Wishing to Be Outside...Where the Birds are

BraveHeart Kobi Tai

I Gave A Blow.......

The Dr. said to make an appointment for a Pulmonary test.

Today was the date. Just go to St. Francis Galvin heart center and register for the test. And don't forget to take the paperwork.

Oh Oh, I think I forgot the paperwork, I'm so sorry, Karolyn said.

Like its her fault to forget my paperwork. Don't worry about it, they'll do me as they make thousands of $$$$$.

Oh we can't take you without the paperwork...Ms front desk said.

A few minutes later a supervisor walked out and said Mr. Elliott, I understand you forgot your paperwork...well, we can't take you without it but why don't you just go take it this time.

Go to the lower level to Pulmonary testing.

They meant the basement.

There Ms. Manjulup said Hi and lets do the test. Of course she had to ask questions and we laughed at their silliness. "Have you ever been sick?"

Then she showed me the machine and tortured me. Yes, just breathing in and out a 100 times can be torture. Like doing a hundred pushups.



Breathe in, now breathe out. again and again.

Hyper-ventilate. now, faster faster.

Now when I say suck in the air fast you suck it it and blow it out fast.

Ready suck--and Wam, just as I started to breathe in a gush of wind came out of the tube and into my lungs.

Oops, it felt as if my lungs were a balloon and in one breathe they were blown up to full.

A few minutes later, I was finished. I felt like I just walked up several flights of stairs. But being the tough guy I am, I walked away uninjured.

Of course Ms. Manjulup, was laughing. Oh that wasn't so bad.

You don't think so, well....why don't you ( I can't put down what I said).

Ok, its what I wanted to say.

Was that a prayer?

I was awakened last night by smoke in the room.

Got up and I started walking down the hall looking for smoke and fire.

Inside I said "Oh please, not our house"....then looked outside and saw smoke coming down the alley.

Just then at 1 am the phone rang. It was my daughter next door.

Dad I think the Von Bergens garage is on fire.

I got dressed and took the camera.

I went up our sidewalk and as I walked north realized it was north of the Von Bergens and across the alley.

Too much smoke to get close. Several fire trucks were trying to put it out.

It was windy and chilly so I returned home.

Today Karolyn and me, walked up the alley and saw the owner of the garage.

Barry Schoen....bought his childhood home. He said "Hi Mr. Elliott do you remember me.


Ah, looking at the same man approaching 50 and trying to remember him as a teenager is tough.

Yes, I bought my dad's house and remodeled it. But look at my garage.

I mentioned how our garage was set on fire by the fireman arsonist that lives on our block.

What, on your block? Yes, and he's out of jail,
and he set our garbage cans on fire just like your fire.

Anyway, getting back to the beginning. Its funny how there are no athiests in a foxhole or a bedroom when the smell of smoke hits the nose and wakes me up.

When I said "Please, not our house". WHO was I talking to. I guess I was asking for a favor. Ok, saying a little prayer.

Photos later when it gets warm again.

I've Gone To The Dark Side...

Its Memorial Day. Its time to celebrate those who came and went before us. Especially, those that fell in time of war and we've had plenty of time at war.
We celebrate with visits to the cemetaries, Parades and speeches.

I don't do cemetaries.

I do love the parades.

With hundreds of marchers and everyone is a volunteer doing it because they like to.



Some dress up in costumes that weren't bought at a shop but maybe a little bit of planning went into it. Maybe not.

The spirit is certainly there. Like little Ms. America.

She and her friends were so enthusiastic. It was contagious.

This year I again saw my congress woman Jan Schakowsky.

I always run up to her and ask for a photo. This year there were 2 women standing alongside her.

As I approached with the camera they both jumped in front of her. Guards.

She saw the camera and waved me by her. A friendly and sincere smile.


I went with Roger the Job Dodger and talked him into marching with one of the groups.

Before we knew it the parade was almost over with the last group.

We jumped up and joined them.

Hey can we join you?

Yes, Are you for Hillary?

Ah----Nooo. I'm a conservative but I appreciate her for putting up a fight to the end.

Ok, you can join us.

Can I have a sign. Yes take this "change" one.

Nope, I don't believe in that one, but I'll take this "Hillary" sign.

So all the ladies, and some looked a little...nevermind, laughed and I waved the sign. I did feel funny and no one clapped when we walked by.

I listened to speeches and then we left. We walked back to Panera
where we started. Suddenly, I heard "Oh Hillary Guy"....can I have some stickers?

You are for Hillary!

No I'm not, I just did it to march in the parade. Plenty of folks laughed at that one, even the Hillary lady.

That was it. Just another day in my Adventure thru Life.

Some Folks go Beyond the expected

Hi Everyone,
Which are you?

#1--Pointee's those that have to have others point out special
specks of life, we don't see, the colors.

#2--Pointer Those that see life filled with specks of life, beauty and
unique colors.

Well, I got an email from someone is a No# 2. Ooops, that doesn't
sound right. He is a pointer in a world filled with Pointee's.

I sent out a simple email about how I felt.

The Pointer Ron Eklof returned an email of observation.
He also blogs poems.

I've included both emails below. Enjoy his colors.
--------------
Yesterday was the first day I felt strong.

Up till then it was like a really old man, . Just weak and no energy.

I had to push myself to walk around the house, inside and to get off the couch or bed.

But yesterday I walked around the block once. 1/2 mile--today did it twice...morning and night.

And this afternoon I just spent an hour sitting by the gate, waving to all the cars and Folks driving and walking by.

I am tired but don't have that weak feeling.
Jim
-------------------
Ron's email...
Jim,
As I read your email a variety of song lyrics sprang up.

Yesterday was the first day I felt strong. Up till then it was like a really old man, . Just weak and no energy.

Young man, get up off your seat. I said, young man....
Village People YMCA... can you hear the song?

I had to push myself to walk around the house, inside and to get off the couch or bed.

Oh, you gotta get up, you gotta get up, you gotta get up in the morning...
I'm in the Army Now. Irving Berlin

But yesterday walked around the block once. 1/2 mile/ today did it twice...morning and night.

I have often walked down this street before, but I never felt so light upon my feet before...
On The Street Where You Live, My Fair Lady

And this afternoon I just spent an hour sitting by the gate, waving to all the cars and Folks driving and walking by

Standing on the corner watching all the Cheez Whiz by...
The Four Lads

I am tired but don't have that weak feeling.

Dah, Dah, Dah, Dah, I've got that old feeling...
Not sure where that's from.

Have a good day, unless, of course, you have other plans.

Ron Eklof

http://myhaikutoday.blogspot.com/

A cough in time....

I'm one of those guys that always say, it could be worse, look at that person.

Yesterday, 2 women had oxygen bottles in the waiting area,

the waiting room of Pulmonologist Dr. WERNER.

When I saw the 2nd one I got a little emotional.

Maybe my eyes got watery.

During the conversation with the dr...I interupted and got a little emotional again and with a breaking voice asked if I was going to end up like them WITH THE OXYGEN BOTTLE.

My eyes are tearing now as I type this.

I really thought he would put his glasses down and say yes.

The visions of Boppie (my deceased bro) with the bottle on his back under his jacket walking around his neighborhood trying to survive flashed by my mind.

But he looked up from the paperwork, and said I see no reason for that.

Thank God, it won't be me.

Just a side laugh at least for Karolyn & me.

I said my body parts are in a race.

My heart, my throat (Barretts desease) and my lungs are racing to see who will get the credit on the death certificate.

We laughed and Jolly said Don't forget your diverticulitis......she said Mr. Asshole might win.

We laughed and laughed.

Maybe its an inside joke.

Its a Pirates Life for Me.....

A Pirates Life for me.

Hi Everyone,
It’s been some time between postings but most of you know I’ve been really sick.
The pneumonia just won’t give up. I guess it had a good head start before I went to the ER.

Today, May 4th we celebrated a bday. He had one request for a gift. Jimmys request "Would his mother bake him a Pirate Ship Cake?"

Well, we looked it up on the internet, got some ideas. Bought supplies and this morning the putting together began.

No baking. We bought 2 flat pan cakes with no frosting. Kinda of large as we didn’t know how big it would be. We also bought a bag of plastic pirates and pirate wrapping paper and tubs of frosting/with colorings.

A big knife and the construction began.

Karolyn covered the bottom of a large flat pan with blue frosting for the ocean water.

The bottom deck and then middle deck followed by the decks that are in front and back and hold the steering wheel.

We used plenty of white frosting between the yellow cake layers.

Then tubs of Karolyn’s chocolate fudge frosting were prepared. When it was warm we poured it over the decks but as soon as it hardened it was too difficult to use and we nuked the tub to make it soft.

Finally, the frosting was finished after at least an hour to put it together.

We cut the pirate wrapping paper into strips and clued them back to back so we could have some pirate sails.

Then the plastic pirates were placed all over. All were different with: swords, stumpy legs, shoulder monkeys, rifles and more.

Cookies made the rails. And round candles were stuck in the sides like cannons.

When my son and his boys saw the finished product they really laughed and screamed, with the boys immediately sticking their fingers into the fudge chocolate.

We all gathered around and sang the song. The cannons were blown out and more clapping and laughter.

This cake brought back memories of her spaghetti and meatball cake of a few years ago.

So, hope you had a happy bday party Jimmy. I know the boys enjoyed it. And we certainly did.