe, but certainly not now.
Is there anyone who holds your heart at the moment?
Yup.
What is your all time favorite memory?
Geez, I have quite a few.
How many grandmas do you have living?
Sadly, both are elsewhere.
Do you prefer saying 'f#ck' or 'fudge'?
Um…as much as I might enjoy fudge, its effectiveness as a curse word is somewhat limited.
Have you ever kissed anyone with the name starting with A, B, C, D, E, F, or G?
Yes. That’s my story, and I’m sticking with it.
What did you do today?
Amazingly, I did a whole bunch of nuthin’. I get to do that one day a week, and I excel at it.
Had any interesting conversations today?
A few, both verbal and written.
When was the last time you had a sleepover?
BB visited to watch the UFC fights during the weekend of the 4th of July, and we stayed up ‘til 3am or so.
Have you ever loved someone so much it made you cry?
Oh, yes.
Whats the first things you notice about the opposite sex?
Smile, body, and style of movement.
Hugs or kisses?
I’ll take both, please.
How many pillows do you sleep with?
Two.
Do you think (any of) your ex(s) miss you?
My only real ex has passed away.
You know, I think I’m going to sit around one day soon and make up my own survey. Just for fun. I’ll keep you posted.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Swimming, Car Trouble, and Grappling
So we've enrolled our 6.5 yr-old Monkey in a 2 week intensive swim program. The first day did NOT go well. When asked if he liked the teacher, Monkey replied "Yeah...I'll miss him, 'cause I'm NEVER going back." We did our best to simply listen to his complaints and acknowledge his feelings of frustration, nervousness, and anxiety. And we quietly planned to take him back the next day, regardless.
Day two started better than we expected. He still had a bit of trouble, but by the end of class, he was 'gliding' with his arms outstretched and his face underwater. And he even managed to pull a ring from the bottom of the pool (with his teachers judicious assistance)! He was so proud! He even decided to accept the token sucker offered to all the kids upon completion of each class (he had loudly refused any such treat the day before).
Today, the boy decided he's destined to follow in the wake of world champion swimmer Michael Phelps. He's got some snazzy new goggles, and he's swimming his fool head off. He went down the big slide, and swam freestyle all the way to the instructor. The Houston Swim Club is just awesome, folks. If you need to teach your kid to swim, I'd say to take them there for sure. We are soooooo proud of our little Monkey. Once he's finished with his two weeks of daily training, we're planning a trip to a Waterpark to celebrate...which means I might need to get in the sun a bit beforehand so that my pasty whiteness doesn't frighten the locals.
---------------------------
Today wasn't the best day for my car. I knew something was up a day or so ago when the power steering went out. The power steering reservoir was full, so I called our trusty mechanic to schedule a checkup. Thursday morning was the soonest we could come in, so I kept driving. Then the A/C went out. And the battery light came on. And then today, right in the middle of Mason Road, the poor thing just died. Happily, it's just the serpentine belt (that's what you call it, right?) that's blown. Several years ago, I'd have found that problem a lot sooner, but when I popped the hood to check, I just plain missed the fact that the belt was looking pretty bad. It apparently disintegrated, the A/C and alternator stopped working, and the car sucked the battery dry. Result: a dead car that should be pretty easy to fix. Let's hope it won't cost an arm and a leg.
---------------------------
Classes have been wonderful lately. Attendance is up, and we're covering a lot of fun stuff. I have some folks competing in an upcoming Kung Fu tournament, and some are even going to a local Grappling tournament. I know that it might seem odd to some that a traditional Kung Fu guy like me would enjoy the grappling arts, but I feel that they are a perfect compliment to the stand-up fighting arts in which I've trained. Plus, grappling is a ton of fun. I like the fact that you can train full power with respectful partners and not end up with black eyes, broken noses, and various other impact injuries. It's rough, but so extremely tactical at the same time that it appeals to my intellectual side even as I'm trying to strangle someone. It's often likened to an extremely physical chess game, and certainly agree with that comparison. So I practice my taiji, and also work to perfect my half-guard game. Diversity is good.
---------------------------
It's getting late, so I'm off to bed. Have a fabulous day.
Day two started better than we expected. He still had a bit of trouble, but by the end of class, he was 'gliding' with his arms outstretched and his face underwater. And he even managed to pull a ring from the bottom of the pool (with his teachers judicious assistance)! He was so proud! He even decided to accept the token sucker offered to all the kids upon completion of each class (he had loudly refused any such treat the day before).
Today, the boy decided he's destined to follow in the wake of world champion swimmer Michael Phelps. He's got some snazzy new goggles, and he's swimming his fool head off. He went down the big slide, and swam freestyle all the way to the instructor. The Houston Swim Club is just awesome, folks. If you need to teach your kid to swim, I'd say to take them there for sure. We are soooooo proud of our little Monkey. Once he's finished with his two weeks of daily training, we're planning a trip to a Waterpark to celebrate...which means I might need to get in the sun a bit beforehand so that my pasty whiteness doesn't frighten the locals.
---------------------------
Today wasn't the best day for my car. I knew something was up a day or so ago when the power steering went out. The power steering reservoir was full, so I called our trusty mechanic to schedule a checkup. Thursday morning was the soonest we could come in, so I kept driving. Then the A/C went out. And the battery light came on. And then today, right in the middle of Mason Road, the poor thing just died. Happily, it's just the serpentine belt (that's what you call it, right?) that's blown. Several years ago, I'd have found that problem a lot sooner, but when I popped the hood to check, I just plain missed the fact that the belt was looking pretty bad. It apparently disintegrated, the A/C and alternator stopped working, and the car sucked the battery dry. Result: a dead car that should be pretty easy to fix. Let's hope it won't cost an arm and a leg.
---------------------------
Classes have been wonderful lately. Attendance is up, and we're covering a lot of fun stuff. I have some folks competing in an upcoming Kung Fu tournament, and some are even going to a local Grappling tournament. I know that it might seem odd to some that a traditional Kung Fu guy like me would enjoy the grappling arts, but I feel that they are a perfect compliment to the stand-up fighting arts in which I've trained. Plus, grappling is a ton of fun. I like the fact that you can train full power with respectful partners and not end up with black eyes, broken noses, and various other impact injuries. It's rough, but so extremely tactical at the same time that it appeals to my intellectual side even as I'm trying to strangle someone. It's often likened to an extremely physical chess game, and certainly agree with that comparison. So I practice my taiji, and also work to perfect my half-guard game. Diversity is good.
---------------------------
It's getting late, so I'm off to bed. Have a fabulous day.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
About this Crying...
When I was a younger man, I never thought I could be moved to tears. It wasn't that I was such a tough guy...my emotions just didn't seem to work that way. I certainly didn't understand how a person could cry for joy, or because they were inspired somehow. Even the untimely and tragic passing of my first wife only brought me to tears twice, even though the pain I felt was bone-deep.
But as I said, I was a younger man back then. I'm nearly 40 now, and I've experienced not only tragedy, but unbridled joy. I've felt the thrill of goals met, and the disappointment of failed attempts. I've spent over a decade with my soulmate, and most of that as a devoted father. And so I've slowly entered the world of manhood and established my place in it...and now I cry all the friggin' time.
Apparently comfortable with the expression of such emotions, I cry at movies, tv shows, and commercials. I cry when I'm reading books,and when I'm relating events that are particularly meaningful to me. I cry when I read of an athlete that overcomes overwhelming odds to reach the Olympic podium. And I cry when I watch So You Think You Can Dance. So sue me.
I never expected to enjoy watching dance performances. I never really had paid attention to that sort of thing before, I suppose, but we started watching So You Think You Can Dance when it first came on, and I've been hooked ever since. I've learned a little bit about dance since I started watching the show. I enjoy the ballroom numbers and the hiphop dances as well. The Waltz isn't my favorite, but I enjoy it if it's done well. My favorites are the contemporary and lyrical pieces, and that's where the crying comes in. Sometimes, a performance will reach me on a deep and emotional level, and I find myself crying at the beauty unfolding before my eyes. Wow.
One number that never fails to move me is this one from last season. It was choreographed by Mia Michaels, and I have absolutely no clue what it's supposed to mean, or what story it's trying to tell, but something in it ALWAYS moves me.
If anyone has any idea what Mia was trying to express here, please feel free to enlighten me.
And here's a dance routine that moves me on a completely different level. It's H-O-T. Hubba hubba!!
And with that, I bid you good day. And I hope that you are inspired, touched, or moved to tears sometime soon.
But as I said, I was a younger man back then. I'm nearly 40 now, and I've experienced not only tragedy, but unbridled joy. I've felt the thrill of goals met, and the disappointment of failed attempts. I've spent over a decade with my soulmate, and most of that as a devoted father. And so I've slowly entered the world of manhood and established my place in it...and now I cry all the friggin' time.
Apparently comfortable with the expression of such emotions, I cry at movies, tv shows, and commercials. I cry when I'm reading books,and when I'm relating events that are particularly meaningful to me. I cry when I read of an athlete that overcomes overwhelming odds to reach the Olympic podium. And I cry when I watch So You Think You Can Dance. So sue me.
I never expected to enjoy watching dance performances. I never really had paid attention to that sort of thing before, I suppose, but we started watching So You Think You Can Dance when it first came on, and I've been hooked ever since. I've learned a little bit about dance since I started watching the show. I enjoy the ballroom numbers and the hiphop dances as well. The Waltz isn't my favorite, but I enjoy it if it's done well. My favorites are the contemporary and lyrical pieces, and that's where the crying comes in. Sometimes, a performance will reach me on a deep and emotional level, and I find myself crying at the beauty unfolding before my eyes. Wow.
One number that never fails to move me is this one from last season. It was choreographed by Mia Michaels, and I have absolutely no clue what it's supposed to mean, or what story it's trying to tell, but something in it ALWAYS moves me.
If anyone has any idea what Mia was trying to express here, please feel free to enlighten me.
And here's a dance routine that moves me on a completely different level. It's H-O-T. Hubba hubba!!
And with that, I bid you good day. And I hope that you are inspired, touched, or moved to tears sometime soon.
Friday, June 27, 2008
What a Week!
Wow! This week has turned out to be a pretty good one! My darling wife and son returned from their trip on Tuesday, and it's just wonderful to have them home again. It seems like Monkey's grown an inch at least in the week they've been gone, and Christina was certainly a sight for sore eyes. I had a chance to do some training with BB as well, and somehow managed to avoid his takedown attempts. It's always great to see him, to say the least.
The incomparable Larry Escher is also making an appearance, and we're enjoying the pleasure of his company. So my family's home, my two best friends were here, martial arts playtime, and fun...I'm having a blast.
Got some new toys this week...new laptop, a new mp3 player, and some way cool Bluetooth headphones. I think that's my toy allotment for the next two years, but it's worth it. Now my wife and I don't have to fight over our desktop computer...she can do Webkinz anywhere! And I can now carry my entire supply of crappy, girly, 80's music with me wherever I go.
We're currently planning another family trip, but I'm going on this one. Details are sketchy, but we may end up on the road for a few days, seeing the sights and enjoying visits with family. However, our road trip will be a decidedly lazy one, most unlike the ones I remember from my youth. My folks apparently come from the "Drive 'till you get there, and only stop for police and roadblocks!" school of travel, and I'm just not made for those kind of trips. I like to stop and smell the roses along the way, stop driving well before midnight, and enjoy the process rather than just get to the destination ASAP. Not totally sure where we're going, but I'm really looking forward to it, regardless.
Today's Friday. It's a good day. Go enjoy it!!
The incomparable Larry Escher is also making an appearance, and we're enjoying the pleasure of his company. So my family's home, my two best friends were here, martial arts playtime, and fun...I'm having a blast.
Got some new toys this week...new laptop, a new mp3 player, and some way cool Bluetooth headphones. I think that's my toy allotment for the next two years, but it's worth it. Now my wife and I don't have to fight over our desktop computer...she can do Webkinz anywhere! And I can now carry my entire supply of crappy, girly, 80's music with me wherever I go.
We're currently planning another family trip, but I'm going on this one. Details are sketchy, but we may end up on the road for a few days, seeing the sights and enjoying visits with family. However, our road trip will be a decidedly lazy one, most unlike the ones I remember from my youth. My folks apparently come from the "Drive 'till you get there, and only stop for police and roadblocks!" school of travel, and I'm just not made for those kind of trips. I like to stop and smell the roses along the way, stop driving well before midnight, and enjoy the process rather than just get to the destination ASAP. Not totally sure where we're going, but I'm really looking forward to it, regardless.
Today's Friday. It's a good day. Go enjoy it!!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Busy, busy, busy....
It seems that my fabulous wife and son won't be in until sometime Tuesday, so I'm here alone for a few more days. That's OK...I've been using the time to get some stuff done that has really needed doing.
Here's a short list of stuff I've managed to accomplish:
Get the oil changed in the car.
Stuff two punching bags at JMMA.
Get my new mp3 player up and running. Yay! ( got mine off Ebay for $80!)
Update the JMMA website...it's not totally done yet, but there's progress.
Wash, fold, and put away 98% of the laundry in the house.
Clean the kitchen. Including the junk drawers...WOW, there was a lot of crap in there!
Rearrange the dining room.
There still remains the rain gutters I'm planning to install, but that'll wait until Tuesday or so. I miss my family a ton, but I figure it's better for me to be happily busy than to mope around and get nothing done. Hey, that rhymes.
Now, I'm going to go finish the laundry, get some dinner, and read the new Eddie Bravo book I just bought, Mastering the Twister. I've been working on his Rubber Guard techniques for a while now, and although I'm far from a master, I'm really enjoying the process. Thanks to my friend and BJJ instructor, Paul Thomas, I had the chance to participate in a seminar with Eddie a few years back, and I was really impressed with his technique. Now that I've progressed a bit in my own grappling training, I can appreciate even more what kind of innovations he's brought to the world of grappling and BJJ. I'm looking forward to continuing my study of his system.
So now I'd better get back to work. I figure I've got around six hours before I should get to bed, and that's a lot of time to get stuff done!
Here's a short list of stuff I've managed to accomplish:
Get the oil changed in the car.
Stuff two punching bags at JMMA.
Get my new mp3 player up and running. Yay! ( got mine off Ebay for $80!)
Update the JMMA website...it's not totally done yet, but there's progress.
Wash, fold, and put away 98% of the laundry in the house.
Clean the kitchen. Including the junk drawers...WOW, there was a lot of crap in there!
Rearrange the dining room.
There still remains the rain gutters I'm planning to install, but that'll wait until Tuesday or so. I miss my family a ton, but I figure it's better for me to be happily busy than to mope around and get nothing done. Hey, that rhymes.
Now, I'm going to go finish the laundry, get some dinner, and read the new Eddie Bravo book I just bought, Mastering the Twister. I've been working on his Rubber Guard techniques for a while now, and although I'm far from a master, I'm really enjoying the process. Thanks to my friend and BJJ instructor, Paul Thomas, I had the chance to participate in a seminar with Eddie a few years back, and I was really impressed with his technique. Now that I've progressed a bit in my own grappling training, I can appreciate even more what kind of innovations he's brought to the world of grappling and BJJ. I'm looking forward to continuing my study of his system.
So now I'd better get back to work. I figure I've got around six hours before I should get to bed, and that's a lot of time to get stuff done!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
It's awfully quiet over here...
My wife and son are away on a trip with her Mom, Dad, Sisters, Brothers-in-law, nephews and nieces. They're all in a huge van, trekking their way to Utah for a family reunion. It sounds like they're having big fun, and I'm thrilled for them. There were some possible issues that could have made trouble on this trip, but happily, things are working out quite well so far.
Some folks are asking why I didn't go on this trip, and I don't mind saying that I don't like being enclosed in tight spaces for days on end with seven adults and six children, even when they are all on good behavior. I get a little twitchy, to say the least. Also, we are planning a family trip later this summer, and I'd rather not ask my fabulous assistant instructors to take over for me at my school for weeks and weeks. And someone has to feed Julie's fish and water her tomato plants, right?
And so, until Monday or Tuesday, I'm home alone. Wow, it's quiet here. I'm getting some things done that I usually don't...filling new punching bags, installing a rain gutter at the front door, working on the garage...stuff like that. I've got all the time in the world to train, read, surf the 'net, write, fix the JMMA website, pretty much whatever I want to do. But wow, it's just really quiet here.
I'm planning to go run some intervals in a bit, and then I need to go meet the air conditioner guy at my school. Not an especially thrilling day, considering that my wife and son have seen Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell, NM in the last couple of days...but just the same, I'm happy to be here.
So feel free to call or write. I've probably got time to chat.
Some folks are asking why I didn't go on this trip, and I don't mind saying that I don't like being enclosed in tight spaces for days on end with seven adults and six children, even when they are all on good behavior. I get a little twitchy, to say the least. Also, we are planning a family trip later this summer, and I'd rather not ask my fabulous assistant instructors to take over for me at my school for weeks and weeks. And someone has to feed Julie's fish and water her tomato plants, right?
And so, until Monday or Tuesday, I'm home alone. Wow, it's quiet here. I'm getting some things done that I usually don't...filling new punching bags, installing a rain gutter at the front door, working on the garage...stuff like that. I've got all the time in the world to train, read, surf the 'net, write, fix the JMMA website, pretty much whatever I want to do. But wow, it's just really quiet here.
I'm planning to go run some intervals in a bit, and then I need to go meet the air conditioner guy at my school. Not an especially thrilling day, considering that my wife and son have seen Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell, NM in the last couple of days...but just the same, I'm happy to be here.
So feel free to call or write. I've probably got time to chat.
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