A belated birthday wish to first grandchild Dano. How could we miss Jan.27?
Speaking of birthdays, Feb.1 marks what would have my brother Jack's 69th birthday. He always got a $10 bill from his Godparent, Roy Cable, a bartender at the City Club. My Godparents never sent me anything (they were farmers). Who said life was fair?
Feb.2 (Ground Hog Day) marks the date that Grandma Myrna's Dad was born. How special was that? He lived 95 years.
Feb.7 marks 48 "big ones" for Grasshopper No.3. Unbelieveable! He still doesn't need glasses and I haven't notice gray hair.
Feb.11 marks Nana's date of birth. She almost made 99 years.
February marks many important birthdates. Hmmmm! I'm sure I'm missing someone.
They say a rising tide lifts all boats. The inference is that as the economy gets better, it has a positive effect on all people and job creation. The economy is still struggling but it seems to have stabilized and there are signs that things are improving.
When people feel comfortable with the economy improving, they buy new cars. My dream has always been to own a Chevrolet Suburban. It one of the largest SUV's made. Grasshopper No.3 calls it "the biggest piece of iron on the road." I've always been deterred by the sticker shock of a new Suburban. Fully loaded, a Suburban can run almost $60,000. Whoaaa! So a Suburban remains a dream.
Forget my dream! The improving economy has encouraged some other family members in Sheboygan on Saemann Ave. to "take the plunge" and buy a Chevy Suburban. It must be nice! They will sit a little higher than everyone else when they drive down the road and they can haul lots of "stuff". Because the Suburban's pedigree eminates from the truck platform, the engines are designed for several hundred thousand of trouble free miles. I noticed that right after their Suburban purchase, our national economic numbers (GDP) jumped up again.
This morning I stopped to put gas in the "Beemer". I needed 9 gallons and spent around $30. Next to me was a new Suburban. He was pumping gas when I drove up and was still pumping gas when I left. I think the SUV holds 30 gallons of gas which means it can hold in excess of $100 worth of petrol. Holy Sh--!
Actually the Suburban will used in lots of work situations and is very practical for the application. It might be a little pricey but owning the dream is priceless.
Keep that economy going!
Love,
Dad
Growing up as a kid and living above a tavern, I dreamed of better days. I had high hopes.
Then I met your Mom. Things were looking up. They lived on top of the "hill" and had new cars and expensive clothes. When I married into the family, the prospect for a rich inheritance soared. Alas, it wouldn't happen. In the end, the State was subsidizing Nana's existance. There went my high hopes.
I had to revert to my own means. I saved silver dimes in the 70's waiting for silver prices to soar. The silver market was held hostage in the 80's by the Hunt brothers (oil billionaires). I could have made 20 times the value of the dimes. I held out. I had high hopes. It has taken 20 years and I finally did sell the dimes for 20 times face value, but it did not come close to meeting my expectations.
Before Grandma Alice died she gave me her silver tea set. She wanted me to have it. I figued I had hit the "mother lode", but because of sentimental value, I hung on to the set for years. When I went to sell the silver set, eBay was showing similar silver tea sets valued as high as $15,000. We had the set appraised and it turns out the set is "silver plated" and worth less than $100. Again, I could feel my dreams slipping away.
Lately, I found some antique gold watches my Grandma Myrna had given me. They came from her family and dated back to the late 1800's. Whoa! Gold! Antique! Watches! Here was my ticket to easy street. Turns out the watches are "gold plated" and maybe worth $10 for the parts.
So you see, I keep skirting the edges of moving into the top 1% of Americans consided to be wealthy. There is always the possibility of bringing a law suit against someone and getting a big settlement. Or maybe I can win the Powerball Lottery with odds of 150 million to 1. Then there are the Indian casinos in the area. I might pull the lever for the big jackpot.
Upon reflection, I've always got "family". It is more valuable than all the riches in the world. It is the gift that keeps giving. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I've been rich all along; I just never realized it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Life needs high hopes. They are different for everyone. They keep you going.
Here is hoping you pull the "magic lever".
Love,
Dad
I blogged about my surgery to remove skin cancer. The bandage that covers the wound is the size of Texas. The magnitude of the "tissure removal" surprised me as did the stitches. The real surprise was the black eye. The nurse mumbled something like "you are probably going to have a black eye as a result of the surgery. It took a day or two but one eye turned totally black from blood drainage near the eye. I think I qualify for "doctor abuse".
The voice of the Green Bay Packers, Jim Irwin died last Sunday. He was one of those personalities that made you feel like you knew him personally. About 7-8 months ago, there was a news story about Jim having cancer (I think kidney) and that he was undergoing treatment. The prognosis was good. It reminded me of my sister Addie where they keep offering encouragement but the cancer suddenly took over and the end came quickly.
Under the subject of fairness, Joe Paterno died Sunday. As Penn State coach, he celebrated 45 years as leader of the football team. I only know he was a good guy. He cared about people. He donated money and time to make Penn State special. And then! And then 10 years ago an assistant coach reported he had seen another coach sexually assaulting a young football player. Paterno apparently did as he should have and reported the incident to two officials of the University. The officials did nothing and the issue faded away. Paterno was fired for not following up on the incident. I don't know if Paterno knew what his responsibilites were? The result was more sexual assaults over time. The fairness relates to a man living his life with dignity, respect and dedication being fired by the University for "not following up" on an incident. The sexual incidents are abhorable but more responsible University officials failed to act. The final sadness is that Paterno died of cancer several months after the incident. I am sure stress accelerated the cancer. It doesn't seem fair that a lifetime of good is "dumped like it doesnt matter" for a situation where Joe reported properly but did not follow up. Who said life is fair?
I'm scheduled tomorrow for my "family doctor" for a regular 6 month checkup (who knows what pills he will prescribe this time), I get the stitches removed from the surgery next Thursday, and I get to have another minor skin surgery the following Monday. Are we having fun yet?
I think what I need to do it give my attitude a boost. I can purchase a 3D (also plays in 2D) flat screen 60 inch plasma 1080p HD television set. If I add mind blowing surround sound hooked to a prologic system, I can drown my dumpy feelings. Oh yeah, I can order an Apple I Pod with "apps" that control all electronics from one source (no more remote controls). Yeah, right! That all is going to happen.
Somehow the most important thing in my life is to get rid of this black eye. Nothing complicated about that.
Love,
Dad
Yesterday your Mom and I trundled down to Oshkosh. I had an appointment for a "minor" procedure to remove skin tissue that looked funny.
I had discolored skin near my temple along the hairline. It was the size of a round dime. It would vary from "just noticeable" to angry at times. It had been present for a year or two.
Turns out it was a basal cell cancer which does not metastasize (it won't spread to the bloodstream). It consists of single cells which will continue to spread deeper into the seven layers of skin or into a bigger area on the surface of the skin. They need to remove the suspicious spot and then test to see if "they got it all".
Here we go. The first skin area removed was about the size of a quarter and deep. Ugly. After waiting 45 minutes for testing of the skin sample, the news was "we didn't get it all". What the hell does that mean? They need to take a bigger area of skin tissue (probably the size of a half dollar) and cut deeper. The second cut created the 8th Wonder of the World. It was a facial crater as deep as the Grand Canyon. We again had to wait 45 minutes to see if they had removed all the cancerous tissue. Finally a positive response. Yes they got it all. Then came all the disclosures.
They had to cut away some hair to do the surgery. Okay.
The skin is pulled together and stitched. First the deep stitches to hold deep tissue together and then the finely crafted surface stitches that finish the job.
I would need to sleep sitting up for a week because they don't want blood rushing to the injured tissue. Something about clots.
I would have a huge facial bandage reminding me of Kazemota (the hunchback of Notre Dame). It gets removed after two days when the bleeding should have stopped.
I can lift nothing heavier that a milk carton.
I can not bend over for fear of blood rushing to the damaged area and fear that blood pressure might skyrocket.
I can not exercise including walking for two weeks for fear of the blood pressure issues after a surgery.
I get to take anti-biotics for 7 days "just in case".
Tomorrow I get to take the hideous blood absorbing bandage off and start replacing it with something more reasonable.
They say there will be no scars but that defies belief.
In two weeks I get to take the stitches out.
The good news is that I get help from your Mom, Grasshopper No.3 (I can't shovel snow), and friends. Wait, scratch the friends. I don't have any friends.
It was almost like Julius Caesar going to Roman Forum to give a speech and he was ambushed by Brutus and friends and he ended up dead. It began as such an innocent day.
My advice is to use lots of sunblock and stay out of the tanning booths.
Stay Warm.
Dad
This week I get to return to my "skin doctor" for follow-up surgery. It is called "trust". Several biopsy's from the first visit indicate further treatment required. It is facial. It involves cutting. I'm not sure about the pain. The truth is I'm paying the price for years of sun exposure and no hat. Recently I have been really careful about wearing hats and using generous amounts of sunblock. Go figure. It is out-patient treatment and I get to take my best friend with me.
This falls into the category of additional pain. Grandpa George always carried toothpicks in his pocket. Anytime we went to a restaurant, George would grab toothpicks as we exited. I remember him keeping the toothpick in his mouth much like a cigarette. Apparently he had several teeth that were "food traps" and he used the picks for removal. Your Mom seems to have the same condition. The result is that there are toothpicks lying everywhere. Last night I rammed on into my foot (it was caught in the rug). Then I reached into a sofa cushion to retrieve a pencil. I jammed another toothpick into my hand. Finally, I sat down at the computer and I felt a sharp pain in my butt. Sure enough, I had run a wooden tool up my "a--". This ain't funny any more.
Jan.16, 2012 falls into the categoy of being the most depressing day of the year (the third Monday of the New Year). The holidays are finally over. The weather is lousy so we are trapped inside with something called cabin fever. Most people must seriously return to work. Etc., etc., etc. Well suck it up buster! This too shall pass.
The Packers losing doesn't help the mood. How can you go 15-1 during the season and lose the first game in the playoffs? They got a first round bye giving them a chance to heal injuries. They got home field advanage during the playoffs. Everything was exactly the way they wanted. It couldn't have been planned any better. I'm not sure the Packers were "hungry enough". A strong resolve to win and a little bit of "nasty" helps. Now we get the losers lament: "there is always next year"!
Finally the Tebow "thing" will get a rest. Tebow and his buddies got "t-boned". New England beat Denver 45-10. Even lots of prayer can't solve a throwing motion that sucks.
Stay warm!
Love,
Dad
My guardian angel from the east side of Appleton (Grasshopper No.3) swooped down upon my driveway this morning and made the 4 inches of snow disappear. This morning I like him best.
Sometimes people say things (or do things) that seem innocent at the time but have a major impact on others. I remember a school buddy being told he wasn't "college material". It p---ed him off. He went to on to graduate college and became very successful. What kind of guidance counselor would tell a kid not to try going on to college?
Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints was told he was to "short to play NFL football". He checks in at 5 foot 10 inches tall. Fortunately he didn't listen to all the experts and he has become one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.
This week Sports Illustrated has an article on Micheal Jordan's high school basketball coach. The coach when picking the Varsity basketball squad, did not elevate sophomore Michael to "varsity". Michael was only 5'10" tall at the time. Jordan accepted the fact he would spend another year on the junior varsity. He also played his whole sophomore year "p---ed". He showed everybody. His team won almost every game and he had a couple of 50 point game performances. Fans would come to the "early" junior varsity game just to see Jordan. The rest is history. Jordan excelled in his junior and senior years and today is considered by many to the "best basketball player of all time".
The high school coach who held Michael back in his sophomore year was a black coach named Clifton (Pop) Herring. Pop actually spent lots of time working with Jordan developing his shot, inviting him to supper frequently and even making his car available when needed. Today when Michael gives talks and interviews he refers to his high school coach "Pop" who didn't have the vision to put him the varsity squad as a sophomore. Pop does't get thanks. He gets to be the butt of "funny stories" but always being painted as the bad guy.
Mike's continued bad jokes about Pop would normally "pass" but Pop is today 51 years old and financially destitute. He lives off government welfare and charity. One year after Mike graduated high school, Pop lost his coaching job. Apparently the community didn't like how he handled Mike either. So as Pop wrestles with survival, Jordan continues to kiddingly refer to Pop in a negative way. I'm not sure that Mike realizes the impact his words have had on Pop's life.
So as you get totally honest with friends and family, consider the potential impact of your words. You could change somebody's life.
I'm sure my words have never hurt people in my life. Not me! I wonder?
Go Green and Gold.
Love,
Dad
Lately I've had a few chats with God. It is usually me doing all the talking and He listens. I have suggested many times that He needs to reinforce the message of his existence. I have said it over, and over and over. I mean, the movie "Oh, God" just didn't do it.
So God told me (yep he talked) that he was going to create a chiseled, 245 pound left handed quarterback and put him on the NFL Denver team. He would kneel to the ground everytime he scored (or anyone scored) a touchdown. The young quarterback would thank his Lord and then wave to the crowd. Girls would love his good looks. Young kids would emulate his reverence. He would be would be named Tim. Yep, Tim Tebow.
Tim would have to show vulnerability. Things like throwing "like a girl". Lofting "wounded duck" attempts for spiral passes. At times during a game, he would "suck". But then, just when everything looked lost, Tim would rise up and complete unlikely passes or run for a miraculous touchdowns. He would lead Denver into the NFL playoffs. He would pull off a victory in the first round of the playoffs. His legend would grow. He would make the impossible happen and always thank his Lord.
So I asked God what he was going to do now? There are more playoff games coming. There will be more ridiculous situations for Tebow to exhibit "hero status". How far was God going to take this situation? God wouldn't tell me.
I feel good knowing that God shared with me. He had created Tim Tebow who is synonomous with the "impossible". My only regret is that I wasn't the one picked to win impossible football games every week.
This weekend, Denver plays the #1 New England Patriots in Foxboro,Mass. The stage couldn't be bigger. Who knows what God will have Tim do to get His message out?
Alas, my weekend prediction is that Denver "goes down big time". The Superman story is over! Tim has to get a real job. I mean really, do you really think God has time to "rig" a lousy football game?
Love,
Dad
My side of the family has always had fair skin. That means potential skin damage as you get older especially from the sun. I had my "golfing years" where I didn't wear hats and the term "sun block" hadn't been invented. Every 2-3 years I end up at the dermatologist to have skin abnormalities looked at. It is hard to describe a visit to the dermatologist. If you have ever been to a zoo and visited the monkey habitat you will see a monkey picking the "cooties" off another monkey. That pretty much describes the process at the skin doctor. They always find something. They always perform small biopsies. I always feel mutalated when I leave. For me, it is "not fun".
We should be putting the Christmas tree away shortly. We had one last Christmas visit with Grandson Nevin (and his very, very good friend Cheresa). Very nice. Actually both are going to school at Fox Valley Tech and handling a full cirriculum. There was mention of lots of A's and B's.
The only family we missed was Grand-daughter Keely and Grandson Collin. At last report, Collin is scheduled "home" around the 16th of the month but the Marines reserve the right to change things at a moments notice. I think it has been a year since Collin got back to Wisconsin.
Keely's work schedule has kept her mired in Cleveland. Cleveland? Cleveland! Who moves to Cleveland? Apparently she loves what she is doing!
When I was working in Sheboygan, the company had full time security including a person that occupied the guard house at the front gate to the facility. The security guard was present as all employees entered or left the plant. That amount to 1000 people per day. Every body got to know the guard. I saw an obituary last week that said Bob "Sleepy" Gregor passed away. I don't know where the nickname "Sleepy" came from but it is a little disconcerting when the security guard has that title. Actually Sleepy was a very good guy. My sister Addie seemed to know him very well and I think my Mom's second marriage brought her a family tie to Sleepy. His passing brought back memories.
Happiness is being a Green Bay Packer and having the weekend at home with family.
Stay Warm.
Love,
Dad
In case you haven't noticed, the government has mandated that effective Jan.1, 2012, all light bulbs manufactured must be converted from the normal incandescent bulbs to fluorescent, LED or LCD technology. Supposedly getting your bulbs replaced will save energy. There are lots of decisions including equivalent light, color of light and cost. You may save on energy but the cost of new bulbs is a shocker. My understanding is that fluorescent bulbs all contain mercury needed to produce the glow. Mercury is a hazardous material known to summon Emergency Cleanup Units. My advice is "don't drop your new bulbs". Your house may be surrounded by fire trucks.
Just a quick story. When Nana moved into Kindred Hearts Assistant Living, she could not get proper TV reception. When an electrician came to check things out, he discovered that there was one of the new "energy saving" fluorescent light bulbs in the table lamp the home provided next to her bed. He said they caused the problem, so removed the bulb and replaced it with a regular "normal" one. Her TV worked great and she was very happy. I wonder if it affects cell phones?
We start the year with a clean slate. Make up your mind to being bombarded by political radio and TV messages. The Presidential election rhetoric ramps up. The potential Walker recall will generate lots of political mudslinging. Then there is the "occupy something" movement. Imagine if we took the "$ billions" that will be spent on ads and used that money to feed the poor.
For you Packers fans, here is the deal. They have a week off. Then they play the New York Giants at home. That will be followed by a game against New Orleans at home. The Super Bowl in Indianapolis will be a Packer/New England Patriot matchup. There you have it. In a perfect world, I've just described the march to the NFL championship.
Badgers lost the Rose Bowl for the same reason they lost two other games: lousy defense. Maybe a little bad luck! It was a very good year for Bucky. Oh well. There is always the losers lament "there is always next year".
New Year's Day I shoveled for the first time this winter season.
Stay Warm.
Love,
Dad