I'm not "joggin", so why is this still "Joggin' for Jenn"?

On January 29, 2006, my dear friend Jennifer lost her battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Jenn was 31 years old, a loving mother, caring wife, & loyal friend. In her memory, I dedicated a year of training, racing, and ultimately raising awareness to fight these horrific diseases. “Joggin’ for Jenn” was born.

I ran the Chicago Marathon on October 22, 2006, and raised nearly $6,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

I had aches & pains during my training, and it was a battle to cross the finish line of the 26.2-mile course, unquestionably, it could never compare to Jenn’s battle and the challenges she faced every day as a Leukemia patient.

Two days following the Chicago Marathon, I had my 9th knee surgery. My running days are over. But that will not cease my dedication to raising awareness for very worthy causes. Losing Jenn has opened my eyes, and made me live my life one day at a time...and if that means being a "good-deed-doer" and raising awareness for those causes of great interest to me, then that's just what I'm going to do. And I will do it all in her memory.

So while this time around, I'm not "Joggin' for Jenn", everything I do is because of her.

Which brings me to today, and my newest and exciting fundraising effort…the Tour de Cove!

Joggin' for Jenn is back! Well....sort of....

Dear Family & Friends,

I am hoping I can count on your support for a very worthy and credible cause.

My purpose is straight forward:

I am going to raise $2,000 for The Challenged Athletes Foundation by completing a 4½-hour “spin-a-thon” in the Tour de Cove on October 25, 2009.

Since 1994, CAF has raised more than $21 million – allowing the Foundation to satisfy thousands of funding requests from challenged athletes in all 50 states and dozens of countries. Whether it’s a $2,000 handcycle, helping underwrite a running prosthetic, or arranging encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar injury, CAF’s mission is clear: give those with the desire to live active, competitive lifestyles every opportunity to compete in the sports they love.

Sadly, despite our best efforts, many physically challenged athletes still remain on the sidelines.

Please join me in helping CAF fulfill its mission. Let’s help give these challenged athletes a fair chance to realize their dreams, and breath life into the stories of hearts and heroes, of inspiration and perspiration, of raw courage and “never quit” attitudes!

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Karin

It's been a while...

Wow. I haven't posted anything on here in a long time. Guess I'll give a brief update...

As most of my readers know, my blog has been temporarily repurposed to provide updates on Mike's recovery. I am happy to say, Mike is pretty much back to normal! He's had a hard few months, between casts, PT, braces, PT, walkers, PT...but he has all peripheral items removed, and he is back to normal activities! I am also pleased to report that he is back on a bike. Not the same bike, a brand, spankin' new one. Good for you, Mike. Good for you.

So, with that great news, I am going to officially re-repurpose my blog back to its original intent that is the random ramblings of my life...

Stay tuned.

Oh, yeah, I'm still learning all things social media marketing, so follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/kbreemts)

Mikey update - Mon 6/22 4:11pm PST

Happy Monday All!
I have some great news to report in my update today. Mike had an appointment with his orthopedic surgeon this morning, and two things happened:

1. He got the cast on his hand off!
2. He got the go-ahead for FULL weight bearing on his right leg!

While he's not moving his fingers too much, he is moving his wrist around, which he said feels good after being casted, but his hand does ache. It looks like he'll be starting PT on his hand on Wednesday.

Putting full weight on his leg is the most significant development today. He will be doing his PT exercises without the brace/cast on his leg, and if he's not moving around too much, he can have the cast off at home. Basically, he was told "if it hurts, stop". Mike took a stroll down to the pool today, too. He'll be using the walker, still, for support and for safety reasons, especially until he regains some of the strength and stability in his leg.

All in all, he's doing great. He was so happy to not only get his cast on his hand off today, but also to be able to put full weight on his leg. That will certainly help with his mobility! Now that he has these "restrictions" lifted...I would imagine that his PT will begin moving him along nicely...towards a full recovery!

That's all for now...don't stop the good thoughts...they've been working!
Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Fri 6/19 1:36PST

Happy Friday!
First, sorry for the delay between updates. As I suspected, there is less to report each day, so the posts will become less frequent. But, in this case, no news is good news!

This week, Mike had 2 more PT appointments...Wed and this morning. While he didn't start the stationary bike as part of his therapy, he did get the "ok" from his orthopedic surgeon to flex his knee to 80 degrees - which is up from 60. As suspected, his PT added in some new exercises, and his PT appointment time is now 60 minutes per session, vs the previous 30 minutes. There is a chance he'll get on the bike next week, but as of today, the doctor still wants no weight bearing or pressure activities.

From everything Mike has heard, it sounds like he'll be getting his hand cast off on Monday! We are still uncertain if they will replace it with a soft cast, a splint, a wrap, or ??? I guess Monday will tell all! Either way, it appears as if Mike will then start the PT on his hand next week as well, not sure what day or how much, but it should be something. Mike is really just excited to get his cast off and to move his hand/wrist, even if it is just a tiny bit during PT.

He also has two follow up doctor appointments next week - one with the orthopedic surgeon (Mon), and the general trauma surgeon (Wed).

Now that all of his appointments are over for the week, Mike is looking forward to a weekend of relaxation. All of his activities and appointments tire him out, so right now, he's enjoying a relaxing Friday afternoon in his recliner!

I will continue to share information and updates as I have them, but expect the frequency to be less than it has been in the past couple of weeks.

Have a great weekend, everyone!
Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 6/17 9:59am PST

Greetings!

Back in San Diego now...and I had a great week with Mike! We talked to him last night...have a few updates to report...

Mike had an appointment with the orthotist yesterday morning (that would be the guy that manages the brace on his leg) because Mike was experiencing some irritation from the brace rubbing on various parts of his leg. The orthotist said that the brace was coming out of alignment, meaning that it was shifting when he was moving around, etc. To help prevent that, he told Mike to wear a shoe most times, which will help. He also reformed the brace to fit a little better, and told him he could take off the brace for a bit each day to air things out and to eliminate some of the irritation as it heals. He can only do this if he is seated, and doing nothing else. He cannot have even a hint of lateral movement in his leg. He also had Mike's orthopedic doctor prescribe some cortizone cream for the skin abrasions, so I'm sure that will help as well.

Mike's PT also got an update from his orthopedic doctor regarding his therapy. Mike is now cleared to extend his flexion to 80 degrees! From what the PT told Mike on Monday (I was there, I can confirm this), it sounds like perhaps today he'll now be able to kick up the PT a bit, and perhaps even start on the stationary bike!

Mike also found out some great news....he's likely to be getting the cast on his hand off on Monday! He's not sure if they will replace it with a soft cast, splint, or some other device, but from what he told me, it sounds like the hard cast will be coming off for good! He's very excited about that, especially since that means that PT on his hand will be starting soon thereafter!

Today, Mike has another PT appointment, so I'll be talking to him this afternoon to see how that went, and to see if he was able to start on the bike. Mike's brother Bill also came into town last night for a couple days.

Things are certainly going in the right direction....Mike is continuing to heal, and progress through his therapies, and above all else, I can say from personal experience, he has an amazing positive attitude about his recovery, which I know is helping tremendously.

Keep sending your positive energy his way....and if you're in his neighborhood, stop by, say hi, and get some snacks...he certainly has plenty to share :) I can honestly say I did my part to reduce the pile of treats while I was there!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Mon 6/15 1:49pm CST

Hi All,
Just a brief update for now. This morning, Mike had his first in-office PT visit. I took him out there (it's just near Delnor Hospital), and he got in right away. He had an assessment with the PT, basically to let her know what's been going on (even though she has all the charts and notes from the doctor and the home PT). She then had Mike do several types of exercises (3 sets of 10 for each exercise). Some of these he had already been doing with the home PT and some were new. He didn't have any trouble or any pain with any of these exercises. At this time, he is still keeping his flexion to 60 degrees, however, the PT was going to check with the orthopedic doctor to see if she can work with him to move past 60 degrees, as Mike has been at 60 degrees with very little issue at all for nearly 2 weeks now. Once the doctor clears Mike to go past 60 degree flexion, the PT indicated she'll be able to do a little more work with him, and even get him riding the stationary bike!

She gave him a list of exercises to do at home every day. He'll be returning to her on Wed and Fri of this week, and she was hoping to hear back from the doctor before his next visit, so I imagine he'll be starting with some new exercises on Wed or perhaps on Fri.

We made a quick stop at Walgreens on the way home for some supplies, and then picked up Portillo's for lunch (I miss Portillo's in San Diego, so that was a nice treat!).

Mike has some visitors from work here now, and tonight he is thinking about heading out to watch his bowling league play tonight for a little while.

I'll be headed to the airport in a few hours, so this will likely be the last update for today. I will continue my updates once I return home, and as I have additional information to share. It's been great to be here for 6 days, and I'll be sad to leave, but I know that Mike is in good hands!

Thanks to all for your continued good thoughts and prayers. Mike is healing well, and has been in fantastic spirits...he has such a positive attitude, and all of your good vibes are certainly helping!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Sun 6/14 9:00pm CST

Hi All,
Sorry for no update yesterday...not too much to report. Pat flew in late Friday night as a surprise to Mike! It was extra nice, especially since Pat was here last weekend too!

On Saturday, Pat & I took a trip to Madison, WI for my cousin's graduation party and to see some family. After a quick stop in Rockford (actually 2, both on the way there to see my Grandma, and on the way back to see my parents, brother, and sister-in-law), we headed back to Lisle, and spent the evening with Mike & Nicole, relaxing and watching movies. Mike really enjoyed having a day with "nothing to do". He has many appointments during the week, and it does get tiring, so he was glad to have a "day off".

Today, we had a relaxing morning with coffee and muffins (muffins courtesy of the Melsa kids!), then headed up to Pete & Johnny's for lunch. We were joined by some friends - Murphy, Melinda, John, and Doug (Nicole was there too...working!). We enjoyed the make-your-own-Bloody Mary bar...and had some lunch. After a couple hours there, we headed back to Mike & Nicole's, and again, friends joined us for a nice Sunday afternoon. We sat outside in the sun, and had a nice time. A couple more visitors joined - "the Dave", and Craig, his girlfriend Julie, and Zach (my friends from Round Lake Beach) stopped by for a visit.

Dave took Pat to the airport around 6:30, and me, Mike, Doug, Sarah, and Nicole had some great grilled pork and potatoes (courtesy of Murphy and "Chef Doug"). It was a nice dinner outside on the picnic table. Eventually, everyone left, and now we're sitting inside, relaxing after a long, fun-filled day.

Tomorrow morning will bring a PT visit for Mike, his first in the office. We're not sure what's in store for that visit, but I will post more tomorrow afternoon. I will be headed back to San Diego tomorrow night, and I will be very sad to leave, but it's been a great long visit!

Until tomorrow...
Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Fri 6/12 3:20pm CST

Hi All,
Just a brief update. The PT just left after Mike's last home visit. He did a thorough assessment much like he did at the beginning of the home PT visits (mostly just questions re: pain, with what he needs assistance, what he's doing on his own, etc). He did some exercises, and also tested his strength in his left (the uninjured) leg. He said that was considerably better, as the last time he did that (I'm not sure when that was), Mike was a lot shakier. Keith (PT) said he's improved quite a bit with regard to the strength in his left leg.

They also had me bring Mike's car around to the door. Until this point, Mike has been riding in his car in the back seat, with his right leg extended across the length of the back seat. Mike has been expressing interest in trying to get into the front seat, more for safety reasons (it's hard to buckle his seatbelt in the back while seated that way). The PT described to Mike how to ease himself into the front seat, which I moved back as far as it could go. Mike did it just fine, and was able to swing his right leg into the car without a problem. Mike was VERY happy to be able to do that, and says he now feels safer riding in the car, being able to wear his seatbelt in the front seat.

The PT finished his visit and left. Mike is getting showered (Nicole is assisting in that process of course), and then we'll be settling in for an afternoon movie, or perhaps a wheelchair walk outside! Tonight is more relaxing!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Fri 6/12 10:35am PST

Hi All,
Mike is continuing to do very well. I have been here since Wed night, and we've pretty much just been hanging out, watching tv, catching up, etc. Yesterday, he had a visit from the PT, which went well. Last night, we ventured out to The Melsa Household for a fantastic home cooked dinner (thanks again, Mark & Becky!) We stayed there until nearly 10pm! Spent some time being entertained by the kids (Caroline showed me how to make a bracelet, then did some dancing to Hannah Montana for me!), and had some time to chat with Mark & Becky. Mark and Mike also played some Wii car racing game, so that was fun.

Today looks to be a nice, relaxing day as well. Mike has his last home visit from the PT today, and since it appears the weather will be nice, we may venture outside to sit in the sun for a bit later today as well.

I will post more later today! Keep the good thoughts coming!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Thu 6/11 4:06pm CST

Hi All,
Well, I am in Lisle! Arrived last night, and have settled in to Mike & Nicole's for the weekend. Mike is continuing to heal, and he is in good spirits. He had a visit from the PT today, and he worked on some exercises with him. He will return tomorrow for the final "in-home" visit, before Mike starts the "in-office" PT visits on Monday. He will have PT every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for a while. His ribs aren't bothering him too much, nor is his leg or hand. His hematoma on his side is continuing to drain, and healing is on track with the doctor's expectations.

Tonight, he and I will be heading to a friends for dinner, then likely back home to relax. So far, we've had a pretty relaxing day!

On a personal note, it's definitly great to be here. Much easier to write updates first hand ;) I'm truly glad to be able to spend several days with Mike.

Will continue to post updates through the weekend.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 6/10 10:17am PST

Hi All!
Talked to Mike this morning on his way back from the doctor (general surgeon). The doctor said everything was healing fine! This afternoon, Mike is meeting with a lawyer to talk about details surrounding the accident. And then...I'll arrive tonight!

Will be there from about 10pm tonight until 8pm on Monday night. Looking forward to spending time with Mike, and especially having him teach me how to play Guitar Hero!

I will be continuing to post updates throughout the weekend, so stay tuned!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Tue 6/08 1:41pm PST

Hi All,
Just got off the phone with Mike. He sounded great! He had an appointment this morning with the general practitioner, which was mainly for a check up and to establish a doctor. Tomorrow he has another appointment with, I believe, the general surgeon, and also physical therapy at home. Monday will start the PT in the office.

Mike is looking forward to my visit tomorrow. Between Pat's visit this past weekend, and my visit tomorrow...Mike will have a week full of "Reemts-time"! We're looking forward to just relaxing and hanging out. Should be a good time!

That's all for now, will post more later if anything to report!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Tue 6/08 11:27am PST

Hi All,
Update from Bill, from yesterday...

"Friends & Family,

Once again, Mike awoke with no rib pain! Today we took Mike to his orthopedic surgeon, and things seem to be healing very well. They took his cast off his hand to check the incision and remove the stitches from the cut from the accident. They found no infection on the incision or the cut, which is great. They put a new one on to continue to immobilize his hand and wrist. The two fingers with torn tendons and broken finger will still need about 4 weeks to heal.

The doctor cleared Mike to bend his knee from 0-60 degrees, which started today with the physical therapist. Amazingly, Mike did not feel too much pain with the knee flexing...he felt a little pain bringing his knee down from 60 degrees, but overall, a relatively painless new exercise (he mentioned it was nothing compared to the initial rib fracture pain). He is going to start physical therapy with Dr. Fister's (Orthopedic Surgeon) medical group next week, rather than in home, since he is able to get around. This will be good since the information in his file will be dealt with in house and should be the best for his recovery. He will still not be able to put weight on his right leg for at least 2 weeks, but he will continue to move his knee more and more with physical therapy.

Mike's swelling from his hematoma is coming down and draining some blood (which is good)...much of the blood is being absorbed back into his body.

Today, Mike also got a haircut and shaved for the first time since his accident. Yesterday, Pat Reemts got a recliner over to the apartment and Mike is feeling much better relaxing in that chair, rather than his wheel chair. He is able to elevate his leg and relax in the comfort of a lazy-boy (see attached picture)! We went to lunch yesterday at Pete and Johnny's and got to spend some time with Mike's friends (see attached picture). We have also spent some time playing guitar hero (Mike is able to use his thumb in his right hand to strum) and board games like "Scene-It" and Yahtzee! His spirits are up and he has a continued bright outlook on a speedy recovery! The picture attached is one from our trip to Wal-Mart. Mike likes to take advantage of using the motorized scooters whenever possible!

I believe that is all for now. Thanks once again for your thoughts and prayers!

-Bill"

I'm working on booking my flights to go visit Mike this weekend. Really looking forward to seeing him and spending some time with him!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Mon 6/08 11:33am PST

Just got off the phone with Pat...here's the latest and greatest!

Mike's doctor appointment went well today. Again, he saw the orthopedic surgeon about his hand and knee. He got the stitches out of his hand, and they re-casted it. Healing is on schedule for his hand, and he's likely to have it casted for another 3-4 weeks. The knee is healing well, ahead of schedule, per Pat. The doctor is happy with how the knee is healing. He will start physical therapy at home today, where, in part, they will begin getting his range of motion/flexibility back. Once that's underway, they'll begin to work on weight-bearing.

All in all, things are healing well!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Mon 6/08 10:15am PST

Just a super-quick update. Pat and Mike are headed back from the doctor, but stopped at Target (and if I know Pat, probably Potbelly, too - cause it's right next door, and we MISS potbelly here in Cali!).

Pat sent me this pic of Mike and his Target scooter...note the blue cast! Will post more when I hear how the appointment went!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Mon 6/08 7:45am PST

Hi All,
Talked to Mike yesterday afternoon...he called me from his "new" recliner! Pat & I had a recliner that was still at our house in Lisle, and they got it over to Mike's so he could have someplace super comfy to sit. He was in heaven...was so happy to be sitting in such a comfortable chair. He was in great spirits, and was really enjoying his time with his family and friends.

Pat is playing chauffeur this morning...taking Mike to his appointment with his orthopedic doctor. We're all hoping for some (in Mike's words) some "fast healing under those casts"!

Not too much else to report, aside from the other updates through the weekend. He remains in good spirits, and is continuing to heal.

I will post more updates, per usual, as I get them.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Sun 6/07 1:18pm PST

Couple of updates!

Been back and forth with Pat this morning. Mike is in great spirits, and as I think I mentioned earlier, he woke up today for the 3rd day in a row with no rib pain! Yay! Mike, Pat, and the "gang" went to Pete & Johnny's for lunch and make-your-own bloody mary's today. I saw a pic of the group - Mike, Pat, Bill, Doug, Sarah, Murphy, Melinda, & Tommy - looked like they were having a nice time!

Just got another update from Bill as well:

"Friends & Family,

Keep the positive thoughts coming, they are definitely working!

Mike again woke up with no rib pain for the third day in a row! Things are getting better with him daily. Pat Reemts arrived into town from San Diego yesterday afternoon and will be staying through tomorrow night. It is definitely nice for Mike to have great support from friends and family. Tomorrow Mike will see his orthopedic doctor and have physical therapy in the afternoon. Tuesday, he will see a family practice doctor and Wednesday, he will see the general surgeon that worked with him at Delnor. He will also be meeting with a lawyer this week to discuss the complexities of this accident and the pending insurance claims.

I believe that is all to report at this time...thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.

-Bill"

I'm sure I'll be talking to the boys later today, and will post anything new then!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Sun 6/07 9:20am PST

Just a brief update this morning, I'm sure I'll have more to report later.

Today was day THREE of Mike waking up with no rib pain! Pat says he's in very good spirits today, too. Today they are going to try and get our old recliner over to Mike so he can relax in that all day, rather than the wheelchair! Then, Pat, Mike, and Mike's brother Bill (perhaps some others, not sure) are going to lunch at Pete & Johnny's.

Pat is really enjoying spending time with Mike, and although I can't speak for Mike...even though I sometimes do :) ...I'm sure Mike is enjoying the time with Pat. It's looking like I'll be headed out there Wednesday night, but that is still TBD.

Will post more later after I talk to the boys this afternoon!

One last note...in Mike's words (from FB ironically).. "getting better everyday!"

Until the next update, stay well, and enjoy your weekend!
Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Sat 6/06 5:22pm PST

Hi All,

Pat is safely in Chicago, well, Lisle actually. He's hanging out at Mike's, and there are some friends there, too! I just got off the phone with both of them, talked to Mike for a while. He woke up today with no pain in his broken ribs - for the 2nd day in a row! His hand and leg feel ok today, too. He has 3 doctor appointments next week...mon, tue, and wed. Also some PT appointments as well.

He sounded good, and I know he's really happy to have Pat there. I think the plan tonight is to order some deep dish pizza and just chill out with some friends.

Will be talking to the boys again later tonight, and will post updates, if anything to report!

In the meantime, stay well.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Sat 6/06 7:13am PST

Good Morning All,
Just a few things to report this morning.

Got an update from Mike's brother Bill yesterday...

"Mike is continuing to do well day by day, and actually staying busy. Mike mentioned that today was the first day he woke up without any pain in his broken ribs, but it unfortunately came back quickly when he had to sneeze! Today we took a walk around the apartment where Mike is staying...it was a great day here, sunny and in the 70's. He continues to move around the apartment with his walker and his strength is getting better. He has physical therapy exercises that he continues to do daily and is breathing much better."

We also talked to him last night...he sounded good, and pretty much told us everything that Bill said above. He was really happy when he woke up without any pain in his ribs, and was ticked when he had to sneeze..."it was all over then!" he said. We talked to him a couple times yesterday, and the second time, he had some friends over to hang out. Sounded like a little party to me ;) In all reality, it sounded like they were having a nice time.

Last night we also made a last minute decision...Pat is currently on a plane to go see Mike. Our original plan was to both go next week/weekend, but we decided to "divide and conquer" in order to give Mike the most "face time" with the Reemts'! So, Pat is headed there as I write this, and will be there until Monday night. When we called to tell Mike that Pat was coming today, there was no mistaking the happiness in his voice. That, alone, made our night. I am working on getting my tickets for sometime next week; it's likely that I will be there from Thursday to Monday or something close to that.

I'll be talking to Mike later today, and I'm sure I'll get updates through the weekend from both Pat and Mike, and will post them here as I get them.

Keep the great thoughts coming!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Fri 6/05 8:43am PST

Hi All,
We talked to Mike last night, and he keeps sounding better and better. We had a nice long talk, just about this and that. He is feeling ok, but is anxious to heal one of his limbs - either hand or leg. He's indicated that it will be much easier to be mobile once either one of the two is more functional. He was looking forward to meeting with the orthopedic surgeon next week, to see what he has to say. Other than that, he remains in good spirits!

Also, below, is an update from Mike's Mom, Ruth. Until the next update...

Love & Blessings,
karin

"Dear family and friends,

Mike is doing well today as I write this. He is still in his wheel chair most of his waking hours. He uses his walker to get around short distances, such as going to the bathroom. When he uses the walker, he has to strap his right arm on a platform and hop on his left foot. This is very tiring, so only necessary trips are taken with the walker. We ran a few errands today. He picked up his new pair of glasses as he cannot wear his contacts. Luckily, he had a prescription at the eye doctor ready and waiting for him. His new glasses look great on him. His voice seems stronger and each day he seems to have more energy. Unfortunately, he will be limited in his mobility to his wheelchair until the cast is removed from his right leg. He seems to be doing quite well with his left hand. Eating is not a problem, but meat, etc. has to be cut into small pieces. He is doing his exercises as instructed by his physical therapist. I have not detected any self pity. He has a great attitude. Next week he will see three doctors, his orthopedic, his trauma, and a general family practice doctor. His ribs are his greatest source of pain now, on a scale of 0-10, the pain level is around a 6 most of the time. The pain medication helps.

I'll write more soon. Until then, thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We are thankful for your love and friendship.

Love,

Ruth"

Mikey update - Thu 6/04 5:11pm PST

Hi All,
Talked to Mike a short while ago, he's doing well. He's had some time to rest up during the latter part of this week, as he hasn't had any additional appointments. He's been getting some fresh air, and generally sounds great!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 6/03 7:39am PST

Should have checked my email before the last post, as there is a new update from Dave, Mike's Dad. Not too much different to report, but wanted to share his update as well as ours...

"Friends and Family,

Now that Mike is out of the hospital, there is less to report. I [Dave] will be turning this over to Ruth (Mike's Mom), since she is still in Illinois, and I [Dave] returned safely to Maine yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday, Mike saw his general trauma surgeon and had his sutures/staples removed - everything looks like it is healing fine. The doctor also looked at his hematoma and commented that it is also healing very well (even though it may not look that way to us). He told Mike that he can stop using the wrap that he had to keep the swelling down. This is a big deal because it went around the rib cage and tended to intensify the pain coming from the broken ribs.

Mike also received another visit from the PT; his session went well and he is keeping up with all the exercises.

Next Monday, Mike will be seeing his orthopedic surgeon.

That is all for now. Again, thank you for all the positive thoughts and prayers...he is definitely on the mend!"

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 6/03 7:34am PST

Hi All,
Sorry I didn't get this posted last night, but Pat & I talked to Mike immediately before we had to run out the door to the Padres game (they got schooled by the Phillies - shocker!).

Mike had a busy day yesterday. He had a visit from the PT and also got his stitches and staples removed in his elbow and head. (So did Nicole!). He, again, didn't talk too much about the pain. The only thing he mentioned was that he was still a little "annoyed" by his hematoma on his side, and that his head itched a little where the stitches/staples used to be. Other than that, he told us he was feeling better yesterday. He was probably in the best spirits we've heard yet, and we talked for at least 30 minutes.

The doctor visits this week are done, but next week will be a busy one...with various appointments with the orthopedic doctor, the general/trauma surgeon, and more therapists.

As per usual, will continue to post updates here as I get them!
Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Mon 6/02 2:24pm PST

Just a brief update today...but a good one. Mike got his stitches and staples removed from his elbow and his head, as did Nicole. Pat and I tried to give him a call a while ago, but the call went to voice mail. From what we can ascertain (we got a text shortly thereafter from Mike), he's doing ok. I know he also had or has a visit from the PT today as well, so hopefully we'll catch him today at some point. If we do, or if we get any further updates, they'll be posted here. Otherwise, check back tomorrow!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Mon 6/01 5:37pm PST

Just got off the horn with Mike...he sounded really good, and continues to be in good spirits. He told me he feels about the same as yesterday...didn't talk about too much of the pain, just about being a little uncomfortable with the various splints, wraps, bandages, etc. As per usual, we shared many laughs, mostly at my expense, 'cause i was telling him funny stories about stupid things I did :)

He took a trip out today to run a couple of errands...including a spin around the local Target in a scooter :)

Tomorrow he will get his stitches in his elbow and his head removed, and will also have another visit from the physical therapist. He does have his appetite, and is eating pretty well, he said (actually he said that yesterday), and while we were talking, the family was ordering some food - chicken parmesan was his order!

Keep sending the positive healing vibes his way...he's gettin' 'em!
Will post more either later or tomorrow!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Mon 6/01 9:38am PST

We've talked to Mike several times throughout the weekend. He was very happy to be home, and working on adjusting to his new surroundings. He did confirm that Cole was a bit of a challenge, simply because he is so happy to have Mike home. He has a lot of people around that are helping out, so that is very good. We had some lengthy conversations, and overall, he is in good spirits, and feeling "ok". When we've asked about his pains...he has said multiple times "it's not too bad". He indicated the pain medication he is on is working, so that is certainly helping to make him comfortable. He is anxious to move forward with his PT and OT, primarly so that he can become more mobile and functional. From what he's said to us, he is very anxious to get some mobility back into his right hand, as that will help him get around better. At first thought, we couldn't figure out why having his hand better would help him "get around" better, but of course, then we realized he could begin to use crutches, rather than a walker!

All-in-all, he's doing well. When we talked to him last night, he was pretty tired, and we concluded he was just very worn out. It's been a long week to say the least, and the move back home seems to have tired him out a bit, as would be expected. But he was in a good mood, and we did share a bunch of laughs.

Please do continue to send good thoughts for a speedy recovery. As he is back home now, you can reach him on his cell phone if you'd like to call. (I won't post his cell # here as this is a public blog, but if you need it, please email me).

I will post any new updates here as I get them, and likely scale back on the emails for now, so please don't forget to check back for updates.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Mon 6/01 9:37am PST

I have a little catching up to do on some updates....

Mike was released from the hospital about 3:45pm CST on Saturday. He is making a good transition so far. On Saturday, he had a visit from the Physical Therapist and he got Mike started on his new regimen. He also made sure they would send over an Occupational Therapist as soon as possible. The PT is expected to visit Mike 3x per week at his house. The hardest thing for Mike right now is keeping the two dogs from getting overly excited about him being home. Virgo (the dachshund) is small enough so that she is not a problem. Cole, on the other hand, is a 115 lb energetic black lab who doesn't realize how big he is. The family has taken him out and tried to wear him out by chasing his frisbee, and they will continue to try and do that as often as possible.

Mike and the family (Dad, Mom, Jenny, Bill, Liz, and Nichole) went out on Saturday night to Mike's favorite watering hole - Pete & Johnny's. They did not stay long, but the visit was uplifting for Mike. On Sunday, the family went back to Pete & Johnny's to enjoy a nice lunch on the outside patio. This was an excellent way for Mike to get some fresh air. Mike has definitely mastered the walker, but it does take a lot of energy hopping on one foot.

Today, Mike will be making appointments with two doctors - the general/trauma surgeon and the orthopedic surgeon. He will be having his sutures (in his head and elbow) removed this week.

Mike is beginning the next phase in his journey. There will be a lot of hard work ahead and days that are boring due to some of his limitations. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and don't be afraid to give him a call when you can.

Mikey update - Sat 5/30 10:07am PST

Hi All,
Sorry for not getting out an update last night. Mike really improved yesterday. He was taken off the morphine, and is now on a pill for pain every 4 hours (note: we later learned from Mike that it is Norco - but that's not confirmed). He is still getting breathing treatments and stayed off of the O2 for a long period yesterday. He did eventually go back on the supplemental oxygen as the oxygen level in his blood is running a little low.

Earlier yesterday, he walked all the way to the hall and back, and then a second time and got in a wheelchair. He was taken down to the first level and then outside so he could spend a little time with his dachshund, Virgo, who came to visit, but wasn't allowed in the room. Mike's Dad also reported that he witnessed Mike get up and user the walker quickly to get into the bathroom, which was "unbelievable considering that he could hardly stand up three days ago". The Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist will continue to work with him to get him out of the hospital ASAP (which we now know will be today!).

His appetite is definitely back. He ate some pizza from Lou Malnati's with his family last night. [Note: his entire immediate family is now there - Dave, Ruth, Jenny, and Bill). He had a large crowd of visitors, including Linda and Andrea Kirch, Sean Murphy, Tony, Brownie (Matt Brown), Bree Snyder, Wayne Krempach (Mr Karaoke!), Mark and Becky Melsa, along with the entire Melsa clan - Caroline, Liam, Daniel, Abby, and Joshua.

Dave and the entire family would like to thank everyone for so much positive thoughts and prayers, they were and are very helpful. They would also like to thank Father George for the special mass yesterday in Tampa, FL.

On another note...Pat & I talked to Mike last night as well. We did call once earlier in the evening, but there were so many people in the room, we decided to call back later when it was a little quieter in the room. We talked to Mike around 930pm PST, and he was definitely awake and coherent. He told us about his activities of the day, including going outside to see Virgo, and getting to the bathroom. For the first time, he never once mentioned any pain. That's not to say he wasn't having any, because I'm sure there is still pain there, but it didn't seem to be overwhelming at that time. We had some funny stories to share from our dinner (for one, Pat & I went to Olive Garden, and on the way out, Pat dropped my leftover ravioli all over his arm, my foot, his foot, my pants, the sidewalk - grrr!) Mike got a real good laugh outta that! We spent the better part of our conversation laughing about various things, and Mike was in very good spirits. I think one of the highlights of his day, aside from getting outside and around more, was that his appetite is coming back. He was very proud to tell us that not only did he eat some pizza, but that he ate FOUR pieces! Normally, we wouldn't blink an eye at that, but given the fact that he's been eating nothing but jello and sherbet (and yesterday morning, a small bowl of cheerios), that was pretty remarkable.

We talked to him for quite a while, probably at least 30 minutes, until the Respiratory Therapist arrived to administer a breathing treatment. We said good night, and as we hung up the phone, were reveling in how good he sounded. As I said yesterday morning, he sounds MUCH less congested (breathing treatments are certainly helping!) and is starting to sound more and more like his old self. He still has a long recovery, but every day, we've heard him progress.

Per my email, Mike will be released from the hospital today. We don't have a clear idea of what time, or any further details, but I will post them here as soon as we know more.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Fri 5/29 12:01pm PST

Just a brief update...Mike is outside! In talking to him this morning, he said he was supposed to try and go for a walk today. Albeit, it would be with a walker, but it was still something new. The only information is that he is outside now...not sure if that's in a wheelchair or with a walker, but he's left the hospital for the first time since Saturday. Once I get clarification on his "activities", I'll post here.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Fri 5/29 8:39am PST

Just got an update from Mike's sister Jenny:

Hi, Everybody! This is Mike's sister, Jenny. I've been in the hospital with Mike now for about 24 hours and wanted to send an update.

His Respiratory Therapist came in this morning and his pulse oxygen is 97, which is great! They're going to talk about lowering his oxygen intake later.

Dr. Shawner came in and looked at his hematoma this morning. He said it "looks good." I don't think so...ha ha! But, if the doctor says so...Anyway, he wants to put Mike on mini-doses of blood thinners to prevent blood clots. He's going to talk to the doctors in orthopedics to make sure it's okay with them.

Finally, his blood count is up from 9.1 to 9.4, which they said is still low; but not low enough for more blood yet! So, that's good too.

The physical therapist popped in and is planning on having him walk more today. I'll keep you posted on that.

Oh...and Nicole and I finally teamed up and made him eat last night...she had him on the phone and I forced it down his throat. Ha! He just had some jello and sherbert, but it was better than nothing.

This morning he woke up with a great appetite. He had the world's smallest bowl of cheerios (darn hospitals!) and then half a Portillo's chicken sandwich (thanks again, Bob and Bill from Safeway!).

That's all for now! Every nurse that comes in here comments on how decorated Mike's room is with stuff that you all have sent. Thanks so much for everything!!!!

Love,
Jenny

I will also add that I just talked to him as well. He answered the phone, and for the first time, he sounded like the Mike I know. He was in very good spirits, and feeling a lot better today. He basically told me everything that is in Jenny's update. As I was talking to him, the nurses came in to get him cleaned up, so our call was cut a little short, but we did get a good 10 minutes in. I must say, it was fantastic to hear the "old Mike" on the phone. He sounded MUCH less congested than he has in the past few days, and he said he was able to "cough up some good stuff" this morning, which is great.

I will talk to him again later today, as will Pat, and we'll post updates as we get them.

As I keep saying...keep sending the good thoughts his way....THEY ARE WORKING!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Thu 5/28 4:24pm PST

Mike is doing better today. He has had a great deal of attention from the hospital staff. He got his hair washed, and a sponge bath. He continues to work on his breathing and he is also getting additional oxygen because his O2 levels are a bit low. This is primarily due to the fact that he tends to take shallow breaths with the broken ribs and the swelling from the hematoma.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Mike also got to tour the halls in a wheelchair today. This is the first time he has seen the hospital without staring up at the ceiling.

His release date is still TBD. The physical therapy is expected to get more aggressive tomorrow morning.

Keep the positive vibes headed in his direction!
Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Thu 5/28 3:47pm PST

Pat just had a quick chat with Mike...unfortunately it didn't last too long, as Mike needed to get a breathing treatment. But, during the time they did talk, Pat said he was in really good spirits. I forgot to mention in my earlier post (which Pat just reminded me), Mike did get into a wheelchair today, and had a little "spin" around the hospital floor. He said it was nice to get out of the room.

We'll give him a call later today, and will post any new information/updates here.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Thu 5/28 1:59pm PST

I just had a nice long chat with Mike. The longest I've talked to him yet. He was very coherent, but still groggy. He's been sitting in a chair most of the day today, and although it's nice to be out of bed, it's still a struggle to get there...it takes at least 2 people. He said he's feeling "ok", and his hand is very swollen and hurts today after his surgery yesterday. His ribs are hurting pretty bad today as well, especially in the mornings when he wakes up very congested and has to cough before he is able to take any medication. His leg wasn't bothering him too much today, which is good!

He has had a lot of visitors already today, some of whom brought him Portillo's! He was so happy for the nice change from the yucky hospital food. He is still on oxygen, and still doing regular breathing treatments to help the congestion and clear the fluid out of his lungs. He did get cleaned up a bit more today too, including washing a little bit of his hair.

I must say, this was by far the best conversation I've had with him yet. We talked for quite some time, and we laughed many, many times. It was really, really nice.

I will be talking to him later today, and will post any updates I have then!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Thu 5/28 1:08pm PST

Just talked to Mike for about 3 seconds....he was just about to get cleaned up, so he asked that I call back in about 45 minutes. But, he did answer the phone, so that's a good sign! He sounded coherent, but very congested. I'll post another update after I talk to him in a bit.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Thu 5/28 10:06am PST

Just a quick note on visiting Mike today....he is up for visitors, but he is getting a lot of "attention" today (i.e. PT, clean up, breathing exercises, etc), so if anyone is planning to visit, just be prepared that you may have to wait, if he is having a treatment or other activity.

Mikey update - Thu 5/28 8:55am PST

Mike is feeling much better today, though he has a long road to recovery ahead of him. The block on his arm has worn off, so he has a good deal of pain there this morning. [Note: I am interpreting "block" here to mean a nerve block/anesthetic which is very common during/after surgery.] The doctors & nurses will begin weaning Mike off of the morphine today, and on to other pain relief (via pill).

The Physical Therapy (PT) phase begins today. He is currently sitting in the lazy boy chair in the room, and later today, it is expected that he will get in a wheel chair. He will also be learning how to get to the bathroom, etc.

He is also doing some breathing exercises every 6 hours to help him get some of the fluids out of his lungs, and to help with the rib pain. He might even get his hair washed today!

Will continue to post updates here throughout the day, and email anything "major".

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 5/27 5:07pm PST

Friends & Family,

Mike is out of the operating room. The surgery went just fine.

The doctor repaired the two tendons for the index finger and the tendon for his middle finger (it was 50% severed). Those two fingers will be immobilized for the next 4 weeks. He also got a pin in the last joint on his ring finger. Only the last joint on that finger will be splinted. This is all on his right hand.

The doctor also provided more details on his right leg. It is, specifically, a double break of the tibia, near the knee. Since it is so close to the knee, this is considered a knee break (but not a knee cap break). This break was very clean and all the bones were lined up, so this will not require any further work, other than the proper physical therapy. They will begin bending his right knee in about 4 weeks.

The doctor said that Mike will go home when the physical therapy gets him to the point of being able to make it to the bathroom and the kitchen.

Keep the good thoughts coming. They are working.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 5/27 2:41pm PST

The following is an update from Mike's Dad:

"Mike officially went into the OR at 3:47. The operating surgeon is Dr. Fister. I asked the nurse (Sheila) working in the Family Waiting Area what she knew about the doctor...she said 'I sent my brother to Dr Fister for his surgery...you have one of the best working on Mike.' Sheila has worked in this operating room for 10 years and meant it when she said that Mike is in excellent care."

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 5/27 1:38pm PST

The latest on Mike...

He is in pre-op and it appears as if his hand operation will start promptly at 3:30pm CST. We are hoping to have results/update in a couple hours, but it may be longer. I will post anything I hear as soon as it makes it to me.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 5/27 10:51am PST

Just got off the phone with Mike. He's in good spirits, but his ribs are hurting him pretty bad today. From what we know, the ribs have likely started to heal, which is pretty painful, but at least they are healing, which is good news. He said his knee isn't too bad today, and his hand isn't too bad today either. He did stand up this morning, which wasn't too bad either, he said.

He was a little groggier this morning than he was last night, but nothing more than normal...just the meds. They were refilling his morphine drip when I was on the phone with him, so more meds are on their way!

He's ready for his surgery, but also thought he'd be very out of it afterwards, so he confirmed the wishes for no visitors this afternoon/evening. As soon as we get word on his surgery, I will post them here and send an email to all as well. Rest assured, I will get word out to everyone as soon as I hear from the family.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 5/27 9:07am PST

Just a quick note....no new updates, really...

One of our friends spoke with Mike this morning...just for about 2-3 minutes. He seemed in pretty good spirits, though groggy from the meds. He was aware that his blood count had gone up and that he was having surgery today. The impression she got is that he seemed very eager to go home...and really, who can blame him!

That's all...just wanted to share with everyone that we have first hand account that he is in good spirits this morning!

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Wed 5/27 8:31am PST

Good Morning All,

Mike had a good night. As I mentioned in my update last night, he received 2 more pints of blood, and slept well...until after 9am this morning. Very good that he is getting a good nights rest...that can be hard to do in a hospital! His blood count this morning is over 9, and as such, the surgery for his hand is "a go" and is scheduled for 3:30pm CST today. Mike's Dad spoke with the general trauma doctor this morning, and everything is good with regard to Mike's status.

The staff strongly recommends that no one visit this afternoon or evening. He will likely not be back in his room following his surgery until 7 or 8pm CST and he will be really "out of it" until the anesthesia wears off. Tomorrow will be a better day for visiting. Based on Mike's Dad's discussion with the doctor, Mike will likely be in the hospital for at least another 2 or 3 days.

Keep sending the good thoughts and prayers his way...they are certainly working.

I will talk with Mike later this morning and post any additional updates as I receive them throughout the day.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Tue 5/26 8:56pm PST

Just a brief update. Mike's hand surgery is scheduled for 3:30pm CST tomorrow. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts. I will, of course, post any information as it comes my way.

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Tue 5/26 6:34pm PST

Below is some corrected/updated information as provided to me by Dave (Mikey's dad):

"Correction on the blood level – it went up to 7.8 – he needs to get this up to about 9.0 to have the operation. FYI – the norm is around 11. The swelling and additional bruising is normal – we talked to the doctor a little while ago and got a much better explanation than the doctor this morning. That doctor downplayed the hematoma….We just read the cat scan reports and we feel a lot better about the information.

Another positive: Mike got cleaned up today and they took several of the initial bandages off for good. The bandages were covering relatively minor scrapes on his left hand and arm and on his left knee. He looks less like a mummy now.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers – we really appreciate it!"

Mikey update - Tue 5/26 5:56pm PST

oh yeah, he got a sponge bath from a hot nurse today too ;)

Mikey update - Tue 5/26 5:47pm PST

Pat and I just got off the phone with Mike. He remains in good spirits today, and we shared quite a few laughs.

Earlier today, he was given 2 pints of blood due to the blood loss from his hematoma. The additional blood only made his hemoglobin level rise 2 points from 7.1 to 7.3. He is currently experiencing some swelling in his lower extremities, and they are all working to get the cause identified. The doctor has just ordered 2 additional pints of blood for Mike.

The hand surgery is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow morning, we think around 9am CST. This is dependent on whether or not Mike's hemoglobin level rises to at least 11 by that time. They will see the result of the additional blood, and take it from there.

His pain seems to be "under control", and by that I mean, he still hurts a whole lot, but he does have the morphine pump to help him self-regulate his medicine when he needs more. His ribs and his knee are the source of most of his pain. He sounded a little more "with it" this afternoon...but still very groggy. One positive note, he has been sleeping through the nights, despite the various alarms and beeps that occur around him all night, and the nurses that are constantly coming in to check his vitals. Last night he said he fell asleep around 10pm, and didn't wake up until 8am...very good, much needed rest.

We don't expect to hear anything further this evening, but of course if we do, we will pass it along. Once we have an update in the morning...on his blood counts, his surgery, etc...we will share.

In the meantime, keep thinking good thoughts and send your positive vibes his way!

Love & Blessings,
karin & pat

Mikey update - Tue 5/26 1:44pm PST

Just had a nice chat with Mike. He is in better spirits today than he has been all weekend. We laughed, and he seemed more "with it" today. Albeit, he's quote hopped up on morphine, but he sounded more "there" than he has the past few days.

He does have a steady stream of visitors and phone calls. I asked him if it was too tiring or if it was good, and he did say that although it is a bit tiring, it's very good to have the support. So...keep the visits and phone calls coming!

He's still just feeling "ok". He didn't talk too much about the pain today, which is an improvement from yesterday. He is a bit frustrated because of the delay in the hand surgery. Not because he was in a big rush to get his hand operated on, but because of the reason for the "delay of game". Apparently, he'd been asking the nurses, etc to check on his left side (with the big owie), because it was bleeding, and nobody seemed to think much of it. Then today, he had lost enough blood to require a CT scan to check for the internal bleeding, and thankfully, there was none. But the hematoma that is present, might have been spotted earlier, and that was a bit annoying to him.

He's tired, and his voice is a little scratchy (for a variety of reasons I'm sure), but all-in-all, he sounded good. He has visitors now, and is very blessed to have such good friends.

Now...I'm off to make cookies...so far, that has been his only request from san diego...a special cookie just for him...so off to make those and send his way.

Keep thinking good thoughts....

Love & Blessings,
karin

Mikey update - Tue 5/26 11:17am PST

First, I posted the incorrect hospital number below. The correct number is 630.208.3000.

Update...nothing too much right now. He's getting a "wash down"...basically they're trying to get some of the gravel and blood out of his hair.

He is in good spirits.

Mikey update - Tue 5/26 9:51am PST

Now that I'm back in front of a computer, I'll be communicating any updates on Mike to you all as I get them. If there is anyone you'd like me to add to this distribution, please send me their email address. Here is what I know as of a few minutes ago:

This morning, as they were preparing him for surgery on his hand, they noted his blood count was low. They were concerned about internal bleeding, especially since he has a very large "owie" on his side. They did a CT scan to check all of his insides, and there was no indication of internal bleeding. They did find that he has a hematoma that is resulting in some blood loss, but the doctors feel his body will start absorbing it soon. He is being given blood now, and is in good spirits.

His hand surgery is postponed until tomorrow. He will be having his right index finger/hand repaired, as the tendon that controls his index finger was 80% severed. They will also be putting some pins in his right ring finger, as that was also broken.

I will do my best to get emails out, but to be sure that I'm not missing anyone, please do feel free to forward these on to anyone I might have missed. I will also be using my blog to post updates on his progress.

I will be in touch with "the room" throughout the day and upcoming days, so if anyone has any questions, or just wants to hear a "live voice update", please don't hesitate to give me a call at any time. I know we are far away, but we are keeping as close of a watch on him as we possibly can.

The link to my blog is: http://guitarley.blogspot.com/
Home phone (please use first, as we get no cell signal in our house): 858.240.7974
Karin's cell: 858.243.6628

For anyone that doesn't have it, here is the hospital information:

Delnor Hospital
300 Randall Road
Geneva, IL 60134
630.208.3993

UPDATED NUMBER: 630.208.3000

Mike's room number is 2657. We've talked to him several times, and is usually up for a chat. If he's not, he'll let you know :) There is almost always someone in the room, so if he is unable to answer, someone usually will.

Your continued thoughts and prayers are welcomed. It's going to be a long road, but I am confident with all our prayers and blessings, he'll be on the mend before we know it!

ads?

i'm just playing (see previous post). exploring the world of google adsense. pardon the ads, but click on them if you'd like. call it market research.

i learn by playing

i still have no job. opportunities are slim out here, though there has been an uptick in activity in the past 2 weeks. so in an effort to branch out into new worlds, i am immersing myself in social media marketing. not by taking classes, or attending seminars, but by downloading multitudes of applications to my laptop, and subscribing to endless numbers of social networking (and the like) sites. to date, i've only actually canceled my account on one site...it was just bad.

so, i play. every day. and maybe one day, i will learn enough by playing, and get a dang job.

i always forget i have this dang thing.

hence, it's updated so infrequently. i put a link on my fb page, with the hope that i'd see it daily, and remember to update. but, i still forget.

things finally picking up on the job search...had some good activity this week, with some follow ups next week.

dogs = good; crabs = good.

weather is getting nicer and nicer each day. forecast for the weekend is warm and sunny. and THIS, my friends, is why we moved to san diego.

the in-laws are coming for a visit next week...so very excited!

this weekend, i think we may finally make it to the grocery store for the first time since we moved into the new house. it's critical at this point, as i'm living on tuna and popcorn for meals. not so healthy.

peace.

i took a month off.

and now i'm back. in short....we had awesome visitors, we found a house, we moved, we went to cleveland (via chicago), we drank some, we partied some, we came home, we unpacked, and now i'm looking for a job. still. ugh.

i've been around the world...

...and now i'm bored.

p-man and i finished our trip around the phileas world with a bang. a fun, festive party, complete with cake (thanks christy!), and lots of good friends. so glad that we've met so many great people since we've moved here.

other than that, same ol' shizzo. the hubby is on the road again, with no signs of slowing...but, it's for good reason. and really, i'm not bringing home a paycheck, so who am i to complain? he's busting his ass, and i'm damn proud.

doggie birthdays are coming up! the puppenheimers are getting up there...peanut will celebrate #13 on friday (3.06), and max will hit the big 1-4 next thursday (3.12). and lets not forget our little molly and chico....while they are far away in miles, they are never far from my heart. molly will be 14 a week from saturday (3.14), and obviously, chico shares #13 with his brother, peanut on 3.06.

and now...back to my leftover oggi stix, lindemans bin 56 chardonnay, and idol.

g'nite.

#80

well, folks, on saturday, p-man and i will be consuming the final beer in our "around the world in 80 beers" beer club at phileas. we've saved the best for last -




Price Category:............Specialty, Import
Beer Style:....................Golden Ale
Alcohol by Volume:......13% (yowza!)
Characteristics:............Complex, smooth, almost fluffy, starting candyish, with peppery alcohol flavors finishing surprisingly dry

here come the troops!

so excited....southwest DING fares have prompted an influx of visitors in march! patty, followed by craig and spud...so excited!

this one's for you...

...mark. post post post post about nothing nothing nothing.

:D

maybe i shouldn't blog

why? because i never have anything good to say. pretty much everything i have to say, i say on FB, so why bother repeating? at first, thought it would give me something to do, but really, i don't need another social networking site, or the like, to keep up. but yet, i love my blog. it contains virtually nothing, but i love its existence. primarily because i think the name "guitarley" is cool. props to p-man for that one.

update? not really. francis and chester are still hanging in there...despite humidity and temperature inconsistencies.

i am currently watching a show about autistic savant identical twins who, among other things, are infatuated with $100,000 pyramid. this is mildly entertaining. i wish i was that smart.

and i wish i had made something better for dinner. something better than 4-day old leftover pizza from brickoven. it was tasty on day 0, but on day 5, not so much.

i should spend a little less time on PPM, too.

one of these days, if i ever figure out if anyone actually reads this, maybe i'll write more. until then, you all (and by all i mean, all 1 of you), get this mindless dribble. :D

potent potables

i think that's a not too infrequent jeopardy category. i don't have a whole lot to say other than, i decided that i should leave the house more. working at home was fine, well, when i was actually working. but now, my "job" is to find a job, and while i pine away at that "job" for nearly 7-8 hours every single day, it becomes more and more exhausting.

moving is on the horizon, but again, waiting for that call that means we are once again a dual-income family. yup, lots riding on that....

oh, i am also more than 1/2 way around the world in the "80 beers around the world" club at philleas. way to go. really, all that means is that i drink too much beer.

jan 20

well, i successfully missed the live broadcast of the inauguration of our new president. but, all for a good reason, was doing "job stuff" - no not "work", because chances are, if you're reading this, you know i'm what i'll call "in between jobs" at the moment. so, hopefully i'll catch the replay later.

wishing my friend norm well in his new venture in GA. Yeah Norm!

all in all, a good day. few minor successes, which at this point, i'll take.

dinner tonight - homemade french bread pizzas!

End of 2008 Update

wow, i really haven't posted anything in a while. i guess just too busy wrapped up in the job search. with any luck, that will be over soon.

i guess an update is in order, eh? since i last posted, we enjoyed a holiday trip to chicago, saw both fams, caught up with old friends, and made a few new ones, as well. while we certainly miss the peeps, we do NOT miss the weather. ;)

saw the band 2x - ontario, ca and san diego. good times. VERY good times. meeting a lot of great folk thru SCUYA too.

no crab passings to report, thank goodness.

peanut is keeping healthy, for the most part. still a little worried about his pancreas, but he "seems" to be feeling ok. we will see. max is max. nothing changes there.

need to play my guitar more.

need to ride my harley more.

chargers are out of the playoffs...season over :(

working my way thru the 80 beer club at philleas. i would guess i'm nearing the 1/2 way mark as of last night. ugh, last night.

planning (hopefully) a trip to vegas next month. also planning (hopefully) a trip to cleveland in april for the RRHOF induction of the band.

will try and be better about posting.