Across the Big Pond

A good day. Protein shake for breakfastIn the morning I had a meeting at Roberts Health for my Mom. She is doing well but we wanted to give her a few more days, so she is going home nect Thursday, the the 29th. In to work and mostly catching up on sustaining work between sprints. Of to the dentisty for cleaning. My tech Donna is getting a divorce. So many people I know going through this right now. 8^(. Ginger Chicken for lunch. Home stopping for some harware and gifts for Laurie for our anniversary (22nd). Beans, Kilbasa and rice for dinner and then Fringe! and MNF. Looks like Denver will be 6-0. Josh is doing good! to get at 12:30.

LJ up early to put up LMPA flyers. It's an absolutely gorgeous day. Out to the farm with Iz for her first lesson with M as K was in a car accident and broke her leg so she is out of commission for a few weeks. Aside from Iz and I butting heads it went well. M is so nice and a great rider, she cantered Magic for a few laps. LJ came back from groceries and we had leftovers for dinner. Watched "Push" very entertaining and the Sox in a bizarre 15-12 final against KC. It went from 9-0 to 15-12 with KC coming with 2 runs of tying it up. The Sox relief was dismal Masterson, Delcarmen and Oki only getting 1 out each. Final Dan Bard came in to end the bases loaded inning and then Saito closed in a torrential downpour. What a strange game. Caught a little of SNL Justin Timberlake on WU and a dance skit with Beonce' OMG he is hilarious!

Wrapping up the week at work not much turmoil today. Lunch w/D we had great conversation as usual. Nice lunch at Guytanos I had a cup of veggie bisque, mmm and an open face grilled tuna on focatia. Home and watched the last episode of Merlin, that introduces Sr Lancelot. Of for dinner at Tapatios in Wickford, a lovely meal, I had a Seafood medley (don't remember the mexican name) but all the food, service and margaritas were outstanding! Home ant watched the Sox a little before bed.

Up at regular time. Listened to the CGT's "Echoes" on the commute, another great CGT Disk! Their covers of Echoes and Tubular Bells are excellent and the Cruel Sea rocks!
Work was fine low stress. Tennis at lunch w/J,M and B. B hit me with a serve OWWW!. After work Tennis with the girls a Ninegret, Big Apple Circus is there, much fun. S joined us. Home for BBQ chicken and mash. The Sox drop game one to the Blue Jays, the out field was a nightmare. Linda called, I was cranky but we sorted some stuff out. Bed at 10:30, L is working till 3 AM. Ouch!

Overcast is the AM slept late, smoothie for breakfast. It rained on the way to work, radio reception was really bad. Listened to some more of Cage the Elephant, I'm not as smittened as Lil, a little too shouty and the lyrics are OK.Work was fine no major hurdles. Jon is back at work and feeling better from his lime disease every day. L is still in torment, I feel for her/ We all have our crosses to bear but hers seem particularly heavy and constant.
Wrote a email to J's Mom telling her how I used Joe's strings to restring my classical and play at the wedding, that was a blessing. Joe I hope you didn't cringe too much a my foreshortened "Wedding March". G stopped by with the piano score, phew and I thought the guitar arrangement was hard. S is out on IR having dislocated and fractured his right pinky trying to catch a line drive, pitching at softball practice, DOH! It suck to not have him available for tennis, today M , C and I played Canadian Doubles. It was like a sauna. Sandy's for lunch, Egg Salad on rye and some feta olives
Wayne is out for Thursday so no practice this week. Got email R & A had a baby boy. Home late, pork chops and pasta with tomatoes mmmmm. Sox won 5-2 against Oakland and lead the Al East by 1 1/2 over the Yankees (Beckett, Oki, Masterson, Pap) Masterson was great. Dishes, Journal and Bed.

Today was my Dad's 82nd Birthday. He has been in nursing homes and rehab, since his fall of a ladder in Oct 08. He is recovering well but with my Mom not at 100% he cannot come home right now. This is very hard. So today I went to get him and drop him at home. He is happy to be there. After that I took Laurie's car to the car wash as it was in desperate need of a vac and wash.
After arriving home I went up in the attic to retrieve my old bicycle seat, but after an infuriating search and retrieve, I found the adjustment on my current saddle and that worked . Changed my flat and headed over to Mom and Dad's for a birthday barbecue Laurie and the girls drove. 14 miles in 1hr, I even got up on the pedals on a couple of hills. A great ride!
We had a lovely time and barbie and then took my Dad back to West Shore. Home for a episode of True Blood and some cocktails, Lil and I finish the night with an episode of Top Gear. Laurie and I are so lucky to have such great daughters we really are. It's quite warm tonight, open the window and minimal covers.

Up and Sat on the deck, very pleasant. Went to mow the lawn after lunch but got cut short by torrential thundershowers. I went to pick Izzy up from a friends birthday party, and there were some huge thunderclaps and lightning. Came home and did things around the house. Left in the early evening to go to the Read's graduation party for Rosie. They have a large field with a covered pavilion really nice set up. Good food, drink and conversation with the Read's and KK's parents Doris and Ed. Nice people. Home and watched Babylon AD. It was ok but a little jumbled and unfocused, eh.

A pretty normal day, addressing some outstanding issues. Off at 4:00 PM to close on our refinancing. Nice to get a very low rate and save some $. Very easy transaction.
Friday night Iz is at a friends and Lil is working. Mom and Dad chilling at home.

Up at 7:20, Another day not sitting. Laurie went to pick up Dad to take him home for the day. Work was good. Tennis at lunch with Sam , Matt & wait for it, a blast from the past, Linda Markhart!! It was great. 1:30 meeting to congratulate Mary M and Nathan on 5 yrs service, very nice! Left work at 5:00 to play tennis with Laurie L, Vicky V and B-Rad. Excellent. Today Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson both flew away today. I wasn't that into Farah but her passing was sad, but Micheal despite his weirdness he was at times an amazing artist. I cried as I drove to my Mom's and everyone was talking about it.
Had sushi and sat with Mom and Dad. Dad wanted to stay so I had to play the bad guy and explain to him why he couldn't, go it's fucking hard. Dropped him off at the center at 9:00. Turned on Harr on WURI "Fear of Music". He was playing protest music and then had a brief discussion about the Iranian Protests and Micheal. He is now playing "Thriller" in it's entirety. Thriller, Beat it......Yehhhh.... Go Eddie Go..

Up at 7:20. Packed up an headed for work. Passed Matt L on the way. I was cranky this morning, still a lingering off feeling, and lots of email crap to wade through. Got a grip later in the AM and just chilled and worked on some music at lunch. Got a handle on new changes in the PM but didn't finish up before days end. Off to Meccalily rehearsal at JFB's the last with him before his op. A great rehearsal. During "Columbus" three deer came out to watch us. I though the volume would scare them, but they ate and frolicked as we played. Gave Harr a ride home, he gave me a copy of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot! I lent him my Del Lords - Best of. Listen to WHF on the way home, very surreal. Lil is home, LJ went to see "Angels and Demons" and Iz is staying at a friends for the night. Watched the US beat Spain in the FIFA Confed semi-finals 2-0 WOW!!!! Attidore and Dempsey scored, wonderful. Now to bed.

Up at 7:00. Intestinal issues. Called in sick to work. Went back to bed, slept till 1:00. Felt a little better but still chilled most of the day. Showered and sat around 3.00, then I was able to eat some veggie soup. Napped in the late afternoon, feeling much better. Sent mail to MH saying I will not be there. Watched "Y Tu Mama Tambien" wow, an eye opening but very well done film.

Up at normal time work was pretty normal. Finished up a project, did some good review with JB. Tennis at lunch windy, misty but great smashmouth tennis!!!! On the way home I got a splitting headeache unusual as I only get couple a year and the y are usually indicative of other maladies. Chilled out the rest of the evening

Up at 7:00 for a 9:00 game at NK High School against a good team from NY. This was the girls last game and they went out with a bang winning 2-1, but with only two teams in the final their one draw put them out. What a great team, so much personality and improvement over the season and two great tournaments. Home to clean, I did the dishes and then took the dogs outside for a brush. Enough hair to make another two dogs.The weather is windy, overcast an on the verge of rain. Lil was working 2-10, Iz went to the movies with Mia. LJ and I watched True Blood and Real Time. Ray stayed over, Lil is taking him to school in the AM.

Up at 8:30 to get to the Father's Day Tourney at Wickford. The First game against Warwick was touch and go and ended in a 1-1 draw. We headed up to Mom's and stopped at the new Dave's to get groceries and lunch. Had a nice lunch with Mom and then headed back to Wickford for the 2:30 against Ocean State. The girls were on fire an won 2-0. Iz played very well. Stopped for coffee and then back home. Off on the Motorbecane for a 15 miler, up Rt3 to RT 2 and back down Division. On Hopkins Hill in the Rain I blew out a back tire. Called LJ to get me and got dropped at home. Linda called from Oz about Mom and then I talked to Dan who was down seeing Jonny B at the sculpture firing, where he was playing. I was sad I didn't go. Sox won.

Up for Dad's meeting at WSHS. He was still in bed when I got there on time at 8:30. Good meeting he is progressing well. Off to work, wrapping up the build. James was a big help. Ate at my desk. Off to pick up Mom at SCH, as she was discharged. She seemed much better, stopped to get her some milk and prescriptions. Of to meet Wayno in Fall Rive to see Jonathan Richman at the Narrows. We had a great meal at Water Street Cafe, I had garlic shrimp and gumbo.
Up to NCFTA for the show. Vic Chesnutt opened, very droll, wonderfully strange,engaging sad and funny as well.
Jonathan was great, he is very free form in his performance playing a nylon acoustic (with no strap, just mic'd) with a kit drummer Tommy. A heartfelt, spontaneous performance really enjoyed by Wayne and I. Lots of folks and Jonathan dancing. He at time took to the bell tree or cow bell
Off for a late night carouse around Fall Rive, the Belmont Club (a bar that looks like a House) and then to Nick's for late night dogs. Home around 2:00. I love my friend Wayne, I am so fortunate to have him as a friend and musical cohort. I hope he can find someone to share his life with, he is a great person, so smart and has a lot to offer.

Up at 7:00, at work by 9:00 for the daily. Called Dad about Friday morning mtg. Played pitch at lunch, supplied by Denise. Gordon had some chocolate shortbread cookies. Finished up part of a current project, need to do a build tomorrow. Went with Laurie after work to see about College finances. Alas Lil's free ride doesn't cover room and board. Home and Sox called in the sixth die to rain, Sox loose 2-1.

Up at regular time. Loaded up the Subbie for rehearsal tonight. I am lending Harr my second Guild. Went to the Y to workout at lunch and stopped at Frets to get a bridge pin and some strings. Zak and his wife are so nice. Off to acoustic rehearsal at the Hartley's. Some butthead driving on Bridgetown Rd. Nice to see Joe and Lisa. A great rehearsal. Home at 8:30. Turkey Burgers for dinner, yum and then watched the Sox win against the Marlin's. Bed early about 10:30.

Up earlier as the new meeting schedule is 1/2 hr earlier, Yuck. More code changes. Tennis at lunch, good to get out but couldn't play worth shit. Afternoon was successful, code completed and tested. Gym meeting early evening, scope defined. Bad coffee from Java Madness should have gone to Starbucks. Went to see Mom at SCH. She is doing well but needs the operation to remove the damaged colon section. She now has MRSA in her nose, just like Dad did. Funny that? Oh well the saga continues. Home for pirogies and pork. Had a run and tonic but the Bacardi Gold was awful. Watched the Sox beat the Marlins. Lil left to give Ray a ride home. It's fing cold, I'm really getting tired of this.

Monday and back to the grind. More changes but an anticipated issue had been resolved. The events that lead up to it are hard to believe. Tennis at lunch with Sam, Matt and Bob, Ist set tied at 5/5 won by Sam and Matt 7/5. Bob and I won a 3 game second set. New work in the PM frustrated by a assumption that was false.Like expectation they are a prison.
Got a call from Mom's internist , her scopes were clear except for a couple of almost negligible ulcers. Her other issues are being addressed so hopefully she will be on the mend soon. Finished up at 6.00 and stopped at the hardware store on the commute home. Shepard's Pie, Jeopardy and some computer work with some success.Ray stopped over, I home we didn't bust on him too much. Bed at 1:00 AM

So I will begin again,
It is Sunday June 14th although it still feels like April. Wet this morning, then sunny, now overcast and chilly. Got up and showered early, read the Sunday Journal. The hope in Iran seems once again stifled, I feel for those who sense a glimmer in the dark. The whole Mayoral Meeting debacle in Providence just shows where the real focus is not. Sat, did some cleanup and then dropped my Auntie Beryl, Uncle Bob and Auntie Pat off at TF Green for their flight back to England. It was nice to see them as it was for my Mom and Dad. Alas my mom is back in hospital, dehydration, fever etc. She is having two scoped tomorrow hopefully to get to the bottom of her underlying issue. It is difficult as the Prednosone she takes for Polymyagia tend to mask a lot. But her Sed count was high enough for her internist to suspect another issue. Dad continues to improve although he thinks he is further along than he is. As always he wants to help the system rather than focusing on his well being. Had a great chat with sister Linda last night.
Laurie and Izzy are off to the farm, Lil is at a graduation party. I will do some clean up an the a little work.