Author: backpackingbill

We have the whole gang here with us this year. And, we are looking forward to a great time.

This is the day before Thanksgiving. The guys went off for an adventure: we went to a local gun range. It was the first time shooting pistol for son-in-law James, years ago for son Jim and me. Makes me want to get back into firearms.

Thanksgiving morning all of us participated in the local 5K run. Son-in-law James came in first and won a pumpkin pie. We will add it to the desserts for this evening. There are never enough pumpkin pies.

Tina and Emma set a beautiful table for the Thanksgiving meal.

And the meal was great

I will be writing a blog about our event in West Hartford after I get access to the photos. But, in the meantime I wanted to post some photos I took this morning.

We are spending the night at the Groton Inn in Mass. This morning there was a scene I wanted to share of the meadows behind the Inn.

Today was spent with Jim in New Haven. It was pretty much a kick back day as yesterday was such a full day. Since Jim lives here and knows the town, it was fun having him show us around and pick the prime spots.

We started at a Greek diner for breakfast. Tina was able to recall some Greek and talk with the owner and his wife. It turns out that they are from the Pelepanese but the other side of the peninsula from Tina’s roots.

After doing some chores we all went to the Yale Art Museum. It is a true gem. Many remarkable and recognizable works of art. To mention just a few: Monet, van Gogh, Degas, Matisse, Turner, O’Keefe the list goes on and on. And, everything is very accessible. If one wanted to get thrown out, you could touch the artwork. And, it is free.

Early dinner at a nifty Irish Pub while watching football and an early to bed.

This morning we met up with son Jim and caught Metro North in New Haven and set off for the Big Bad City. We have tickets for the Met performance of Rigoletto; an opera none of us have seen.

The ride into Grand Central Station is pretty much like the last time I made this trip a few years ago. The first hints of autumn color are beginning to appear on the trees. It also appears that there is an increase in the number of apartments/condominiums. Every old mill seems to have been converted to lofts and new construction is being built to look like converted mills. I am thinking less like Bauhaus and more like cheap construction.

Arriving at the Met is always an event

There is something special about performances at the Met

After the performance we stopped at one of our typical haunts, Saluneria Rosi. This is always a treat as the food is great and wine selection fun. Although, we just had a glass of wine and an appetizer. We had planned to get Sushi at a place Jim suggested. Likewise, the Sushi was great.

On our way back to New Haven. Some great street performers in Grand Central Station.

As we are approaching New Haven, we all agree that it was a fun day but we are all ready for some sleep.

It has been a while since I posted anything. But, I am planning to initiate a new series of posts as we are planning an event in New England.

Our daughter married a British fellow a couple years ago. We had a celebration in England last year with his family. Now we are planning a similar celebration in New England with our friends and family. Actually, this will be the third celebration since they were married in Vietnam.

Preparations for the celebration have been on going for a while. I have to admit that I have stayed at arms length from the preparation. Our daughter and Tina did most of the prep with significant help from aunts and uncles.

I am planning to use this forum to publish some photos of the event.

The preparations have progressed to the point that Tina and I have traveled to New England. We have made it as far as New Haven where our son lives.

I plan to pick up the blog tomorrow as tonight we are bushed. The drive from NYC to New Haven on I 95 was most likely setting in a parking lot.

This is an amendment to the post.

Yesterday we stopped to have a short visit with Tina’s uncle Chuck. He lives a short jog off the NJ turnpike. Chuck recently lost his wife Virginia. Virginia was cherished by all who knew her. Chuck took us to two memorials that were placed in her memory. It was a particularly moving time for Tina. A short but good stop.

Although I embrace any suggestion that I am an old guy (old, I’m older than dirt), in my heart I do not consider myself old. I go to the gym, I walk miles a day, I take on home projects and I do Yoga several times a week with Tina. But, the number is there and the number is 76 – big.

All that being said, events sometimes overtake me. The most recent event is one that is still playing out. Here is more information than you need; I went in for a colonoscopy Monday morning, everything was OK. However, by the afternoon I was not able to urinate, I called the colonoscopy doctor. I was told, “that is not my area, just drink lots of water”. As the pressure was becoming unbearable, I went to the Emergency Room.

More background: I had seen a urologist the week previously for different symptoms that proved to indicate nothing was wrong. I had a CAT scan, and extensive lab work – no issues.

Well, I am now in the emergency room where they determine that I need a catheter (by this time the pressure is great and I am throwing up the wonderful dinner that I had just eaten, Jim is home and made one of his over the top dinners). The first guy couldn’t insert the catheter- he called another doctor who tried two or three (forgive my lack of attention at this point) larger ones. The ultrasound guy came in at some point as well as a PA with lots of experience. Note: there is no urologist on call tonight. They say if he can’t get it inserted I will be sent to Savannah.Well with two working on one end and a third working on the other with the ultrasound probe they get the catheter inserted. RELIEF!

One would think that the story ends there, it doesn’t. I set up a time two days after to go to my urologist and possibly get the catheter removed as all should have settled down by then. Wednesday morning I go to the urologist and the catheter is removed. No problems; I go home. I am told that I should pass urine by 2:00, I don’t. So back to the urologist. Three assistants try to reinstall a catheter with no success – so back to the hospital where my urologist is in surgery. He is to meet me at the emergency room.

In the emergency room again, two more people want to try to insert a catheter. I tell them that has already been tried without success. Tina is with me and reinforces my story. We delayed them long enough for my urologist to arrive. He tries a catheter with an ultrasound guy, not successful. So, I am off to emergency surgery, STAT. It was like a TV hospital drama.

So now I am at home and the situation is that I will be going in for further surgery on Wednesday (To do a procedure known in medical circles as “roto-rooter), taking pills for the issue and taking pills to recuperate from the surgery. There may be a big surgery in the future depending on what they find on Thursday. But, the big surgery will likely be further in the future.

The root cause of all this was the anesthesia I was given for the colonoscopy. As I am in no way a medical guy, I choose not to go into the whys and hows.

I am talking with friends and other contacts both in and out of the medical field. Also, reading a bunch of stuff online relative to the situation – a great resource.

One of my great hopes is that I will not have to cancel or postpone my hiking trip with Tina to Spain.

TIP for Old Guys

Get with a urologist early in life. And, if you must have a colonoscopy, be sure to have them explain what to do if you can’t pee.

After thought

I am reminded by this that I am a truly blessed guy. I have been buried by kind thoughts and prayers. Tina was at my side through all this and is a great advocate. Son Jim happened to be home at the time and pitched into supporting the process. In addition, I find it remarkable that I should have this need and find that my urologist is a Harvard University trained physician with a mountain of credentials. What’s the probability of that in sleepy Beaufort, South Carolina.

This will be a short post because I have a longer one that I want to start.

Well, my family has yet again indulged me. Every year at this time I start remembering the Burns Night I participated in ever so many years ago. Late January I start reading Burns and reciting Burns, my family has learned to ignore all this. The worst manifestation is that I threaten to get a Haggis (Chieftain of the Puddin’ Race). As with Pickled Pigs Feet (A story for another time and place), my bluff was called.

Emma and her husband James arrived from England for a stay. Before they left England James’ mother gave them two Haggis links. (She recalled our conversation about Burns and Haggis from our visit years ago). I now had to have Haggis on Burns Night.

What to do? Well, I found a recipe that I thought all would like, or at least tolerate. I mixed a Haggis link with ground pork, I made an onion marmalade and bought a sheet of puff pastry. From these I made a “Haggis Sausage Roll”. It turned out much better than I anticipated. (James is a vegetarian so he had to make do with puff pastry and onion marmalade)

We recited Burns’ “To a Haggis” (Although we read it in English, not the original Scottish) , had a little single malt and ate Haggis.

What a great tradition, maybe next year I can add a bagpipe.

This will be our first Christmas in South Carolina. At this point the moderate weather is still appealing. It’s the 9th of December and I just got back from a walk in the 75 Degree afternoon. Full disclosure: this is an unusually warm day.

We will be exchanging some presents this evening because Emma will be traveling to England to spend Christmas with James and his family. Tomorrow is the Community Parade that we will be watching with neighbors. In the afternoon we will be having an open house for neighbors and friends. The house is decorated thanks mainly to Tina, Emma and Jim. I did have one contribution; I decorated the bronze birds in front of the house.

The next phase is to open some presents with Emma as she will not be here on Christmas. The one that made out best is Noodle.

Sunday morning was the Community Parade. We watched the parade with neighbors who had an open air brunch in their driveway. The parade was much more fun than I thought it might be.

The high point for our day will be an Open House that Tina has planned for this afternoon.

The Open House was a great success. All the prep work done by all came together just as the guests began to arrive. I didn’t count but Jim said that more than thirty attended. It seemed that everyone had a great time. I didn’t get photos except for one of the table filled with food.