Doctor, Doctor, Doctor!!!!

PREFACE - THIS ENTIRE BLOG POST WAS WRITTEN AND, SUPPOSEDLY, POSTED YESTERDAY BUT IT DID NOT SHOW UP. WHAT IS THE HOSPITAL TRYING TO HIDE? I WOULD NOT LET IT GO AND NOW THAT CHA CHA AND I HAVE BEEN HOME FOR NEARLY 10 HOURS I WILL POST IT FROM OUR HOME AND BE DAMNED THE CENSORS! BIG BROTHER CAN DEAL WITH THAT!!!!!!!!

It is 0834 and I am in Cha Cha's hospital room but, she is not here. I assume that she is somewhere else here in the medical complex having tests or something. I could walk down to the nurses' station and ask but there is no evidence that there has been any foul-play so I do not consider this a crime scene yet. I did see some saltine crumbs on this table that I am using as a desk right now but the wrapper appeared to be okay even though it was quite certainly a forced-entry. Today was, originally, the day that Cha Cha was supposed to go home but yesterday they changed the target day to tomorrow. I hope we stay on target because tomorrow is the last day of my five-day weekend. If she does not get released tomorrow I will have to figure-out whether to: take a sick day or use more vacation days or incidental time... but, that is two days away and, though I usually like to borrow trouble so I am prepared no matter what happens, I will keep that in-check until tomorrow.

Last night I watched a movie here in Jill's hospital room on their movie service on the television system here while she was getting poked and prodded. and hauled off and brought back a few times. The film was called Hello, My Name is Doris. It starred: Sally Field and Tyne Daly and Stephen Root and Peter Gallagher.. . It was released in 2015 but I had never heard of it. I would say that it was kind of a chick-flick but I am kind of a chick so I really, really liked it. Sally Field still looks amazing. I remember her from my youth (and beyond). I think of The Flying Nun and Gidget and then some of her movie roles in: Forrest Gump, Norma Rae (Best Actress Award)), Lincoln (nominated Best Actress), Smokey and the Bandit, Places in the Heart (Best Actress Award), the Spiderman movies... I am sure I am missing many but she is very talented and charming. 

I didn't realize she was wearing two pairs of glasses until now LOL

I have learned, once again, that I am a stress-eater. I have been out of control since Jill has been in here over these past few days. I suppose that comes from childhood when we were rewarded with food or soothed by food back in the 1960's and 1970's. Maybe it is also just that I don't have time to prepare food and it's easy to grab already prepared junk. There is a really nice grocery store (supermarket, if you prefer)- Hy-Vee and that makes it too convenient. Yes, there are plenty of healthy choices there but the bad ones are more fun. So far, today, I have not eaten anything which is also not a good idea because it is almost 1000 and I will be extra hungry when I finally eat. I will probably eat in the cafeteria here in the hospital because that tends to make me want to eat healthier. Jill and I used to eat breakfast here after we were done working-out at the YMCA next door. 

I just went down and got Jill two bananas and an orange. I was going to get the salad bar but they were just putting it out and the person assembling the presentation was kind of snippy and frazzled so I just got the two bananas and the orange and an iced tea for me. This place is really close to Portillo's so I may just go over and one of their chopped salads sans bacon and tibetti. It won't be as inexpensive but it will be more delicious. I will also be able to use giardiniera as my dressing. I think they should change that word to GARDENiera (trademark/patent/copyrights pending). It is mainly veggies (with olive oil - a vegetable-based product) so that makes sense. I just looked and olives are considered a fruit. Who knew - I do now. 

I said, "NO Tibetti!!!!!!"

POTENTIAL GOOD NEWS ALERT!!!!!!! The doctor just came in and said that Jill may be able to go home today since her sodium levels are back to normal. He explained to her about how to handle her sodium and water intake while working-out. She has been spending a lot of time at Anytime Fitness and I guess working-out can kill you. At least, make you go to the hospital and have countless tests and medicines and IV's... I think I mentioned it here a few days ago but Splenda sent me a text that Jill "has to be the only person in America with low salt levels." Actually, that was paraphrased so it should not have been in parenthesis but it may be exact but I am too lazy and tired to look at my phone to find and read a text. 

I am going to end now because we may get the word any moment that we need to pack and hit the bricks. I need to be a minuteman (TWSS).Thanks for stopping by and for all the support and kind words about this leg of our live-journey. I may blog again tomorrow but, if I get enough sleep tonight for a change, I may try to fix those two sections of fence before going back to work on Wednesday. I got interrupted a bit and it is now almost 1300. Jill and I went out to The Healing Garden here at the hospital. It is outside off of the cafeteria where there is a nice stream that runs down and recycles. There are lots of trees and benches as well as an area to eat outside. We just sat on a bench and enjoyed the sun and the nice weather. Splenda called to check on Jill while we were out there and I walked around a bit while they talked. 

We are waiting for the other two of the three wisemen (doctors) to make their determinations on whether or not Jill can blow this pop stand. It looks good that she will be able to go home today. Now, I am really going to end now and get this posted. Thanks for stopping in again. I really do appreciate when you do and all of the comments. I appreciate all of the support for Cha Cha's journey back to health. I apologize if I slighted anybody on details or anything but it has been crazy and Jill is a private person even though I try to make her an internet sensation. 

TTTT?. hopefully not from the hospital!..MITM (out) TA

A Good Day So Far!

Dr. Kevin Donka knows what he's talking about Willis!

I have some time on my hands in another hospital surgical waiting room and, fortunately, I brought my computer so I will write a quick blog. I could watch a movie or something but, as my good friend Kevin Donka says, "writing can be therapeutic." He is a chiropractor so I will take the doctor's advise and perform my own therapy here right now. I may stop abruptly if they come to tell me that she is ready to receive an audience by me.

I spoke to the surgeon who just performed the surgery on Jill and he said everything went very well. How come when doctor's do something they "perform?" Maybe that is why they are in "practice?" I was not too concerned with this surgery because it was not as major as the last one she had. I was really nervous about that one and she and I both blubbered by a couple of babies when we finally saw each other after she came out of that operation.

I had a salad down in the cafeteria. I am happy that hospitals have good salad bars. I would be very weary if they only had a bunch of fried foods trying to drum-up (that was not a drumstick reference) their own business. So, I had a salad and a very large iced tea.

I am pretty tired right now because of the extra 12-hour required shift yesterday. It is easier getting through those days when I think of the extra twelve hours of pay and time-and-a-half. I expect we will have "staff-up" called again next week and I will work another twelve next Sunday.

I think we should ride in a gondola while we're there, right?

It is only 16 days until Cha Cha and I get to see John Fogerty. She is so very excited. I am excited too but she is pretty much consumed with the concert. She has a count-down chalkboard in our kitchen that reads. "Fogerty Concert in 16 Days." Tomorrow, as you might imagine, it will read "Fogerty Concert in 15 Days." I could go-on but I think you probably get where that trend is headed. I am excited too but I think a lot of my excitement comes from her being so excited. I love when people I like and love are happy.

Splenda and Andy are moving out of our house and to Chicago in about a week. It has been very nice having them with us for a few months. It is odd that I am happy that they are moving on up to the east side (east of us anyway) but sad that they are leaving. Andy will be much closer to his work in Evanston and Splenda is beginning using her college degree more as she has hoped to rather than the job she has been working using it only occasionally. I am sure she would be happy to do some freelance (why is freelance called that when you pay somebody to do that work?) graphic design work for you. She is VERY talented in most things computer-related.

I finished watching the end of The Night Of this morning - that is to say the final episode. I was very happy with the ending and I was delighted that John Turturro played a huge role in the end of the "limited series." I will miss the show but there will be many. many others.

I still have not watched one second of The Olympics and I will not watch any. I think these games are a joke. They have never made the world get along better so what is the use? I have boycotted them since the 1936 Berlin Olympics (Games of the XI Olympiad) because of that a-hole Aldolph Hitler. Ha, I never realized until I wrote that that Aldolph and A-hole are almost the same word. Sorry, I guess that is offensive to a-holes to be compared to that A-HOLE! I am glad that Jesse Owens shoved it up his swastika butt that year.

Ha, I am listening to the Jogh Fogerty station on Pandora while I write this (see how Cha Cha brain-washes me?) and "Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealers Wheel just came on. I used to put the link of that song/video at the beginning of the blog. Good times, good times. Here is that link if you are nostalgic like I am.

I am going to stop now because they will be calling me any minute now to go see Cha Cha. Thanks a lot for the therapy session. I may be able to write again tomorrow but I believe, depending on how Jill is doing, I have to drive my dad to a follow-up doctor's appointment tomorrow. Oh man, "Centerfield" is playing now - I love that song and I loved the video in the MTV days even more. Thanks a lot for the session - I will blog tomorrow - probably. TTTT?...MITM (out) TA!

(I did not proofread this and I always regret that and change things later but that will probably never change) TA!

I Don't Feel Indentured

Some times "TTT???..." means tomorrow which, now, is today because I am blogging today.

As predicted I am "scheduled-up" to work one day of my weekend. It doesn't really MATTer that they call it schedule-up when it is, in fact, forced overtime. I prefer indentured servitude but, instead of working on a tramp steamer to earn my fare to the new world. I actually get paid (time-and-a-half). So, this week I was penciled black-markered in  to work Tuesday. But, as I wrote yesterday, Cha Cha is having surgery on Monday and I am the bag man so I need to be available Monday for the drop and Tuesday for the bag swap (please don't tell her that I called driving her home "the bag swap"). Fortunately someone else wanted off Tuesday and drew the Sunday straw. So, we swapped his Sunday for my Tuesday. I am curious how many weeks this will continue. I am considering putting in for the three 12-hours shifts rather than the current four ten-hour shifts that I currently work. If I out in for that, and get it, I would work my three 12's and then, if shifted-up, I would work an additional 10. Additionally, the thee twelves makes two dollars more per hour to compensate for the few extra hours. But, when I worked the extra ten hours of overtime those would be at the extra two dollar rate at time-and-a-half. I have lots of thinking to do. I like my job and I wull make it work but just want to tweak it a bit.

I am really tired and am thinking about taking a little nap before Cha Cha gets home. Of course, I am watching The Andy Griffith Show on TVland as I do most days when I get home. This show really relaxes me for some reason- it is comfort food without the calories. I wonder why nobody shows Family Affair - I really like that show as a yute. It was even better because Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) narrated all of the Winnie The Pooh movies/shows. He was also Bagheera (the panther) in The Jungle Book. I think he was probably a really nice man; I would have liked to have known him.

I am pretty hungry but my feet hurt too much to carry me downstairs to get some food. I wonder if I could text someone to deliver me something up here. It would probably work better if anyone else were here. Mr.French would bring me something if he were here.

Well, I really have nothing else on my mind and I may take a nap and just dream about food and that my feet don't ache. I sort of feel like this is a waste to post but I have written it and a blog in the web is worth two in the computer I suppose.

Thanks a lot for letting me relieve some stress and allow my dogs to start panting rather than barking. Maybe I will write again tomorrow but I will try to find more substance if I do. TTT? (just one question mark this time)...MITM (out) TA!

A Day In The Life!

 "Squad 51 , engine 51..." Man, I loved this show as a kid! 

It is 17:43 and I am completely exhausted and I do not do caffeine so I have learned to cope with being sleepy. I think I had written that I would update you on the last few days so I will, at the very least, do that.

I went to my mom and dad's yesterday morning to take my dad to the hospital for his back surgery. It was day surgery but, since he is on a medicine called coumadin he had to spend the night. Coumadin is a blood thinner so, since he takes that, he had to stay the night at Rush-Copley Hospital so they could make sure that he would not have any complications. So, since my mom cannot be left by herself because she has some issues that require monitoring, I stayed at their house in my childhood (7th grade until college) bedroom. Anyway, the surgery went very well and they cleaned some plaque from his spine between vertebrae three and four and four and five or something like that. Everything went well and mom and I headed back up to the hospital the next morning and picked him up. We stopped at Jewel/Osco to pick up his new medicines (they waited in the car while I got the scripts filled). We drove to their house and I parked near their door in the driveway and turned off the car. I helped my mom out of the car and then went around to help dad. He got out and suddenly went slightly limp in my arms and closed his eyes. I said, "Dad" and he opened his eyes. I told him that it seemed like he had passed-out for a second. I asked how he felt and he said, "fine" and then his 170ish-pound body went limp and his eyes closed. He would not wake-up and I lowered him to the ground on his concrete driveway. I lightly tapped his cheek and he opened his eyes but he had a distant look. He faded in and out and I said, "dad, stay with me." For a moment I thought that I was going lose my dad right in front of me in his driveway, He kept trying to fade-out but I was persistent in keeping him alert. I knew he was bad and had thought of performing CPR (working for the police department makes me know how to handle these sorts of situations and I have been properly trained and certified). However, this is a man who, I knew for a fact, had just had back surgery and just recently (this year) had heart bypass surgery so I was not going to try this until I was certain it was a life or death issue. I got him to become a bit more responsive by tapping him lightly on his cheeks and speaking to him. So I told mom, "go in the house and call 911!" She left to go into the house but I am not sure if she was calling anyone (I am pretty sure she did not call anyone at all). I immediate took out my cell phone and called 911 and told the operator the details and an ambulance arrived shortly thereafter (11 minutes and 41 seconds to be precise). Actually that seems kind of long now that I can analyze it with fresh eyes. It seemed like five minutes while it was happening - it always takes less time when I use the police radio. So they took his vitals and everything seemed fine and he refused to let them take him back to the hospital to get checked-out despite my urging to do that.

Cha Cha and Fabio came over to their house a bit later and Cha Cha stayed with and entertained my mom while Fabio and I took dad to the medical clinic to have an EKG... Everything checked-out and we went back to their house. We went back ti their home  a little later and I went over and got them some food and brought it back to them.

  That a boy, Clarence (via friends)! 

I spoke to my dad about two hours ago and he is doing very well today. He had texted me earlier today (while I was at my day gig) to let me know that he was good. He said mom seems fine today though I doubt she remembers anything that transpired over the past few days.

Cha Cha has surgery  next week(minor - like my dad's) so let's home minor with no complications works better this time. I can see why people don't like Mondays ("tell me why..."). Maybe the doctors are still thinking about yesterday's golf game?

That is all I really wanted to write today because I eluded (actually, almost promised) that I would be more than vague as I had been in my Facebook posts. Thank you for all of your kind words and thoughts and prayers and whatever comfort you passed,our ways. Maybe some force in the world or in nature or in the sky heard that and you helped George Bailey by sending Clarence our way yesterday.

It sounds like I may have to work another 12-hour "staff-up" this coming "weekend" (weekends are not always Fridays, Saturday, and Sundays in certain circles). I really hope that is not the case because of Cha Cha's surgery. I think I may have a knack for this and might have to start a private business of taking people to hospitals and the doctors and saving their lives when required. It sound like something The Green Hornet might do since Kato was his chauffeur (the driving people places) and together they could kick some major butt and save people. I need to get my hands on a Black Beauty and a driver (not necessarily Asian or even a male - I am open to all applicants). Can anybody find and customize a 1965 Chrysler Imperial for me?

All serious applications will be considered!

Thanks again for all of your positive energy and love - IT REALLY WORKS (even if kind of dramatic sometimes). I am not sure when I will write again; it all depends if I can get caught up on my sleep and get a day off from crime fighting and life saving. Seriously, I do appreciate you stopping here when you can and giving me a reason to write and keep the world safe and entertained and making people feel better about themselves by knowing we are all messed-up and great at the same time. TTT???...MITM (out - same Matt blog, same Matt time!) TA! I do realize that was Mattman Batman and not The Green Hornet!

It's Just a Black and Whiten Kinda Day!

I am doing a blog today because I am not sure when I will have the gumption again between now and a week from Sunday. I may be able to blog again on Monday when my dad is in surgery though I am dreading how that wait will go. I am not sure how to keep my mom occupied during the surgery. Word search and crossword puzzles will only work for so long. 

The reason for the uncertainty of blogging is I just got "staffed-up" to work twelve hours on Sunday after I finish working my regular four days. It will be nice to get twelve hours at time-and-a-half right before the second installment of the property taxes are due and before we head to Las Vegas but my dogs are barking today and by the end of Sunday they will be howling. I know I wrote how I am like George Bailey but I keep waiting for Uncle Billy and Clarence Odbody to get their hind feathers and wings into gear.

I heard a story today about some of the U.S. Olympic swimmers faking being mugged and robbed in Rio. My theory is that they are a bunch of young kids who blew their money on crazy twitterpated types of things that young men might get mixed-up in while away in Brazil and they wanted mommy and daddy to send them more money so they could continue their sewing of oats. I base that on nothing more than having been a young man once upon a time before the MIDDLE years caught-up with me. I have not watched one second of the Olympics and I still plan to keep my gold medal contention for non-Olympic watching alive!

I bet you know that I am watching The Andy Griffith Show. SPOILER ALERT COMING - Gomer and Thelma Lou almost had to get married but Thel and Barney are back together. You remember the episode "Barney And Thelma Lou Phfftt" from May 4th, 1964. You know - episode number 125. I watch about ten episodes a week even though I have seen every episode about ten times each. 

I cannot believe it is already 17:42. I am thinking about going to bed but they I will be awake way too early. I guess I will wait until about 20:30 before thinking about going to bed. My back hurts, my feet stunk and I don't love (I had better stop there before I offend some). 

Less than a month before we will be in Lost Wages! I have been to Vegas many times but Cha Cha has not been there. She is so excited to go to the John Fogherty concert. I am excited too but nowhere near as excited as she is. I wish I could arrange for her to meet him but I am unsure how to make that happen. Maybe if I tell him that is my birthday (the day we see him in concert) that would make a difference? It was cool when we were kids and special things really could happen for us on our anniversary of birth. I like to make her happy because she makes me happy just about every day of my life. 

Okay, I am gonna stop now. I am not sure when I will blog again but, who knows, maybe I will blog in the next day or two, Are you on the edge of your seat? Me neither. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great rest of your day. The next episode and Gomer is singing "From The Halls of Montezuma" (Marines' Hymn) - boy, I wonder what's going to happen in this episode. LOL. Okay, that's it. Thanks again. TTT????...MITM (out) TA! I went all classy with only black-and-white photos today. FANCY!!!

Meet Pramuda (a New World-Wide Sensation)!

Pramuda of Sri Lanka

It is 09:31 and I am taking a break from riding the stationary bike so I thought I would begin the blog before I did another 15 miles. I have not weighed-in for over a month (July 12th) and, according to our scale here at the house, I have gained one pound in the past month. Actually, I am surprised that it is so low of a gain because I have not been keeping-up with my program as diligently as I should have been. With the 30 miles on the bike before I weigh-in I figure I will show a small weigh-loss sine July 12th. I would have, had I been following the program I was following, lost another ten pounds or so. It has been more important to take care of my parents though. Next Monday my dad has surgery for his back and I am staying over night at their house on Monday and, depending on what time his surgery is (he is waiting for the call to let him know that time) I may stay over Sunday night too. My mom cannot be left alone for her, and probably others', safety so I will endure my severe feline allergy and take a bullet for the team.

Yesterday I mentioned that I would try to take a photo of the little girl in Sri Lanka (Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka) that Cha Cha and I donated to sponsor for her school backpack and school supplies. We learned. last night, that her name is Pramuda. I am weird so I checked to see what the name Pramuda means. I have always been a great admirer of Native Americans and how their names mean something about their natures and make-up like: Wind In His Hair or Crazy Horse or Sitting Bull or Stands With A Fist or Dances With Wolves... Matthew, supposedly, means "gift of God." Depending upon who you are speaking to there are many gods so which one am I a gift of? Lucifer is the god of light according to the King James version of the Hebrew word. Pramuda means "quick-minded" and "having freedom of expression to mix easily with people." It also means "because your feelings and desires are so changeable you are never satisfied with the way conditions as they are." I hope our small help will allow her to reach her full potential and realize all of her desires and feelings in her life. We should all do something nice to/for other living things and animals and people if we are able to do so. There is enough evil in the world.


I am going to head back down to the dungeon and do my next 15 miles. It is 10:10 now and I weigh-in at high noon. Let's hope that the "high" part has to do with the feeling of elation I will receive when my weight is LOWer and not because my weight is HIGHer. Think light thoughts though, by the time you read this, I will have already weighed-in and you can just see in a paragraph or so what the final verdict is/was. Okay - TTFAFHWWSLN (ta ta for a few hours which will seem like nanoseconds).
It is now 15:41; so much has happened since 10:10. I rode the stationary bike 25 miles (total) though I was aiming for 30 miles. I just ran out of time before I had to go weigh-in. I wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt hoodie while spinning (I hate that term for some reason) so I think that made-up for the five less miles. I had not weighed in for a while so I was a bit nervous. I ended-up losing 0,8 pounds which put me over the 65 pounds lost mark. I was averaging 2,2 pounds lost per week so 0.8 over four weeks was not what I had hoped but I was satisfied with that considering all that has happened over the past month.

While I spun (like a record, baby, right round, round round) I was watching The Big Lebowski (I own the DVD). I really like that movie - Turturro, Goodman, Buscemi, Moore (Julianne), Bridges (Jeff), Hoffman (Phil), Sam Elliot... what a great cast.

I hard-baked 18 eggs and peeled them so they would be ready for this week's salads (all things that I shopped for after weighing-in). I have all the fixin's for the salad but I will make that a bit later. I usually make a huge salad and put it in the fridge to last for four days or so. I don't think I will ever get tried of salads - THANKFULLY!

I went over and got the oil changed on the Fiat and filled-up the fuel tank so Cha Cha is ready for the rest of her week.

I took the bandage off of my nearly severed thumb and it does not look great but it is still in one piece. I put honey n it as the Native Americans did. What is better than nature's glue? I was going to cover it with leaves but I went with a band-aid again so I would not look like a total freak. I just do not want to get honey all over things and I like the cushion of a band-aid. When I took the original one off the thumb smelled really bad - like dying flesh. I wish it were not right on the joint so I could stitch it up. It is a bit swollen too but that is to be expected. I will probably change the bandage in the morning before I head to my day gig.

I am going to end now. I will probably not write again until Sunday though I cannot promise that I will not throw one or two in there before Sunday. I heard some very interesting political stuff but I have vowed not to get political here - for now at least. I presume if you want to hear this sort of thing you will easily be able to find it right about now. Okay, I am really done. TTTSUnday (or before). MITM (out) TA!

I AM GEORGE!

I am going to squeeze a quick blog in here today. 

I realized today that I really am George Bailey incarnate. I don't resent being him as George Bailey was a great man who knew the right things to do and he did them. I know I have written here before that I have felt like George but now I know that I AM George. Maybe the blog is Clarence Oddbody and I take it/him for granted sometimes. Thanks for believing in Clarence and letting him help me when warranted.Just so you are not too concerned - I am nowhere near thinking about jumping off a bridge.

Last night Fabio and I went to see Sausage Party at the theater. He wanted to see it and none of his friends wanted to so I went with him. When I went to the ticket booth to get the tickets I said I wanted two tickets for Sausage Fest. He cracked-up. Yes, I knew what I was saying and, I will admit, it was premeditated. I think it is always nice to put a smile on someone's face if one is able. The movie was raunchy but I laughed many, many times. The language was extremely raunchy and some of the actions, even though cartoons, were very lewd and crude. There were more curse words (many the worse ones you may have ever heard) that ordinary words. I recommend the movie if you are not easily offended but be prepared as they do their best to offend the un-offendable. 

Meditation has helped me in so many ways - love me some Buddhism

I spend the morning and part of the afternoon with my parents. I mowed their lawn and then ran them to Farm and Fleet and to Meijer. I am really looking forward to meditation tonight as I think I really need it today. I meditated a bit on the way home but it is not the same while driving; it still helps a bit but not to the extent that I need it today. I think Cha Cha and I will have sushi for dinner too as I found that there is a sushi restaurant in Woodstock. Sushi followed by time in a Buddhist Temple seems pretty Richard Gere or something doesn't it? I will try to remember to take a photo of the little girl in Sri Lanka that Cha Cha and I are helping. If you are not aware of what I am talking about I think it was probably last Tuesday's blog when I wrote about that (just guessing on the day of the blog). 

While I was at my parents' house I made the mistake of mentioning politics. BRAKES SLAMMED ON - I remember that I said I would try very hard not to discuss politics here anymore so I will stop right there, before I go any further... That reminds me that the song "I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" appeared in the movie last night. It was very funny.

I think I am going to end now so I can go take a shower. I will probably be able to blog a bit more tomorrow as I won't have so much running-around to do. I do have to mow our lawn but, with my luck, it will rain. Wait, maybe that would be fortuitous because then I would have an excuse not to do it. It isn't really all that long but I feel like I need to mow and get beat-up by the trees in our yard at least once a week, 

Have a great night and I hop things get better in Milwaukee and other areas of the country that are going through similar problems. I saw the Milwaukee Sheriff on television this morning and I was very impressed with the way he is handling himself, his officers and the situation that has dropped itself into his lap. Why do I start new topics after I have already said I was going to wrap-up? Okay, that is it - REALLY!!!!! TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Prepare to be Whelmed!

Read slower today because I am typing slower and I want you to get the whole experience of that.Why am I typing slower? That is very kind of you to ask. I was working on a project with a razor knife and I nearly cut my left thumb off. Do I exaggerate a bit? Perhaps but it is a very deep cut and right on the joint so going for stitches would be futile. I will just keep it taped-up and let my body do what it is supposed to do. Deep cuts always make me think of Maurice "Mo" Wanchuk in the movie Slapshot. I know that photo up there is of the Hansons and not of Mo but they are the best part of that movie though Paul Newman is pretty damn good.

Typing "Paul Newman" made me think about the list I was working on of my favorite actors. I gave up on that list because I like so many male and female actors that I could not list a top ten or even a top 25. Even if I broke the list up into genres I don't think I could do that. I like so many different actors and I know I would leave out some and then regret my list later.

I have still not watched one moment of the Olympics. I did read about the backlash that American (United States) decathlon champion Ashton Eaton is receiving for rooting for his wife, Brianne Theissen-Eaton, who is the number one ranked heptathlon athlete in the world. The problem, according to the booers, is that she is competing for Canada. The USA and Canada (who share 2/3rd's of North America) cannot even root for each other even if their athletes are married to one another? Americans can be such butt holes sometimes but I am sure that can be said of anyone in the world. 

Sorry - I had to break there for a few minutes so Cha Cha and I could take a bike ride. Jeff always goes with us (he is actually usually the reason we go). 

I think Fabio and I are going to see Sausage Party tonight; I guess the title Sausage Fest would have been too much to live up to? I imagine it will be really stupid but he wants to see it and none of his friends want to see the movie so I guess I made either the B or the C team. I am not expecting too much from the movie but those are the ones that I have, on occasion, liked the most. You cannot be underwhelmed if you don't expect to be whelmed in the first place. How come nobody ever uses the word "whelmed?" It's all about the over or under with being whelmed. Being Matt in the MIDDLE I am happy just being plain whelmed. I am surprised that Adam Sandler isn't in this film - it totally seems like his modus operandi.

I am going to Fatty's for lunch today before the movie. I have to go or I will miss them all yelling "NORM!," I mean "Matt!" when I walk. I know my buddy Mike will be there. I already know I will have iced tea and the Chicken Corn Cobb Salad with no bacon; pretty weird for a guy who is going to see a movie entitle Sausage Party, huh? I will also take my own Splenda (the sweetener not the person). Splenda, the person, is going to Chicago for her second job interview in the city and Cha Cha is going with her for moral support and company and chauffeuring. Splenda was going to go alone but Cha Cha offered to go and then she will be able to see the place that Splenda and Andy looked at yesterday (apartment) when Splenda had her job interview at a different place. She will be moving to Chicago soon as they put a deposit down on an apartment yesterday. One constant about our house is change. 

The Cubs and Cardinals play the fourth game in this current series tonight while I am at Sausage Party. The Cards won yesterday but the Cubs won the first two of the four-game series. I think it is great for the Chicago (north side) fans that the Cubs are doing well this year. I just hope they don't get used to it. I have been predicting a World Series soon for the Cubs for the past few years but I am still not completely ready for it. I have not predicted a World Series championship though; I am pretty sure (82%) I will never predict that.

Tonight is also the night of The Jim Gaffigan Show and The Night Of. Thanks goodness for the old double DVR! And, thank goodness for having tomorrow off though I will probably go to my parents tomorrow to do the lawn and the running-around and then Cha Cha and I will head to The Twilight Zone (Woodstock, Illinois) tomorrow night to The Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple for meditation. We are going to try something completely different for dinner tomorrow since we were so disappointed last week. 

I am going to end now and get some more things done around the house. I may even take a tiny. teenie-weenie (Sausage Party tie-in), itsy, bitsy, little nap. Have a nice rest of your day.  I will try to squeeze a blog in tomorrow as I know you are dying for a review of Sausage Party. TTTT (probably)...MITM (out) TA! 

No Service For You!

This is not us - they have beverages and food sans Styrofoam 

Smart money would have been laid on me not blogging today though, I am bucking the odds, and blogging so, if you did think that you made the smart bet you are not as smart as you thought. It is 16:15 and I am blogging so I don't have to pay those long odds.

Last night I think Cha Cha and I found out why Groundhog Day was filmed in Woodstock, IL.. Yes, the town square does resemble Gobbler's Knob where the rat comes out of his/her hole and prognosticates something we all know already anyway but that is incidental. We arrived at Woodstock an hour before meditation at the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple was to begin. We went to Public House where we had eaten many time before and always had great experiences. We were seated outside pretty quickly but then, as if in the movie filmed here about time warping, we were not waited on (not even a beverage order or a glass of water). So, after about ten minutes we decided to say "the heck with this" and we went to Papa G's Family Restaurant where we had breakfast a couple of months ago. We ordered - I ordered a salad and Cha Cha got a burger and, of course, we ordered beverages (non alcoholic). After a bit the waitress brought out Jill's and my side-salads. Re-read the sentence before the last one and see where you might find a Groundhog Day moment Easter egg. So, when the waitress walked by our table a bit later I asked her if this was correct? I got a side salad with my main course salad? She laughed and took it away. Then we sat there and sat there and the clock kept moving (different than Groundhog Day) so we asked if we could get our food to go as we misjudged our time. She put our food in containers and brought us our bill. I am sure you noticed that I never mentioned her bringing us our beverages. That was not my mistake in writing (though I make plenty) - we never got our beverages. They removed them from the bill and me, being one of those people who are born every minute, I left her a $5 tip. I will probably never stiff anybody even if the service is very sub-par, However, she did not get my usual great tip! We put the food in the car and went to the temple.

Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them...

The meditation was especially effective for me as I really needed to calm down and get centered and refocused after the earlier experiences. Someone was testing us and I think we did rather well. I really sound like a hippy don't I? At the end of meditation the monk / Bhante who led the meditation talked about a group of very poor children in Sri Lanka that our Temple wants to help. They have 50 children in one village that they want to provide with school supplies, school uniforms / clothes and backpacks... and said that if people wished they could sponsor a child. At the end of meditation Jill and I went and looked at the photos of the 50 children taken in front of their homes and we immediately knew that we had to be part of this. It costs $100 to sponsor one child but that is broken-up between two people donating $50 each per child. Jill and I looked at the photos independently and we had both noticed the same child without consulting one another. We forked over the $100 and we will have made a huge difference in this little girl's life. I only mention it here because I hope to inspire others to help people who need a hand-up in the world. I will take a photo of her and put it here in the next few weeks if I think of it. Maybe she will become a surgeon or something and save my or Jill's life one day and we will have, in fact, saved our own lives by saving her future. Now I am getting all Twilight Zone or something on myself.

While I was mowing a lawn yesterday (one of the three time over the last three days) I started thinking about John Tuturro. I mentioned that he is one of my favorite actors and I started thinking that he and John Goodman must be good friends. They have been in several movies together (actually three come immediately to mind): Oh Brother, where art Thou, The Big Lebowski and Barton Fink. They have probably been in more together but two of those movies I love and the other I like a great deal. Then I started to try to figure out who are my top ten favorite actors of all time. I am not sure why I feel compelled to make lists of everything - maybe I am like Rain Man in many ways. Hey, Dustin Hoffman makes the top ten for sure. Turturro, Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, Will Smith, Robert De Nero, George Clooney, Sally Field, James Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, Kathy Hepburn, Hanks, Nicholson. Streep, Redford, Brando, Connery, Newman, Fonda, Peck...? I have to work on that list. Why? Why not?  It is a tough list to finalize I think.

Top Ten is almost impossible

I was with my mom and dad today and my mom does not seem to be getting any better. She was not as bad as last week when I was over there but my dad tells me of things that occur during the week and I worry about her and something bad happening. There is really nothing I can do other than to help them as I have been doing and I will stay the night at their house in a few weeks when my dad has his surgery for his back. She cannot be alone. I don't think I can even sleep in the other end of the house where I would normally sleep (my childhood bedroom). I guess I could get a baby monitor or something and just listen and get up if she does. I have a few weeks to work out those details. My dad has really been putting up with a lot and I have to give him great credit. I try to think how I would be if it were Jill and I would be the same as he is being. He and my mom have been together since high school so that kind of love and devotion runs pretty deep. Jill and I have only been together for 33 years or so she is my favorite part of me and they have about thirty years on us (just a guesstimate).

I have to end now. It is 17:26 now and I am worn-out. It's back to the grind tomorrow and I have a few things I still need to get done before then. Thanks for slowing down for a few and letting me rant and wax poetic. I hope you have a great night and a great next few days. I am not sure when I will be blogging again. I am sure I will blog Sunday but I may sneak one or two past the goalie before then. TTT GOALLLLLL!... MITM (out) TA!

Thank Goodness It's Monday!

Happy Monday!!!! Only someone who has Mondays off would say something like that I suppose.

Today our house graduated to becoming a bush (no political jokes to follow). If you follow me on Facebook (which I have limited myself to and hope to continue to do so) you may already know what I am referring to. A week or two ago a bird (a baby Cardinal) was loose in the house. That was the bird in the hand (or house) and today I went downstairs and there was another bird (baby Robin I believe) trying to fly through the window to get back outside. Both birds were showed the door and they safely flew the coop. They are not skillfully using their opposable bird feet fingers to jimmy the door handles. We leave a door open for Jeff to get in and out of the backyard while we are home and apparently Jeff has exposed the secret entrance to the Matt Cave to his fine feathered friends. You would think, since they managed to find their ways into the house, they would be able to show there own ways out. I suppose that is where the term "bird-brained" comes from?

Last night Cha Cha and I watched The Night of as we have been doing on Sunday nights for the past five Sundays (that is more than a month of Sundays isn't it?). Jill had not watched last weeks because she was losing interest. I convinced her to watch last week's and, after doing so, she agreed that it is much better. The first three weeks were laying a lot of groundwork for what was and is yet to come. Happily. she agreed that it has gotten much better with the groundwork laid. SO, after she watched last week's (and I re-watched last week's) show we watched this week's show. John Turturro's role has grown more and more and that makes a world of difference. I would say he is one of my top ten or twenty actors of all time. Some of the other characters have developed too and the show is really good. It sounds like it may only last one season unless they decide to do a new season with a different story. I am fine with it ending and it just being like a really long movie broken-up into several parts.

 I guess John Turturro must read the blog, huh? 

I just got done sorting-out Fabio's college bills and getting him back on the right track financially. He has the money in his college fund account (less now than when he day began) but he was kind of getting bullied by the school he is attending. I am not saying that they were wrong but he is still young and a bit naive in the ways of the world. It would be awesome if we were born with the skills and abilities that we accrue on our journeys to death. I suppose parents are the ones who help us learn and develop those skills and abilities aren't we? We have to teach our children not to fly into a strange house and flap their winds at a window unable to get out. There isn't always going to be a kind person there to help you back to the trees and your nest.

I am in Cha Cha's office writing the blog at her desk. I feel like I am back in the old days when I wrote news stories for newspapers and radio and television. I think I may start to do some free-lance writing again. I never even minded to do the mundane things like going to village board meetings (yes, they should have been called BORED meeting most of the time). There is something of writing at a desk that makes it seem more legitimate than writing with the computer on your lap. There are less distractions this way too. I am not saying the things I write will be any more comprehensible or relevant but I bet my shoulders and such won't ache as much.

 I believe many of things are very accurate (based on my own personal experience) 

Tonight Jill and I will head to meditation. Then, tomorrow, I will go over and mow my parents' lawn and take them to the stores they need to get to. I will try to work a blog in there too. I mowed our front lawn yesterday and will try to get to the backyard today. Jill was planing stuff yesterday and I didn't want to throw grass and stones and mulch all over from the mower who does not seem to have any respect for humans.

I am going to end now because I still have several things I need to get done before we head to the temple (and maybe fish tacos in Punxsutawney?). I hope you have a great day. I just checked my list and I have to pick-up our Kathleen Madigan tickets and pick some meds at Walgreen's. I have some things to get at a few stores on the other side of town too. I will try to blog again tomorrow. I wish I had the nerve to write about a lot of things that will surely happen tomorrow but my heart is bigger than my nerves so I will not be able to do that. STUPID HEART!

TTTT?...MITM (out) TA!

Brace Yourself! The Blog is Coming!

My weekend has begun and, for the most part, that means doing much more than the craziness of the rest of the week. I want to mow the lawn right now but it is 08:14 on Sunday morning so I doubt the surrounding neighbors would appreciate my sentiments. I will call my dad later this morning and decide what is the best day for me to take them on their errands and mow their lawn. I am happy that it is not winter and shoveling snow would be included; mowing lawns is much more appreciated. I do admit that three days in a row make for a better weekend though.

I am happy to have the three days off to let my mild injury heal. When I say "mild injury" I am talking about the aches and pains of repetitive motions that cause old age soreness. I think I will buy some shares of Icy Hot and Bayer Back and Body later today.

I am watching Ghostbusters on the television right now (the movie is on the television I am not). The original one that I am watching is so much better than the one that was recently at theaters though I did enjoy that one. I wonder if part of that is the sentimentality of seeing the old one when I was still courting Cha Cha. I think we probably watched it while we were at Southern Illinois University unless it was a summer or Christmas release. I could look that up but what difference would it make as far as the blog is concerned?

 Ba Da Dot Dot Da - we're bloating you! 

I usually look at what is going on in the news to get ideas to write about but I am sure I would just see things about politics and The Olympics. I am done with politics until election day and, given the two "choices" we are left with, I have made my choice and very little could change that decision. As far as the Olympics I think the last time I was interested in the games was in the 1970s or 1980s when McDonald's gave free food if you had the corresponding game piece. Only in America could we turn something that showcases the best amateur athlete sin the entire world into people winning food items that could promote childhood obesity and diabetes and hypertension and any number of diseases and ailments that the pharmaceutical industry is still capitalizing on.

Speaking of food - we'll probably be back at Fatty's this afternoon listening to live music (I hope the band with the tuba player will be there again). Is it ironic that we go to a place called Fatty's and I have a salad and iced tea? And, of course, we bring our own salad dressing (giardeniera).

Me and me mates - I am third from the right, obviously

Cha Cha's birthday is in five days and then, a month after that, we head to "bright light city gonna set our souls, gonna set our souls on fire." Jill is so excited to see John Fogherty and I am happy to get a few hours of work in at Thunder From Down Under mate! If you're near Excalibur the second week of September drop me a line and I save you a couple of seats in the sweat-catching section.

I am gonna end now and start me regular day ( maybe after watching the rest of Ghostbusters). Thank you for stopping by. I am not sure when (time) I will blog tomorrow and Tuesday but I will; it all kind of depends upon when and where my services are at what time. Have a great day and enjoy what appears to be a nice day. Maybe 'll see you at Fatty's? TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Starnger Blogs!

I don't normally blog today but, as it turned-out, I lied and was unable to blog yesterday so, I am blogging today. Yesterday ended up being much more involved than I thought it would be so I ran out of time. I went to visit my parents. I visited with them for a bit and then went out and mowed their lawn. My mom is not doing very well and it breaks my heart that half of the time she doesn't even know who my dad is; they have been together since they were in high school. I will not go into too much detail about that. My dad has to have surgery at the end of this month so I will have to stay over night at their house while he is in the hospital for that one night basically to keep an eye on my mom to keep her safe. She also cannot drive so I will get her back-and-forth to the hospital. I do not know what will come of this whole thing but I plan to have some things put into writing so our kids will know what we want if similar things happen to Cha Cha and/or I. I will probably call my dad after I am done here and see how things are going.

The following week Cha Cha will have an overnight stay in the hospital with a minor surgery. She was supposed to have it a couple of days ago but they said they saw something in her blood work so she had to go see her doctor. She had been told that her sodium level was low but her doctor told her that everything was fine. In fact, her blood pressure and cholesterol... were great and the doctor was very happy with her weight loss and the doctor said she seemed as healthy as she had been in a very long time.

My scheduled week (the main part) is 25% over. It was tough at the beginning as I have had a very stiff and sore next for the last three or four days so I was a bit worried. I have been taking Bayer Back and Body for the past few days and spraying Icy Hot on my neck and shoulder. I love that wintergreen scent. I think I just slept on my neck wrong one night and keep aggravating it again every night. Anyway, it ached for awhile this morning but it feels okay right now.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday Jill and I spent several hours binge-watching a show on Netflix (a Netflix original series).  It is called Stranger Things. We watched three episodes on Sunday, three on Monday and then the the final two last night. That was season one and we are ready for whenever they come with season two, Obviously, we liked it a great deal. The only criticism is that Winona Ryder over-acted a bit for my taste. I would say it is a cross between Stand By Me and The Goonies and The X-Files and E.T. and quite a few other movies like that. Another bonus - a member of club I belong to, The Handsome Matts Club. is in the movie - Matthew Modine.  The second season of the show has not been announced yet but it will be announced eventually - you read it here first. Netflix has also just added several older movies that I will watch again. I am a big fan of Netflix as I am guessing you have surmised.

Stranger Things - highly recommended 

I will be right back. I stopped and watered the flowers in the backyard and set-up the sprinkler for the flowers in the front yard. I have to move the sprinkler to get the other half of the front. Be right back to wrap this up. It is almost 19:00 already and I get up early these days (at least until Sunday). BRB.

Okay, now I will wrap-up so I can figure dinner out before I go to bed. Thanks for stopping by - maybe I will blog again tomorrow? Isn't it always nice to be on the edge of your seat? TTT?????...MITM (out) TA!

Who Am I Really?

This took much longer than I had anticipated

It is 13:50 and I am finally done with my major projects. I mowed the lawn first thing this morning and then I went and bought a new garbage disposal. Unfortunately, I could not find the same make and model of the one that took a poop so it took a lot longer than I had hoped to install this new one. My hands are still white with plumbers putty as I look down to see them typing. The new disposal does not appear to leak and it makes a good chopping noise so I will call this a success.

Just before I started writing this blog I saw that I received an email about winning another drawing. I am pretty sure I wrote about winning and receiving an autographed Major League Baseball from Peter Bourjos and then an autographed team photo of the starting line-up (including manager Red Schoendienst)  of the 1967 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Well, now I have an autographed Major League ball from Cardinals 'pitcher Carlos Martinez. I guess that baby Cardinal getting lose in our house this past week must be an omen (or a coincidence). Martinez is only 24 years old and a pretty good pitcher so, who knows, maybe he'll make the Hall of Fame in 40 years or so when I am dead and my kids can buy a pack of baseball cards with that ball?

I spoke with my dad this morning and he has to have surgery on August 22nd. I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for that day but I will cancel that to be with him. Mine was just a routine check-up so the doctor could buy a new putter or driver or something. Since my dad will be in the hospital over night that night I will stay with my mom at their house. She cannot be left alone for several reasons so I will, once again, be sleeping in my childhood bedroom in a few weeks. I am going over tomorrow to mow their lawn and take them to the stores to get whatever they need to get (I guarantee cat food and Coca Cola will be in the cart. I should start my own landscaping company with all of my recent experience (though I have had LOTS of practice in my life). Cha Cha was supposed to have surgery today but they had to cancel for a non-disclosed reason.

Tonight Cha Cha and I will take our weekly trek to Punxsutawney Woodstock to The Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple for our weekly meditation. We really enjoy going there though we did prefer going on Saturdays. I am not sure if we are Buddhists just because we attend meditation lead my Buddhist monks but I am okay with being a Buddhist or just a meditater (or would that me meditator?). I have always felt that I was much more of a spiritual person than a religious person so this has made a lot of sense to me. I do not have anything against anything that does whatever makes them a better person as long as it does not infringe on someone else doing whatever they feel makes them a better person. I guess I am kind of a hippie and I am cool with that too. You can label me whatever you want to label with me. Things I know that I am are: kind, compassionate, friendly, moody, silly, redundant, humorous at times, mean at times, average-looking, MIDDLE-aged, musical, caring, redundant, blessed to have found my soul mate and have great children and friends, sentimental, grudge-holding sometimes and forgiving other times, loyal, television lover, nine-toed, dependable, a number 13 lover, music lover, nosy, redundant, faithful, movie lover, judgmental at times, a St. Louis Cardinals' fan, optimistic, generally positive... It is odd to put yourself into trying to pigeonhole who you are (at least it is for me). We are all so many things that we don't really think about too often.

I am really tired today. It is 14:33 now and I may take a nap before Cha Cha gets home. I told Fabio that I would pick him up from work at 15:00 so, I may lie down for an hour for two after that. Plumbing is a tough job. I didn't even have plumber's crack while I did the work - I cannot do anything right.

I am going to wrap-up for now. I will try to blog tomorrow. It will probably be in the morning because I told my dad I would come over in the late morning or early afternoon. I may start in the morning and finish in the afternoon. It is nice that blogs, at least in the case of this one, have no deadlines. Our entire lives are based on schedules and deadlines and rules so I love love that this blog has none of those for me.

Have a great rest of you day and your night and look for a block SOME TIME on the morrow. TTT?...MITM (out) TA!