Wednesday, May 24, 2017

GOODBYE, TOBY

We had to put my MIL's dog, Toby, down.

He had tumors in his lungs and his health was deteriorating rapidly.

We took him to the veterinarian. There they inserted a catheter in his left leg. He was then carried out to the car and placed in my MIL's lap. The vet went to the other side to administer the dosage that would end his life. He expired at 4:27 p.m.

We buried him next to Pop's tree at 5:15 p.m.

He will be missed. He was a very good dog.




Sunday, May 21, 2017

YOSEMITE PLUS ANOTHER 4,300 MILES

Four beautiful women...

My mother, some guy, and my aunt...




Yes, I ate all of this.

My mother and Aunt KiMiko came to visit us.  They arrived at Yosemite Airport on May 9.

We went to Bass Lake to have a Forks Burger, we went to Yosemite National Park and had a good soaking from Bridalveil Falls and witnessed spectacular waterfalls.

My aunt celebrated her first Mother's Day in the United States.  My mother celebrated her first in 10 years.  It was a great feeling to have my mother, my aunt, my wife, and my MIL celebrate together for the first time.  My aunt even played pool for the very first time.

On May 15, we headed east.

The I-80 to and the I-70 back.

Through California, Nevada, Utah, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona.

We went through South Lake Tahoe and stopped there to make our lunches. As we ate, it started to snow lightly.

Then it was on to Salt Lake City, Utah, where we spent the night.

The next morning we drove through Wyoming and spent the night at North Platte, Nebraska. Prior to arriving we drove into a hailstorm and heavy rain.

Then, it was off to Platte City, Missouri, to visit my wife's cousin, ShaRon, and her husband Tim. All of us drove to Joe's Kansas City BBQ. I ordered a full rack of pork ribs and it was delicious.


Then, we headed out to Jacksonville Veterans Cemetery to visit my father's grave. We then drove to Lentner to visit my Uncle J and Aunt Pearl's gravesite at the Mt. Hope cemetery.

We stopped in Shelbyville to visit a couple of people before heading west on Highway 36 to Topeka, Kansas. While arriving in Topeka we drove through yet another storm.

Then, it was off to Denver, Colorado, for the night.

As we head out the next day, we encountered more snowy weather while traveling through the Rockies. It was quite a sight to see especially in May.

We crossed over into Utah and spent the night at St. George.

Then it was off to end our trip to our home.

Thursday, May 04, 2017

C5...C6...C7...BINGO!

Had surgery on my C5-C6-C7 to replace a herniated disc in one section and to extract bone marrow from my sternum to fuse together another section.

Throat was sore from the tube they stuck down my throat so I could breathe.

Oxycodone and Tramadol...woo hoo...



Looks like a Japanese character.


No worries, that is super glue holding the skin together...

Monday, May 01, 2017

A PICTURE...


The above photo was taken by one of the local photographers in the mountain area. This photo hangs inconspicuously on a wall in one of the business establishments. If you don't look up, you will never see it nor know it was there.

One fact I do know, the subject in the picture passed away from bone cancer.

Letting go?
Worldly possessions?
Pain free?
I will find peace up there?

I leave it to you as what message this picture conveys...