There's no shortage of drama in my world, that's for sure! As Vi would say, "Gar-gar, SICK."
Yup, Gargamel was sick this week. Not ill, exactly, but in the hospital. (Gargarmel is Dan's dad, Greg.) During a post-offer physical for a new driving job, the physician noticed an abnormality in Greg's abdomen and sent him to the hospital immediately. He said, "Either you have amazing abdominal muscles, or we have a problem here."
That problem turned out to be an Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm (AAA). He checked in on Wednesday, and just got out of surgery moments ago. The surgeon said it was one of the biggest aneurysms he'd ever operated on. It extended beyond his abdominal aorta to the iliac arteries, so the repair looks like a little pair of pants sewn onto his aorta. Click here for more information.
The surgery went for 3 hours, and Greg is recovering in the Cardio-Thoracic ICU.
Thanks for all the healing thoughts and prayers!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Cheerleading!
One thing I love to do is unabashedly promote my friends' businesses. Their motivation and creativity are truly exciting to me! Here are some cool things going on now:
Portland Yoga Studio's Community Campaign
- Founded in 1989, PYS has launched a Community Campaign with monthly fundraisers for local charities. Check out the attached press release for more information.
Visit www.portlandyoga.com for class schedules, instructor bios and information on upcoming workshops.
Turtle Love Committee's Giveaway
- TLC specializes in non-diamond engagement rings. GORGEOUS, non-diamond, affordable engagement rings. Check out their contest here: http://soyoureengayged.com/featured/two-wedding-rings-worth-500-giveaway-only-a-few-more-days/
Hiccups & Fairy Dust's "Where in the World?" weekly contest
- Guess where the weekly photo was taken and win a prize! http://hiccupsfairydust.blogspot.com/2009/05/contest-with-prize-even.html
Wildwood Medicine's new addition
Wildwood Medicine is a center for natural health care offering acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, physical therapy, Chinese and Western herbal formulas, and yoga. Wildwood Medicine was established to provide integrative health care to the greater Portland community. Wildwood welcomes Jennifer Daigle, MSN, ARNP to their team! http://wildwoodmedicine.com/
Birth Roots' Sand Castle Competition
- Sept 12,2009 Crescent Beach State Park 9AM-1PM . Sign up your 6 and 8 person team, registration fee will be about $20. Each team has a fund raising goal: 6-person 8X10 foot sandlot $1000. 00 goal/team. 8 person 10-12 foot lot $2000./team. www.ourbirthroots.org for more information.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Too many mountains!
"God gave us mountains, so we could learn how to climb." Ever hear that one?
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE MOUNTAINS...at least for a while. Vi has a double ear infection and hand-foot-mouth disease. I threw my back out and can't walk like a normal adult. And, all the other "stuff" that is going on is still going on.
Some GOOD-GOOD things that are getting me through:
Vi singing "Do-Re-Mi" and "So Long, Farewell."
Our garden! Carrots are up! Corn is up! Basil is up! Sunflowers are up! Zucchini is about to blossom! Peonies will pop any day now! Lilacs are in full bloom and making my house smell WONDERUL.
Upcoming date at Beal Street BBQ courtesy of Auntie Boo.
Kris Allen winning American Idol (okay - it's a bit hyperbolic to say that this one is "getting me through," but I truly am pleased that the contestant with the widest range of talents - vocal, instrumental, arrangement - and the best appreciation for what I consider GOOD music, won!)
Sunshine - Today it will get up into the 80s. Per my doctor's orders, I will be eating lunch outside to get some Vitamin D.
Friends - one drove me to the doctor yesterday, one gave us heat-n-serve dinner last night, and all are so supportive and understanding.
There - I feel better. Just making a list of happy things will often do the trick for me.
I wish for all of you many happy things, and a nice long weekend! (I should put "upcoming 3-day weekend" on my happy list!)
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE MOUNTAINS...at least for a while. Vi has a double ear infection and hand-foot-mouth disease. I threw my back out and can't walk like a normal adult. And, all the other "stuff" that is going on is still going on.
Some GOOD-GOOD things that are getting me through:
Vi singing "Do-Re-Mi" and "So Long, Farewell."
Our garden! Carrots are up! Corn is up! Basil is up! Sunflowers are up! Zucchini is about to blossom! Peonies will pop any day now! Lilacs are in full bloom and making my house smell WONDERUL.
Upcoming date at Beal Street BBQ courtesy of Auntie Boo.
Kris Allen winning American Idol (okay - it's a bit hyperbolic to say that this one is "getting me through," but I truly am pleased that the contestant with the widest range of talents - vocal, instrumental, arrangement - and the best appreciation for what I consider GOOD music, won!)
Sunshine - Today it will get up into the 80s. Per my doctor's orders, I will be eating lunch outside to get some Vitamin D.
Friends - one drove me to the doctor yesterday, one gave us heat-n-serve dinner last night, and all are so supportive and understanding.
There - I feel better. Just making a list of happy things will often do the trick for me.
I wish for all of you many happy things, and a nice long weekend! (I should put "upcoming 3-day weekend" on my happy list!)
Friday, May 15, 2009
Carrots!
No, it's not a Gilbert Blythe reference.
I asked Vi this morning if the carrots we planted were growing yet. She said no.
However, I had a call from Dan not too long ago, telling me that we do, in fact, have carrots! It seems that most of the seeds we planted are sprouting and will need to be thinned soon. Hurray! I immediately asked for a photo to be taken, but apparently Dan had already covered the plot with hay. Sorry, readers. You'll just have to imagine all the little green heads poking out of the beautiful organic dirt. I can't wait to get home to see what else is growing.
I asked Vi this morning if the carrots we planted were growing yet. She said no.
However, I had a call from Dan not too long ago, telling me that we do, in fact, have carrots! It seems that most of the seeds we planted are sprouting and will need to be thinned soon. Hurray! I immediately asked for a photo to be taken, but apparently Dan had already covered the plot with hay. Sorry, readers. You'll just have to imagine all the little green heads poking out of the beautiful organic dirt. I can't wait to get home to see what else is growing.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wrinkles
People keep asking me if I'm at my breaking point, if I'm holding up okay, if the situation is wearing on me...
I must be getting wrinkles.
Don't get me wrong - they are all correct to think that I am nearing my wit's end. I never really thought that Dan would be unemployed this long. It's only been three months, and I'm already feeling like it's been forever. I realize this could go on for a lot longer - this might not be just a blip on the screen. I think I am completely unprepared, emotionally, for the long-term.
When I say I never really thought Dan would be unemployed this long, in reality, I never really thought Dan would be unemployed unintentionally. We had grand schemes of him cutting back his responsibilities at work and going to school. Why couldn't he just become an engineer? A geologist? Let's sell the house, buy a duplex and rent half of it, and make it work. Right? Why not? The best laid plans...
Nothing really is as I expected. Nothing ever is. I can honestly say that the only piece of my life that is as good as I expected is Vi. My love for her, Dan's love for her, the light she brings to our daily existence - it's more perfect than I could have dreamed.
Happy to ME!
I must be getting wrinkles.
Don't get me wrong - they are all correct to think that I am nearing my wit's end. I never really thought that Dan would be unemployed this long. It's only been three months, and I'm already feeling like it's been forever. I realize this could go on for a lot longer - this might not be just a blip on the screen. I think I am completely unprepared, emotionally, for the long-term.
When I say I never really thought Dan would be unemployed this long, in reality, I never really thought Dan would be unemployed unintentionally. We had grand schemes of him cutting back his responsibilities at work and going to school. Why couldn't he just become an engineer? A geologist? Let's sell the house, buy a duplex and rent half of it, and make it work. Right? Why not? The best laid plans...
Nothing really is as I expected. Nothing ever is. I can honestly say that the only piece of my life that is as good as I expected is Vi. My love for her, Dan's love for her, the light she brings to our daily existence - it's more perfect than I could have dreamed.
Happy to ME!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Mothers' Day!
Yesterday was Mothers' Day. I was greeted with coffee in bed - my favorite - and left to work in the kitchen while Dan and Vi went to the grocery store for a few forgotten ingredients. I got my quiche in the oven and prepped a salad for brunch at my mother's. I spread a layer of vanilla pudding on top of the jell-o cake I had prepared the day before. I took a shower!!! And, I got dressed before they returned.
Vi was very excited to show me my "happy to you," as she calls anything related to birthdays or holidays. She was very helpful in the un-wrapping of my present - an amaryllis bulb to plant! Dan said she had picked out the card herself - pointed directly at the one with the chimpanzee and said "Doggies!!!!"
We headed up to Cumberland to treat my mother to brunch. Vi was contentedly captivated by a cup with fruit and ice cream for the entire meal. We had a goat cheese/tomatoe/spinach quiche, homemade oatmeal raisin bread, fruit "parfait," salad, iced tea and hot coffee. YUM. Vi went down for a nap and we all sat around visiting. Tim and Amy arrived just after Vi woke up, and then came Mark and Dan. Vi was pretty excited to see all of her uncles. She gave them all a tickle and a high-five as we left, and she gave Grammy a big hug and a kiss, and said "Happy to YOU! I looooooyooooooo!!" It was super-sweet and we all (mom and me) almost cried.
Next up was Cape Elizabeth for Louise's Mothers' Day dinner and Dan's birthday dinner. We forgot to bring Vi's booster seat/high chair, so dinnertime was challenging. Not to toot my own horn, but I think everyone agreed that the jell-o cake was the highlight of the entire meal. Louise was in disbelief that I had withheld this creation for so many years. Vi decided we were leaving and starting saying "Bye-bye!" and wandering toward the door. She tried to wear Louise's shoes out - which looked very silly with her jam-jams - then came back for hugs and kisses. She gave Louise a "Happy to YOU!" and said to Greg (Gargamel) "Happy to YOU! I looooyoooo, Gar-gar."
She went down to bed easily - a busy day tired her right out. Dan poked his head in as she was drifting off, and she whispered over and over again, "I loooyooo, Daddy."
Mmm. I just wanted to stay there in the rocking chair, smelling her forehead and feeling her little fingers pat-pat-patting me as she drifted off...all night long. A fine, sweet Mothers' Day indeed.
Vi was very excited to show me my "happy to you," as she calls anything related to birthdays or holidays. She was very helpful in the un-wrapping of my present - an amaryllis bulb to plant! Dan said she had picked out the card herself - pointed directly at the one with the chimpanzee and said "Doggies!!!!"
We headed up to Cumberland to treat my mother to brunch. Vi was contentedly captivated by a cup with fruit and ice cream for the entire meal. We had a goat cheese/tomatoe/spinach quiche, homemade oatmeal raisin bread, fruit "parfait," salad, iced tea and hot coffee. YUM. Vi went down for a nap and we all sat around visiting. Tim and Amy arrived just after Vi woke up, and then came Mark and Dan. Vi was pretty excited to see all of her uncles. She gave them all a tickle and a high-five as we left, and she gave Grammy a big hug and a kiss, and said "Happy to YOU! I looooooyooooooo!!" It was super-sweet and we all (mom and me) almost cried.
Next up was Cape Elizabeth for Louise's Mothers' Day dinner and Dan's birthday dinner. We forgot to bring Vi's booster seat/high chair, so dinnertime was challenging. Not to toot my own horn, but I think everyone agreed that the jell-o cake was the highlight of the entire meal. Louise was in disbelief that I had withheld this creation for so many years. Vi decided we were leaving and starting saying "Bye-bye!" and wandering toward the door. She tried to wear Louise's shoes out - which looked very silly with her jam-jams - then came back for hugs and kisses. She gave Louise a "Happy to YOU!" and said to Greg (Gargamel) "Happy to YOU! I looooyoooo, Gar-gar."
She went down to bed easily - a busy day tired her right out. Dan poked his head in as she was drifting off, and she whispered over and over again, "I loooyooo, Daddy."
Mmm. I just wanted to stay there in the rocking chair, smelling her forehead and feeling her little fingers pat-pat-patting me as she drifted off...all night long. A fine, sweet Mothers' Day indeed.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Money Saving Tip!
Dan got this one from Consumer Reports:
Before placing toilet paper on its holder, flatten/squish the TP roll a bit, so the cardboard is no longer round. When pulling on the paper, the squares are disbursed more slowly, which seems to keep usage down.
Try it!
Before placing toilet paper on its holder, flatten/squish the TP roll a bit, so the cardboard is no longer round. When pulling on the paper, the squares are disbursed more slowly, which seems to keep usage down.
Try it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
