Jaques Pepin I am NOT...

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Me, I had to work but that's alright. It gets me out of having to cook. As for my culinary skills, well, lets put it this way... When I cook, people say grace AFTER they eat! That's why I usually make reservations or buy what's needed and have my sisters cook... For the health and safety of all mankind... I can make a mean Hawaiian cheeseball. But that is so easy my infant nephew could make it... I am looking forward to holidays... not the shopping so much because people can act like brats sometimes but I am looking forward to finding good deals where I can. Both in person and online. I've got more little kids to buy for this year but it's always lots of fun? How about you? Do you dread shopping over the holidays or do you look forward to it?

Jim Morrison Was Right... People Are STRANGE!

I used to be the type of guy that waited till the week before Christmas to START my shopping. Well safe to say, I'm OLDer now and a sure fire indicator that I've changed is that I'm looking at the Wal-mart and other store ads from the Sunday papers to see what kind of sales are going on so I can buy gifts early. I used to pride myself on shopping in the last week before Christmas and finding cool gifts for my loved ones. Now that I'm OLDer, and there are more little ones in my family, I have to be more conscientious about what I get. So that means I have to make a list (and check it twice) to see where I can get stuff for the little ones. I didn't realize how crazy people can be when it comes to shopping. I saw a lady about go nuclear on her son over food. He took it in stride but I was way uncomfortable seeing this unfold in public. I understand we all have bad days and can go off for the whackiest of reasons. But this was very trivial and she was within a gnat's eyelash of going Ma Barker on this kid. I came home and innoculated myself the only way I knew how... food and football...

Rise and Fall...30 years later

Can't wait for Halloween... not cause I'm a ghouls and goblins fan... not even. But I love seeing the little kids get made up and I like passing out candy to them. Lets me get in touch with my childhood. I'm such a dork. But I like being a dork. With the weather turning colder here, I'm in sports broadcasting full bore and of course that means not as much time with the gal pal... But she puts up with me. Instead of flowers for sweetest day, I sent Sherri's Berries (dipped in a couple of different types of chocolate and nuts)... It keeps her happy and in good spirits. And it keeps me in her good graces. 
Last weekend, I had the good fortune of attending my high school reunion for the first time ever. 30 year reunion. Yikes I'm getting old. But it was fun to see some friends from years ago. Sad to find out that for a dozen of those from my class who have gone from here too soon. But I knew how far I had come when I ran into a couple of old flames who both looked fantastic after all this time. One looked at me like I was from Mars when I said hello and smiled and nodded and later kept looking at me when I said so long as I was leaving. I tried to be a cordial as could be but she had her weird snooty look so I just let it go and laughed and walked away. The other was someone I had treasured and thought as a good friend and when she saw me she came over and hugged me. Asked how I was and I gave her my stock response (oh, I have a pulse so I'm good)... We were about to start a conversation when at that very moment, several people came over to say hello to her. Not to me, but just her. She was very popular in high school.... I wasn't... no big deal for me. I just said hello to a couple of other people I knew and hung out with them most of the night. While I was there, I texted the gal pal and she thought it was all funny. I told her I really missed her and wished she was in town and at this shin-dig with me. Having to endure heartbreaks, disappointments, letdowns, only to finally find a little woman from the Appalachians, who in her quietness and strength and from her wheelchair, made me realize what I didn't know 30, 20, 10 or 5 years ago... that she was and is so worth the wait. So much better than any of the females of my past. She is my future...

Time Flies...

Well... so much for keeping up with my blog... ugh... I have been SO busy. Real life has been taking up most of my time. But everything is going alright with all the main characters in my story. My gal pal still (yes, believe it or not...STILL) loves me and puts up with my crazy goofiness. But I think she feels a little better that I'm doing most of my sports broadcasting now while taking my nephew along as an intern. He works with the production crew and is learning the ropes. We, of course, enjoy the free labor from a high school kid...lol. It's really great because of my travels in the past, I haven't been in any of my nephews' lives very much at all. We would see each other at the holidays and whenever there would be an emergency. Since Lou passed away, we've made it a point to start spending more time together. And now, my nephew is working with me and he really loves the work. He had always wanted to be a cop. Now he thinks he'd like to do this type of work for a living. I told him that either choice would be just fine with me. His parents are getting a kick out of what he's doing and how he's been more interested in something other than video games...lol. I'm just glad I get to reconnect with my nephew and my family.

That Was Close...

Wow...
talk about getting a close shave. I had a close call on the way back from spending time with the gal pal. I was on I-75 heading back for home when a truck who was driving in the right lane (I was in the left and it was on a stretch of 75 that had only 2 lanes going each way) and this guy literally yanks his truck over to the lane that I was in. I had less than a second to react or else get t-boned at 70 mph. I yank my car to the left, hoping to ride on the shoulder of the highway. Well, as it turns out... no shoulder, just lumpy grass at a sloping angle so that my car bottomed out and I was able to pull the car back on the road. Good for me, bad for the car... it ripped out the bracket that held my radiator in place and it also smashed up my radiator. Not what I would call good times for your humble scribe. But I limped the car home the final 100 miles and was able to get her repaired so I'm back to being a long distance traveller. But it really made me appreciate life and how delicate and fragile it can be... I never thought of myself as a person who took things for granted. But I really do appreciate the little things a whole lot more...

Sweet Dreams...

ahhhhhhhhh the summer is starting to wind down. Under normal circumstances, a time to be a little sad. But remember, this is not a normal person you're dealing with here. My gal pal LOVES summer. She likes laying out in the sun when she can. I enjoy her doing that for obvious reasons...lol... but I'm not as much into summer as she is. I love the change of seasons. She HATES winter. I love fall and winter. Mostly for sports purposes. Football and then Hockey and your humble scribe is a happy camper. I enjoy that time of year immensely. She cannot stand cold weather and I love a crisp December day and the odd snow storm. Not continual but I like to enjoy the change of chilly weather from time to time. Pre-season football is upon us. I for one am excited. Not just for 3rd rate NFL action in August. But for some action to be on tv for me to enjoy. I've been enjoying the Olympics here recently. Not just for the success of my country, but for the back stories of the different competitors from wherever they have come from. It really makes me feel good to see how these young athletes have overcome such impossible odds and have found a way to achieve. I enjoy the endurance of the human spirit to outlast the odds and make something happen. Regardless of where you come from, it's a testimony to the human condition of making tough choices and sacrifices to have the opportunity to try and succeed. Not that they will be guaranteed success. But the blood sweat and tears that are put out will gain nothing more than an opportunity to achieve a dream. And that's all anyone can ask for...

Sum-sum SUMMERTIME!

wholly cow, it's been almost a month! Sorry about that everybody. Its been a whirlwind for me over the last 4 weeks or so. Many thanks to those of you who via facebook wished me a happy birthday. The funny part is that I don't use or visit facebook. The only time I know anything is going on is when I get the e-mails telling me what's going on in the community. That's how I found out people wished me a happy birthday... I don't know much on how to facebook or twitter or any of the other social mediums that are out there. I barely know how to do this blog and have been so busy that I'm doing a lousy job with it.  Mostly busy with getting ready for the fall sports season and have been getting in as much quality with the boss..er... the gal pal... lol... as I can. She is not a big fan of my sports broadcasting travel. However she can tune into most all of my games online so she's never far from me. I'm glad for that...
Football (high school version) will be starting up in a month and college and pro shortly thereafter. Then a month after that the hockey grind starts all over again which brings joy to the gal pal... NOT. Especially when I have to travel far from home. Last year's showcase was in Chicago. This year it's Minnesota. So that's almost a whole week of vacation time where I don't spend it in person with her... Did I mention she doesn't like hockey? lol.. But other than that imperfection, there is no other like her on this earth. She is THE ONE for me and for those of you wondering when I'm going to "pop the question"... it won't be immediate BUT...let's just say it'll be sooner rather than later... MUCH... SO THERE!!

A Comedy of Airs...

It's funny. When worlds collide you never know what to expect or how things or people will react when they're out of their normal environs. I got to experience that first hand when my sisters and my nephews made the six hour trek to visit my gal pal's family. Or as I like to call it: "when city slickers and hillbillies collide"...lol
I was deeply moved that my family was willing to get together and come down to hangout with a bunch of people they didn't really know at all. When everyone met up though, they seemed to hit it off splendidly. And they had a big ol' cookout too and we got to just relax and spend time getting to fellowship and pick on each other as family tends to do. Then on Sunday at church it was another round of people getting to meet my family again and it was weird hearing people tell my family that they like me. But it was neat to hear my gal pal's family tell other people (not knowing I was within hearing range) that they really liked my family. There were a few cultural things that I had to deal with... such as we northerners talk a whole lot faster and the country folks had the deer in the headlights look on a couple of occassions cause they couldn't make heads or tails of what we were saying when we were talking to each other. But we made it through just fine and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. And not one reference to Hee Haw, banjos, or the movie 'Deliverance' the entire weekend...

Moving On But Never Forgetting...

It doesn't seem like two years ago today that a seriously nasty F4 tornado went through this neck of the woods. 100 buildings flattened, a high school destroyed, a fire department and police department heavily damaged. And worst of all, 7 lives lost. Lake Township went through a lot. But they're rebuilding and most of it has been done. The high school is getting ready to open this fall. But today was just a day to pause and reflect and remember. It doesn't seem that long ago. I'm in a pretty okay mood though. Life does go on... A number of members of my family are going to make the 6 hour trip to see my gal pal's family with me. We're going to just hang out for a long weekend and spend time getting to know each other better. My family are true northerners. My gal pal's are true southerners. I don't know if the Hatfields and McCoys have anything on us...lol... My nephew is learning how to play rock guitar. I told him if he was down south, he'd have to learn how to play the banjo. He didn't get the joke but he's only 15 so I didn't expect him to... Hope this finds you all safe and sound and doing alright. We'll talk again soon...

Time... It does go by...

Hmm… what a difference three months can make…

It seems like only yesterday, we bid our sister adieu’ at seven in the morning. At the time it seemed like an eternity from the time she went to Heaven, to the time services were held. And that was only a week. It’s been three months today and so much has happened to the family. Obviously the biggest changes have been with Terri. She sent me a text today that simply said “Three months today, and I still miss her”. The difference though with Terri now versus 3 months ago, is that she would mope and grieve three months ago. Now, she’ll miss Lou, feel sad, but she is moving on with life because she asked me how to fix her computer…lol… And she was teasing me about a variety of things so her sense of humor is back and was sorely missed by the rest of us. I think about Lou everyday. I think about her when I see magazines in the gift shop at work… When I’m at the grocery store and I see the grape flavored Propel water. Little things like that. But I remember how full of life Lou was… I don’t wish her back here. She’s in paradise. Why would I take that from her? Three months ago today… seems longer than that but I know Lou would want us to keep going and stop moping. So we’re not moping… just taking time to remember… our precious bull in a china shop… our Lou…

And Before Ya Know It....

So... some good news for Terri... 

She has moved and is now in a much safer neighborhood and away from her crack dealing, former next door neighbor. She is now sleeping through the night and without the light on. She is getting better sleep and looks a lot healthier than when she was going through the time of taking care of Lou. She now is cooking again and the entire family is happy about that!! Our waistlines will once again expand because of her cooking. I couldn't be happier. I talked with her this week and she told me that for the first time in a very long time, she doesn't feel overwhelming pressure trying to drown her. I was joking around with her and in the past it was always me trying to make her laugh. This time it was her showing her sense of humor and looking like she finally, yes finally, was going to find a way to enjoy life. She still misses Lou tremendously... heck, we all do... But now that Lou is no longer suffering and is in Heaven enjoying paradise, Terri is now starting to spread her wings and is now starting to grow... to reach out of her comfort zone and do things she hasn't done before. I love hearing the joy in her voice again. God is good....

Movin' On Over...

I almost forgot about writing a new post...lol... I've been SOOOOO BUSY. Terri is moving because she didn't want to stay in the place where she and Lou called home. It really was eating at her. So we're moving her this weekend. She feels like she's going to be free to do more. I can't blame her for that. She needs to get out more after having spent all these years battling cancer and taking care of Lou. She didn't have a whole lot of time for herself. She's going to have that opportunity now. 

Me, I've been doing a better. Got to spend the last two weekends with the gal pal... She and I had not gotten to spend any kind of quality time with her as of late. She is clamoring for a ring. I guess I'm going to have to give in and do some shopping here in the near future. She has been so good for me and has been there for me at the worst of times. I'm just glad she's been there. It has made me realize just how fortunate I am that she loves a big dork like me...lol... I'll try and update things here over the next week. Thanks for your patience with me...

And Life Goes On...

Howdy... it's been a while but have been trying to pull things back together and get moving on. Terri is really down in the dumps. I went to see her the other day and she told me that she just feels a big hole in her heart and she really misses her sister and best friend. She has cried every day since Lou passed and has lost all interest in the things that used to matter to her. She's trying to be more positive for the nephews and such but as an example, for Easter, she loved to cook and have the family over for a big dinner. This year we've agreed to meet up at my other sister's house for dinner but it's going to be a very hollow feeling. That's how big of a gaping hole that not having Lou here has created. But despite the missing our sister because of how much she meant to us, life still must go on and there have been some nice things that have happened. My hockey team made it to the frozen four at our level and I spent last weekend in Chicago broadcasting the games. We lost but it was a great run. My nephew is back to taking up the electric guitar. My dad and Lou both loved it when he first took up the instrument. He stopped playing for a long time but as of late has taken it back up. It's little things like that stuff that lets us know that life will go on... It's also something that speaks to me that God still is very much a part my life. My little great-nephew whom I affectionately refer to as "the chunk" because he not very long, but is a stocky little guy. He is built like a football... but is cute as all get out... so dang adorable. And that reminds me that life still needs to be lived. He and my other nephews/ niece are the future of our family. And the attitude here is that we're going to keep going and do it for the little ones. But also to help my sister Terri to start putting one foot in front of the other... So she can honor Lou by living a full life...

Trying to Get Back In The Saddle... Again

Hi folks,

Many thanks for the prayers offered up to me and my family. We're doing okay. Not great, not fantastic, but we're doing okay. It's been really hard on Terri because Lou was her very best friend in the whole world. It kills me that when I see Terri, I see a shell of her former self. I can see how the vibrancy has gone right out of her. She is trying really hard to be positive for the sake of the rest of the family, especially the nephews... but it's definitely not the same for her. And she's the strongest woman I know! My family seems to be dealing with it as best we can. But there seems to be a piece missing from each of us. And we all know what or rather, who, it is that we're missing. When we went and met with the pastor of our church to do Lou's memorial service, my other sister looks at me and says "I really don't know how people can go through any of this without having faith". I had to agree. It was pretty rough but knowing where Lou is now, that gave us a great deal of comfort. I can't imagine my life without faith anymore. It has allowed me the wherewithal to accept that Lou is in Heaven and that despite the pain of losing her, I don't wish her back for one second. I don't want her back here suffering. I want her in paradise, enjoying life everlasting. Terri got up during the service and delivered a eulogy for the ages. As a number of folks came up to us and said... "I've never laughed so hard and cried so hard at the same time." That was the effect that Lou had on our lives, day to day. As I said at the service in church, "she's where we all hope to be one day..."

A Punch To The Heart...

A tough entry to write here folks. Lou suffered a heart attack during the night and was rushed to the hospital and they worked on her diligently but could not save her. She passed away this morning at about 7am. She had been through sheer hell and had survived it before. She went through so much suffering and then on the other side of it was able to communicate to us that she was okay. She held on long enough through everything to see her little grand baby for the first time. That made her so incredibly happy. And during the night, she suffered a massive heart attack. My family is in deep pain but the one thing that has helped us a lot is our faith. We are going to go through a lot of pain and hurt over the next week, but we will endure... As you might imagine, Terri is taking it the hardest. They were the best of friends, the "golden girls". Me, I'm still numb and am processing everything that I can. Its difficult to say so long to someone you've grown close to. But I know she would want me/us to continue on and keep going... Going to take some time off from the blog. But I'll check back and let you know how things are going... Pray for us... thanks...

How Sweet It Is (so help me Jackie Gleason)

With everything going on with Lou and Terri, it's been a bit difficult for me to keep myself up to date in the gal pal department. I have been on the road so much over the last few months, that I hadn't gotten to spend much time with her. We spend time every night chatting and talking but we haven't spent much time face to face. My gal pal made that fact very clear to me last week. She understood everything going on with the girls and was trying to be supportive, but I had been neglecting my duties in regards to her. So I had a game on Saturday night that I had to broadcast. Afterwards, I told her goodnight and went to bed. I woke up early Sunday morning and decided to make the six hour drive to go see the gal pal and surprise her as a Valentine's Day present. I got there and knew she and her family would be at church. So I go to the church and quietly saunter in and sit in the back. There were folks who saw me and wanted to say hello but I gave them the shoosh with a finger over my lips and they understood that my gal pal didn't know I was there. I walked over to her after church and said hello. The look on her face was absolutely priceless. It was a look of complete shock followed by tears of joy. I hugged her and each time I tried to break the hug, she just kept hugging me tight and wouldn't let go. I totally stunned her and she was the happiest camper. I got someone to cover me at work and it was blissful for her as I had Monday off and was able to spend a little extra time with her. Everyone told me she seemed a little grumpy last week. I guess her "Mik fix" changed things around considerably... But I learned a big lesson in that I need to pay attention and keep an eye on the boss. Even when I know she's understands what I'm dealing with concerning the girls, the underlying message was that she needed me. And I dropped the ball... but I shocked the living daylights out of her and then on Valentine's Day, I had to go back to work but made sure some flowers, candy, a teddy bear, and some spa treatment stuff were delivered to her... So I figure I've got like a 3 day grace period... lol... But it was all worth it to see the look on her face and then to have her say through happy tears that she loves me... Very much worth it...

Movin' On Over (Tip of the hat to George Thorogood)

Well,
sometimes with the good there is the bad... The good is that Lou was moved from the long term hospital to an extended care facility to do some rehab and work towards getting home. The bad? Well, that's a double whammy. First, the ECF is about 25 miles from her home which isn't too bad but it's going to be harder on Terri who doesn't drive on expressways. She freaks out on them I guess. The ECF is out town and the way there is via the expressway. The worse news is that Terri told me yesterday that she (Terri) went to the doctor and some of the cancer has come back in the lower part of her body and has spread some. Not good. But Terri talked about it matter of factly and was more concerned about Lou than about herself. Typical Terri. And she would in the past seemed worried and sad about it... not this time. She is in a lot of discomfort and pain, but she is more determined than ever to battle this thing. Please keep the prayers coming... She was baby-sitting her nephews and was making plans to cook a feast for the Superbowl and it dawned on me that she has such great faith. I wish mine were that strong... But seeing the family persevere, that strengthens my faith. And with faith comes (dare I say it?) HOPE?

Our Christmas Miracle...

We have gone from making funeral arrangements for her, to making dinner plans for when she might be able to come home. Here is our gal Lou, fresh from nearly buying the farm, (you can't see the the trach in her throat but you can see the blue tubing that goes to it)..... reading her favorite part of the newspaper.... the obituaries!! My family has a warped sense of humor... Or did I mention that already? God works in mysterious ways. I give Him all the credit and praise...

Voices.... I Hear Voices.... (apologies to Russ Ballard)

Sorry it took so long to update... but it was worth it. Lou has continued to confound all of us by slowly but surely continuing to improve. Between September and now, she's nearly bought the farm like 4 different times. She's survived having been given meds that she is allergic to more than a couple of times... yet, in spite of every chance she's had to give up and let go... she's battled through and has endured. That woman is like a Timex in that she can take a (severe) licking and keep on ticking. I really have come to believe that God isn't ready for her yet. I believe He has spared her for an express purpose. New Year's day was awesome in that we all happened to decide to visit with Lou at the same time without telling each other. Lou was in her glory with all of us together, just being ourselves in her room. She has become much more lucid and though she still has great difficulty with breathing, they have tried taking her off the vent for a few minutes at a time. She was taken off yesterday for an hour... They put a plug in her trach so she could breathe through her nose and mouth again. The other part of corking her trach is that by doing so, she could talk. Now Lou hasn't spoke in months, let alone, been conscious and able to coherently communicate with anyone. When the respiratory therapist told her with the cork on her trach she could try talking, Lou shook her head no. She was coughing and then said out loud "I can't talk" and when she heard herself, the look of shock on her face was absolutely priceless. She had eyes as big as saucers and her mouth dropped wide open. I couldn't suppress my smile nor my laugh. I was so glad that I was there to share that moment with her. She then got the shock of her life when her very best friend Nan stopped by and surprised her. Since Lou went out of consciousness and had been completely out of it since last summer, she hasn't really spent any kind of time with Nan and has been missing her since she has been improving. So a couple of days ago, I called Nan on my cell and put it on speaker so that Lou could hear Nan's voice. I served as the interpreter. It really lifted Lou's spirits. So yesterday, Nan shows up and they were just a couple of crying girls. Tears of happiness. I still don't know what the future holds for Lou. But for whatever time we've got, I know she is going to appreciate it... come to think of it, so am I...