Update (or is there such a thing as 'Downdate'?)

Aloha y'all...
Thursday finds me feeling a bit rested but still wiped out from the last week or two. I've been laying low the last couple of days to recoup and recharge the batteries. The gal pal is vacationing with her family so I'm missing her right now. I'm a little out of sorts because work has been a little wacked lately. People getting a bit testy. But I'm still surviving... As for the sisters, it's still a bit bumpy but otherwise status quo. Lou has a birthday tomorrow and I got her a pair of dinner theatre tickets to go out if she wants to... I hope she does. I guess it'll depend on whether her back holds up. Terri is still feeling like someone beat her up and left her in a heap with the treatments. And she's only in week two of a six month ordeal with no guarantee of success. But that's what we got to deal with... like the old saying goes: it's not about seeing through each other, it's about seeing each other through...
Well, this weekend marks the annual city-wide garage sales here in the Pier... how does a hick town of about 1200 people use the term 'city-wide'??? But the cool part is that the fourth of July celebration is being held this weekend (something weird about observing the 4th of July on June 30th) and that means the big fireworks display at the beach on Saturday night... woo-hoo...

Trying To Keep Up...

Hey kids,
Hope you all are enjoying the summer. So far it's been a bit of an adventure for yours truly. But you all have responded with prayers and hopes for good things for me and my family who (like me) are stunned by the response of so many kind hearted (no longer) strangers who have taken me and my family in and have reached out to us in such a wonderful and prayerful way... again, this chirpy, loud-mouth from NW Ohio/SE Michigan (as in right on the border)... is speechless. As for the sisters: well, baby steps would be the proper term. Lou is progressing very well. She's able to take steps without the aid of a walker or wheelchair and the only thing really giving her trouble right now is her back. It's been aching lots but right now she has color back in her face instead of looking deathly pale... But she tires easily and everything takes her a long period of time to do...
Terri is not sure how her treatments are working but she's in a lot of pain and discomfort and any physical exertion wipes her out. I went today after church to see them and ended up running all over town to get stuff they needed for around the house etc... and to top it off, I can tell they are both starting to irritate each other a wee bit because they have to rely on family members to help them and when we don't do things exactly as they normally do them... well... the attempt to stifle their disdain or disappointment is not well hidden... no poker faces here... :) But I understand that it's just the frustration of having to deal with such a crappy situation and a freakin' disease that kicks your butt and every other part of the human body. So I try to let it roll off my back and have been successful for the most part. When I'm not, I try not to be around them so I don't take out any frustrations I have on them. But my frustrations don't hold a candle to theirs, so I am working at trying to keep things in their proper prospective.

Back At It Again...

Howdy,
Well, tuesday was a day that started out very lousy, but ended quite nicely. I was not having a good day at work with some lady who didn't know me, right out of the blue, call me a f'ing imbecile. Maybe she had talked to my ex-girlfriend...lol... Anyway, it was just nutty because people were really in a snotty mood and just being nasty. I was trying to remain in a decent mood but was losing the battle... until I got to talk to the gal pal. Things started to straighten themselves out then. Much needed and I felt a whole lot better. I needed to get an attitude adjustment before I went to see Terri and Lou. I knew that they were both going to be feeling pretty bad. I knew it was early, but the girls actually weren't as bad as I expected. The day after is usually worse but for the type of treatment Terri was going through, I knew it was going to whip her. I get there and walk in and while she looked a little pale, she was resting on her bed, reading the paper. Lou was also there, laying down and taking it easy. I was surprised a little but just smiled and asked how it was going. Terri was feeling very weak, but offered up a 'better than I was earlier' so I took that as a positive sign. It's only the first day and I didn't want to build it up and try to make it more than it was... still, she was wobbly in walking to the bathroom but navigated herself reasonably well. I know the next couple of weeks are going to be brutal, but that's up to God and Terri's attitude...
As for me, I'm just kind of quiet and not really sure how to handle things. I'm feeling not so much confidence as I am trusting in God. I'm not going to shout that He'll do this or that... but I believe in Him no matter what happens. I love Him and pray that His Mercy and Grace is on my family...

Let the games begin...

Hope y'all had a good weekend...
Me, I didn't do too bad. Did the little things: the lawn, the laundry, some groceries... the usual suspects. Spent time over with Terri and Lou... I was feeling pretty good until Terri told about the regimen they're putting her on... the treatment they're putting her through for six straight months is the same type of treatment for AIDS patients. So in addition to all of the misery of pain, nausea, and vomiting, she'll also get the added fun of needing to stay out of the sun and a lot of different types of food she can't eat as a result of this... Plus the usual added attractions of weight loss and hair loss... there is nothing wonderful about this unless she is cured... It is going to be sheer hell, but she knows this and has spent the weekend getting prepared for everything she's going to have to go through... Me and my other family members are going to take shifts staying over there to watch Terri and Lou and do whatever needs to be done to take care of them... I'm really bumming about this crap that she has to go through, but as she likes to say: "if that's what I gotta do to live..." how can I compare anything to that?

A Better Day...

Mik: "hey Terri, what's going on?"
Terri: "Oh, not a whole lot"
Mik: "so how are you feeling today"
Terri: "okay I guess"
Mik: "well, that's better than yesterday."
Terri: "oh I got some news"
Mik (not sure what to think): "okay, hit me"
Terri: "the tumors that are located in my chest wall are benign"
Mik: (screaming like a school girl): "PRAISE THE GOOD LORD!!!"
Terri: "Yes, He is awesome. I know it's going to be a long hard path with the cancer everywhere else (her stomach, and mommy parts), but I was most worried about any tumors in my chest. Those are the worst. But those are benign and I start my radiation and chemo next week. Oh, and I got another little surprise for you".....
Lou: " I MADE IT OUT ... I'M HOME!!! "
Mik: (the one who is at times accused of being completely devoid of any emotion): (sniffle, sniffle)

As I sit here typing this out, I am simply, profoundly, humbled... I am speechless when I try to even remotely fathom an answer to the incredible response from all of you when I was feeling at my lowest. I needed prayer for my family and was too proud to really ask. I can provide lip service, but when it counted most, I just stewed inside. I woke up this morning and headed into work, a bird left a gift for me (hint: he made it himself) that missed my shirt and tie but caught the back of my pants. And I didn't notice it until I got to work. A lady in my office noticed it and proceeded to grab a rag and wipe my pants... (the bird turd was on my backside) I was too stunned to be embarrased at a lady old enough to be my mom cleaning the top of my backside. Something inside told me not to give in to the temptation of getting hacked off about it... just keep a cool head Mik... like you always do... When I took a break, I went and checked my email for a response or two... HUH??? I was completely stunned by what I saw. I had to fight back the tears as I read note after encouraging note. I was humbled to my core... Thank you seems so inadequate to what the power of your prayers have meant to me and my family... But I humble myself and offer the most heartfelt, and sincere thanks to all of you. I will keep you all in my prayers as well. I know she has a long way to go yet. But I'm at least more optimistic than I was 24 hours ago... I told Terri about all of you offering us up in prayer... she wept openly... Whoever says that prayer does not work... well, they don't know who they're messing with!!! Terri was pretty low key about getting the call from the oncologist regarding the chest tumors. But knowing how vicious those things can be... I see it as a major step in Our Lord making His presence felt... I pray that she faces her next stage of this challenge with determination, courage, and hope! You all have given me hope... With a tear or two in my eyes, I say thank you...

With the deepest gratitude... Mik

Teed off On Life...

Howdy,
Well the news was pretty grim for my sister Terri. The cancer is not only back, but its spread all over. Her stomach wall, her chest wall, and the prognosis is not good. This was just a lousy day yesterday. It was my kid sister’s birthday and when she found out about Terri, she sat and just cried and cried. Terri felt like she ruined Angie’s birthday. I wanted to get mad because that was so not true. Terri didn’t ask for this (expletive deleted) disease. She wants no part of it. She didn’t try to upstage her little sister by letting us know what the results were. We knew she was going to get the results back on Tuesday. Still, Terri felt horrible about (in her mind) “ruining” Angie’s birthday… I talked with Terri a couple of times yesterday and she is still trying to come to terms with facing her own mortality. As she so eloquently put it: “Today (Tuesday) was not one of my better days.” If that isn’t the understatement of the year…
I was heading home and trying to put things in perspective. It just didn’t seem fair to me. It goes back to that all too familiar question; God, why do bad things happen to good people? I know God has His reasons for everything. But I keep thinking that Terri still wants very much to live. She is a school teacher and wants to impact the lives of the children she teaches. Virtually every class that goes through cites Terri as their very favorite teacher. She has such a genuine heart for children. She gave up her teenage years after my mom died to raise our family and keep us together somehow. My sister Lou is in an ECF trying to rehab to where she can get out of there and get back to trying to deal with her leukemia. The one person who is there helping her day after monotonous day, is Terri. And Terri’s reward for all that she does? She gets this… THIS????

Life

Tuesday: the good the bad and the ugly... in reverse order:
The ugly- my sister who has been taking care of our older sister from the beggining regarding the whole leukemia thing and being in the ECF, has a problem of her own to deal with. It turns out she'll find out today if the cancer has returned to her. She dealt with the ravages of ovarian cancer.... What misery that was for her. Well, her pet scan showed something that wasn't suppose to be there. So she'll find out today what it is and what might happen. I know that cancer runs in my family (it took my dad, his sister, his brother, his mom and dad, well, you get the picture). I probably should go and check myself out, but I'm scared to figure out what is going on with me. I know what I should do... but...
The bad- My sister who is in the ECF is getting more cantankerous by the minute and wants to leave there immediately but has to wait for the ok from her foot (stump) doctor. I suppose that's good because that means she is getting stronger. But she is also becoming more desperate to leave before she is done with rehabi of her stump. While my other younger sister has been amazing at being there for her, well, she isn't being told of the lousy pet scan from my other sister. We'll wait to see what the results are and wait for my sis to get out of the ECF and see how things play out...
The good- Today is my youngest sister's birthday. Happy b-day kid... I hope that your husband remembers that you're another year older... I'm sure the kids will remind him... ;) Also good - I got to spend part of the weekend with a human being who defies description... I can't put into words how much this person has impacted my life to the point where I am a changed person... changed for the MUCH better...
So while I've got lots on my plate to think about... I'm going to continue to pray and stand on my faith that all things will work themselves out... that is my prayer... God Bless... :)

Nothing's Bugging Me...

Random thoughts as I look forward to the weekend:
I have managed to navigate through the week armed with a fresh bottle of Mitchum anti perspirant deoderant... My toilet seems a little dryer than usual... :)
We got through show number one of the golf show online. As some of you know, we quit the radio station at the behest of my radio partner because of some fumblings by the station and they completely hacked us off... well, Mike, Dave, and I decided to take the show online and not be bothered by the goofballs at the local AM-radio affiliate. Instead of getting up at some ridiculous hour every saturday, we moved it to wednesday nights at 7pm ET and it can be heard by anyone online by going to http://cherokee.totalink.net and clicking on the listen live link. The link only works during the broadcast. Otherwise it's a dead link. The shows are archived so if you want to listen to a past show, just go to www.greatlakesgolftoday.com and click on the radio webcast link and that will take you there. Of course there's only one show up right now, but you get the idea...
I'm hoping I don't jinx myself, but the other day, when I mentioned the mayflies making their appearance here at the lake, I was preparing myself for the onslaught. Well, two nights of cold air with temps in the 40's farenheit, and I haven't seen anymore of them. Last year, they were all over the place by the 3rd week of May. We're heading into week two of June and... and... and...

How to Apply roll-on to the toilet...

You know it's going to be a wacky start to the week when I reached for the brand spanking new deodorant/ anti-persperant and the cap is in my hand but the bottom end of it which is the business end of the deodorant.. slips apart from the cap, and sails right into the toilet! Beautiful... just what I needed. I stood there and for about a tenth of a second, I was ticked off, but then I realized how absurd the look of the anti-persperant settled in the bottom of the commode looks, and I started laughing... Only something this silly could happen to me... I'm such a goof.
The weekend was pretty good. Sat in a miserable heat to broadcast a couple of games for TV and then a wicked rainstorm moved in about ten minutes after I got in my car to leave... I have a full head of hair but I still suffered sunburn on my scalp! Only something this silly could happen to me... I'm such a goof.
Sunday, I went to see my sister in the nursing home/ rehab... she is so frustrated and hates it there. Her thoughts: "It's a place where old people come to die... GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!" She has improved dramatically on a physical level. She is able to walk up and down the hallway with the help of a walker and wants to go home with Visiting Nurse and do PT at home as well. My other sister is going to talk to the nursing director and see if we can get her out of there. Otherwise, her care there is just fine which where nursing homes are concerned, is great, if not surprising...
This weekend up coming is the open camp tryout for the Cherokee hockey team. The players that make the cut from this camp will be invited to the main tryout camp in August. The coaching staff will probably find a few players out of the camp. At least I hope they do... I won't be there... hahahaha.... I've got other commitments.
Well, the mayflies are starting to make their appearance. Ugh, I hate those things but that is the price I pay for living at the lake. I know they'll be gone in about a month, but for the next four weeks, I have to put up with finding mayflies in just about everything... the side of the house, in and out of my car, in the commode with the deodorant :) well, you get the idea....

Looking Back to Look Ahead...

Oh yes, the weekend... glad that it's here. It's supposed to rain and be in the 90's here on the Ohio-Michigan border but I don't really care at this point. I'm just looking forward to a little r-n-r from the day job. And broadcasting some ball on TV today if the weather holds up... so far so good. This week was just a weird week. The day job was nutty... dealt with lots of freaky folks. I'm not trying to judge, but... well, this was typical of my days at work:

Me: "hello, can i help you"
Female Caller: "yeah, I'm looking for ....."
Me: "Ma'am, how do you spell that please so I can look it up for you?"
Caller: "I don't know! Don't you know how to spell???"
Me: Trying not to laugh... "let's try this again"
Caller: to someone in the backround... "you know what baby? hand me a shirt. I have to put a shirt on today. I've been walking around all day without one..."
Me: trying not to be scarred by the mental picture... "uh, ma'am, we don't have a patient here with that name... have a great day"... click...
Me: "Me thinks me needs a drink!"

As my workday was ending, I got a call from a dear old friend Heidi. I've known Heidi and her husband Mike for probably 20 years. We played volleyball together for what seemed like an eternity... But anyway, Heidi calls and tells me there is a mini-reunion of some of the former ICU staff from years ago and are getting together at Shorty's BBQ... I didn't have any plans so I thought I'd stop by and see a few friends from years gone by... Back in the 80's, I used to work up in ICU as an orderly. I loved working with those folks up there because we did everything together. We worked, laughed, cried, partied, went on picnics, vacations, you name it. I went to work in a different unit later on, but while I was a part of it, I really enjoyed it. Saw a few faces I hadn't seen in over 15 years or so... someone brought some picture albums and it was a stroll down memory lane. Looking at the girls all sitting there in front of me, it almost felt like 1987 again. When I looked in the photo albums, I saw some folks that triggered some wild memories that I had long forgotten about. There were even some pictures of me in there from when a few of us played in Mud Volleyball tournaments. Oh my... I think the weirdest thing I experienced was seeing a couple of pictures of my first girlfriend. That brought back a few memories. Some good, some not. But I have the benefit of time passing along to gain some perspective and when I saw her picture there, I chose to smile and think of her in a positive way. She's married with kids living out east now. I hadn't thought about her in forever. But friday night, seeing her pictures in the photo album, made me think about a time in my past when things were simpler, but also more wacked out. It made me realize where I was emotionally back then and where I am now. I really like where I am now :) I'm a much more stable and happy person today. But for one night, I looked at the past without pain, anger or frustration. Nope, just with laughter, smiles, and fondness...