This just in…..

The WMBA (Washington Metro Burglar’s Association) in their annual meeting on Chaingang Road has just voted Phil Blackmon’s apartment as their favorite target for 2005.  Back to you Chet..

Our Beautiful Yankee Grandchildren

This is Casey. His Irish heritage shows more than does the other kids'. Faith and begorrah, can't you just see the imp in his eyes?

This is Kelley. He is 13 1/2. Kelley is the daredevil of the family. He once jumped from the attic window, above the 2nd floor, to the roof over the laundry room and then to the ground.


This is Hayley. She is 17 and isn't she gorgeous! Not only is she beautiful, she is smart. She is a talented musician and a singer. She auditioned to sing the national anthem at a Boston Celtics game.

We are very proud of them...even if they are Yankees.

Colin's Woes

Colin is feeling left out since he has no ailments or woes.  Let me just say his eyesight is getting as bad as his breath.  He says his knee hurts and his hip hurts but it doesn’t count unless they are replaced (or about to be).

Sunday December 4th Update

Sunday, December 4th, 2005

I heard from Charlotte that Pat’s surgery did indeed turn up a hernia.  That was a relief!  On top of that, Debbie tells me that Jeff’s visit to the doctor revealed no surprises.  Jeff is as normal as he ever was.

Nancy is recovering nicely from her surgery and Shelley continues to recuperate.

Joyce and I are doing fairly well.  I continue to have significant pain in my shoulders and my sciatica rears up fairly often.  I bought an inversion table on the recommendation of the doctor and that seems to be helping.  For those of you that aren’t familiar with inversion tables, let me explain.  You put these things (They call them gravity boots.) on your legs  at the ankles and then get on the table, which has a pivot in the middle.  By moving your arms over you head, it changes the center of gravity and you start to go head down and feet in the air.  I am inverting about 75-80º.  It is a form of traction.  I think I have stretched to about 6’ 9”.  (Take that, Tony!!!)

We have been invited and are going to Colin and Tam’s for Christmas.  Because of work schedules,  and other commitments, we will go up Christmas Eve and come back late Christmas day.  Joyce’s brother Robert and his family are coming down the following week and Colin and his family will be coming down for at least a day to meet and greet them.  

On the 23rd, Joyce and I are going to Galveston to John Robertson’s wedding.  He is Gloria and Carl Robertson’s son.  John met his bride while he was working at the US Consulate in Sydney, Australia.  

That is about all of the news today.  See you on down the road…

Post Thanksgiving Medical Update

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Thanksgiving has come and gone.  To my total astonishment, Joyce decided to cook!!!  We had planned to go out for dinner but she came home Wednesday from grocery shopping and announced she had decided to cook.  We had all of the traditional stuff and stuffing.  Turkey, dressing, gravy pumpkin pie (I don’t like it.), cherry pie (I do like it.)  It was great and I stuffed myself as usual.

Shelley seems to be doing well after her heart surgery, Joyce is back home (Thank the good Lord.) and seems to be doing well from her shoulder surgery and her back surgery.  Nancy is recovering nicely from her hip replacement surgery.  I haven’t had surgery but I wish my shoulder and back problems could be fixed with surgery.  I am very tired of pain.

Tony was burglarized a few days after he returned to Washington from his Texas trip.  Of all the things they got, the one he will miss most is his camera.  

I received a call from my sister, Charlotte, in Rock Hill.  Pat (another sister) lives around the corner from Charlotte had a kidney removed a while back due to cancer.  She has been feeling some pain lately and went to the doctor.  The MRI was inconclusive so they are going to operate next Friday to see what is going on.  Everyone I know is having medical problems (Well, not everyone, Tony and Colin seem okay.)

Jeff is still recuperating from his heart attack.  He and Debbie are at odds about what constitutes exercise but my money is on Deb.  Jeff doesn’t have a chance.

I am going to close for now and go watch CSI.  See you on down the road.

Kelley Hosts Grandpa at Elder Tea

A couple of years ago I had a really wonderful experience. The school Kelley DiMascio (Nancy and Michael's son) attended has an Elder Tea each year.

Each student chooses an elder person (his words). The student interview his/her elder and then does a book about him. At the tea, the students read their books and then presents the 'elder" with the book.

Kelley called me and asked if I would be his guest at the tea. There is no way anyone could refuse that honor. He interviewed me over the phone and then Joyce and I flew up and I attended the tea. It was a memorable event in my life and I am very grateful to Kelley for the honor and the experience.

I video taped it and post it for you to view. Please click on the title to view the video.

Sunday's visit

Tony came in this weekend and Colin flew down and we went to dinner. This was the first time they had seen each other in years. They spent a lot of time looking at old photos and such. It was a nice visit.

I talked with Joyce this afternoon. Shelley will be coming home tomorrow. Nancy's surgery is on Thursday, and Joyce will be coming home on Saturday. The poodles and I can hardly wait. Ithas been lonely and boring. Our cable has been out for a week and there is nothing to do but read and gripe about my back and shoulders hurting. I am getting no sympathy from the poodles.

Shelleys surgery went well.

Shelley’s surgery went well. There was a 12% chance of paralysis from the waist down but that didn’t happen. We were blessed. She is supposed to move out of the ICU today or tomorrow.

Tony and his friend are coming in tomorrow as is Colin. Colin will spend the night with me and Tony will be in a hotel. Colin is leaving Sunday morning and Tony on Monday.
Me, I am working both Saturday and Sunday mornings.

It sure is lonely around here with just me and the dogs. They don’t have much to say. Just beg and sleep.

Next week, I am going to get some video worked into this.

An update on events

An update to let you know what is going on.  Joyce flew to Damascus, VA (not Syria) to be with Shelley for her surgery.  She is having an aortic aneurysm repaired.  Nancy is on her way to be there also.  In the meantime, it will be just me and the poodles (They don’t think they are dogs.

Tony is coming for a brief visit next weekend.  I haven’t seen him since I retired in 1996.  We are hoping that Colin can make it but he has a business meeting in Atlanta beginning on Thursday.

My first video blog

This is my first attempt at a video blog! I intend to use this as a communications vehicle among our widespread family.

Incidentally, this photo was taken at Nancy's during a birthday party she had for me. I do love that girl!