What a week!

It has been an interesting few days this week. I’m copying some e-mails which tell the story better than I could just blogging.

September 25, 2006

Dad had a heart attack this afternoon. He is doing well as is at Billings Clinic Room 2204 ATU. There was some blockage in the grafts from the by-pass surgery. They put in a couple of stents and he is doing well. He has good color as was talking to us before we left. He'll be in for a couple of days
He had gone shopping this afternoon and a had little pain and thought it was gas since he had just eaten. KMart was having a sale on soda so he was hoping to get some but they were out  so he went to Target . The pain wasn't getting better so he went home. When it still didn't pass he called 911. Before he knew it there was a fire truck  at the house followed by an ambulance. I was at a movie,  So up until I got home it was a normal Monday.
The neighbor motioned to me when I pull up the street and told me that the grandfather who lived in that house had a heart attack. I said, "you mean my Dad!?" " He wanted to let you know was a Deaconess"  The calm in her voice told me that Dad had talked to her so I wasn't in a panic. I just went in the house grabbed my cell phone and went to the hospital.
Please keep Dad in your prayers

Pete (Son)

September 26:

Your dad does indeed look good. When I arrived, he was sitting in his chair watching TV. He was unplugged from the monitors around the bed and they had him hooked up to a radio telemetry gizmo that he had stuffed into the pocket on his gown. This allows him to walk around freely while they monitor him remotely. He had still not seen the surgeon, so no decision had been made with respect to a time for release. He looked ready to go home, as far as I could see, but the hospital was being cautious. From what he told me, your dad was not feeling any significant discomfort from the procedure, and he was probably feeling better than before because he is now getting better circulation to his heart.


Mark Taylor (Nephew)

Hi Everybody,
 
We just got back from Billings and a visit with Dad.  He seemed in good spirits and not incapacitated at all.  In fact before we left he was yawning and I said "You look like you could use a good nap."  He replied that with not much to do but walk around and lie in bed it was pretty boring.  Sounds good to me.  Can't be bored if you're in pain.  
 
Anyway, I called the hospital as soon as we got home to see if he's getting out tonight because when we left he wasn't sure.  He said they decided that they would keep him overnight for "some reason," but he will be going home tomorrow morning.   He said to be sure to tell everyone that he is all right. 
 
EVERYONE, DAD'S ALL RIGHT! (add as many Praise Gods or Hallelujahs as you want)
 
Love always, Annie (daughter)

Finally got the doctors at the Clinic to release me this morning.   Blood pressure, heart rate, etc. were all in good order.  The Emergency people took good care of me and so far I am walking without  any angina.  The surgeon is muttering something about an enlarged  opening in the Aortic valve.  I am to see Dr. Zirpoli in about a  month to discuss that situation.  Last December Dr. Burg, my cardiologist since retired, didn't think it was bad enough that  surgery would be needed at my age - soon to be 82.  We'll see.  I 
certainly want to get the best input possible before going back to the hospital.

I want to thank all for the telephone calls, the e-mail notes, the prayers, and the good thoughts.  I am particularly in debt to Pete for handling things so well.

Love to all,  Jim, Dad, Grandfather, etc.

Books, Books, Books

As an old man with bad knees and a history of heart trouble I find that reading is a good way to pass the time. When I get up in the morning I take a couple of pills and read the paper for a while giving them a chance to go to work as directed. After eating I finish up the paper and then go check a couple of newspapers on line. Who am I kidding? I read the hometown WV paper to see if any of my classmates have passed on and then some funnies which are not in the Billings Gazette. I tend to check the financial market sometime in the morning and get my "Sue Fix." Betty let me do that. Sue is Sue Herrera on CNBC. Pete will often bring in a copy of USA Today after lunch and I peruse that for a while. When things "slow" down I'll pick up a book. In the last few weeks I've finished the following:
Hillerman Skeleton Man
Javier Sierra The Secret Supper
Wangerin The Book of God: The Bible as Novel
Lescroart The Motive
Lescroart A Certain Justice
Friedman The World is Flat
Elias Chacour Blood Brothers
Goodwin Team of Rivals
David McCoullough 1776
J & F Kellerman Double Homicide

Currrently I'm reading a fascinating book about Red Auerbach, noted Coach of the Boston Celtics. It is by Feinsten and is entitled with on of Red's favorite phrases: Let Me Tell You a Story

O.K!? It may not be as many as the current resident of the White House claims to have read, but has good variety. Who knows what is next?

Go Herd!

Last Saturday we watched as my alma mater, Marshall University, got thoroughly beaten by Kansas State. This week they take on Tennessee. Doesn't look good as far as gridiron history at Marshall goes. On Sunday we watched as Chad Pennington of the New Yori Jets football team won their game, and Monday Brian Leftwich of the Jacksonville Jaguars won. Both Chad and Brian are former quarterbacks of the Big Green Thundering Herd. It was an interesting week-end.

Age doesn't matter

What a "gas". I'm out to lunch with two of my sons. The oldest (mid-50"s) and the younges (mid-40's) and what do they begin to talk about. Their aches and pains. Here am I - low 80's - and they want to talk about how shoulders and arms hurt. My only response to such talk by younger people is to assure them that it doesn't get any better with age. Actually about the only problem of that type that I have now is in finger joints. And that typically comes and goes. And, of course, there is the question of "is it angina or is it gas?"

Political Polls

It’s Saturday afternoon. I had just got up from my afternoon nap when the phone rang. The caller indicated that he was calling for some sort of Public Opinion Poll and would like to ask my opinion on some things. I told him to go ahead. The last time this happened it was a Friday night in the middle of Monk and I hung up. The previous Friday there had been a call about the same time and I had missed most of the episode. Any how, this caller had better “luck”. The first question had to do with which did I think was most important, the education of our children or health care for seniors. Ridiculous! I said that I could not answer that question as they were both important. He final moved on after trying to get me to make a choice. The second question was easier. Do you intend to vote in the November election. I told him that I always voted. Next: Will you vote for John Tester or for Conrad Burns? “i’ll vote for Tester.” Do you consider yourself a Democrat or a Republican. When I commented that I had been a Democrat all my life the pollster wanted to know if I were a strong Democrat, moderate Democrat, etc. I again responded that I had been a Democrat all my life. I assume he marked his paper “Strong Democrat.” Who knows. Such a stupid way to seek the answer to people’s politics. Why not simply ask are you Democrat, Republican or Independent? And, who do you intend to vote for as Senator in the next election? Makes one wonder about the validity of such polls as they are reported by so-called independent polls or those solicited by political parties.

Tennis anyone?

So? What do you think Pete and I have been doing these past few days? It was great fun to watch Agassi defeat Baghdatis in the first round. I kept wondering, though, how come he couldn’t put away a guy who was obviously having physical problems. It was just as much fun to watch most of the match again as it was played over and over again due to rain delays for the rest of the matches. Then to watch again as he took on Becker (not Boris), and survived for 4 sets before the back finally gave out and he made his last appearance on the Arthur Ashe Courts. It certainly is exceptional when the guy who loses the match gets more applause and cheers than the guy who wins. I haven’t caught Lindsey Davenport yet, but I’ll cheer for her every time. I guess that a lot of people are sorry that Serena Williams was beaten, but we won’t have to listen to her “grunts” any longer. And I can spend some time tonight at the Computer since there is more rain in The Big Apple.

Of course, I did catch the last few minutes of the Miami-Florida State game last night before Becker came on. That’s the nightly 9:30 p.m. ritual before the 10 O‘clock News and then to bed.

Well, I tried to upload a tennis ball here, but it didn't work from the image I have.

Musings

Annie and Bill came in today from Ashland (Eastern Montana) for overnigt. I had bought hamburger and stuff for a cook-out so that was all accomplished with no trouble. I also tried out a new recipe from Mr. Food called Million Dollar Potatoes. They turned out well. The Recipie is on his web site which I get at KULR.com. I suspect there are copyright stipulations so will not give it away. Pete had made some cookies Friday night so later tonight we will have some ice cream and cookies.

While talking together the phone rang. It was Grandson, Christopher. He wanted me to be among the first to know that Kristi (the wife) is pregnant and had just confirmed that news this afternoon. I was more than please that they thought of me for this great news, and I can only wish for them the very best. I performed their wedding post-Christmas 12/27/2003 in Texas. Both Chris and Kisti are finishing up their Bachelor's degrees this semester at U. of Texas, Tyler. Me, a great grandfather. What next. I can only grieve that Betty is not with me to share this news, but I'm sure she knows and is pleased.