Paisano

Last night we went with friends to a Restaurant far away from our home.

It was an Italian Restaurant "Paisano's" in Richmond Il. About 40 miles from our house.

First we went to a friends house in Spring Hill. And such a beautiful house--no photos.

Then drove to the restaurant.

The owner Phil came to our table and talked for awhile. Not too long but long enough
to be friendly.

He started the restaurant in one small storefront and soon moved into 3 more stores.

The insides all flow together and give it a special Italian atmosphere.

And we saw his nice black car parked right in front where the Valets can keep an eye on it.

It was a Bentley coupe...just beautiful....He only brings it when the Valets are working.

Anyway, I usually get some menu item that is simple like spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna.





But read about a breaded Pork Chop dish and just tried to experiment.

Sure enough, everyone's dishes were great. Mine was the best.

So here are a few photos of my pork chops and a mussel dish and the lasagna.P

Where Does An Old Man Sit?

I love sitting outside on a nice day. Don't we all.

Well, usually I like sitting outside the gate to our rear yard.
We're on a corner and I like to wave to all the people in the
cars that drive by.

Many are just cutting thru the neighborhood and others are neighbors.

But a problem arose a few years ago....last year to be exact.

The neighbors 2 homes south of me have a back yard swimming pools and
3 young girls with many friends who like to use the pool.

The pool has a deck around it and when the girls stand up, they are easily
seen from my favorite chair.

From my chair, I can see women with bikini's walking and diving into the pool.

So, I have moved my chair from a nice position to a lower one. But still could
see the girls.

You must understand that my problem is not seeing the girls but feeling like a
perv who is sitting watching the girls.

So, I moved my chair away from the line of sight of the pools but its difficult
for me to be seen waving my arms at the cars.

I decided to forget about it and move into the back yard.

Well, today I worked on the flood moving more valuables and decided to sit in
my yard facing to the north and get some rays on my back.

Soon, I heard my daughter Jill's back door open and grand daughter Sara and friend
Bianca appeared wearing their biking bathing suits.

Ok, I will sit on another chair facing the covered swimming pool.



Facing the sun and just enjoying myself facing away from the bathing beauties.

Then I hear from Karolyn, "Why don't you girls jump in the swimming pool."

Jim help us push the solar cover off so the girls can swim.

Sure enough, we push it off and the girls start walking around and climbing into the
pool.

So what would you do?

I decided it was a good time to stay in the Airconditioned house and write this
little story.

Like the movie No Country For Old Men.....There's No Place For Old Jim.

Another Great Golf Shot

Hi Everyone,
I played golf yesterday for the first time in a long long time.

I rented a golf cart and we played at Schaumberg Golf Course
off Roselle rd.

I was a golfer (once a week) for years before children and
my slice got me so upset---driving it into the woods to the right
that I didn't want to play. There was another reason but no need to
go there.
-------------
During the last few months I spent a lot of time in bed. I kept thinking
why do I slice.

On one good day I got on the net and watched Ben Hogan explain the swing
and why we slice the ball.

As I laid in bed I kept rethinking that swing and making it my swing...SWING
THE HIPS FIRST BEFORE THE ARMS.

I got to try it Yesterday and unbelieable. I slightly sliced on the first hole.

All the other 8 holes, my drives were straight down the middle and 40 yds further
than the other 3 guys I played with...about 240 ???or more


My favorite was on the photo where I didn't hit the ball perfect but it did travel
over water at the 175 yd mark and then between tightly placed sand traps to
within 10 feet of the cup.

Of course I,, 3 putted....but that didn't matter....I played the shot as if it were
no big deal even though the others said hit the ball up to the water and then
hit again over it...you can't hit it that far over the water.

Nope, I did it....at 65 yrs old.

I hope its not a fluke and maybe in the future I'll play without a slice on every hole.

talk later,,,,,Hawks parade was TREMENDOUS and the players were all
young 21 yrs having a great time with at least 2 million folks gathered for
the festivities.

Somebody Up There Likes Me......

Sat I started with the flu....then last night K got the flu.
I felt bad but knew I could take care of her like she took care of me.

Then as she is praying to the toilet last night...about 3 am I had a gas bump
(i thought) in my belly just below the ribs in the middle.

It almost from the start hurt about a 8 out of 10. I did all i could to get rid of it
but nothing worked until 9am when I told Karolyn I had to go to the ER.

I called my neighbor Paul and he jumped at the chance to drive me.
Then his wife Diane called back and said call 911 as I'll get taken into
the ER immediately.

Seemed like a good idea. When they arrived...I had difficulty moving my body.
My belly hurt so much. I met them outside the door and they put me on the cart and
then the ambulance truck. I didn't have to fake anything,,,I hurt.

I didn't care as I hurt bad....the pain never changed...never weaker never worse if it could
get worse.

My neighbors agreed to watch and take care of Karolyn as I went by myself.

As we entered the ER the registration was already completed and I had a IV by
the paramedics. Still in serious pain.

ER checked me out starting with a EKG and then xrays....they are digital and showed
up immediately for the drs....cool again.

Then i got the shot of Pain killer something called ??dollarsdrad????

And off to a lab for a Ultra sound of my organs....kidneys, liver...gall bladder--GALL BLADDER is
right where the pain was....I wonder??

By the time I got back to the Er...they had two glasses of Kool Aid....with a base of BARIUM.
I remember having the Barium drink a long time ago with my diverticulitis...25 yrs ago and
I can still remember the difficulty of swallowing it.

I didn't look forward to 2 tall glasses.

I swallowed it and ummm, maybe its not too bad. It wasn't white and kinda green riverish.

I had hunger pains and the drinks filled me up.

An hour after drinking the Kool Air,,,the pain slowly returned.

But it was time for a Cats scan....when I arrived, the tech was a look a like for my
daughter in law Lori. I took some photos with the tele but who knows how to download it
to my computer. Not me.

As we returned to ER so did the pain and I told dr Brien that I needed another pain shot and
make it stronger PLEASE! He did and the pain got to where I forgot about it.

Then the dr walked in and told me I had rocks....rocks I said...and he laughed,
No I meant you have GALL BLADDER STONES and they're causing the pain.

So he called a surgeon to tell me how he was going to operate on me.

I can't do nothing without discussing this with my wife. I had no experience
with stones but K did know people who had them.

Do it now, she said and get it over with....and leave me alone, i'm sick.

Ok, I guess I'll wait the surgeon and tell him its ok to do his work.

A nice looking guy with a strong American swede look walked in and
asked if he could examine me.

I asked about the surgery and he said Let me check you out first.
Dr. Ken started poking and pushing down and I didn't feel anything.

I said that the Pain shot really works.

He smiled and said No I don't think so and started to draw stick organs of the
Gall Bladder looks and works.

He said the stones moved from where they blocked the duct and you're cured
unless it happens again.

He gave me his card; if it does Call me and i'll take care of it.

You're released.

I called/yelled for Nurse Margo to unhook me and called neighbor Paul to pick me
up at the dunkin donuts across the street from the hospital

I ran out of Sarasota Memorial and felt like a prisoner released who was innocent.

I got on the phone and tried to cross rt 41 and 7 lanes of traffic.

Oh no,,,,I missed biting the bullet in the hospital and almost get whacked by a black
Infinity.....nice going.
Oh nuts,,,I left everything in the hospital and crossed it again. Without a cell phone
in my ear.

Paul soon arrived and took me home to Karolyn. She was still sick and asleep so I went
and got a sandwich and some soup for her.

And got a script for emergency pain pills in case it does return for $15 and forgot to
use my Medicar card sub 2 prescription.

Karolyn was awake and requested scrambled eggs which came out almost perfect.

Now, its time for sleep for both of us. Tonight she needs it more than me.

So to sum it up: Our trip to fla
2 weeks of chills and bad colds....advil cold and sinus.
2 weeks of pine pollen....everywhere and up our noses.....drippy noses.
weeks of rehab wasted by the Flu.
My wife sleeping on the bathroom floor....
Learning I have Gall Bladder Stones......with the pain that goes with them.

Being in Fla......Worth it all
c'ya

jim
Somebody up there likes me.....

Friday's Rehab

Today was the 2nd day of Rehab and also the 2nd day of unusual near freezing cold. The temps this morning was 37 degrees.

I tripled up on sweatshirts....one pullover and 2 hoodie sweatshirts pulled over one another.

Couldn't sleep too well so got out of bed at 6am and had some coffee.

Checked the emails and the tv news. It was all about the cold here and the terrible weather along the northeast coast.....

Tonight the temps are dropping to 41 and tomorrow will be rainy and 59.

Again the heat will be on most of the night but our bedroom does get warm and with 3 quilts on, we will be warm.

But it doesn't make much difference. As both of us are always fighting for the Kleenex box to get another sheet for our draining sinus'.

Yes, we both have colds. We think from AirTran on monday.
A good Chicago friend suggested a mask for the flight and I said that wouldn't be necessary.

Oh well, soon it will get warm here. Maybe we will get rid of our colds but not this weekend.

Anyway, here's a photo of me at the rehab on a treadmill.

Oh, we had a nutritionist today tell us about eating healthy. You know,explaining to us that I am killing myself by eating unhealthy. To be eating healthy, I should eat fruits and veggies and forget any foods that come in a box or as she said Manufactured foods.

After rehab, Karolyn and I went to the first watch restaurant. The breakfasts are so good and inexpensive there. So, I ordered a green meal. Eggs Benedict with Turkey sausage and green avocado....I feel healthy already.

Later, I'll take more photos. When it gets warm.

Weds

Wow, did today start off good.

Went to rehab and had the blood pressure taken before starting and several times
during the hour.

Put on the monitor and was assigned to ride a bike for 15 minutes then the treadmill
for 18minutes.

then few curls with a big dumbell ME lifting a 3 lb weight. I did side lifts and it all felt good.

another blood pressure...it dropped to 100/72 which was ok

Went to Walmart,,,home,,,ate lunch and SLEPT for 3 hours.

I was awakened by a strong wind blowing the trees and warm weather away.

Its going to drop to 40 tonight and a high of 55 tomorrow...What happened to
the warm weather...it might return Sat

First Day in Paradise

Today was a great day
I mean the weather was as perfect as Florida has seen for a few months.

Somewhere in the 70's. In the sun it seemed warmer. Just perfect.

Actually took off my Hoodie sweatshirts and sat in a outdoor restaurant
like it was summer..

I went to my first Rehab...a consultation and look and see.

I have Jill as my physical therapist....she explained that i wait at
the front door in the morning 9:45am with others in my class.

Then we go into the gym area. Its big with all machines.

But we'll be in the heart cardiac section with treadmills. and bikes.

After 2 weeks I'll be using resistance machines...whoopee...I can't wait and
after 13 weeks I'll be appoved for living.

So, I will have time to figure out what I can do. Same as all the other
cardiac patients.

The last time I did rehab was 19 yrs ago and i was 46 yrs old...I'm 65
today.

I think its going to be rougher this time. But its no big deal.

Did I tell you how perfect it was today.

Thurs the high is going to be in the 50's so a warm winter is not here yet.

Oh! they had a cocktail party for our arrival or at least that's what our neighbor
Paul Collins told us. He does make up a lot of stories. Actually it was
the monthly cocktail party for all those here at the condo...

Sorry no photos,,i left my camera in the condo. So next time.

Thanks for listening to me...