summer arrives

i finished the planner yesterday and finally submitted the damn thing...

today was the first day that felt like summer vacation to me
went to the giants game with Sheena and Stephanie (my 6th straight day going to a game)
hung around the city a little and chilled with loved ones, that should be what it's all about
got a ticket for Avenue Q in August when it comes to town
need to write a letter of rec now
i haven't been to work for two days in a row...
feels good

time for me to start catching up on all the blogs i owe:
the revelation
the wedding
the party of the year (that's about to happen this weekend)

Tale of Two Cities Pt. 1

best & worst of times Pt. 1

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Part 1 (Epilogue to the May summary-forthcoming)

Good news first!

Benitez is gone… cheer the Messenger!

I went to see my doctor yesterday. Dr. C was impressed with how I have been able to maintain a better quality of health since the vein explosion in February. She claimed I had the best sugar levels of all her diabetic patients. I average 107 everyday. Next week I go in for some new tests. The problem is the fasting 14 beforehand, so I’ll have to do it after finals, for I don’t want to be lacking nutrients while stressed out over grading finals. She’s also going to look into trying to get my compression stockings paid for by Kaiser, which is about $80 I pay for the pair every six months and I’ve been wearing them since high school. Here is a current picture of my leg… still looks bruised but it’s a lot prettier than three months ago…

Look there’s no more bullet hole… just a depression in the leg…

By the way… this is me laying on the Ihilani beach resort… hopefully, I will collect all the best pictures from Hawaii and put them in the wedding blog entry that I will get to in a couple weeks…

So with all this good news, what’s going wrong?

The second family cat has passed away this year. Fritzy the orange tabby had a tumor in her throat. Her teeth fell out and the gums blackened. The vet put her to sleep yesterday. Thankfully, Robbie (who is now 15 years old) is still lounging around.

Also, my grandma Rosing’s health has been fluctuating and improving since my aunts arrived in the Philippines to help keep an eye on her, but they are not going to be able to stay there… my parents will likely be following soon to assist…

Here’s a copy of my aunt Shirley (yes, that auntie Shirley) update in which you get to see a serious side to her…

So where to begin?!?

Mom spent a total of nine days in hospital (4-1/2 days in ICU and another 4-1/2 days recovering in her own private room). She had "beginning pneumonia" as well as a bacterial infection in her stomach.

By the time Brenda and I arrived in the Philippines, she was on her way out of ICU, and into a private room that boasted a fridge, private bathroom, air conditioning and cable tv. On the downside, you have to bring your own toilet paper and bring your own drugs as well.

The hardest part about that hospital experience was watching Mom as she struggled while the feeding tube was inserted. I was there for the last two attempts; Carlos was there to hear her scream the first time. I imagine inserting the catheter wasn't fun either.

But the feeding tube is ESSENTIAL because without it, Mom won't eat enough to maintain her health. She was having problems swallowing, she didn't like the taste of certain foods, she didn't like using her dentures, she just wasn't eating enough.

So the feeding tube is the only answer. Sure, it doesn't look good seeing her with a tube up her nose but she needs it to survive.

She also has an oxygen tank that she uses as needed. This allows her to breathe easier, and it also gives her some much-needed energy.

Before I go any further, I have to give a lot of credit to EMMA for her devotion to our mother. She is the one who is at our mother's side day and night, who slept there in the hospital, and who is with her at home right now. At some point, the family will need to discuss hiring additional help because Emma cannot do it all, although she's very willing. There is of course Bembol, Carlos and Janet pitching in but Mom is going to need more professional care sooner than later.

The latest "scare" was a drop in Mom's blood sugar level, which we have been carefully monitoring for the last two days. Carlos is giving her fresh-squeezed orange juice and carrot juice and that is making a positive difference.

We really do have to take this day by day.

There's no doubt that Mom is a SURVIVOR. She celebrated her 87th birthday in hospital but, God willing, she and Dad will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary at home, surrounded by family, relatives and friends. (I imagine this will be a very small, intimate affair - as opposed to the big bash Dad wants but Daddy can't have everything... Again, I'll save talk about Dad another time, maybe even never... did I mention that he is cooperating?!?)

As I mentioned before, Mommy is STRONG and she's feisty. She also has a habit of giving Brenda and me the "pinch test" and informing us that we're plenty fat. (Thanks, Mom.) She talks to us in English, and shows her appreciation by saying "thank you" and "I love you" (when prompted!). When she doesn't remember who we are, we'll remind her, and she'll say something like "Oh, I have a daughter named Brenda (Shirley)." And when she does know our names, it is MAGIC to our ears.

I could go on and on about her medical condition, and what her doctors said, but I won't.

The important thing is that she is HERE with us today, and so we're enjoying every moment we spend with her.

In so many ways, she's like an infant again. She has to be fed every four hours; her diapers unfortunately need changing more times than that.

But, hey, wasn't she there for us when we needed her as babies, as children, and later as adults?!?

We should be thankful that she's being well taken care of here in the Philippines. So, if you want to spend some quality time with her, book that flight and show her you love her. Shower her with kisses and hugs even though she might whack you back for showing too much affection!

And if you can't, that's okay too because there are plenty of us here who'll deliver your hugs and kisses for you. (The last thing I want to do is make anyone feel guilty. We all have our reasons and we all have our own separate lives.)

One last sobering thought: After spending nearly two weeks here now, I have come to the realization that our mother is alive because we can AFFORD to keep her alive. At some point, we'll have to let her go, but until then, we'll cherish her and let her know how deeply she is loved.

If there is anyone I've forgotten to include on the Distribution List, please kindly forward to them. Thank you.

Peace,

Shirl

winding up and down

so much has happened in the past days since the wedding...
here are the headlines for upcoming topics
but i have to survive the second reception this sunday with 400 guests I don't know...

wedding was the happiest one I've ever been to
BUT I ALMOST MISSED THE CEREMONY
and i don't really remember my speech
nor the 24 hours after that
only to reawaken to sickness that lasts nearly a week
LAST WEEK I BECAME A SOFTBALL WHORE PLAYING IN 4 GAMES
wednesday i thought my grandmother in the Philippines was near death
because my family there wouldn't take care of her properly
but AUNTIE SHIRLEY & BRENDA flew out there
and grandma is stabilized in the hospital

finally did what i promised myself i would do
and nothing is resolved as usual...

hopefully i'll have wedding pics by the time i have the wedding blog ready...

3 months until the first day of school next year...
i'm a sick bastard! really, I am

this is what happens when you teach Catcher in the Rye twice a day every May for 8 years...

countdown: 2 days

50 hours until I officially have a sister-in-law... woo hoo!

The stress is building as time runs short in the attempt to have the perfect wedding. Welcome bags still need to be put together. Table placements being shuffled until last night due to a surprise guest. The DJ does not have the music the couple wants and so friends are being called in to bring her graduation CD favor with some of the songs. The crew labeled over a 100 bottles for the welcome bag until 2AM last night, yet tonight appears to be even longer with most of the production needing to be completed before all the guests arrive and tomorrow's rehearsals.

I just can't wait for the welcome get together tonight at Tiki Bar and start seeing some people.
The DJ called me tonday to ask how long my speech is. I don't know. I have yet to commit anything to mind or paper.

I found out Hong & I will be entering with the song "It's a Sunshine Day" from the Brady Bunch. I think we're going to be forced to cheese it up.

"One Ticket to Paradise"

I have just made my second visit to Hawaii in the past year. M and G are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary and three days from now my brother will be wed.
Most important, I needed the last three days to recover from work. Although my life still has a different kind of stress (the wedding), I'm finding myself more calm.

Last Friday, I was at work until 1AM finishing setting up all my lesson plans. J and A met up with me at work after driving 6 hours from Orange County and we chatted at Starbucks where we met up with S and R and ran into a couple of former students Kathleen and Jo-Vee-A-anne, which was odd seeing as how JVu showed up at school during the day. After getting home at nearly 4AM, I finally packed and left for the airport at 6:30AM. I had trouble sleeping on the plane, as usual. But as soon as I arrived in Honolulu, I felt lighter and relaxed. I was so happy to not be working. Of course, the chaos will be waiting for me when I go back a week from today, but for now, I am surrounded by paradise. M and G picked me up and we found Ian and had a pleasant dinner at Assagio's and watched Spider-Man 3. With only a quick nap in the past 36 hours, I finally got to rest.

Sunday was a perfect lazy sunday. I got up to watch the Giants game on Sunday night baseball at 2PM. The phenom rookie Tim Lincecum has plenty of potential and I look forward to seeing a no-hitter one day. We had dinner at Fook Yuen to see if it would be good enough for the rehearsal dinner... maybe. But the best part of the night, the most important part of the night... BUBBIES! I love bubbies. They are known for their homemade mochi. I had a half dozen. The new flavor was French Toast and it was a soft cinnamon... almost a frozen creamy churro. Perfect. Still love the passionfruit, sakura, and guava flavors. Can't get those at Trader Joe's.

Monday was wandering day. I actually woke at 5:30AM... which shocked everyone, but then my brother and the rest realized it was CA time and I really woke at 8:30AM (so I'd still be late for work). I spent hours wandering Ala Moana Park and looking at possible picnic sites for the post-wedding festivities on Saturday and checked out L&L catering. I hung out at the beach, Borders, the movies, Coldstone, and the mall. Walking around for 8 hours severely tested my leg. It was really sore when I finally sat in the car, but it was more because I stopped moving and I needed to elevate it to keep the circulation going. After a short while and an intense Warriors vs. Jazz game, leg pain eased; G made macaroni beef for dinner; we glowed over Heroes; and L and MA showed up at the house with my sister. They finally had their taste of Zippy's chili and we rested during this calm before the storm increases.

Today is my day for me to catch up on me. I'm listening to podcasts, watching shows I've missed, typing, outlining a Best Man speech, and distracting myself from continually thinking about someone who is now consuming my thoughts back in the Bay Area. I'm going to have to do something about that when I get back home. I keep wishing she was here with me...

Midnight Revelation

Midnight revelation

A few hours ago around midnight I returned to Ocean Beach to commune with myself and the surf. Yesterday was an odd day for me stewing in my classroom grading assignments the entire afternoon and then watching our school's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (which is excellent, especially with their accent choices... really, a French Bottom, hmmm).

I felt trapped and needed to escape, so I went to Ocean Beach... too bad going back to Marina was out of the question considering I have so much to do later today... It's been a long time since I stood at the edge of the ocean and stared blankly into the fog, yet it can be the most soothing thing for me. I took my ipod and put selected by "Marina Daze" playlist and shoved my memory back to growing up on the Monterey Peninsula.

The wind was harsh biting through my track jacket and hoodie. Every few moments when I'd close my eyes, the water would reach out far enough to caress my feet. Slowly, the purge of negative energy began and each song helped me retreat back to simpler times.

It dawned on me that the cold temperature of my classroom is my not just a comfort zone, but a hearkening back to my preteen years when the beach is the only thing that helped me survive middle school. I grew up there and in the swirling winds of Candlestick Park. I worked in a walk-in freezer for five years. All of this in a poor attempt to assuage the daily pains and emotions of the day. All of this to help me cope and remain numb to the world.

in an upcoming blog: the George Revelation!

MINI-LOU

OK, I'm still rampaging just a little and it's nearly 5AM. I should get some sleep... but... how can you ignore probably one of the best reasons why 138 rules... where else can you find a mother who makes a mini-lou outfit for her daughter? seriously, mini-lou gets to ride around the park during the 7th inning sometimes.

'nuff said! No other section can compete with us! Look in the background... what's 139 got... orange wigs... really... is that all...139 is where we banish people... especially those who spill their drinks or can't keep it in...
learn the rules and OFF THE PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!