The week television resumes has been enthusiastically anticipated by this Road Warrioir. I scheduled mhy travel to make certain that I arrive at the hotel in time for my favorite shows. Last week it was Dancing with the Stars on Monday. That wasn't a problem as I traveled on Sunday and drove from KC to St. Louis. I was in control of when I left and arrived. Tuesday was a bit tricky as I was driving to Osage Beach and couldn't leave until the presentation was over. I made it fine to see the results show, and was gratified to see David Hasselhoff was voted off.
This week was the return of Desperate Housewives and Sisters and Brothers. The deadline time was 8 PM. When I first left home, the GPS said I would arrive at 8:29. Disappointing, but at least it would be taping at home and I could watch it later. Somewhere before Lawrence I looked down and it said I would arrive at 8:09. YEA. Driving across Kansas, I took the turnpike and you can really make time. I gained 12 minutes through Kansas and another 5 in Oklahoma by edging the speed limit. BUT then I came upon a traffic problem in Oklahoma City, due to construction. I lost 3 minutes in that mess and was so excited that I made it to the hotel with a few minutes to spare.....
Then, I pulled into the parking lot just as a Tour Bus was unloading in front of me. The group was on their way from Indiana to Albuquerque for the Balloon Festival. I had visions of long lines to check in and more minutes ticking away. Fortunately, they all had their keys and I was able to check in and make it to my room just as Desperate Housewives was starting. AND I got a room upgrade to a suite.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Long Week-End
This week-end I said, "Good-Bye" to my husband of 31 years...the father of the two most wonderful children that were ever created. While his alcoholism lead to the end of our 31 year marriage in 2006, the past few weeks have allowed some resolution to the conflict that became a part of our lives. Since the diagnosis in early July of Stage IV Melanoma, he had been sober. We had the opportunity to again be a part of his life, and he, of ours. While this was not the resolution we had hoped for, it was certainly a more positive resolution than many of the options we had feared. At this point we need to remember the Randy who was....not the Randy who he became.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Family Reunion
Today I spent 14 hours in a hospital waiting room. My sister had a scheduled procedure and all went very well. At the end of the day she was in a room and talking with me about how much she felt like MOM. I reassured her she has a way to go.
My sister spent the night with me. She brought a box of 'stuff' that had been in her attic from Grandma Henson (our maternal grandmother). We went through the box, finding everything from boxes of greeting cards, items our children had sent to grandma, pictures, recipes, and canceled checks from 1920's and 1930's. Grandma signed them, "Fay Henson by wife" in the 20's. By the 30's she was signing, "Fay Henson by Burnetta".
We were out of bed at 4 AM and at the hospital by 5:30. When you are an early bird you get the best parking places. There were three just outside the entrance and I got one!! She was taken back to pre-op about 6:15 am. I went back to sit with her about 6:45. She headed to the OR around 7:45. The procedure was to take from 4 to 5 hours. It actually took around 9. I returned to the waiting room.
Needless to say, I was sleepy. I worried a bit about how I could doze in those waiting room chairs, then found five recliners in the back part of the waiting room. At that time only one was occupied. I staked my claim and settled in. A little later a man and wife cabbaged on to two more. He immediately kicked back and started snoring. I was reading and dozing in mine.
The hospital has a nurse who rounds the waiting room every hour or so to provide updates about what is going on in surgery. The first time she came around she asked the sleeping man if he would like a warm blanket, and brought him one. I was cold, which is quite unusual for me. I had a t-shirt on with jeans and was cold enough to be uncomfortable. I had donned my sisters long sleeved blouse over my t-shirt, which was helpful, but I was still COLD. I wanted a blanket, but she had already passed me by. I read and dozed and then she came back with more news. I asked for a warm blanket like that man over there had. It was the BEST. I slept off and on until Todd and Bob arrived around 11.
About the 'family reunion'. I was in the farthest back section of the waiting room and as the one lady and the couple left, a group people kept filtering into the area. They would all greet the new comers and settle in all around me. As the crowd grew in numbers, the volume grew. I kept thinking their 'person' would be finished and they would leave, but more people kept coming. Once Todd and Bob arrived, I got up and moved to a section of chairs where I crocheted and visited with them. The other group continued to grow and the volume increased. Then I noticed they had set up a table with food. As people came, they brought a dish. It was at that point I started identifying them as the 'family reunion' people. Whatever their family member was having done was nearly as lengthy as ours. They talked to the the surgeon and filtered out only minutes before we did.
My sister spent the night with me. She brought a box of 'stuff' that had been in her attic from Grandma Henson (our maternal grandmother). We went through the box, finding everything from boxes of greeting cards, items our children had sent to grandma, pictures, recipes, and canceled checks from 1920's and 1930's. Grandma signed them, "Fay Henson by wife" in the 20's. By the 30's she was signing, "Fay Henson by Burnetta".
We were out of bed at 4 AM and at the hospital by 5:30. When you are an early bird you get the best parking places. There were three just outside the entrance and I got one!! She was taken back to pre-op about 6:15 am. I went back to sit with her about 6:45. She headed to the OR around 7:45. The procedure was to take from 4 to 5 hours. It actually took around 9. I returned to the waiting room.
Needless to say, I was sleepy. I worried a bit about how I could doze in those waiting room chairs, then found five recliners in the back part of the waiting room. At that time only one was occupied. I staked my claim and settled in. A little later a man and wife cabbaged on to two more. He immediately kicked back and started snoring. I was reading and dozing in mine.
The hospital has a nurse who rounds the waiting room every hour or so to provide updates about what is going on in surgery. The first time she came around she asked the sleeping man if he would like a warm blanket, and brought him one. I was cold, which is quite unusual for me. I had a t-shirt on with jeans and was cold enough to be uncomfortable. I had donned my sisters long sleeved blouse over my t-shirt, which was helpful, but I was still COLD. I wanted a blanket, but she had already passed me by. I read and dozed and then she came back with more news. I asked for a warm blanket like that man over there had. It was the BEST. I slept off and on until Todd and Bob arrived around 11.
About the 'family reunion'. I was in the farthest back section of the waiting room and as the one lady and the couple left, a group people kept filtering into the area. They would all greet the new comers and settle in all around me. As the crowd grew in numbers, the volume grew. I kept thinking their 'person' would be finished and they would leave, but more people kept coming. Once Todd and Bob arrived, I got up and moved to a section of chairs where I crocheted and visited with them. The other group continued to grow and the volume increased. Then I noticed they had set up a table with food. As people came, they brought a dish. It was at that point I started identifying them as the 'family reunion' people. Whatever their family member was having done was nearly as lengthy as ours. They talked to the the surgeon and filtered out only minutes before we did.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Long Beach
I have had a great week-end in Southern California this Labor Day holiday. Charlie and I arrived at Cousin Marian's on Friday evening. We explored Long Beach on Saturday (all day) and Sunday (evening). Long Beach is where Charlie spent both elementary and high school days of his growing up years. We had a great day just wandering around the area. Lunch was at a Mexican restaurant with wonderful food at an overwhelming quantity. We finished it up today for lunch!
Sunday morning we went to Forest Lawn at Glendale. I was sure Charlie would like the history and religious overtone. We sat through the program about the stained glass version of "The Last Supper". As we were leaving the area, we saw a platform with flowers. I got out of the car to investigate and discovered it was a platform dedicated to Michael Jackson. On it were numerous notes, pictures and cards as well as flower arrangements which were fresh flowers and pretty new.
We went from there to the Freedom Mausoleum where I lost Charlie. Marian and I sat on the steps thinking he would ultimately reappear. I finally found him from the exact opposite direction I expected.
Charlie and I returned to Long Beach on Sunday evening. We explored and checked out the pool hall where he learned to hustle. (I have to wonder if that is a useful skill??????) He found his childhood home. It is currently on the market for $219,000. It sold for $30,000 in 1960'ish.
He said he is pleased to discover he was raised in a 1/4 million dollar home and never knew it.
Right now I'm on the 14th floor of a Hilton in Pasadena, California. It is a corner room with great windows. The view is wonderful.
Sunday morning we went to Forest Lawn at Glendale. I was sure Charlie would like the history and religious overtone. We sat through the program about the stained glass version of "The Last Supper". As we were leaving the area, we saw a platform with flowers. I got out of the car to investigate and discovered it was a platform dedicated to Michael Jackson. On it were numerous notes, pictures and cards as well as flower arrangements which were fresh flowers and pretty new.
We went from there to the Freedom Mausoleum where I lost Charlie. Marian and I sat on the steps thinking he would ultimately reappear. I finally found him from the exact opposite direction I expected.
Charlie and I returned to Long Beach on Sunday evening. We explored and checked out the pool hall where he learned to hustle. (I have to wonder if that is a useful skill??????) He found his childhood home. It is currently on the market for $219,000. It sold for $30,000 in 1960'ish.
He said he is pleased to discover he was raised in a 1/4 million dollar home and never knew it.
Right now I'm on the 14th floor of a Hilton in Pasadena, California. It is a corner room with great windows. The view is wonderful.
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