A bushel of updates
1) I want to thank everyone who sent messages and comments wishing my mom a happy birthday yesterday. She's been fairly busy, so I'm not sure she's had an opportunity to see the birthday blog I posted here yesterday. But I know she saw the Church of Crisis tribute to her, which had been posted earlier than my blog - and she's quite appreciative. Her first thought was that I must be "the Minister" responsible for it - many of you have thought so as well. I definitely am not the mastermind behind the Church of Crisis. He is a friend of mine and would certainly respect any wishes I might have regarding the Church. But I have granted him full creative and spiritual autonomy. Although I consider the whole Church of Crisis business to be an honor and quite amusing, I assure you I am not that full of myself... lol.
2) My step-mom Linda had her heart catheterization in Charleston this morning. One artery was so blocked, the doctor tore it trying to push the "wire" through. Two extra stents were required to stabilize it - so she ended up having five stents in all installed. But all's well that ends well, it seems. She's been out of surgery for a couple of hours and seems to be "doing good," according to all accounts. The other day, I received about fifty messages in response to my MySpace bulletins about Linda - offering prayers, kind thoughts, and support for me and my family. Thank you very much! And please keep them coming.
JC, Geri, Linda and Dad after our wedding in 2005 [photo by my sister Regina]
3) If you read my Dad blog last month, you know he recently had major open heart surgery. He was feeling ill for a while after that, and we were very concerned. But it seems that one of the medications he'd been prescribed was responsible. They took him off of it a couple of weeks ago, and now he's doing very well. Thank goodness! We're grateful for all the prayers and kind words you've offered on his behalf as well.
4) We've been stressed the past few weeks after my wife's doctor told her that her anti-nuclear antibody count was very abnormal and that he suspected she might have lupus. He sent her to a specialist who ran all sorts of tests - and she finally received her results this morning. When she heard the specialist's voice on the phone, she was scared. But he bore good news - all the tests were negative and she doesn't have lupus after all!
5) I swear I haven't forgetten about the WTF? (Art Identification Challenge) blog I posted last month. The results and prizes will be coming. But determining the winner has proven to be more difficult than I expected. And there have been other issues - and distractions - to address. I will get to it. I promise.
6) April is National Poetry Month! And that's why I've posted quite a few more poetry blogs than usual this month. I'm thinking about prolonging the fun once every week or two with a series of blogs spotlighting my favorite poets. What do you think?
7) Three of our seven puppies went to good homes yesterday. We have four females left - one black with Doberman markings like her dad Lucky and the other three various shades of brown like their mama Lady. All four are adorable. My five-year-old niece Hannah has named the lightest of the bunch after herself and continues to plead with me: "Please, Uncle John, don't sell Hannah."
8) Finally, here are a few pictures we've snapped in the past week or so:
JC Gardening [photo by Geri]
2) My step-mom Linda had her heart catheterization in Charleston this morning. One artery was so blocked, the doctor tore it trying to push the "wire" through. Two extra stents were required to stabilize it - so she ended up having five stents in all installed. But all's well that ends well, it seems. She's been out of surgery for a couple of hours and seems to be "doing good," according to all accounts. The other day, I received about fifty messages in response to my MySpace bulletins about Linda - offering prayers, kind thoughts, and support for me and my family. Thank you very much! And please keep them coming.
JC, Geri, Linda and Dad after our wedding in 2005 [photo by my sister Regina]
3) If you read my Dad blog last month, you know he recently had major open heart surgery. He was feeling ill for a while after that, and we were very concerned. But it seems that one of the medications he'd been prescribed was responsible. They took him off of it a couple of weeks ago, and now he's doing very well. Thank goodness! We're grateful for all the prayers and kind words you've offered on his behalf as well.
4) We've been stressed the past few weeks after my wife's doctor told her that her anti-nuclear antibody count was very abnormal and that he suspected she might have lupus. He sent her to a specialist who ran all sorts of tests - and she finally received her results this morning. When she heard the specialist's voice on the phone, she was scared. But he bore good news - all the tests were negative and she doesn't have lupus after all!
5) I swear I haven't forgetten about the WTF? (Art Identification Challenge) blog I posted last month. The results and prizes will be coming. But determining the winner has proven to be more difficult than I expected. And there have been other issues - and distractions - to address. I will get to it. I promise.
6) April is National Poetry Month! And that's why I've posted quite a few more poetry blogs than usual this month. I'm thinking about prolonging the fun once every week or two with a series of blogs spotlighting my favorite poets. What do you think?
7) Three of our seven puppies went to good homes yesterday. We have four females left - one black with Doberman markings like her dad Lucky and the other three various shades of brown like their mama Lady. All four are adorable. My five-year-old niece Hannah has named the lightest of the bunch after herself and continues to plead with me: "Please, Uncle John, don't sell Hannah."
8) Finally, here are a few pictures we've snapped in the past week or so:
JC Gardening [photo by Geri]
Self portrait while communing with the earth
My niece Hannah communes with a puppy [photo by JC's mom]
Mas perritos [foto de JC]
JC in his Hillary pajamas with Lucky [photo by JC's mom]
Mom and Geri after supper last night [photo by JC]
Mom and me on her back patio last night [photo by Geri]
Feelin' a bit like Jack Tripper! 
Happy birthday, Mom! [photo by Geri]
Love that next to last photo of y'all. And puppies... I wish I could have one. (& I wouldn't even try to eat it.) Pets do make one feel at home.
That's good news about your Dad & Geri.
I like the poetry blogs. They're educational. I'm woefully ignorant about famous poets.
Peace,
K
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Thank you, Lady!
I'm not sure why, but some of the photos grew blurrier when I uploaded them than they are on my computer. Must be a ghost in the machine....
Your favorite photo here is mine as well. Some of the others could have benefitted from cropping but I was either too lazy or too busy (or a combination of the two) to bother... lol.
And I appreciate your feedback on the poetry blogs. There a few I'm very much looking forward to doing.
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i had to go to wikipedia and look up jack tripper to see who he was.
best to all - to thee, and thine.
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Thanks, Smith!
Three's Company was popular when I was a teenager - before I largely tripped away from television.
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Roses are red
Violets are blue
Your mom looks so beautiful
Standing next to YOU! haha
Namaste'
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lol...
you're a poet
and a comic
and your verses
are a tonic
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Oh.... what a bonanza of news.. Thanks for all the updates. And thanks for the news on Geri particularly, I was going to write her to find out the results but now don't have to hurry to do that. Very Cool...
And I especially like to see the photos of you dishing dirt in the garden...LOL.. Now I know you don't sit behind the computer all day...
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Ssshhhh... that's supposed to be a secret... lol
She wouldn't let me post the pictures of her in the garden or the shot she snapped of me on the toilet.
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Glad to hear all is well. Good thoughts and prayers do wonders. The puppies are adorable but with 3 of my own...
Love to see the photos. You and family are adorable...yes, I know that sounds gay...but I am so I get away with it!
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Hahaha... "not that there's anything wrong with that."
Thanks, bro!
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Thanks for the beautiful tribute. I appreciate all the birthday wishes. I must admit, that I was a little down over turning 60 years old. My birthday turned out to be one of the best. My wonderful sons, daughters and grandchildren made it a beautiful and thankful day. Wonderful company, gifts and food were great to have. The best was and is having this wonderful family. Thanks for making my birthday a terrific day and night.
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I am glad you all are looking well and happy in spite of all the setbacks. Again, Ginny, I wish you a happy day after your birthday and many more to come.
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Thanks, Elena! I admit to being a bit stressed, depressed and crabby all week. But I was determined to get rid of those feelings for mom's birthday. It ended up being a beautiful day, followed by good news, and I feel a lot better. I'm reminded of Freddie Mercury's words from the Queen song "Jealousy":
"Life is much too short to while away with tears."
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Aww....
Thank you, Mom! The pleasure and honor are ours.
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WOW...
I was wondering when we'd hear more about the WTF Art blog results...
j/k
I'm VERY glad to hear that despite all the scares and the worrying, there is good news about step-mom, dad, and Geri.
Hang in there!
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Thanks a lot, Kurt!
I can't help but think that if Dad hadn't just gone through what he did, my step-mom might not have been so quick to get to the doctor/hospital when she did. So in a sense, his travails might have helped save her life. Strange how things seem to work sometimes....
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whew! that is a bushel full of updates!
thanks for the info
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You're welcome.
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It is May Day
It is Pay Day
It is Hey Day
I is also Oy Vey Day.
Read comment to Connie on Atonement Blog
(also comment on churchofcrisis on 4/30)
LMAOWL
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In Hawai'i it's lei day
...or so I say.
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I am so glad to hear that your family is doing better. I had no idea about Gerri. I'm glad that she is okay too. Scary stuff you all have been dealing with. I'm shocked that you are not the minister of the Church of Crisis. If I were you, I would be that "full of myself" as you put it. I love that blog. The minister must know you very, very well. It's you. Has to be.
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Thanks, Tara...
Sometimes I don't know what to think of him.
But that Minister's a gem.
Not me though....
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