Dear Family,
In a year when we almost lost your Grandpa Harold, I would expect each and every one of you to make the effort to be here this year. If only for a few minutes. I’ll make an exception for anyone who lives more than three hours away. Now that is what I expect, but clearly not what I will get. So be warned. At Christmas time what you expect to find under the tree is clearly not what you will get. I love you. Really I do. I don’t expect you to visit often, but I do expect the holidays. And I don’t think that is too much to expect.
For those of you who are coming – from this point forward known as my favorite family members – here are the house rules. Your following them will make for an unforgettable meal filled with laughter and bacon.
- If it jiggles, slap a girdle on it or leave it at home. I am not kidding Cloe. One step inside my door with anything made from Jello and it will be your last step. I have about 50 pounds on you so don’t test me.
- Rhonda. My house. Your pets. Never the twain shall meet.
- Mary. My sofa. Your kid’s feet. Never the twain shall meet.
- I have banned cans of soda. Two liter bottles of soda only. I am tired of throwing away half full cans of soda. If you are two young to lift a 2 liter bottle of soda to fill a glass, you are too young to be drinking soda un-supervised.
- At age 84 and 11 months, I have had my picture taken more than enough times to fill any memory photo album. The digital era has made it too easy to take way too many useless pictures. Point one camera in my direction this year and I can promise you that your camera will be used to stuff something other than the turkey. When I am gone, feel free to remember me with pictures from my best year – 1962.
- Texting and driving is just plain stupid. Texting and eating Thanksgiving dinner, however, is a crime punishable by no dessert.
- Vegetarians really should consider Thanksgiving as a holiday from vegetarianism.
- Any grandchild showing up dressed like a Palin girl, will leave the house dressed like a Philpot girl. I don’t need to see all that and neither does the rest of the family.
- The Longhorns are having a difficult year. Your grandfather is aware of that. No need to remind him. Trust me on this one.
- My Democrats are having a difficult year. I am aware of that. Feel free to remind me and I will, in turn, remind you of what I think of the current Republican Party. Trust me on this one.
- Sarah Palin having a new book is proof positive that there is something wrong with the world. I can’t fix that, but I promise that my stuffing made with bacon will make you not give a damn. So if any of you get the urge to talk about that woman, stuff your mouth full of food until the urge passes.
This year, I am thankful for my family and for borrowed time. Make the most of what life gives you. I mean it. Really.
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at 2:26 AM
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By: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy on January 12, 2012
at 4:14 AM
You sound like a very witty, loving & intelligent Grandmother! It’s ashamed you somehow think that the woes of our country and economy are Sarah Palin’s or the republicans fault!!!!
He’s been in office for three years, Helen!!! Please give it a rest and start focusing on WHAT OBAMA DOES instead of JUST BELIEVING WHAT
HE SAYS! Following any person or President blindly is just plain ignorant and pathetic!
You seem like you’d be smarter than that and your generation has never sat around on their buts waiting for handouts. Why would you start now?
By: Cableporter on November 22, 2011
at 10:28 AM
I mentioned hiding from a process server for fun last October. Our group was sued, and now we have counter sued. Court is tomorrow.
By: James on January 24, 2011
at 3:33 PM
Tomorrow is a big day in Omaha. The city is burdened by too generous fire fighter and police pensions and other lax spending. Omaha was on the verge of bankruptcy until the mayor imposed what some regarded as draconian taxes. He also is a trained engineer with a liniar mind and a political tin ear. Now, he faces a recall.
The election is so close, no one is making predictions. Someone on the mayor’s campaign staff said “lets get some homeless people’s votes” to even the odds. They hired some homeless men to recruit voters and after they did their job, buses pulled up at the shelters and took the people down town to register to vote. Residency was uncertain for some so they claimed the shelters as their homes.
The campaign offered to pay new voters to train for “voter instruction” and to recruit more people. Opponents sniffed that the mayor was buying voters. Mayor Suttle issued a statement condemning such talk. His opponents obviously wanted to deny an underprivileged segment of society the right to vote. How dare they!
That afternoon, the mayor issued another statement. He said the plan was poorly considered and the chief of his campaign was looking for another job. Another man took the helm, but he only lasted for a day. He had been convicted of domestic violence in Missouri, so he resigned.
Meanwhile, someone had taken a video and caught a homeless man loudly asking “Where’s my money?” as he got on a bus. The television stations carried it on their news reports, and it is now part of a campaign ad.
The homeless shelters are not amused. They survive on donations and are at pains to be non- partisan. At least one manager didn’t even know what had happened when angry calls poured in. Their leaders have been scrambling to let the public know they are non-political.
The election is so close, no one is guessing the outcome, but it is more interesting than some of the Washington DC. drama. Talk show host Tom Becka said he had changed his position to supporting the mayor. Mayor Suttle makes his job easy.
By: James on January 24, 2011
at 2:49 PM
Thanks for the condolences, Craig. My aunt lived a full and adventurous life and survived her share of heart ache. She just outlived herself.
This is totally irrational, but I have a feeling you and your wife will be together for a while yet. I think attitude and emotions play an important role in survivability, so maybe my feeling isn’t so irrational after all.
The Omaha World Herald printed the Krauthamer article, PFessor. I don’t know about Poolman, but I appreciated and agreed with it.
Delurkergurl, rational Democratic leaders do fear the conservative movement and people like Sarah Palin, just as Republicans feared candidate Obama. They would be foolish not to. One way to fight back is to adopt the other side’s ideas if they are popular.
From what I have been reading, Obama will try to preempt some Republican issues in his state of the Union Address. We shall see if he gives lip service to the “golden mean,” and moves toward the middle, at least verbally.
PFessor, I have had a number of female friends throughout my life. On several occasions, I have been the only man in a group of women, and they have treated me as their equal because they have known and trusted me. It has been an education.
By: James on January 24, 2011
at 2:15 PM
Craig -
I like your Dallas doc. Hard-nosed, no-nonsense, not willing to proceed until she knows exactly what kind of cancer she is dealing with, right down to chasing every tumor marker available. Clearly very, very good.
On a lighter note, I had to laugh about her comment on the previous surgeon – it’s kind of fun to watch the women doctors interact. I don’t know what it is, but men work together and cooperate just fine in the workplace; men and women do pretty well too – except for the sexual tension, which can also be fun – but a nest of women working together always reminds me of when I was a kid and used to throw the dog in the chickenhouse and close the door. All you hear is unrelenting, frantic squawking.
Not that they are not good doctors – my best friend at work is a female surgeon and is excellent – but her interaction with the hospital CEO – also a female – is one continuous drama. (You scratch my back and I’ll scratch your eyes out…LOL)
Anyway, it sounds like your wife is in good hands. As always, I am available 24/7 if needs be.
By: PFesser on January 23, 2011
at 5:52 PM
cryptoclearance and NOP..
Well the one thing the Doc said was that metastatic cancer has no cure..just a remission meaning months..Years? ..and depending on how healthy you are?
How soon did they catch it..etc..gives you a better fighting chance.
Right now that study or Genome trial has 6 patients with a fourteen Patient basis..thus hopefully we can get Val on it. Its not cheap $60K..but somehow its free if you qualify with all the triple negative markers. There is also a 3-4 month back log on getting the next patient in.
So its wierd..Kinda like “do you really want to be triple negative”? to qualify for a new trial?
Our New Oncology Doc in Dallas just shook her head in amazement that a surgeon like the one we had in Lubbock would make any comment about Val having a 11% positive in one of her estrogen markers..She basically said there is no way this woman surgeon could make such a blanket statement based on the existing cell biology and biopsies done so far..
By: Craig on January 23, 2011
at 3:23 PM
I have a friend who was diagnosed with Triple Negative breast cancer 4 years ago. Left breast. She had a mastectomy in 07 followed by chemo. (don’t know which). Treatment was/is at UCLA. A year later (Sept 08) a PETscan revealed (“lit up like aChristmas tree”) cancer in the right breast and lymph nodes in the arm. Another mastectomy and removal of 28 lymph nodes. THIS time there was one DNA marker. she had chemo and 6 mos later radiation to the lymph nodes that were not able to removed via surgery. (Under clavicle ) That was 2 years ago. She was put on Avastin after the radiation of the nodes. She continues to receive her chemo (Avastin) every 2 weeks. She said she will have to take this for the rest of her life. Last PETscan was in Nov. and revealed nothing. Next is scheduled for the end of Feb. She turned 44 last November. The MOST positive person I have EVER met and I believe that her attitude is one of the things that is getting her through this. She is a joy to be around. she does, get frustrated with the “chemo brain” – she sasid she used to type rapidly and never looked at the keyboard (she does web sites) now she says she has to look at the keyboard. I told her looking is normal for many of us and she laughed. Again what a joy to have her as my friend and example of courage with style and grace. A beautiful survivor!
By: cryptoclearance on January 23, 2011
at 1:37 PM
Craig, I’m pleased to hear that Valerie is being considered for these studies, the DNA connection is very cutting edge and from what little I’ve read about it very promising.
By: No one's puppet on January 23, 2011
at 1:24 PM
From my wife’s Caring Bridge Blog:
This update will be dedicated to my “Angel” on earth Veta Welch. Jimmy Stewart had “Clarence”, but Veta has long ago won her wings.
Craig and I spent Friday traveling to Dallas and met with Dr. O’Shaughnessey.
Dr. O’Shaughnessy focuses on breast cancer prevention and treatment. She is Co-Chair of Breast Cancer Research and Chair of Breast Cancer Prevention Research at Baylor-Sammons Cancer Center and for US Oncology and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for US Oncology Research. network.
I was her last patient of the day and spent from 4:30 to 6:00 being thoroughly questioned and examined about the onset of the cancer and current treatment in Lubbock.
Dr. O’Shaughnessey, after the 20 minute initial examination said “let me put my thinking cap on and I’ll be right back.”
When she returned she had questions as to whether my diagnosis was complete. Not that I don’t have breast cancer, but she wants to know exactly what kind of cell biology it is and is it really a fast mover?
She also wants to make certain to determine if it is for certain a “triple negative” breast cancer.
Her plan of attack now is to do further stains at Baylor’s lab in Dallas with what tissue was sent from Lubbock. Then she said she would call in about ten days to probably set up a day surgery in Dallas to harvest two or three lymph nodes and have them sent to several labs she utilizes in Pittsburgh, Phoenix and California. In essence she wants to know precisely the cell biology before moving on and devising an exact formula of chemicals to attack my cancer.
She did mention that if it is “triple negative”, that there is a clinical study she would want me to participate in, that is taking place in California. This study is a genome project that would hit the cancer at its very core or inception and would be a DNA cracker of this form of breast cancer.
All in all, I feel very lucky to have been referred to Dr. O’Shaughnessey
And feel completely positive about this woman’s capabilities to open doors and to make things happen.
By: Craig on January 23, 2011
at 12:38 PM
HeatherP, so which of you figured out who the other one was first? And did Pfessor pay for lunch?
By: No one's puppet on January 23, 2011
at 11:29 AM
Please notify me of new posts!
By: Sharon on January 23, 2011
at 11:27 AM
I want to read more!
By: Anonymous on January 23, 2011
at 11:26 AM