I finally checked and responded to some emails I got, so I am checking in with you guys too to let you know what has been going on in Ohio. Not much time to communicate with my friends here though . . .
This is the email I sent out:
I took my personal email off the computer at work, and because our evenings have been pretty hectic, I have not had time to check personal email or post much. We were on vacation several ago, and that was my last day off too! It was about the same time you the EB would have been leaving port in LA - we found out that Kim and Steve were going to be in DC for a meeting that Kim had for business, and we decided to do a last minute vacation and met up with them for 3 days. Since then it has been work, work, work, and dealing with Dad.
First dad . . . he fell at home the day after Labor day. Nothing broken, but he was very weak. They took him to the hospital for about a week, and then sent him to rehab where my brother was. Here is where it ties in to work. On last Sunday, I decided to get away for a bit, and Amy stayed home while I went to the Brown's game (Sunday Night Football). If any of you watched that game on TV, you have an inkling of what it was like. We basically hunkered down in ponchos as the temperature dropped 20 degrees, and the wind swirled and gusted. Game was over about 11:15, and I got home about 12:30. Laid down to go to sleep about 1:00. Our neighborhood was spared (underground utilities - although that is never a guarantee from where the power comes in) and we had power.
It was hard to see all the damage driving home because it was dark almost everywhere. I did see telephone polls and trees and wires down that I had to avoid once I got off the highway. I was just falling asleep when the phone rang. One of our stores was out of power, and perishable mdse. was going to spoil. We all needed to pitch in right away. This is our inner-city store. I had to hop in the car, drive downtown in pitch black, and start helping - just when I was falling asleep! I never did get to bed Sunday night.
At 8:00, I went home, showered, ate breakfast, and went back to the office. At 11:30, the store regained power, and we had to turn it all back around and restock the store. What a mess! If it had been more than one store, we would have been SOL. I told Amy be ready for me to come home and crash!
I got home, and Sophia wanted to go on a bike ride. I figured it would poop me out even more, so we rode 5 miles and got ice cream. We got home, and I was ready to crash at 8:00. Shortly after we arrived, the phone rang. Dad took a turn for the worst, and they were transporting him back to the hospital. I got in the car, and drove to the hospital - spending the next almost 4 hours in the ER with him until he was admitted. I got home about 12:30, and therefore got about 5 hours sleep after two days without any. By today I am almost back to normal.
Dad is not doing real well. He has good days, and bad days. He is in the coranary care unit at the hospital, suffering from congestive heart failure. It has caused lots of swelling, discomfort, and some confusion (more than normal). This afternoon at lunch he was almost normal. Tonight he was not so good, and very confused. I find my moods swinging with his condition.
Amy's mom STILL has no electricity, and Sophia just got back to school. Her school just got power back today.
It is really a mess up here, almost like half of civilization came to a halt.
That's all the current news guys!
Sorry I can't keep up, and miss reading here. Amy got a chance the other night, and made me laugh out loud at some of Ian's wit that she read and told me about.
I hope everyone is well, healthy, and has electricity!