With some United and Marriott points earned from many business trips, we were able to take the whole family + Kendra to Cancun for spring break. Leaving the day after Easter presented its own dilemmas -- Ian had no underwear and no stores were open and we had to call the doctor for an emergency strep test for Nolan. We had a great Easter service at Holy Trinity, but the worst breakfast at home (frozen casserole served at 4:00 pm).
Departure
We left at 3:30 AM via a cabby who refused to turn off the radio. I was physically groped by TSA (not kidding). But karma kicked in as Krista and I were bumped up to first class, while the kiddos were stuck with the rest of the pedestrians in coach.
We arrived at the airport a full three hours before our flight as many scared us about missing the flight due to recent TSA issues. This allowed ample time for the family to purchase ridiculously priced coffees and pastries from the airport, while Nolan pleaded to us that he needed the $17.99 neck pillow for the flight.
With three children in tow through an international airport, I felt it was my responsibility to impart my extensive travel knowledge to my children -- this immediately backfired as it became fodder for my children to make fun of me. A perfect example of this mockery came from Ian, who mimicked the airline captain's announcement saying "Excuse my crew, please bring your 'A' game today, Jon Rachiele is on board."
We have arrived!
Blue Gecko
We arrived around noon, only to realize that this vacation would constantly involve math -- 16.5 pesos to the dollar. After converting some dollars, I felt as though I had close to a million pesos in hand. Once in our room, we changed and unpacked. Nolan found a scale, placed it in the middle of the room and declared "Let's see how many pesos I weigh" #mathisnotmystongestsubject
Once at the pool/beach with the first of many Pina Coladas served, I quickly realized a million pesos would not be enough. Auntie Kendra aka (nanny and translator) joined us in the afternoon.
In the evening we headed over to a small outdoor taco stand called the Blue Gecko. And I mean small -- our crew of six filled half of the tables. The food was amazing and inexpensive, and the bar service was top notch.
Pool/Beach Day
Tuesday was declared pool/beach day. Here the translucent, pasty white bodies were broiled under the sun. "Apply, apply and reapply" was our motto.
Ian got hooked on virgin Pina Coladas, and I quickly realized that "Uno Mas" does not mean "I will bring you the check." I realized this after replying "Si" about three different times only to receive three more drinks.
After great success the first night, we put our full trust into TripAdvisor.com, and we were not disappointed. We ate outside by the bay at Porfirio's, and enjoyed fried octopus tacos, plates of meats, and churros served up on a small cart with four different dipping dessert sauces.
Ian's Birthday
Wednesday was Ian's birthday and we celebrated by spending the savings Krista squirreled away throughout the year for the trip on parasailing for the three kids.
We spent even more money after we were conned into a photo shoot session through the hotel (best photo omitted as Krista declared -- this is our Christmas card!).
At night, we enjoyed dinner at a Japanese steak house (these million pesos are going fast), and then we had a midnight swim with our new friend Christopher.
Aloe Vera Day
Thursday was dubbed "Aloe Vera Day" after Ian and Krista literally received second degree check pattern burns from laying on the top of the boat deck. Boat deck? Yes -- we took a boat to a local lagoon and went snorkeling. We swam on top of a corral reef, among submerged statues (including "man watching TV"), and even saw an eight foot string-ray.
Devin spent quite a bit of time pining for Louise. I replied to these constant longings, by asking her if she sent Louise messages as I did via grandma and grandpa everyday.
To which Devin replied, "I didn't know that was even a thing."
"You don't even love her, Devin" I replied. "In fact, if they made a movie about Louise the credits would say, co-starring Jon Rachiele, and Devin Lee as 'girl in the house'."
"Dad!"
Devin, would you like some aloe vera for that burn?
We had two rooms between the six of us. Krista and I shared a room with the boys, and Kendra and Devin slept in the other room. It's odd sleeping in a room together as a family.
Two odd stories about the boys -- On Ian's birthday, Nolan woke up at 4:00 AM and said "Happy Birthday, Ian. I love you." He does not remember saying this. The following morning at 3:00 AM, Ian sits up and says, "Ian. I - A - N." Great to know, soldier, now sit down.
At night we ventured downtown to "Carlos n' Charlies" where we were served yards of margaritas, and Krista and Kendra did shots. Upon leaving the establishment I was asked by a local if I would like some "ladies." "Uno mas," I responded.
Market Day
Our last full day was a bit blustery (this did not stop us from hanging out at the pool all morning -- "Uno Mas"). In the afternoon we took the local bus to Market 28, and haggled for such trinkets as porcelain skulls and bowls, and a Mexican poncho (aka "The Drug Rug"). We got street tacos via our translator (Kendra) and scarfed them down with real Mexican coca-cola.
At night we decided to continue to appeal to our gluttonous evil sin by eating outside in a private cabana next to the ocean. Here we shucked down oysters, clam chowder, tuna tacos, mojitos, and chocolate cake. Upon our arrival home, Krista and I each clocked an additional 5 pounds.
Rose and Thorns
At dinner time, we play rose and thorns -- naming the best thing of the day, and the worst. On our way home we reflected on our vacation in the same way:
Devin: Rose - holding hands with Dad; Thorns - All people in general
Ian: Roses - Pina Coladas / Birthday; No thorns
Nolan: Rose - Spending time with the family; Thorn - having to go home
Auntie: Roses - Rachiele family welcoming her in, and holding hands with Nolan on every walk; No thorns
Jon: Roses - Krista ensuring we had a great spring break with great weather, as well as her saving all that extra cash behind my back to pay for parasailing, snorkeling, and shopping at the market; Thorn - the inability of any of my children being able to throw trash in the trash can and not the bedroom floor.
Krista: Rose - being in warm weather with my family. Thorn - sunburn itchiness
"We certainly had a busy weekend," says Krista during Martini/News hour on Monday night. I had just arrived back camping with the boys on the last day of summer.
Completely exhausted, I wonder out loud, "What did we do on Friday?"
"Book of Mormon"
Oh my God, did all of that happen this weekend? I thought the thing I spent 3% of my salary on would be etched in my memory for at least three days. Not unlike car accident victim, my short term memory is gone.
Not for your reading pleasure, for my sake of answering the question "What did we do on your birthday?" I am writing this shit down.
Friday, August 16 - Krista's Birthday Eve
Krista's birthday eve, not unlike the "Feastivus for the Rest of Us" is the pinnacle approaching the climax of birthday month. Booking Krista's birthday plans, and floating a loan six months ahead of time, we booked "Book of Mormon" in January. This guaranteed me that I wouldn't get the "I always get jipped on my birthday, because of all the bills due" comment (forget the fact that we went on both a Disney Park/Cruise and Colorado Dude Ranch vacation in the years prior).
So, Book of Mormon (I forget to you italicize plays or put them in quotes?) was everything you heard -- hilarious, raunchy, and hilarious. Suffice it to say, the best quote was "You really don't think he f*cked a frog to get rid of AIDS do you?" Do you capitalize AIDS or just the first initial, man, I thought grammar was my poor suit, no comes along punctuation.
Krista and I lived out the suburban dream by parking, eating, and watching a play within a 100 yard radius. I really love going downtown and seeing all the sites.
Saturday, August 17 - The Greatest Day on Earth
Krista and I have a friend, Kathy O'Staunchness (okay, auto-correct just changed her name to Staunchness -- so I left it for privacy and hilarity reasons only), who once in high school, declared August 17th the greatest day on earth. Years later finding that Krista was born on the same day solidified the statement.
Baum, Baum, Ba -- Sound the trumpets the day has begun. Actually, I let her sleep in, while working with the septuagenarians at church installing a electronic screen in the multipurpose room. I invite the two gentlemen over for coffee, as Krista walks through the kitchen in her nightie (or is it nightgown, or shorts and t-shirt?).
"Thanks for the heads up."
"Happy Birthday, Sweetie."
A Day at the Beach
At 11:40 we head off to Gilson Beach. Ten minutes late, and don't I know it.
Getting me to the beach took weeks of priming. "You can sit on the beach, read a book, wear a t-shirt (insert you fat tub of lard silently mouthed words behind this)." Actually reading a book on the beach isn't a bad idea. I can pretend I am participating, but enjoying my mono activity at the same time.
By the way -- Bossy Pants is hilarious! Italicize or "quote" books?
The neighborhood chose this as the beach day, um, I mean, to celebrate Krista's birthday at the beach. Yeah, that's right, a birthday beach celebration. We were joined by 2/3 of the Jack Family, the Antonaglus, Parson Family, that family on Harrison Road who I can never recall their names, and the Jerva Family.
What? A Surprise Party for Me?
As the day wore into afternoon, I realized I still needed to cook dinner, get a gift, cards, and apparently unbeknownst to me, organize a surprise birthday party. As the beach goers left, I invited them to Mai Tias posted a few pleas on Facebook, and anxiously sent out some texts.
Shish-kabobs, a couple of iPhone 5 cables, and a gallon of Mai Tia mix later, we were in business with the surprise party. "Oh, look who is stopping by with the giant cookie cake? What, for me -- you didn't have to."
Ending the night we sent up some sky lanterns, only to convince me tat every fire in California starts with the words, "No really, they say right on the package, 'it's safe'."
Last Day of Summer
So, the kids have to go back to school on Tuesday, and Krista is working on Monday. She turns to me a couple of weeks ago and says -- why don't you take Monday off and do something fun with the kids. And as Krista puts it, "Of course, Jon Rachiele has to take it to a whole new level."
You're with Who?
"That's an awesome idea!," I think. "We can go camping on Sunday night in Michigan, climb the dunes, cook with the dutch oven, go swimming, and tell ghost stories by the campfire eating cobbler."
"Ugh," she thinks. "I was thinking of Nickle City."
4 hours of packing, 4 hours of driving, 4 hours of cooking, and 8 hours of sleeping allotted us 2 hours of quality time with Kurt and his boys, Jack and Chance. We had hot dogs, sausage, ribs, cobbler, and s'mores. Kurt sang his whole repertoire of 4-half songs on guitar repeat-shuffled in random order, and we finally went to bed under threat of a fine by the park ranger.
In Closing
Capping off the night, Krista makes Carne Asada. Ian wishes he could spend more time with me, Nolan admits the camping trip wasn't the worst idea, and Devin needs to make some calls -- "I have a life dad."
Long road trips, magazines, and newspapers without the TV
allow us to have actual conversations and get to know each other.A recent Time magazine article reported on
the fact that cremation is on the rise (now 51% of all burials).The Christian faiths have are now allowing it
(this happened in 1997).
That article discusses how the cremains (cremated remains)
are scattered, spread, or stored.As a
result, here is how each of us would like to be treated after our deaths (all
of which, according to the article are options currently available).
Ian Rachiele (the
pyromaniac of the household) would like to be cremated and his ashes stuffed
into fireworks.
Devin Rachiele wants
an open casket so her old boyfriends can kiss her one last time, cremated, and
her ashes mixed in with the cement grout of the Kardasian’s house.However, the Kardasians need to sign a
contract that they will never move, and the feud needs to take place for at
least one full episode of the show.
Nolan Rachiele
(the ultimate coach potato) wants to be cremated and stored in an urn either in
the shape of a TV remote control or a game controller.
We agreed that Krista
Rachiele will be carried around post mortem in ash form in a back pack so
that we can say that she was at all the important family events.For example, memories of Devin’s wedding
would include the phrase, “Well, at least Mom was there.”To which Devin replied, you mean Mom is gonna
die before I get married?And both
Krista and I replied, you’ll be married at 40, Mom will live a long rich life until
then.
Megan Dillon is
not sure how she wants to go.“I am not
quite sure, and have a nice long life to live.”
I, Jon Rachiele,
would like to be cremated and have my ashes poured inside the dry wall of the
new house.To which I would haunt the
house after the family moves out.My
favorite scare tactic will be to make socks mysteriously disappear when left on
the hardwood floors, couch, or piled up on the side of the bed.
I am guest blogging on my family's website tonight, to share with you the knowledge I have accumulated from ages 11-13 on "How to dawdle." My father's definition of dawdle is to waste time. This is mostly employed when forced with bed time, or when wanting to get out of family chores. Why go to bed at 8:30, when you can waste time and end up going to sleep around 11:00? Simply use these techniques to avoid any task that your mom or dad asks of you.
Number 10 -- Get in a time out. For you girls out there with brothers this is doubly rewarding. Wind up and hit them as hard as you can, and know that you will be spending the next one hour in room with all the free time in the world. I have read all three books of the "Hunger Games" using this technique.
Number 9 -- Ask to clean your room. You're now out of the line of fire for the next three hours. They can't see you -- outta site, outta mind.
Number 8 -- Hair Twirling. This is great for those of us girls with long hair -- you can use both hands!
Number 7 -- Sing. Sing. Sing. -=or=- Cry. Cry. Cry. Dad hates it -- you might get a time out, see number 10.
Number 6 -- Only do what your told. "Sure, I 'll clean up my room. What do I do next? Okay, the shirt on the floor is in the now in the hamper, what next? Oh, the pants, too? Okay, what's next?"
Number 5 -- Random Dancing. Just asked to put something away? Stand up and twirl. Ballet lessons are excellent for developing these skills, and draining your parent's wallet at the same time. Girl, put on those short-shorts and twirl. "Dad, I have to practice -- what, do you want me to fail life?"
Number 4 -- Use your less dominant hand and three fingers to do tasks. Need to wipe down that counter in a hurry? For the right handed person, this can take a good three to four hours if you use your left hand, thumb, and ring finer. You'll be surprised at how quickly your father grabs the rag out of your hand, and exclaims, "forget it, I'll just do it."
Number 3 -- Removing make up. Just received the "bed time" announcement? Don't worry, you won't be in bed for another two hours. Does dad really know how long it takes to take off mascara? Well girls, he doesn't. Go in the bathroom, grab a tissue and cold cream and spend the next two hours looking at your favorite person -- you.
Number 2 -- Sorry, Sarah Palin for this next one -- act retarded. It's hard for your parents to tell you to do chores when you can't do the most simple task. "Put what away in the sink? Where's the sink?" "Hey, I think I forgot how to breathe." "We have a plunger?" -- these are all examples of things I have said in the past that gets my dad frustrated and sent out of the room.
Number 1 -- My elbow condition is acting up (our family code word for female plumbing issues). Dad will freeze and shut down on the spot.
So, last night I felt this heat searing through the back of my head, and I turned around to look at my wife. No kidding, she looked just like this squirrel. She was glaring at me in the middle of night subconsciously saying, "Could you please rollover and stop snoring? For god sakes, I have million things to do tomorrow." I telepathically received her message, and rolled over.
So, as work Friday's go, things were going well -- I finally got that damn presentation done that was dogging me for months. Krista took off at 3:00 pm for a catered party at Ravina (a posh outdoor concert arena). Devin was still at camp, Ian and Nolan were farmed out to the neighbors.
When Nolan and Ian came home, they put on their swimsuits and headed over to the bi-weekly neighborhood happy hour. This time it was at a new neighbor who had a back yard you could land a B52 on. You know how you have like 5 trees in your yard? He has 200. Com'on, some people aren't going to heaven, just on principle. The yard is viewable from outer space with the naked eye. Just to prove it, look here ==> +42° 3' 46.12", -87° 48' 33.96" (42.062811, -87.809432)
I broke the ninth commandment by drooling over the house (and then the tenth by drooling over his wife). I waited past the original start time of the party, as to not seem to eager. I arrived with cocktail in hand and a nice appetizer that my wife pre-arranged. It was a gorgeous party, as I left the kids abandoned at the pool (getting my money's worth out of those swim lessons), and enjoying another question from Nancy -- "Name a funny sex or poop story . . . go!"
I seldom take my cell phone, but this time I did. I remember when I was 10 and my mom switched hotels without telling anyone. That's when my Uncle died, as an omen to never let people not get in touch with you. Well, my thigh shorts pocket kept tingling, and I swore it was because I was not exercising. After the forth ring, I finally realized it was the phone.
Long story, short, (wait, I think this is a two hour story, so not that short), I had to take my Mom to the emergency room. With hypertension, the nurse was worried about her blood pressure, so after dumping the kids again, making a trip to the pharmacy for a blood pressure detector, and after confirming the measurements we saddled up for another Friday night at Glenbrook Hospital.
I got some blood pressure medication after a three hour wait, and ended up with us back on the road headed home. And then, the floods of Noah came. Like a horror movie the thunder and lightning shook our car, and the torrential down pour made us stop the car waiting for reprieve as we headed home.
As mom was settling in for the night, the cell phone rang. Nolan was crying from the storm (an unusual occurrence), but I was headed home. Picking him up from the neighbors at 1:00 am, I realized my lesson of "if you want anything, cry" was not paying off for me. I picked him up, and as we sat eating 1/2 day old cheeseburgers we settled in for the night. An easy weekend, I thought -- pick up Devin from camp, and head downtown to the Manchester United vs. Chicago Fire game at the Soldier Field. Nolan and I settled in for bed at 1:30 pm.
Knock, Knock, Knock -- the door pounded like a machine gun target. Knock, Knock, Knock - you know how you wake up in the middle of the night in a panic attack? Knock, Knock, Knock -- "Anyone there?," came the voice from downstairs. The lightening and thunder had continued all night, so I was somewhat easily awakened.
WTF, and I don't mean "Welcome to Facebook." I stumbled downstairs as might heart raced with panic. In the back of my mind I go through the seven signs of a heart attack -- short of breath, tightness in the chest, . . . shit, what are the other five?
"Our basement is flooded. Check your photo albums, they maybe ruined," came the odd warning. As I turn on the lights, my greatest fear is a reality, the first step at the bottom of the basement is covered in water.
Krista is staying overnight downtown. The neighbor's are in Greece. Boom. Thunder and lightning set the stage again.
I call Krista. "Are we flooded?"
"Yep," I reply wondering how this prophet knew.
"So are the Jacks, they just texted I am headed home"
I go outside to take care of my neighbor's yard that is a flood plane for the whole neighborhood. He is in Greece with his family, and has given me explicit instructions -- if we get a flood again, like 2008. (I later learn we exceeded all flood records for the past two centuries that night.). After jerry-rigging (how come only the wasp slurs are still pc?) the outdoor sump pump while standing in two feet of water with the electrical cord dangling in the water, I finally open the Parkview lock to drain half of Glenview. Picture the cover of "Shawshank Redemption" and you can imagine my victory.
Krista finally comes home, after borrowing the car from the guest of honor, we embrace each other in a good cry. It is now 3:30 am.
We decide that the only thing to do, is to try and get some sleep. After 10 minutes in bed, Krista rattles off 26 things that are underwater -- the table leaves to the dinning room tables, the photo albums from Devin's first year of life, Devin's Ugg boots, yearbooks from High School and College. "Damn," I think to myself, realizing that I am not going back to bed until Sunday.
We rescue items 1-26 on Krista's list, and she heads back to bed. Meanwhile, I am now in fully engaged in my "Street Car Named Desire" wife-beater tee, and cannot go to sleep as my heart races like the Hulk after a gamma radiated rage -- "Must move entire basement to the garage within the next hour, and pull up all carpeting with my teeth."
As I started my long journey into dawn, I realize that tonight God must have confused my name with Job. A bird is now flying in the house. I don't make this stuff up. It writes itself. Normally when confronted with small creatures -- birds, mice, chipmunks -- I get kinda girly. However, tonight I have had enough -- No, No, No, No, not tonight." I scooped the damn thing up with my bare hands and throw it of the house. Welcome to Facebook (wtf).
Later, I still think God has me confused, as I am electrocuted from the soaked light switch in the garage. Welcome to Facebook.
By 7:30 am, the flood plane was drained, the basement furniture adorned our garage like an indoor yard sale, and I was taking the box cutters to the carpet. Any normal person would have gone to bed by now, but today was special. Nolan cajoled my into buying $250 tickets to the Mancheter United exhibition game downtown, and I would do anything not to miss this game.
Mom had a 10:00 appointment at the doctor's office. After cat-naps, a cramped waiting room due to floods at the office, fulfilling a prescription and shopping for grandma's mid-week supplies, I went home for some final furniture moves, mopping the basement with bleach, a cold shower (flood took out water heater), I was determined to be on the road by 2:30 pm, for the 4:00pm game.
On the road at 3:00 pm, I realized I might be a little late, but me and the little guy would make the majority of the game.
2 1/2 hours later after sitting in Chicago traffic, me at 61, 308 other soccer fans finally made it to the field. As I pulled up to the parking garage, the attendant said, "there is only 16 minutes left of the game."
"So, I get to park for free, right?"
"Nope. It's still thirty bucks."
As I look at Nolan now in full cry mode, I think to myself, "What's another $30?" We park the car with doors unlocked, windows down, and run to the stadium.
We have the best damn seats in the stadium -- in the shade, with Man. UTD kicking towards our seats. We watch just as Nani scores the final goal on a fake kick blooped over the head of the Chicago goalie. He does a bicycle flip in celebration. A tear come down my check as Nolan stand atop of the folded back stadium seats, and yells "Gooooooooooooooooooal." Best 16 minutes of soccer ever.
We drove home, and I got to bed to enjoy a coma-like night's sleep.
I still can't determine if it was a good weekend or not. After all, I got rid of all that nasty carpet in the basement, purged the toddler toys and costumes, saved the neighborhood from Noah like proportional floods, and saw the best international soccer game of my life.
Barbra Walters had one, and so does Robin Williams. Turns out Mom wanted one too. Tuesday (May 17, 2011), Mom underwent open heart surgery to have her aortic valve replaced, along with a couple of by-passes. The surgery went well, and all was successful -- that's the short story. Below is the long version. Please send me an email at jon@rachielefamily.com with your warm regards, and I will forward them on.
May 22, 2010 – A Year Ago Mom finally decided to leave the land of cheese to join us blockheads in Illinois. This required quite a bit of downsizing and compromising. The upside is that Mom was 5 minutes away (Chicagoans measure distance in time, not miles – so, 3 miles for you regular folks). This meant she could stop by for dinner, see Devin's school play, or Nolan's soccer game.
It also meant getting reacquainted with new routines, shopping at different stores, and finding new doctors -- all of which lead to a nice change of pace. After finding a new doctor and going through some tests to orient the doctor to her new patient, I got an emergency call at work on a Friday afternoon. "Your mom needs open heart surgery, now, or she will die."
Well, I was a little pissed that she called me, and not her patient. Secondly, I was pissed that she just laid it out there, giving me no orientation of what to do next. Mom and I made an appointment for the following Monday with a well-known heart surgeon at Northwestern University Hospital.
The doctor was older, talked directly to my mom as a coherent adult, and made sense. "Listen, you’re an older adult, not exhibiting any symptoms of a heart condition; I am not going to put you under the knife. Comeback if things get more serious."
2009 Back Surgery (Two Years Ago) – Not a Pleasant Experience After having serious back surgery back in 2009, and having a stint in a "rehab" (fancy word for nursing home), she didn't want to have the same experience -- the pain, the loss of independence, the feeling of being trapped in elder care. I shared these same concerns, so hearing the doctor speaking helped us relax a little. And, quite frankly, we both were adjusting to the new home in Glenview.
So, now a year later, after the move, we got into a little easier routine. Christmas, Birthday Parties, Sunday Brunches, the kids’ games, Church, and school events had us interacting quite regularly (I'll ask my wife later if it was too frequent). Mom finally made the comment, “I am happy here, and made the right decision to be closer to you guys.” She got to know Krista as the "sunny-side up" person that she always is.
Weasy -- Wasn't she in the Jefferson’s? But, things got harder for Mom physically. She won't admit it, but the walk to the car made her breathe a little heavier, and she was more dependent on using her purse holder (aka, walker). After a couple more symptoms, she scheduled an appointment with the doctor.
Mom always had a heart murmur, but her aortic heart valve was finally giving out. Her heart had to work harder to get oxygen and blood to her brain and legs. Mom had four choices 1) do nothing, 2) putting a balloon in her heart and expanding it to let more blood flow through, 3) new clinical study to have the heart valve replaced orthoscopicly, or 4) open heart surgery.
Well, doing nothing was not going to solve the problem and things were quickly getting worse. Having open heart surgery was out of the question -- who wanted to relive that experience in 2009 of surgery and the nursing home? The new clinical study sounded awesome. The doctor leading the study was part of the North Shore hospital system, and it showed amazing results. However, turns out you have to be like 95 with kidney disease and picked out your plot to qualify.
April 2011 -- A Small Surgical Procedure Mom decided to go with #3 -- balloon angioplasty. The upside is that it was minimally evasive, had immediate results, no rehab, and out of the hospital in days – sign us up, we are in! So, we go the hospital in April, orient ourselves with the hospital, give each other a hug, and she's off to the operating room.
Forty minutes later the doctor tells us that he decided not to go forward with the angioplasty. The valve is bad, and three major arteries are 50-70% clogged. She needs to have surgery.
May 2011 – A Decision to Make Now Mom had a tough decision to make. Honestly, I couldn't tell her which way to go. The bad experience from the prior surgery and recovery was difficult -- was she up for it, would she make it? On the flip side, life was good -- still independent and it was great being around family. Her health getting worse, she finally made the decision – we need to move forward, things weren't getting better, and would only get worse.
Mom called the doctor a week ago, and scheduled the surgery. That weekend, we checked out three rehab centers, certain this time that we wouldn't experience the same horrible conditions. Mom didn't tell anyone. She didn't want the attention, she didn't want the gossip around her new friends, and she was 100% certain she would make it.
A Long Hard Slog The surgery was scheduled at 1:00, but the doctor wanted us there in typical Arlene Rachiele fashion – 10:30 am. Krista and I drove her to the hospital, and we checked in.
Thank God for Krista. A Son, let alone a man, has little to say. I don't have any more conversations with my neighbors than I do the dog. I no longer pick up the phone when it rings in my house. Meanwhile, Krista makes a national holiday of events like going shopping, going to the gym, or watching a soccer game. Her full-time job is maintaining a network of girlfriends via phone, text, and email correspondences.
I, on the other hand, buy (not shop), run around the neighborhood (I don't need no stinkin' gym), pick up the kids (not attend events), and have never socially texted (sounds dirty).
Between the dry-run the month before with the potential angioplasty, and Krista's personality, the time flew by and mom seemed at ease with the long journey ahead.
They brought her into the operating room at 1:00, started at 2:00, had her on the by-pass machine at 3:37, and had her off at 5:28, done by 7:10. She did great, and the doctor said everything went well. At 9:00 we went up to the intensive care unit and the nurse said her heart and vitals were great. She was off her blood pressure medication and her heart was beating normally.
This morning (Wednesday) she had the breathing tube removed at 5:30 am, she was able to sit up for three hours, and she even ate on her own. She has a temporary pace maker which they use to rev up her heart to 80 beats per minute.
She’s a little disoriented from the medication, but quickly realizes her silly mistakes in time comprehension -- "Was that last night or the night before?"
She will be in ICU for a week or two, and then off to a rehab center she picked out prior to the operation.
I promised her that I would pass along any messages, so please send me an email, or Facebook message.
Devin Relative of: Aunt Kara who loves playing the violin. Who feels ecstatic to talk to friends, Sad that a friend moved to Switzerland, and glad that I started the school year. Who likes to go to the beach and splash in the water, Laugh with friends, and go on trips Who wants to make a wish on a shooting star, Go to France and see the Eifel Tower, and get good grades in math. Who fears creepy bugs, Stinky rats, and getting super sick. Who would like to see world peace, A field of beautiful flowers, and everybody being kind to another. Resident of Glenview Rachiele
1. I broke three people's arms in my life. Once in kindergarten, I told a girl on the opposite end of the monkey bars to jump down and get out of my way. In high school, I pushed Bob Leissring down the steps the day before Christmas break. And then during my college break, as a camp counselor, I steam rolled a camper with the earth ball.
2. My dad was a WWII hero who received the Bronze and Silver stars, and a Purple Heart. As a chest surgeon during the war, he reached inside a man’s chest and got it working again my messaging it with his bare hands.
3. For the last 20 years I have spent a weekend in February playing broomball with my college fraternity brothers – and every year it makes feel like I can be a better person.
4. I love a well run meeting with agendas, purpose, follow ups, meeting minutes, and an on-time finish.
5. When I was born my mom was 42, and my dad was 52.
6. I love the spot light -- I was the Student Body president in college and I am the nation chief of my daughter’s Indian Princess Tribe.
7. I ran a marathon in 2004, and have been trying to finish another one ever since.
8. My license plate reads “PLUS247” which stands for “positive, everyday.”
9. My Dad died when I was 6 months old.
10. I always wanted to time travel back to high school and do it all over, until I watched Napoleon Dynamite and realized how ridiculous that would actually be.
11. Krista is my best friend, my wife, mother of my children, and the only person that I love each and every day without hesitation or doubt.
12. My daughter, Devin, is a replica of my mom and has my sense of direction.
13. Ian, the first born son, is the coolest guy I know and has my ability to spell like a gorilla.
14. Nolan, the youngest, is hilarious and has my gift of dance.
15. I love a project plan and goals. I once had a hundred New Year’s resolutions which included the goal of “cleaning 52 drawers in 52 weeks.”
16. Every year I write an on-line Christmas letter and think of topics during every life-moment.
17. My best trip ever was a trip and cruise at Disney World with my family this last year (2008).
18. Every year I plant a garden.
19. Occasionally, I love to cook -- with my best meal being a vegetable strata from “Cooks Illustrated.”
20. If I won a million dollars, I would invest it in my kid’s education, buy a bigger house, and tell no one – not even my wife.
21. I am a homebody, and have fond memories of playing house with my cousins when I was young.
22. While I would rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy, I have not had a drink in five years.
23. My home is a mere 1,400 square feet – and houses five people and three pets.
24. I struggle everyday with the concept of God.
25. I once had a sever case of diarrhea as a golf caddy, dropped my golfer’s bag, and ran away (squishy) off the course at the 16th hole.
THE RULES: * Type in your name and the word "needs" in quotes ("[Your first name] needs”) into your favorite search engine and see what comes up. * List the first 10 that actually answer the question.
1) Jon needs... real women with real sound systems
2) Jon needs... a poke in the other eye
3) Jon needs... love
4) Jon needs... needs changing a consequence for misbehavior; time outs usually work well
Tonight, as I arrived home the power went out. This forced the Rachiele's to have to actually talk with each other (all the "iCarly"s on the ipod were re-runs).
We all headed towards Oberweiss for some ice cream and conversation. My ideas of watching TV and playing Wii didn't pan out -- "We don't have electricity, Dad!" "Oh that's right, I guess I can't brush my teeth," I reply. No one gets my humor.
We order brownie batter ice cream, but Devin said brownie "bladder" which made us all laugh -- including Nolan. I asked Nolan if he knew what a bladder was, and his best guess was something to do with your "Weenis" which made us laugh even harder.
The conversation went downhill from there -- Krista was about to explain that your "nuts" are different from your "penis" when I suggested maybe we should finish this conversation at home instead of the ice cream parlor. However, the conversation continued as Ian explained to us that boys are stronger than girls because of the vitamins stored in their nuts.
Wet birds don't fly at night.
More conversation ensues, and Ian tells me how he is writing in class about the "work stories" he heard from Getto this weekend during the Phi Psi alumni baseball outing at Wrigley Field.
"Oh no," I think to myself -- you see, Getto is my friend from college, who is now a firefighter. Upon every meeting with Getto, he regales his fraternity brothers with another story from life at work. This includes pulling decomposing, elderly women off the toilet as a thousand maggots come crawling out of the cadaver. Or, his surreal first fire call complete with hasmat suits, bloody head wounds, and a building engulfed inflames. There are plenty of stories of drunks, car accidents, and drug deals gone bad. So, I can only imagine the shock Ian's teacher will experience reading the 3rd grade journals this year.
This particular story (See link for the details) is a little lighter in fare as a domestic violence call turns into the SWAT team firing on a man. Getto is called in to stop the bleeding and save a life.
I will post Ian's account, once I get the journal back -- if I am not called into the Principal's office first.
Friday night, Krista and I wind down, put the kids to bed, watch some TV, and head off to bed. On my pillow is the following note ==> note
First of all my employer would be glad to hear that I work all the time -- they probably think I spend to much time with my family. Secondly, Krista does cook a lot to which I am eternally grateful. Prior this evening we had homemade chicken and dumpling soup.
Lastly, I love the little added "love" crossed-out and replaced with the word "hate."
So, either my daughter has me wrapped around her finger, or I was determined to be the funnest Dad in the world this weekend.
Saturday We woke up to homemade waffles (Krista) made with real buttermilk. Meanwhile, I crafted a list (because that's what I do.). "22 Fun Things to Do"
Make a Picture Mural on the Whole Street using Sidewalk Chalk
Water fight -- water bombs, water cannons
Take a Hike
Take a Day Trip to Ikea
Clean Closets (my wife voted for this one)
Play Videos Games in Back Yard on Large Screen
Create Movie Time Capsule
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Find a Comic Book Store
Sell Stuff on eBay
Buy Remote Control Cars and Design a Speed Track on Drive Way
Helium Balloon Release
Take a Tour of a Cemetery
Each kid had three votes, and we picked the top three things. #3 -- Helium Balloon Release, #2 Open a Lemonade Stand, and #1 Sell Stuff on eBay. So, kill the environment, and make money -- My republican friends in Wisconsin would be so proud.
After lunch we take great pains to find the perfect toys to sell online. After 297 photos, I think I have capture the right ones, foregoing the initial nominees by our youngest Nolan, who found a red plastic thing at the bottom of the toy chest, "We can sell this!"
See the following links for all our trash on sale:
Off to the store to buy lemonade stand material (markers, poster board, ice, lemons, lemonade mix), and a helium tank with balloons.
Being the first 90 degree weekend of the year (Is it really August?), we head to the pool. "Okay, I am the worst dad -- we'll do the stuff tomorrow, " I tell my children as the hot sun depletes my energy for the day.
By the way, shouldn't it be illegal to sell Chili Cheese Nachos at the pool grille? It didn't stop me from ordering them (or eating them). Too bad I spilled a little bit of the chili on the back of my swim suit. After clearing the pool, I had to explain all of this to the three life guards and manager at the Roosevelt Pool.
We do end up releasing a few balloons with our email addresses tied to them. I remember doing the something in fourth grade at Our Redeemer. One email made it all the way to Holland, or at least that's what I convinced myself of over the years.
Now we were killing dolphins with our latex balloons and ribbons, and floating our personal information to the sex offenders living under viaducts underneath the freeways. When did innocence of our youth turn into amber alerts of our adulthood? When did peanut allergies become the third most reported health issue in our schools? (Please note, 76% of all statistics are made up.)
Devin has a friend, Mia, sleep over.
Sunday Okay, we are all set. Posters, table, balloons. We pen a couple of posters "FREE Lemonade, Only $1.00" and "Fulfill a Life Goal, By Lemonade from a Kid."
After 20 minutes, and $2 later, we are packed up, and back to the pool -- today it's 96 with humidity.
Meanwhile, Devin heads up to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for the day with her friend Julia. Here they go tubing, jet skiing, and on the way back they eat at Bob Chinn's.
Devin said that this weekend was a ten on a scale of one to ten, and that I could rip up the note (I scanned it first.).
Attack of the Lama; Brown Sugar Recipes; Best Vacation of the Year
I couldn’t decide the best title for this blog entry, so I decided on all three. “Attach of the Lama” is best experienced through the video portion of this blog. “Brown Sugar Recipes” refers to the fact that every meal we had, incorporated brown sugar. “Best Vacation of the Year” was my children’s choice, but I don’t put much stock in the assessment, as it’s the only vacation we’ve taken this year. This is akin to the Nolan’s acclimation that I am the “Best Dad he’s ever had” – how many Dads does he actually have?
The List Any good project and any good vacation begin with a list of goals/objectives. My family and I created the following list before starting our journey to La Valle, Wisconsin, or more precisely, Dutch Hallow. Here Krista’s dad built a cabin sixteen years ago. He designed the cabin, and had the local Amish carpenters build it. Three years ago, a frequent renter copied the same architecture and built the same cabin two blocks away.
Here’s the list, see if you can find the one thing we did not accomplish: ■ Go for a boat ride ■ Watch “Ice Age 3” in 3D ■ Swim at the pool ■ Go horseback riding ■ Jump on the water trampoline ■ Make ribs ■ BBQ Shrimp ■ Roasting Marshmallows ■ Play Wii ■ Play “Real” Tennis ■ Read a Book ■ Cook cobbler on the campfire ■ Fireworks ■ Cook Pork Shoulder, and make pulled pork ■ Go for a biking riding on th e”400” trail ■ Fish ■ Attend one of the water parks at the Wisconsin Dells
July Fourth Weekend – Gilson Beach; Parade; Rick’s; Packing; Water Trampoline; Rummy K We spent the July Fourth weekend in Glenview. Friday was a Hewitt holiday, so we spent the day at Gilson Beach in Wilmette.
Saturday was the Fourth of July. Holiday’s for our family have fallen into a bit of a routine, um, sorry, I mean they have become “Traditional”. We decorate bikes at the Parson’s house for the bike parade, we watched the parade (or alternatively march in it with the Indian Guides/Princesses), and head over to the Klish’s for a BBQ.
Luckily, I have trained my youngest to get me out of these “traditional” settings by whining with the desire “to just go home.” This seed is planted early in the day when I lean over to Nolan and say, “Wouldn’t you just like to watch ‘Batman: The Brave and the Bold’ on the big screen at home?” The desire to leave for home early paid additional dividends, as I was able to convince Nolan that if we took a nap, we could stay up until midnight and watch the fireworks.
After the nap, Ian surprised me with another break in the routine by stating “Just drop me off at Rick’s and pick me up later.” Typically, we head over to the Glenview Golf Course to play in the sand traps and watch the village fireworks. But now, Ian wanted to go to his friend, Rick’s, house. Rick is really Krista and my friend as he is our age, but let’s let Ian have his day. Rick has a pool and hot tub in the back yard, and loads up with a ton of fireworks each year. After my third grilled cheeseburger of the day, we handed lighters and sticks of dynamite to our children and told them to make sure to only light the fireworks in the street – I love America.
Sunday, we spent the day packing for the trip. I woke up early to finish the payroll for the Glenview Youth Baseball umpires. We didn’t get on the road until Noon. I tend to over pack, and must admit that the three dry cleaned shirts were never pulled out of the plastic bag. Likewise, I never wore more than one bathing suit (I packed three), and the dinner jacket was totally uncalled for.
By the time we arrived at the Lake House it was five o’clock. After unpacking the van – which included among other things: five tennis rackets, two bikes, six pieces of luggage, 3 dodge balls, a cast-iron Dutch oven, a set of baseball bases, dog bed, three sleeping bags, a tent, large screen projector, and a Wii game console complete with guitar and Wii fit board.
The best item packed was the water trampoline – a thirteen foot diameter inner tube with a mesh top. This was a Krista-Jon fight in the making. I saw it three weeks ago at Dick’s ($100 off, it’s big, potential life threatening, and guarantees a fight with my wife – how could I not buy this item?). In retrospect, I should have consulted my wife before purchasing it (I only write that because my wife will later be reading this. It is, after all, easier to beg for forgiveness, then ask for permission.). We anchored the trampoline in the public beach area, bounced until cocktail hour, and went back “home.”
Cocktail hour is the time of day when my wife, her Dad, and Elaine “get their shine on.” Cheese from the local cheese house is cut, chips poured into bowls, and we sit on the back porch overlooking the lake. We played Rummy K (or Rummy Q, depending on which version of the Milton-Bradley game you own). This game was re-introduced to our family during my Mom’s stay in the local rehab facility. As we have recently checked out other “retirement villages” we realized that this is a staple in the octogenarian game set.
Monday – Paul Bunyan’s; BBQ Shrimp; Tennis; Pool; Butter Pecan & Blue Moon Ice Cream; Kick Ball, Shrinky Dinks; Fireworks; Cobbler; LRC A trip to Wisconsin wouldn’t be complete without making one or two day-trips to the Wisconsin Dells. After waiting for everyone to wake up, we all pile into the van and head to Paul Bunyan’s Cock Shanty. Here we are offered all-you-can eat biscuits-n-gravy, scrambled eggs, pancakes, skillet potatoes, and our first brown sugar recipe of the vacation – homemade donuts rolled in brown sugar. Food is served on metal plates upon picnic tables, with cast-iron cookware nailed to the wall along with saws and pictures of lumberjacks from the 1900s. To quote my children (in a sing-songy voice) “Paul Bunyan’s – were the food is good, but not to good – eh!”
On our ride home we pick up “past the expiration date” meat (on sale, can you imagine?), and a couple pound sacks of brown sugar. Devin, Ian, and Grandma are at the pool while Krista and I then work off some of those homemade donuts by playing tennis, and a newly appointed ball boy, Nolan, joins us. Nolan is such a good sport as Krista and I litter the courts with 50 tennis balls like blind people swatting flies. Krista later comments, “Nolan is like the child we always wanted.”
We join the older kids at the pool, hit strangers in the face with a ball as we play keep away, and sit pool side as we lick ice cream cones filled with homemade custard – butter-pecan and blue moon ice cream – no wonder these Wisconsin natives are as large as air-stream campers.
Nolan, having two minutes of inactivity declares that he is bored, so we pull out shrinky-dinks – what is more satisfying on a hot day, than being inside with the oven turned on.
While the shrimp is marinating in brown sugar, cayne pepper sauce; the adults are getting their “shine on” and we play Left, Right, Center – a dice game we played in college, now marketed as a family game.
After dinner, the family lays out the bases and we line up for kickball. The dog starts its continual barking as I try to judge who can kick farther, Grandpa or Nolan? The group then takes a pontoon boat ride, while I make apple cobbler in the Dutch oven (can you guess? – yes, brown sugar!).
At night while having my hot ‘n bubbly, famous, “it taste like the roof of my mouth” cobbler, we watch Ian finally light his fireworks which he has been talking about since the drive up to Wisconsin – “Mom, did you see that fireworks sign? Mom, you passed it. Mom, there’s another one, can we stop?”
Tuesday – Fishing; Boat Talking; Horseback Riding; Lama Attack; Ribs; Smores; Fireworks On Tuesday, we head down to the pier to fish. Hot dogs and white bread provide the right bait. Although, Ian has been convinced by his friend Daniel, back home, that you really need to spit on your bait for it to be effective.
Meanwhile, Krista and her father are engaged in a conversation on the pontoon boat, the sound of which caries across the entire lake. Krista has inherited her father’s gift of gab.
I often comment to Krista that it is okay not to see something and have to comment about it at the same time. For instance, if we were sitting in the living room the one-sided conversation might go like this – “Oh, look the clock has stopped. Nolan, honey, put that down. Oh, the phone, I really do need to call Jen. Devin, stop that singing – it’s driving mommy nuts dear. The clock stopped, we are late, get in the car.”
So you can imagine the two of them (dad and daughter) chatting away. Devin eventually turns to me and says, “Is grandpa still talking?”
Speaking of talk, poop talk is big in my family. A horseback riding is fun, but combine it with horses pooing, and it’s an all out riot. “Mom, look at Devin’s horse, its pooing green!” After an hour of play-by-play details on every void that our horses make, Clem, our tour guide (who looks better from a far, rather than up close), finally says “everyone poops and pees.” After being bucked by Krista’s horse, you think I would have learned my lesson on the spooky nature of horses. But, alas, after a “dare” from Ian, I push down a dead tree that sends the horses bolting. Back at the stable/petting zoo Krista is toppled over from a lama who just wants a kiss.
Wednesday – Dad & Elaine Leave; Water Park; Kendra Arrives; Pudgy Pies On our second day trip to the Dells, we go to one of the many indoor water parks on the rainy Wednesday morning. Here, Ian learns to surf on the perpetual wave machine, Devin gets dropped from the toilet bowl ride into 9 feet of water, and Nolan runs and endless loop up and down the water slide.
Kendra arrives on Wednesday night, and Krista has a new partner to shine on with. After the “traditional” fireworks (these really have become routine), we make pudgy pies in pie irons placed on the campfire. Our version of pudgy pies ranges from slices of toast with raspberry filling, or Reese’s’ cups baked in biscuit dough – both of these versions are rolled in brown sugar, of course.
Thursday – Boat/Trampoline; Chicken Legs; Fajitas; Pudgy Pies II; Book; Bad Storm On Thursday, we spend the day on the pontoon boat. We have affixed the water trampoline to the boat (which when emptied and at full-throttle is the biggest kite you’ve ever seen). I introduce the kids to “chicken” on the inner tube. This is another way of saying “You have my permission to fight, just don’t end up in the hospital.”
The list is ever popular with Nolan who picks it up and “reads” it constantly. Luckily, Devin has drawn some icons next to each item, so Nolan can decipher the words. At a recent party, John Masserelli commented to me that “You’re a big reader; you should read ‘One Second After’.” The fact that someone called me a “big reader” motivated me to actually read. It’s a great book. I am always a fan of the post-apocalyptical story/movie. Makes you want to stock up on insulin, guns, cigarettes, and canned goods – just in case.
Friday –Monkey Bread; Pink Panther 2; Tennis; Volleyball; Pulled Pork/Tacos; Ice Age 3; Brown Umbrella Friday morning, we make “Monkey Bread” which is biscuit dough rolled into little balls rolled in brown sugar and cinnamon. The name comes from image of eating the bread like apes picking the fleas off of one another and enjoying a little treat.
While Krista starts an unintentional fire trying to cook the “Monkey Bread,” I set up the projector and we watch “Pink Panther 2.” More tennis and volley ball ensue. While we marinate the “Pork Shoulder” in brown sugar, and let it cook on the grill for five hours. This has totally screwed up our schedule, and we opt to have “Taco Bell” instead after watching “Ice Age 3” in 3D at the theatre at the Dells – our typical venue of the Reedsburg Theater was destroyed after last year’s flood.
We purchase another patio umbrella for Dad & Elaine, as the storm the night before shattered the aluminum structure in a wind gust that seemed to only impact our house. Krista and I convince each other that brown will match the green seat cushions on the patio, “Green and Brown are earthy colors.”
Saturday – Boat; Pulled Pork; Packing; Washing Floor Saturday is the only day Devin sleeps in. This is because she knows we spend the day cleaning, and is hoping to miss out on the bulk of it.
We break up the cleaning routine by taking the boat on one last ride. While Krista parks the van, I launch the boat, only to realize the boat key is with Krista. Krista throws the key like a girl with two left arms, and I end up swimming to retrieve it.
After swimming to the key, the children are alone in what I consider now a sail boat, rather than a pontoon boat as the wind has taken her to sea. I realize that while round is a shape, my body would better propel itself if it was differently shaped. “Is this how I am going to die? Drowning on the last day of vacation?”
What’s Missing? The vacation is done. After reviewing the list, only one thing is not accomplished – the bike ride on the old “400” trail. Oh well, the bikes didn’t take up to much room in the van.
This weekend one of our first pets passed away. We will most remember Butterfly Fingers ("Buddy") as he/she burst on stage in 2003 as the first male guinea pig to give birth (See the article below reproduced from our 2003 Christmas Letter for details).
There was great wailing heard from the Rachiele household as both mother and daughter consoled each other.
Buddy leaves behind two children (Joe and Sue) who were given away in 2004. We are not sure if Buddy ever fully recovered from the separation.
In 2008, Buddy had a boil lanced from her backside, after which Jon found it difficult to reconcile the love of a pet with the veterinary fees. Taking this theme to the extreme was the force feedings through a syringe that Krista gave Buddy for the last couple months of her life.
Services were held this evening in the backyard. After reading Ecclesiastes 3 and some last good byes, Ian made a tombstone from his new wood burning kit (Later we found out that the real birth year was 2003 when looking through old photos.).
In lieu of gifts the family requests you send condolences through facebook.
This story could also be subtitled, "Oh My Gosh, This is Going to Make the Christmas Letter."
We bought a guinea pig for Devin's fourth birthday, as required by Devin. I made the unfortunate mistake of wandering into a pet store when she was three, and she never let me forget about it. I thought I would throw her off by telling her, "only four year olds can have guinea pigs." After Devin blew out the candles on her fourth birthday, she looked at me and said, "Where's the Guinea Pig?"
So now, we got Buddy -- more appropriately, Butterfly Fingers (Guess who named him.). Buddy (also called Bud-Bud for those close to him), had a brother, which we could not take on because male guinea pigs fight each other. Although the lady we got him from assured us that Bud-Bud and his brother got along well -- yeah, a little too well.
Well, I come home one evening, and decide to take him out for his annual petting by Devin -- Why did we get this thing again? I open the cage, and lo, there are three Buddy's.
Devin's first reaction was to name them. "This one is Joe, and this one is Sue (click to see a picture of Joe and Sue)."
Now, the first thing I think is "What did Krista do?" -- I am sure she would have the same reaction about me. I go upstairs to confront my wife -- what in God's name is she doing, getting two baby guinea pigs?
Jon: "Krista, Bud-Bud is not alone."
Krista: "What?"
Jon: "What did you do?"
Krista: "What?"
Jon: "Bud-Bud had babies."
Krista: "Oh my gosh, this is going to make the Christmas letter."
"Refreshing and Recool" -- If a beverage can be refreshing, why can't it be re-cool as well?
"My body, it tricked me." -- After 20 minutes in the boy's bathroom on a solo tour, mom had to execute a reconnaissance mission, only to find out that our little soldier lied about only having to go pee. Finding him fully disrobed in the bathroom stall in poo position, the only defense he could muster was that his body tricked him into thinking it was pee-only mission.
"Fivedy Five" -- Is that right after fivedy-four, or is it five plus five?
"I am out of puff." -- While I am pushing him on the swing, Nolan started to slow down. He finally replied ala Thomas the Tank Engine -- "Dad push me again, I am out of puff."
"I need to poop, then take a bath -- usefulness before cleanliness." -- Another piece of wisdom from Thomas the Tank Engine.
"I can spell my name, B-O-B"
"I can't read. Well I can read, but only in my head."
After listening to his older sister, Nolan likes to tell us how "everyone in his Spanish class has a North-Face jacket except him." Only two things wrong with this story -- he doesn't take Spanish, and doesn't know what "North-Face" is.
"Ian's reading my thoughts." -- Of course mom was a little bit funnier thinking that Nolan said "Ian's reading my farts," so she replied, "Honey, I am sure he can't read them. But, he can probably smell them."
If you are going to broomball, please let Chad Bohlman know ASAP: chad@izeug.com
Detailsfrom Chad
Hi all,I think it would be a great idea to try to do the rental. So, I'm willing to step up and take on the organization this year. Tim Lenning pointed out a rental house that looked really promising. Here's what he wrote:
One possibility is to rent a house - we stayed at this place at the end oflast year about 5 minutes outside of the Dells - on 35 acres off by itself,with a pond in the center. Can sleep 20 in beds if we rent the coachhouse too.http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p314646I just called the guy about getting my deposit back and asked if it wasavailable [...]. Thinking it might be $800 for the two nights. So $40 /person if we get 20 people there. If we don't have Rachiele along doingthe shopping we might still be able to keep it close to the $100 / personrange :) I'll let you know what I hear back...Just one idea - but the key would be to commit soon - it requires a $600deposit plus payment up front. So we'd need to make sure we had folkscommitted to going...
Any other rental options that you know of would definitely be helpful, especially if they are cheaper. I checked out Tim's link, and this place looks nice! I'm assuming the pond was big enough to play broomball on. So, in order to give everyone some time, let's shoot for the 2/20-2/22. If we get 11 guys, it'll be about $100 per person with food and rental. If we get 15 guys, it's $79. Ok, so who's in, and which weekend do you prefer? Let's decided by next Wednesday (Jan 28) so we can get it reserved.
After dry heaving seven times, I was finally able to take this picture of my wife's finger. This is "looking better" in her words, so you can imagine how bad it actually was.
What the still camera doesn't reflect is the fact that this black, swollen digit shakes with paralysis.
Krista's dad says it looks like a chardog, and a well done one at that. This has quickly become Krista's new nickname around the house.
Ohb, I just threw up in my mouth.
Anyhow, Krista is home and feeling well. Of course, who wouldn't feel well after a Vicodin/day?
Krista had a nurse come by to show her how inject the antibodic through a midline IV in her upper arm on a daily basis.
The doctor says she can't drive, but Krista responded "that's 50% of my job description."
Mom is doing much better as well. After making the 1 1/2 hour drive to Glenview, IL, we checked in to the Glenview Terrace rehab facility (See http://www.glenviewterrace.com/ for details.). Initially, we both had mixed emotions about the facility, but after spending a couple of days in the intense therapy sessions, Mom agrees that this is the right thing to get her back on track.
Mom had a visit from her pastor in Milwaukee, Rev. Mueller. He happened to get my email updates forwarded to him, and happened to be in Illinois for a conference, so stopped by for a visit. The surprise visit seemed to be divine intervention.
When it rains it pours. In addition to my mom having back surgery this last week, my wife also ended up in the hospital.
Patient A - Mom The surgery was on Thursday morning. We were to be at the hospital at 5:30 am. In true Arlene fashion, we were there at 4:55 AM.
Her vertebrae had shifted far enough that the bones need to be fused together to prevent nerve damage. The spinal column carries nerves for the legs and feet. The shift in Mom's back caused her pain and loss of feeling, especially in the left leg and foot.
The surgery started at 7:30 AM and lasted approximately 2 1/2 hours. Dr. Max Lee, a highly regarded surgeon, performed the surgery and said that everything went perfect and was a text book example of the surgery. Mom was transferred to the recovery room, and by 2:30 PM we were playing cribbage up in her room.
Mom is going to be in the hospital until Tuesday. I will be commuting between the two patients for a week or two until she becomes independent.
Patient B – Krista Krista woke up with an infection in her finger on Friday morning, she immediately went to the emergency room as her finger expanded to three times its normal size with evident bruising and red marks traveling up her arm. She was admitted into the hospital, and after 24 hours of intravenous antibiotics, they decided to have her go into surgery. They drained the infection and delivered antibiotics directly into the infected area. Originally, we were hoping she would be home on Monday. However, the doctor revealed today that it is the flesh eating bacteria (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrotizing_fasciitis if you are not faint of heart). Therefore, she will be in the hospital for the rest of the week, and cannot see the children. We have family and friends taking of the kids while I am up in Milwaukee.
Boy, Oh Boy, How I wish I could attend the Obama inauguration in D.C. on January 20th.
I just received the following invite in the mail, but I guess this was just a general invite sent to all Obama contributors, and doesn't really by me any special access.
November 4, 2008 -- Election Night, Grant Park, Chicago
A friend from work, Mike Healy, scored two tickets to the Obama Rally in Grant Park the night of the election. Contributors and Obama email distribution list recipients were sent links to a website to sign up for tickets. While I put off signing up for the tickets until later that night, Mike signed up right away. Tickets were gobbled up in an hour. Later that night after surfing eBay, I discovered tickets were going for $610 a pair. While I was wait listed, Mike's quick action scored the best ticket in town.
We quickly agreed on the arrangements, We would take the EL downtown, I would treat him to dinner, and we would walk to the rally. As we met up at the Cumberland park 'n ride, Mike and I were quickly joined by more and more Obama supporters as the train got closer to the city.
While waiting in line to get into Miller's Pub, we met a couple named Mike and Carol. She was part of the Obama white elite support group -- New York Times subscriber, Steppenwolf Season ticket holder, and world traveler. He was a conservative republican with a distinct disdain for George W. Bush, and a veteran. Their daughters, one in Florida; the other in Colorado, were Obama volunteers canvasing suburban and Latino neighborhoods. Mike and Carol not only had tickets, but a room across the street from Grant Park in the Congress Hotel.
A Divisive Election
This election was particularly divisive. While visiting my best man and his family in Milwaukee, I was upset that friends I had such strong feelings for would have such different points of view. I couldn't answer all their questions, but their questions made me uncomfortable:
"If it wasn't Obama sworn in on the Koran, who was it?" See answer.
"Why is Obama taking advice from Fannie Mae executives? See answer.
"Why does Obama have a picture of Hugo Chavez in his Office?" See answer.
"Why would a politician associate himself with William Ayers?" See answer.
At a dinner party, strong words were exchanged between two men. So much, so that the party ended early because of all the drama. Even the day of the election, a good friend of Krista's was passing around an email chain full of false information, and based her vote on the details. See email. Even at neighborhood social hours, Krista and I steered clear of Republicans wearing the Acorn Nut t-shirts.
Where Everyone Knows Your Candidate
So to now be in a pub, where you are no longer just 60% of the group but an enthusiastic 100%, was like being a new parent in a newborn class. You were among friends, you shared the same deep emotions, you couldn't offend anyone by wrongly assuming they liked children (your candidate).
I liked our new freedom of being able to discuss politics. All four of us in unison wanted to keep the conversation going by asking the others to dine with them.
At the table, we enjoyed each others company as the returns rolled in. The pub had 30 large screen TVs scattered through out the restaurant. When we sat down the first state results came in Barack 8; McCain 3. Cheers went up as each state was announced for Obama, and boos where voiced when McCain gained territory. We were among friends.
We enjoyed calamari, steaks, and ribs. We continued wild cheering and many less boos. By the time we left the pub "score" was Obama: 200; McCain: 90.
The Line
It was now about 7:30, and knowing that the gates opened at 8:30 we thought it wise to get in line. The line stretched for a mile from the entrance at Congress and Balboa to the Shedd Aquarium. As we walked in search of the end of the line that didn't seem to exist, vendors were selling buttons, t-shirts, and hats. Krista text'd me saying "The family wants Obama gear!" To which I replied by emptying my wallet every block to buy a new button or hat or t-shirt.
Once in line, the diversity of the crowd hit me. All different ages, skin color, and economic levels. The grungy pack of four post-college students watching the election returns on their iPhone, the two African-American women from Texas, the tree-huggers behind us, men and women in suits and dresses.
Cars were honking their horns. One cabbie had a blow horn yelling "Obama, Obama, Obama." There was a convertible white Cadillac called the Obamalac that cruised up and down Michigan avenue. The atmosphere was jovial. One vendor quipped to Mike when he didn't want to buy a button, "He must be a Republican."
The weather was unbelievable. To believe on a November night that it was 61 degrees with wide open skies is unheard of. Doesn't it usually snow on Halloween?
After waiting and walking in line for hour, watching the returns come in on our phones and blackberries, we saw the inevitable happen. Ohio and Pennsylvania were in for Obama, and we knew once California was announced, it was over. CNN had a live feed via a jumbo screen in the park, which we were still in line for. Finally, it was announced Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States!
The line went from orderly to a "get us in" attitude in minutes. We quickly stormed security, held onto each others arms, held up our tickets, IDs and ran through the gates.
Grant Park
In minutes we were in a sea of people standing. We were far away from the stage, heck we didn't even know where the stage was -- is that it? or is that the press tent?
I don’t think it’s possible to imagine a crowd of 65,000 unless you’re in the midst of it. At the edge of the field on a small hill you could see a mass of humanity packed, shoulder to shoulder, filling every inch of the field. Flags fluttered against the night sky and camera flashes sparkled across the surface of the crowd like electricity. Everyone seemed to be holding a camcorder, digital camera, or cell phone. At one point I realized my camera was focused on the video screen of someone else's camera focusing on the large screen. "Why am I taking pictures?". Parents had brought their children to the field at this late hour to watch one of the most significant events in our history.
We watched the jumbotron to clearly see everything. It may seem silly to commute downtown, walk two miles in line, spend hours waiting to get in to watch a giant TV; but the historic significance of being there was overwhelming. Yes were were part of 65,000 others on the field; 250,000 in the streets of Chicago; but we were a small fraction of the universe spending time with the First Family the night of the election -- we wouldn't trade it for any couch lounging act at home.
After nudging our way up 200 feet, we settled in to watch McCain's concession speech. There was some good natured booing, and laughter when McCain said "It is natural. It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment;" and someone retorted in the Grant Park audience "Not for us!"
And I was proud of our audience when John McCain finished his speech by saying "Tonight — tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama" -- and the people in Grant Park cheered for John McCain.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The announcer said "Ladies and Gentlemen . . . " and we all held our breath, only to have the man leading a prayer announced to us. And then the man leading the Pledge of Allegiance. And then the woman singing the National Anthem. And then, not one, not two, but three songs. And then, finally, FINALLY… "Ladies and Gentleman . . ." I expected to hear "44th President, Barack Obama" or "President Elect" or "Supreme Ruler and almost mythical being," but instead he said "please welcome the next First Family of the United States." I realized everything about this guy is class -- it wasn't about him.
He kept me listening when he said "It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."
He made me love my wife when he said "I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama."
And he made me laugh when he said "Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House."
And he showed huge character and intellect when he said "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, 'We are not enemies, but friends though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.' And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."
The speech was amazing. If I was at home, alone, I would have balled my eyes out. Can you not love this guy?
Departure
Wednesday was Ian's birthday and we celebrated by spending the savings Krista squirreled away throughout the year for the trip on parasailing for the three kids. 
Aloe Vera Day
We had two rooms between the six of us. Krista and I shared a room with the boys, and Kendra and Devin slept in the other room. It's odd sleeping in a room together as a family. 
At night we decided to continue to appeal to our gluttonous evil sin by eating outside in a private cabana next to the ocean. Here we shucked down oysters, clam chowder, tuna tacos, mojitos, and chocolate cake. Upon our arrival home, Krista and I each clocked an additional 5 pounds.
