Sometimes Less-ner is More-ner

Spent a lovely afternoon with our niece, Nicole, and her husband, Mike, yesterday in Easton, MD.

This Little Piggie ...

Denise's Sammi peeking out from behind one of Jan's guinea pigs.

Move over Jimi Hendrix

Denise's youngest, Travis

.... looks like there's a new guitar player in town!

One and half scores ago ...

30 years ago, a young man married an older woman in Duncansville, Pennsylvania. Flash forward 2009 ... although the hair is thinner and the waist is wider, the groom is still younger than the bride.

Happy anniversary, babe!

Birthday Girl

"Chesapeake City at Sunset"

Celebrated Jan's 52nd birthday Monday evening with dinner by the water and some dear friends. A beautiful evening all around.

What the Hail?!?!?!

It was a muggy 80 degrees late yesterday afternoon at the house when I left to pick up Jan from work. When we returned home a couple hours later it had dropped 20 degrees and there were pea-sized hail deposits lining the side and front of the house, leaves plastered against the clapboard and tree branches down everywhere. Fog and steam were rising from the asphalt and bodies of water. What a surreal scene.

Welcome Flat Stanley!

Look who showed up in the mail today, it's Flat Stanly (left) from Duncansville!

Boy, what an adventure this paper-thin guy was in for ...

Eye Yi Yi

(Phone Pic - always have a camera with me one way or another)

Larry's Eye Update:

For some reason, I have two eye doctors (and no, it's not because I have two eyes, either). Both are ophthalmologists, but one handles the "normal" stuff at the front of the eye and the other specializes in the back of the eye. So any way, doctor number, who did the cataract surgery, says everything is fine and my eyesight is actually better than way before anything went wrong (I was 20/100 prior to the surgery and am now 20/20). The other doctor gave me a "true" poke in the eye, a steroid injection, to work on two little cysts that keep responding to surgery and injections and then doesn't respond for some reason. All-in-all, I am seeing a 100 times better!

The Eyes Have It

Home and resting after successful cataract surgery earlier today. I can already "see" brighter and clearer images than I have in months. (sorry didn't take any pics of the procedure, they had my hands tied down .... doh!)

A big thank you to an amazing doctor, Julianne Lin, and her staff.

I'll get you ....

... and your little dog, too!

Jan spotted this on the way home the other night.  And then, because I couldn't pull over fast enough to get a picture, she repeatedly hit me with her purse.  I thought the rainbow meant peace, not violence.

Birthday Wishes

Yesterday would have been my mom's 83rd birthday.  At the suggestion of a good friend, I released a balloon toward the heavens.  I must tell you, I've never watched a balloon sail longer or soar higher than that helium-filled azure one.  It headed for a blue patch of sky between the white clouds and the warm sun reflected off the balloon allowing it to sparkle all the way up.  Pretty cool!

Happy Birthday, Mom.  I miss you.

Front and Center

Circa 1960, Tonawanda NY

That's me in my dad's arm. Dang! I was a cute kid. What happened? and when?

The Next Chapter ...

As many of you know, Jan has been in the Big Brother/Big Sister program for years and for the last six, she's been paired with the now 14-year old, Cassie. Today, Cassie headed off to Florida to live with her mother.

Needless to say, Cassie is, and will always be, part of our family. It's only been a couple days since we saw her, but our hearts are feeling the emptiness already. Jan and I have witnessed an awkward seven year old girl evolve into an amazing young woman. We thank God for the time we had with her and look forward to the time we'll meet up again.

UPDATE - Cassie called tonight to let us know she'd made it safely to her new home.

No, You Can't Bring One Home With You ....

Macaw

Sugar Glider

Moluccan Cockatoo

Jan and I ventured down to the World of Pets Expo held yesterday at the Maryland Fairgrounds, north of Baltimore. You can't imagine, well maybe you can, how many different kinds of breeds of animals there are in this world. It was pretty interesting, but I had a difficult time getting my wife out of there. I had to pat her down before I allowed her in the car.

Catchin' some zzzzzzzzzz's

Dad and I try our best to get some quality time together.
- Tiny

A New Start ...

The best to you and your family in the coming year.

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

Well, I for one, will not be sad to see 2008 leave. I am really looking forward to a better 2009. For the first time in my life, I have written down some goals for my self and look forward to bringing them to fruition. What are your resolutions?

P.S. The Pez dispenser pictured above (Model: Cassie) is fictional and in no way meant to mimic or remind you of a spouse or any one living.

1, 2, 3-strikes you're out!

Well, Jan finally got the drain tube out a couple hours ago and immediately felt better.

Kind of a funny story to go along with it though. Had an appointment yesterday with the doctor, but after sitting in the waiting room for 45+ minutes we were called back only to be told the doctor wouldn't be in and we should re-schedule. So, today we show up and after our routine 45-minute wait were escorted back to the doctor. Upon seeing the doctor, he asks why the tube is still in. It was supposed to come out the day after her release from the hospital, so the poor girl had the annoying drain tube in her an unnecessarily eight (8) days extra.

But, all-in-all, good news. All test results were benign (or is it B-9?)! Thank you, God.

She's Healed!

I know Jan is feeling better, when she whispers those three little words that every husband longs to hear. After 30 years they still make my heart stop every time I hear them, "Let's go shopping."

Christmas Eve

Jan is looking much better this morning. She showered and has some color back in her face. I know that drain tube has to be annoying (it's just a plastic tube coming out of her chest and emptying into a little plastic bulb). The incision itself looks pretty good, it's actually along the same scar, in the base of the neck, they did the last surgery at (2000? 2001?), but they had to extend it a few centimeters in each direction.

Jan goes back for her follow-up visit, with the surgeon, on Monday the 29th at which time they'll take out the tube and give us the low down on what comes next. I don't understand everything the thyroid does, but I know she'll continue to take medicine to duplicate its action.

As I prepare to go to work this Christmas Eve, I am reminded how thankful I am for my wife and our life together. Merry Christmas everyone!