A Jud Weekend

Jud arrived right on time, about 6:30 PM Friday evening. Odie was so excited to see him! We were too of course. We didn't have any big gifts for him for his birthday - hope he wasn't disappointed about that. We figured cash is king at his age, so we had sent him a card earlier with a week along with a token or our birthday joy. Plus we had promised him a clothes shopping excursion. GF Kara stayed in KC this trip - she's off to places afar the next couple weeks for work, and decided that a weekend at home sounded like a good idea.

We headed to Jethro's in Waukee for his bday meal - upon his request. I'd texted my former roomie Joan earlier that day about joining us. She was working the late shift at her job as a dispatcher for FedEx, so I knew she'd be getting off about Jethro's time. She called to say she'd be delighted to join us. Yay!

Jud and Paul awaiting a table at Jethro's BBQ

We ordered up 20 wings whilst we awaited Joanie, who was en route from her job on SW 9th. Man I love their wings - so much so that Pablo and I got an order of 10 to go for today's Superbowl - our big party (just me and him...). When Joan arrived we ordered meals and had fun catching up on each other's activities. She and I lived together for nearly 4 years, so we know a lot about each other - fams, friends, work etc.

Paul and I have known Joan since Jud was one year old. We met her, I explained to Jud that night, when we went skiing with a big mixed group in the winter of 1990. Besides Joan the group included her fiance, Albia native Kevin Scieszinski - they lived in Des Moines. Joan's bro Jeff McFee and wife Bobbie introduced us to the couple. Others skiers were Denis and Mendy Ritzman and our college pals Moose and Kay Wilt from Chicago. We stayed in a condo in Silverthorne and skied the whole front range. It was a good time!

Later that year, Kevin, only in his early 30's, had a recurrance of colon cancer - and passed away. So very sad for everyone - especially Joan, his fiance. Joan is still like family to his large family. So long ago now - Jud just turned 24! I told him that he participated in a cancer walk at age 2 (in a stroller most of the time) at Drake Stadium a year after Kevin passed away. Since then Joan moved to Kansas City and back. (Jeff still complains about assisting). And she married Bill Bentley of Diagonal 6? years ago. Joan has watched our kids grow up with her nieces - Jeff and Bobbie's kids, Kimmy and Kristina. So lots of history there!

It was a fun evening. I enjoy hanging with my kids as grown ups. Those of you with young 'ens - look forward to it. It's rewarding. You don't have to wipe their chins...

Saturday we headed across the street to Jordan Creek Mall to clothes shop. Always a challenge with either Amy or Jud - who is especially picky about how pants fit. I know - he doesn't come across as a clothes guy. But I get it - you do want them to feel good and look good. Work pants are hard to find - guys don't have much variation to choose from. Did score a pair of pants, a belt, shoes and some shirts. We had a nice lunch at Cheesecake Factory - no martinis, thank you very much. Love the lettuce wrap chicken Thai Tacos. Oh yea, we did get cheesecake - to go. We stopped by Banana Republic before we left - and ran into Jud's college pal Miranda! She's a school teacher, working part time there. Fun to catch up - she's our neighbor too, as she lives by our fave bar, Maverick's.

Oh...forgot to mention, after 2 visitations, 3rd time was a charm. Bought this baby. The saleslady said (in an Eastern European accent) "You haf been here 3 times -sale iss over soon!" She even knew I had walking clothes on the first visit. It was very cute.

nearly half price with sales - so it was almost like they were paying ME...

That night, it was basketball baby! Jud was anxious to experience Hilton Magic once again. Baylor always has tons of talent, so I was worried. Paul and purchased a ticket so while he stopped by the Will-Call window I took Jud by Johnny's Place.

Hey Coach!
 

I told the guys to sit together in our usual seats - that way they could talk all sports and strategy. I was in Section 215 - not far away. Snapped this photo of them. At halftime Jud got to go to Johnny's with his pal Noelle (former Cy) for a beer.

The last couple games we've seen this over the top fan. I believe he made his own hat with lots of superglue. He's got a big necklace too. Pablo in 15 years?

I started up a conversation with the couple from Keota (near Washington, Iowa) sitting next to me. I know - chatting with strangers is somewhat out of my comfort zone! But it went well. Their son is a sophomore at ISU - pre-vet. The guy was a 1987 ISU grad, very nice couple. And the Clones came through with a nice victory over Baylor, so the all 3 of us were pleased. It was a snowy drive back to WDM.

Jud took off early this a.m. - I hated to see him go. I miss the patter of my two guys talking sports 24/7. Okay, I don't miss hearing it 24/7 - but I do enjoy it some of the time. I like talking to Jud about his future (Amy too). They have unlimited options it seems! I feel so smart now to be able to say - You should do this: set your priorities blah, blah, blah. But did I do it myself when I was their age? No. Did my parents try to tell me this stuff? If they did, I don't remember it...

I let life take its course...if I could do it over, I would be more goal driven. But it's turned out pretty well despite my lack of long term goals. And real life does have a way of getting in the way of plans. No matter what life throws at them, Amy and Jud are survivors - they've got the tools to succeed. ;>)

Goodbye CB on to Portland

We had to say goodbye to the Kohans and Cannon Beach Saturday morning, along with our temp home near the beach. Betsy and Wayne plan to rent this place next summer since the house they've been renting is on the market. I hated to say goodbye to Betso - I don't know when I'll see her and the rest of the clan again next.

Then the Lefebvres, Goldsmiths and Kara packed into the Grand Caravan (amazingly we fit!) and headed for Portland. Gar pointed us to the Marriott Courtyard downtown and we dropped off everyone and the luggage. Paul and I had to take the van back to the airport Alamo, which was a drag. We took the Max - light rail back, for $2.40 a piece. Very clean and efficient!

The Max

We hopped off downtown right near a shopping area, and ran into Jud and Kara in an overpriced Nike Store. Paul found something at the Columbia Store. Downtown Portland is an interesting place. There seem to be a lot of homeless people there and we were approached by a number of people for strange purposes - ultimately for money. It was a bit un-nerving for this Midwestern gal. That said we enjoyed the eclectic experience - the shopping, restaurants, bars etc.

 Saturday night we started out at Herman's - a place Bolder had scoped out. It's got a frost bar - a strip of frost where you can set your drink to keep it cold.

Amy takes a photo of our drinks on the frost strip at Herman's

Jud in his "Big Jud's" shirt Bobbie got him in Boise with Cindo at Herman's

We couldn't decide where to eat that night, so we ended up sitting in our motel room. We had pizza delivered by bike. It was delish! Kara, Jud, Amy, Paul and I sat and chatted until 10 or so. Then Kara and Jud went to see the sights. The rest of us hit the hay.

In the morning Jud and Kara took off in a rental car for Seattle. Kara works for Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, providing medical software training. This week she worked in Seattle. How convenient! Jud rode along with her on the drive to Seattle and flew back to KC that afternoon. We were so glad they were able to spend a few days with us. We hugged Jud goodbye about 9 a.m. and off they went.

Amy didn't have to fly out Sunday until later that afternoon. It was misty when we woke up, but we were determined to trek to Voodoo Donuts - a place we'd seen on the Travel Channel, and scoped out online. We were lucky that due to rain, the line of people craving sugar and starch wasn't down the block. Amy had to order the voodoo guy donut but she couldn't eat the lil guy, cuz she can't eat stuff with faces. (I didn't remind her that at one time a hamburger had a real face...). The donuts weren't really anything special but the place was interesting due to the S&M/Voodoo theme.

The voodoo donut in the middle was filled with red jelly that oozes when you poke him with the pretzel sticking in his chest

We did a bit of shopping that day. We found a "dancing girl" theater with the name Stewart above it. That's my Grandma Zora Stewart Bullock's maiden name. So Cindo and I kicked up our heels there.

I can't get my leg up too high...plus no boobs. I'd make a terrible dancing girl

At one point we walked by the Roseland Theater - I saw this:

Rock On - Foghat was in Creston this summer!

We had a nice brunch/lunch and all too soon it was time to walk Amy to the Max light rail and hug her goodbye. It will probably be a fall football game before we see her again. That's what is hard about having kids who live far away.

That night I was crabby. End of vacation, sayin' goodbye crabby. Cindo told me to snap out of it and I did my best. Of course I knew that when I got back I'd have a day of work and then my shoulder manipulation to deal with. And Cindy had her second partial knee replacement in Vail, Colorado. She had the first one in April. What a couple of old has-beens we are! We've been texting each other about Physical Therapy and pain levels...

We wandered around Sunday night trying to figure out what we were hungry for, finally stopping at an Italian joint, in the lounge. The waitress saw us hesitating and did a tremendous sales job. She had us a "best ever lemondrop". Or perhaps that was me...It was really great food and we had a nice time! Our hugs in the elevator that night were teary. We'd had a great week together - love those guys!

Photo from earlier in the week of two of my fave peeps

Paul and I had to get up at 1:45 a.m. and a car was awaiting for a trip to the airport. We needed to be there too early for the cheap light rail. So it was $50, but worth it (the driver had a difficult to understand accent and liked loud country music). Flights went smoothly - through Seattle, with a couple hour layover back to Kansas City. After a frantic night of unpacking and laundry then packing again it was back to DSM early Tuesday.

What a lucky girl I am to have such a fab family! I love each and every one of them and thank my lucky stars and that higher power for all my great fortune. Not stuff, but relationships.

Now on to healing this nasty shoulder. Very painful. No fun - don't ever get one! Thanks to all for texts, cards and encouragement. Mendy even dropped off cookies. The only way they'd be better is if they contained painkilling drugs! 

PF Flyers



Me, Cindo, Susi, Bets - I think I evan stood differently due to the shoulder

When I was a kid, I thought new shoes had special powers. Perhaps that's why I love shoes so much today! Mom would take me to Brown's Shoe Fit for new tennies, and I'd get Keds or PF Flyers. When I'd get home, I just knew I could run faster and jump higher with them on. Like a super-hero!

PF Flyers

These last few weeks/months I've not felt like a super hero. Quite the opposite in fact...I have felt very much like each of my 54 years. Old. Elderly. And I don't like it! It's this damn shoulder...which started out feeling like a muscle pull, but progressed. By the time I went to the Doc, Sheryl Young, Nurse Practicioner, who sent me to Physical Therapy (PT). In my own mind I was convinced something was torn in my shoulder.

So when PT didn't help, I was depressed - using the arm less and less. I couldn't sleep due to pain at night - luckily I found Advil PM helped. But mornings were bad. The pain began to move down my arm. I went back to Sheryl who after X-Rays, referred me to a surgeon, Kary Schulte who diagnosed "Frozen Shoulder" or adhesive capsulitis. It doesn't sound bad - but believe me, pain 24/7 can get you down.

Unfortunately I couldn't get in to have Dr. Schulte manipulate my shoulder (crank on it to break the scar tissue that formed for some unknown reason) until July 18. So I waited it out through July 4 and then through my vacation in Oregon. I survived, but it was with a great deal of pain...and feeling old. Good thing I had my fam around to help distract me - more about that when I get a chance to write!

Yesterday Paul took me to DMOS - the surgical center at 6:15 a.m. for the procedure. The night before, thanks to Facebook, I learned that a couple people I knew - Mendy and Kara's Mom Renee had been through this procedure. So that helped ease my mind going in! They knocked me out for just long enough for Doc S to move my arm in ways it hadn't for quite some time. He said it popped 3 times! (Ick). He also shot it up with a steroid solution for pain, but it won't kick in for a day or so.

I woke up sitting in a recovery room chair. Severe pain under my shoulder blade - before I could help it, I started to cry. This got the nurse's attention very quickly and she brought me some Vicodin. Plus she put something into my IV. Crying is quite effective! I don't like doing it though. I feel I have a pretty high pain threshold, so it must have been bad. It took a few minutes but that took the edge off.

They wheeled me into the little room I started in and I put my pants on. I got instructions on going home. Then Paul came in and I finished dressing and talked to the doc briefly. Then off we went, stopping at HyVee for drugs. I was very sleepy and dozed on Joan's couch until nearly 1 while Paul ran errands.

Physical Therapy was at 3 PM down by my work. Paul loaded me into the car - though I was pretty alert by then. Angela was my therapist, a young compact woman. She was nice but instructions were to be aggressive so she had to force the arm at times. I told her to go for it, because I want this to work. I bought a pulley contraption to use at home to help with therapy, and got instructions for exercises to do. I'll be back at Penn Med for more sessions every day for 2 weeks.

So no running around with PF Flyers but I hope I'm soon back to regular workouts. My plan is to join a gym and get a personal trainer after I'm a bit more mended from this. The procedure hasn't gotten rid of my initial problem - my tendon in my shoulder is impinged. So I need to work that out. My arm is definitely sore today but I'm glad I can get it over my head!

My sis Cindo underwent partial knee replacement yesterday - her 2nd. She did the left leg in April. She texted that it was more painful than the first one. Yikes! Let's hope the Bullock girls are on the mend!