The Run Up

Less than a week to go.
I plan to start tapering off food today.
My parents arrive on Friday.
I stop eating at midnight Friday night and start liquid diet.
Saturday we are going to go see the Crew play the Las Angeles Galaxy - by we I mean Lucy, Dad and I.
Sunday will be a quiet day - we might go to Heritage Hall and Popcorn Museum to get back on track with our Marion Treasures game card.
Monday is cutting day - Tuesday, I will be all better.

This is what I feel like

This could be a metaphor for me these days.

What Kids Want


I need to work on the audio levels, but I thought this was a good first effort (actually it was my second shot at this one. In the first one I wore a tank top and I looked naked.)

The Editor's Art Work

A look at my office.

World Cup Wrapup

This is the most viewed photo on my flikr image hosting site.

Feeling Better now

Turned out to be the woman who fills out the disability paperwork that called me. I got a hold of her and straightened it out. It also turns out that our check and the dunning letter from the hospital passed in the mail - although they were pretty quick.

I am feeling much better now, much less anxious about everything ... except the surgery. I am still pretty anxious about that -- they are going to split me open like a herring.

yeesh.

Anxiety starting to set in

My cell phone rang during a meeting yesterday afternoon. I had forgotten to set it on vibrate and I got a nasty look from the guy who called the meeting (my boss). So, I reached in my pocket and hit the hang-up button.
Later I figured out that the call came from the OSU hospital where I am having my work done.
AARGGHH, because I hung up they left no message. And they have a central outgoing number so you can't figure out who exactly called you.
When I got home I had an envelope in the mail box that looked like junk. I couldn't see the complete name of the sender because it had slipped up in the window, but the address was Pittsburgh, Penn. We don't do any business with anyone in Pennsylvania so I figured it was a credit card offer.
Later, I happened to catch a glimpse of the logo under the window - it was from the hospital. It was a bill! With a nasty note saying we hadn't responded to their last letter. I hope I didn't throw it out.
It's only for a hundred bucks - they're just softening us up.
The only other correspondence I could find from them was a bill-like looking thing with the words "This is not a bill" across the top. Of course, I didn't respond to that.
I will have to call them this morning. Maybe that was what the phone call was about.
Why is Ohio State sending stuff from Pennsylvania?
Anyway it is all starting to add to my anxiety.
Plus the cats hate me.

My plans for after the operation

All I have to do is come up without about 30 more jokes. Anyone heard a good one?

Best obituary today

Here's a good one from Virginia

My Only Company


Mary and Lucy are at the Lake for the week. This is all I got.

Keep track with me

Another countdown

I go under the knife two weeks from today! Much to do. Lot's to worry about. But, also, I am incredibly happy that the end is in sight. I actually started worrying about this in February and had my first examination in March. In the end this will consume my life for the better part of a year. I got better more funner things to do.

I am so bad at this

Lucy directs

The kid likes to play with colors.

THREAT DOWN!

The Early Days

When Lucy was very young.

Fourth of July

Two big events yesterday.
Lucy and I went to a park to practice riding a bike without training wheels. And, we went to the Marion County Fair where she rode the Ferris Wheel for the first time.
She did OK on the bike.
She had a couple of runs where she was actually riding under her own power. We stopped when she fell for about the 30th time and said, "This is starting to get painful."
One or two more trips and she will have it.
The fair was a lot of fun. We rode the Ferris Wheel, ate cotton candy had a lemonade and won some crappy toys.
We also saw the goats and pigs and chickens and rabbits and cattle and sheep and chickens and ducks and turkeys.
We stayed for the fireworks, which started at 10 p.m.
We got to the car at at 10:38 and did not get to the front gate of the fair until 11 p.m. It took us about 20 more minutes to get home. We hit every red light possible and got stopped by a train!
Lucy fell asleep in her bed while reading the book, "Green Eggs and Ham." She was asleep with the book open in front of her, just like her old man.. Brought a tear to my eye, which I quickly wiped away and then woke her up and spanked her for wasting electricity.
Then, I felt much better.

Holiday weeks

This is going to be one of those weeks where I never know what day it is.
And I will be at the Fair every day. whoo hooo!

My column today

I write a column every Sunday for The Marion Star. It usually has something to do with the newspaper - like, why did we make that bonehead mistake last Sunday. I do sometimes write about myself. When I do write about myself, it is usually to remind people to visit their doctors regularly.
Today's column is about America, Cancer, Cycling and French bicycles. You can read it at my other blog, My Interesting Life: Tom's Cancer Blog

Lucy in Marion

This depicts our life in Marion.