Until next time...
PH
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Fun with "Uncle" Cody
When we were up at Mom's in Indiana last week, Kassie and Rocket got to play with Mom's dog Cody. Kassie gave up over 100 lbs to Cody, and she couldn't figure out why she wasn't able to easily take her toy away from him like she does with Rocket. See if you can figure out why...
Until next time...
PH
Until next time...
PH
The long road back
Many things many come to mind when you think about today, October 31, but here's one that probably isn't at the top of the list. Tonight begins the new season for the Dallas Mavericks. Last season was one filled with great expectations and lots of ups and downs. Coming off the collapse against Miami in the Finals, they started the season 0-4. However, they went on to a 67-15 record - not too shabby! - only to follow that up with a first round exit in the playoffs. As such, it's been a little longer than we're used to since we've seen Dirk's tongue flash after sinking a big three.
And so tonight, the Mavericks embark on a new season with a tilt with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. I think that the Mavs will be quite good this year, but don't expect a repeat of 67 wins. Some speculate that they were out of gas by the time the playoffs came around, and Avery Johnson will not repeat past mistakes.
While I was at the gym last night, I saw the beginning of the San Antonio game where they raised the championship banner and gave rings to the players and coaches. Could we have this seen in Dallas a year from now? Possibly. It depends on how well the Mavs travel the long road between now and June. While I don't know how it will turn out, it should be fun to watch.
Until next time...
PH
And so tonight, the Mavericks embark on a new season with a tilt with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. I think that the Mavs will be quite good this year, but don't expect a repeat of 67 wins. Some speculate that they were out of gas by the time the playoffs came around, and Avery Johnson will not repeat past mistakes.
While I was at the gym last night, I saw the beginning of the San Antonio game where they raised the championship banner and gave rings to the players and coaches. Could we have this seen in Dallas a year from now? Possibly. It depends on how well the Mavs travel the long road between now and June. While I don't know how it will turn out, it should be fun to watch.
Until next time...
PH
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Last visit with Grandma
Many of you already know that my grandma, Zelma Heath, passed away on October 23. There are many thoughts and themes to write about related to this subject, but I would like to start by recounting the last time that I saw her.
On Friday, October 19, I flew in to Indianapolis from Dallas so that I could visit Grandma. She had been battling stomach cancer for about 4 months at this point after the doctors determined that it was inoperable. After driving about an hour and a half from Indianapolis to Rensselaer, I arrived at the Rensselaer Care Center where she spent her final days. It was about 2 p.m. that afternoon when I met Dad and made my way back to her room. Upon entering, I saw a twinkle in her eyes, and we visited for about 20 minutes before she needed to rest some more. After she fell asleep, Dad told me that that was a long visit for Grandma these days. She was very weak from not being able to eat much, and Dad said that she slept about 90-95% of the time. We visited a couple of more times before leaving for the evening around 6 p.m.
The next morning, Dad and I arrived at 7:30 a.m., and Grandma visited with us for about an hour. Aunt Mary and Aunt Ruby came by around 9 a.m., and Grandma was awake for about another 30 minutes before we went to lunch. As we were leaving, Dad told her to push her button and the nurse would come if she needed something while we were gone. Grandma said, "You mean this one?" as she smiled and pointed to her bellybutton. It was good to see her in good spirits.
After lunch, I was able to visit for about another 30 minutes before I had to head back to Indianapolis for my return flight home. During our visits that day, we reminisced about different times that she and Grandpa and visited us in Texarkana and some of the things that we had done over the years. As I left, I thanked Grandma for everything that she had done over the years, and I told her goodbye. I had a feeling that it might be the last time that I saw her, and that turned out to be the case.
It was very difficult to see her so weak and sick. There is a part of me that would have liked to have had my last memory have been on May 3 when our family gathered in Arlington for her 94th birthday. However, as Dad, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Ruby have told me, Grandma perked up more during those two days than she had for quite some time. I could tell that it meant a lot to her that I came to see her, and it also meant a lot to the rest of the family that was there. I realized as I was driving back to the airport that the trip really wasn't about me. It was about what I was able to do for Grandma. I'm glad that I was able to give her something special during her final days. Now she is in peace in the joys of heaven where we will see her again. It may be difficult to read this and not be sad, but let us find joy in knowing that Grandma is now free of cancer and all other ailments as she sings with the choirs of heaven.
Until next time...
PH
On Friday, October 19, I flew in to Indianapolis from Dallas so that I could visit Grandma. She had been battling stomach cancer for about 4 months at this point after the doctors determined that it was inoperable. After driving about an hour and a half from Indianapolis to Rensselaer, I arrived at the Rensselaer Care Center where she spent her final days. It was about 2 p.m. that afternoon when I met Dad and made my way back to her room. Upon entering, I saw a twinkle in her eyes, and we visited for about 20 minutes before she needed to rest some more. After she fell asleep, Dad told me that that was a long visit for Grandma these days. She was very weak from not being able to eat much, and Dad said that she slept about 90-95% of the time. We visited a couple of more times before leaving for the evening around 6 p.m.
The next morning, Dad and I arrived at 7:30 a.m., and Grandma visited with us for about an hour. Aunt Mary and Aunt Ruby came by around 9 a.m., and Grandma was awake for about another 30 minutes before we went to lunch. As we were leaving, Dad told her to push her button and the nurse would come if she needed something while we were gone. Grandma said, "You mean this one?" as she smiled and pointed to her bellybutton. It was good to see her in good spirits.
After lunch, I was able to visit for about another 30 minutes before I had to head back to Indianapolis for my return flight home. During our visits that day, we reminisced about different times that she and Grandpa and visited us in Texarkana and some of the things that we had done over the years. As I left, I thanked Grandma for everything that she had done over the years, and I told her goodbye. I had a feeling that it might be the last time that I saw her, and that turned out to be the case.
It was very difficult to see her so weak and sick. There is a part of me that would have liked to have had my last memory have been on May 3 when our family gathered in Arlington for her 94th birthday. However, as Dad, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Ruby have told me, Grandma perked up more during those two days than she had for quite some time. I could tell that it meant a lot to her that I came to see her, and it also meant a lot to the rest of the family that was there. I realized as I was driving back to the airport that the trip really wasn't about me. It was about what I was able to do for Grandma. I'm glad that I was able to give her something special during her final days. Now she is in peace in the joys of heaven where we will see her again. It may be difficult to read this and not be sad, but let us find joy in knowing that Grandma is now free of cancer and all other ailments as she sings with the choirs of heaven.
Until next time...
PH
Monday, October 22, 2007
October on the Vine
As I mentioned last month, I am participating the Vine program with Amazon. The Augie March CD wound up not being all that great. So that made the Logitech V220 cordless mouse my top pick from the items that I tried last month. My reviews are not on the main product pages any more, but here's where to find the ones that I did for the mouse and the CD.
This month, I am taking a look at a back massaging cushion by Homedics. I just opened it yesterday, and it is pretty good so far. Unlike some other massaging chairs or cushions that I've used in the past, this actually does a true massage. I want to use it for a few more days before publishing my review on Amazon. I'll let you know when it is there.
Until next time...
PH
This month, I am taking a look at a back massaging cushion by Homedics. I just opened it yesterday, and it is pretty good so far. Unlike some other massaging chairs or cushions that I've used in the past, this actually does a true massage. I want to use it for a few more days before publishing my review on Amazon. I'll let you know when it is there.
Until next time...
PH
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Birthday Pictures
My dear wife has put up a post on her blog with pictures from my birthday activities. Before you ask, yes that is the same shirt on both days, and yes it was clean both times! As you will see in some of the pictures, I paid homage to some of my ancestry. Enjoy!
I know I have been a bit slow between posts lately. It is not from a lack of things to say, but a lack of time. I hope to be more regular in getting things out in the near future.
Until next time...
PH
I know I have been a bit slow between posts lately. It is not from a lack of things to say, but a lack of time. I hope to be more regular in getting things out in the near future.
Until next time...
PH
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Recap of My Birthday Weekend
The years continue to roll by, and last Friday marked the day that I turned (gasp!) 34. This had to have been one of the better birthdays in recent years. Christy took me to a nice restaurant/brewery in Ft. Worth called The Covey. It is a really nice place, and you could easily drop more Washingtons than you intend if you aren't careful. However, we were both drawn to the wood-fired oven pizzas. Don't think Cici's or Dominoe's. Wood-fired pizza is hard to beat, and the offering at The Covey is no exception. I also highly recommend their IPA if you are in the mood for good beer.
Christy picked out a nice present for me. We recently saw Jim Gaffigan on Comedy Central, and he is one of the better ones that I've seen in quite some time. His sketches are mostly on the PG side, and he doesn't cuss. Anyway, Christy got me the DVD/CD combo of "Beyond the Pale" which contains the Hot Pockets sketch. I could tell you about it, but it is available in the media section of Jim's web site. We listened to the CD on the way home from The Covey, and then watched the DVD.
And then, as if Friday evening wasn't enough, Christy cranked up her mad scientist lab Saturday. She booted me out of the house at 9 a.m., and gave me strict instructions not to be home until 6 p.m. Before this day, I really didn't have an appreciation for just how long nine hours really is. I went to just about every electronics store or store that sells electronics in the Metroplex, and it was only 10:05 a.m. - not really. However, I settled in at The Corner Bakery around 3 p.m. to take advantage of free coffee refills and free wifi. Actually, killing a day is pretty easy, and I was almost late getting home. I ran into a bit of a traffic jam, but I still made it back by 6:05 p.m.
Upon arrival, I had to close my eyes and be led back to the bedroom which was serving as a holding tank. About 15 minutes later, Christy comes back and leads me out (eyes shut) to the living room as I was greeted to a surprise party. So with a small group of family and friends, we enjoyed a night of junk food, beer and wine, games, a slideshow of my life so far, and karaoke. All the dogs in a 20 mile radius had to go for therapy after we butchered song after song that night.
And that, folks, is what I call a good birthday weekend.
Until next time...
PH
Christy picked out a nice present for me. We recently saw Jim Gaffigan on Comedy Central, and he is one of the better ones that I've seen in quite some time. His sketches are mostly on the PG side, and he doesn't cuss. Anyway, Christy got me the DVD/CD combo of "Beyond the Pale" which contains the Hot Pockets sketch. I could tell you about it, but it is available in the media section of Jim's web site. We listened to the CD on the way home from The Covey, and then watched the DVD.
And then, as if Friday evening wasn't enough, Christy cranked up her mad scientist lab Saturday. She booted me out of the house at 9 a.m., and gave me strict instructions not to be home until 6 p.m. Before this day, I really didn't have an appreciation for just how long nine hours really is. I went to just about every electronics store or store that sells electronics in the Metroplex, and it was only 10:05 a.m. - not really. However, I settled in at The Corner Bakery around 3 p.m. to take advantage of free coffee refills and free wifi. Actually, killing a day is pretty easy, and I was almost late getting home. I ran into a bit of a traffic jam, but I still made it back by 6:05 p.m.
Upon arrival, I had to close my eyes and be led back to the bedroom which was serving as a holding tank. About 15 minutes later, Christy comes back and leads me out (eyes shut) to the living room as I was greeted to a surprise party. So with a small group of family and friends, we enjoyed a night of junk food, beer and wine, games, a slideshow of my life so far, and karaoke. All the dogs in a 20 mile radius had to go for therapy after we butchered song after song that night.
And that, folks, is what I call a good birthday weekend.
Until next time...
PH
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