crashBlog

Where'd the week go?

Jodi came home Wednesday, and I am pretty sure the boys were overjoyed to see her.  She said that Joshua looked all mad when she came in, and told her that he missed her a lot when she was gone and then started crying.  So Jodi and Michelle started crying too.  I am glad I was at work for that one.

The week has flown by for me, as we are in the final phase before the release.  I don't think I have been this stressed about anything for a long, long time.  It seems like there is so much to wrap up, and so little time.  That's life in the big city, I guess.

Tonight, I am going to drive to Grand Rapids to hang out with Matt.  His band is playing tomorrow evening at a benefit, so I'll be hanging out and helping move stuff around.  We'll see how it all goes...

Finally, things with Jodi's mom are starting to settle down.  The pneumonia is starting to clear, she's out of ICU, and they did a heart catheterization in preparation for the upcoming surgery, and everything looks good.  Surgery will probably be sometime early next week, but all of the complications seem to be slowly leaving the picture, which is good.  Jodi is much less worried now than 4 or 5 days ago.

Looking up?

Well, Jodi's mom is starting to finally come around.  Her breathing is getting better and she is in less pain.  They are going to do open-heart surgery, but it isn't scheduled just yet.  In the meantime, Jodi is coming home this morning and will be here for a day or two before returning up north (this time taking the boys with).  It will be very good to see her.  The boys will smother her with hugs -- I am positive of that.

Michelle has been here since noon yesterday, and that has made life a lot easier.  I was able to get about 5 hours of work in at the office yesterday, and today I should be able to get a full day in.  Caleb was nice enough to sleep in until about 6:30 this morning, and Joshua's still asleep (it's almost 8 AM).  Noah apparently even slept well.  I guess the break in the heat came at a good time.

I'm off to work -- I've got lots of loose ends to tie up.  Also tonight is golf, but I think I might be skipping the 19th hole, as I might was to see my wife.  Hopefully the round of golf is good so I have no reason to be grumpy.

Mr. Mom

Well, on a lighter note, I am sort of enjoying playing Mr. Mom while Jodi is up North trying to deal with her mom's sudden illness.  Today, Caleb woke me up at 6:20, but as soon as I got him, he was all smiles and giggles.  We had some breakfast, and Josh was up by 6:45, and he had some breakfast, too.  After we played for a bit, and Caleb took his morning nap, we ventured to the Toledo Zoo, where we have a family membership.  It was sunny and hot, but I think the boys had fun.  I had packed a lunch and lots of fluids for everyone, and they were slathered with sunblock, so we walked around without a care in the world, and saw all of the animals (except the fish) that Joshua wanted.  He wanted to do the petting zoo, but I was afraid to try to do it with Caleb without Jodi's assistance, so we will do that another time.  We did something new that we hadn't done before, and rode the train around the Afrika! exhibit, which was actually pretty neat, but Caleb was spooked for some reason, so he was pretty scared and unhappy.  I got some cuddle time out of the deal, but I felt bad for having frightened the little trooper.  In the end, both boys were whooped and slept the whole way home, even though we were in the Jeep which is loud and bumpy.  Caleb even took a nap after we got home, so I am pretty sure the combination of the excitement and the sun taxed their little bodies.  We played outside for a while, and then ventured to Mac's for dinner.  Joshua loved that -- he was telling everyone who would listen about his upcoming birthday and about how he and Caleb share 'his' room now.  By the time we got home, bedtime was pretty smooth, and I was able to relax.  I am now completely exhausted, but have to admit that I enjoyed my day.

Michelle is coming tomorrow morning to take care of the boys so I can go in to the office and try to get things back on track.  Jodi is planning to come home for a day or two Wednesday, and will probably take the boys with her when she goes back Friday or so.  Her mom is actually doing 'better' but the docs still don't have an explanation for any of it, so they are doing a heart cath tomorrow, and plan to operate in about 4-5 days.  It looks like I might be missing my family for about a week.  If it means Jodi's mom is okay, I think I can survive... easily.  I'll miss them though, especially after my couple of days as the sole provider in the house.  I was a little surprised at how easily the boys adjusted, but I know they really miss their mommy, and I know she misses them dearly.  Let's hope we everyone ends up okay and we can return to 'normal' as soon as possible.  Keep Mary Jo in your thoughts and prayers, as she still has a lot of ground to cover before she can resume her life, and some of the steps are a bit perilous, even in the best of hands...

Quick Family Update

Well, things are basically as I suspected with Jodi's mom.  They are thinking the growth on her heart was pre-existing prior to this whole ordeal, but it may still be life threatening, and they are talking about open-heart valve-replacement.  Certainly more routine than it was 20 years ago, but a long way from a risk-free surgery.  Also, I guess her mom has multiple lung maladies complicating treatment of the pneumonia (emphysema and bronchitis, which exacerbate the effect fo the pneumonia).  Also, just for good measure, she has several fractured vertebrae and a broken rib -- likely from coughing caused by the lung issues.  All of this results in incredible pain, lots of breathing and oxygen treatments, and slow recovery.  I just keep hoping that recovery is the key word.  Thus far it isn't clear that the doctors have a handle on what is happening, as Jodi said they are still testing to determine if the fluid in the lungs is caused by a viral/bacterial infection, or some more malignant cause (ie lung cancer).

What this all boils down to is a whole lot of stress for their small family.  Jodi is an only child, and Jo has only one sibling (and no parents alive).  Your prayers can only help.  The boys and I are trying to not worry too much, but obviously, I am concerned.

You never have plans you can't break.

Well, we're not really sure what the story is with Jodi's mom.  Apparently she has been in the ICU since last Tuesday with 'pneumonia,' and this morning Jodi learned there is something on her heart that they may have to operate on.  I'm not getting the clearest information, but to me, with my limited knowledge of human physiology, this doesn't sound good.  10 days ago, Jo was here and was apparently fine.  4 days later she is in the ICU with severe pneumonia and apparently a heart issue?  It seems to me that something isn't jiving.

So, Jodi left our house sometime a little after 8:30 this morning, and hopefully now she has seen her mom and knows a little bit more, as she was pretty torn up about the whole ordeal.  The boys are here with me, and I am going to have to figure out how I can remotely manage things at work while not letting the two little monsters terrorize everything.  Tomorrow is pretty much a wash -- I'm just staying home.  However, if Jodi's mom continues to require advanced care, I have a feeling that Jodi will want to spend additional time up north, which means the boys need a sitter so I can take care of ensuring the family continues to have an income to support it.

Tonight, to break up the evening, I took the two of them to Buffalo Wild Wings in Ypsi for some wings and chicken tenders.  Both of them ate like champs, and Joshua was drinking out of a normal glass with a straw without spilling a drop.  He's come a long way in the last few months.  So, I'm bushed, but I got a nice full meal of blazin' and hot BBQ wings to sate my appetite.  Maybe tomorrow we'll all go for a run in the morning.  We'll see how Daddy does with Caleb getting up (he was up at 4AM today).

Finally the weekend

After a long week at work, it is finally the weekend, and I can relax (in theory).  Last night I didn't get home until about 8 PM (12 hour days are kind of icky), but Jodi and I were able to take some time together and relax.  As we did, she detailed how her Mom is in the hospital in Traverse City with pneumonia.  Apparently, she went into the hospital Tuesday or Wednesday, but her Dad didn't call because they didn't want to worry Jodes.  Well, I think it might have been better if they called.  So I guess Jodi got to talk to her Mom during the day at some point, and Mary Jo is in the ICU and they are still working on the pneumonia.  Hopefully everything clears up.

On another note, I have officially lost 29 pounds.  I've been a little bit less strict with my exercise and diet over the last month or so, but I am still slowly losing weight.  I am trying to get back to my routine, but it is hard when I am working a fair number of hours, since my schedule is a little messed up.  My lovely wife keeps complimenting me, so there's a little incentive there...

HOT

This afternoon, Lance called me and asked if I had a minute.  I said sure, so he swung by.  He presented me with a 'gift' from himself and Steve in honor of my 10-year-anniversary at work -- a bag of chips, and a bottle of Da Bomb Ground Zero hot sauce.  Holy crap is this stuff hot.  ~234,000 scoville units hot.  That's in habanero range.  That is hot.

I had some, as did Mike and Lance, and all seemed well.  I took a big scoop and got a nice little burn going.  Unfortunately about an hour later my stomach was just raging.  I drank a bunch of water and ate some nuts to try to combat the gastric distress, and after a few minutes it gave me reprieve.  That's the first time in quite a while that hot sauce has been able to do that to me.  Dave's will no longer seem quite as insane now that I've had Da Bomb.

And to think that I used to think blazin' wings were hot -- HA!

I've now tried 5 of the 38 hottest 'sauces', and one over 200,000 scoville units.  I'm not sure I'll be going any hotter, as I can honestly say Da Bomb crossed the threshold for me -- at least for now...

Wierd weekend and stuff

This weekend was strange.  Saturday, I took Joshua with me to the store to get stuff for dinner and we got caught in the rain with the top off the Jeep.  And it rained hard.  And he didn't care.  That's my boy.

Saturday night, Jodi and I were hanging out talking and she randomly mentioned that she'd move to Seattle if I got a job with Microsoft.  This is a big leap from where we've been for a long time.  We've always talked about trying to move to the west side of the state -- and I think that is still what I'd like to do.  However, I've made flippant comments that I thought it would be cool to work for Microsoft.  The intellectual environment seems pretty killer, and I think it would be a challenge.  I'm not sure they'd necessarily want me, but hey, I'm not exactly thinking about applying, it is just an interesting thought.  Anyway, it had me all screwed up that she would even throw it out there, so I spent a while on Sunday thinking about it.  I'm not even sure it is something I'd want, but I might send an email to a couple of people I know out there and see what they say.  I do like Seattle and all, but I'm not really in a spot where I want to leap right now either.

On Sunday, I went to start the Saturn to take the boys on some errands, and the car won't start at all.  Wierd, I think, not even a click.  I start fuming (as I am known to do when things like this happen), and start checking things: battery, fuses, et cetera.  All fine.  Joshua and Caleb were getting pretty rambunctious, so I stopped looking at the car for a few minutes until I could get Jodi to watch them for a bit.  Finally, I get a flashlight, and look under the console at the clutch-safety switch.  All seems fine, but I take the connector off and hook up my multi-meter to it to see if it is fried.  Nope, reads about .2 ohms when engaged.  Hook it back up and try the key -- just in case the cable had been loose or something.  Fires right up.  Hrmmm, I think.  Could I have been not pushing the clutch in all the way?  Whatever it was, it wasn't an actual problem, so that is good.  We took the whole family out for dinner and ran the errands after all.  Ahhh.

One last detail:  I tried some new hot sauces Sunday night at Tios on Washtenaw.  Blair's Sudden Death (nice and fiery), Blair's After Death with Chipotle (mmmmm, smoky and fiery) and Endorphin Rush (mildly fiery).  It is scary how much I've gotten used to ridiculous hot sauces.  Endorphin Rush is ~33,400 scoville units.  A raw Jalapeno is approximately 5,000.  Endorphin Rush seems like its got some fire, but its not that bad to me anymore, as I've gotten used to Dave's Insanity Sauce, which is more like 50,000.  That's hot stuff.  I guess when you eat about a teaspoon on your eggs every morning for breakfast you get used to the little pleasant warming feeling.  Heh, okay, so it is more than that, but it does grow on you -- way more than you would imagine.

Family's back

Yesterday Jodi and the boys returned, and the house is back to normal (noises at 6:30 AM).  I had a softball game so I didn't see the boys until this morning.  It is good to have them home.  Jodi's parents are still here (they drove every up to TC and back) so I'm not sure what the plan is for today.  I'm sorta tired and want to watch the British open, so the exercise TV might have to make its first deck appearance.  I also want to play some guitar at some point today.  I think I need to be around other guitar players because I am not progressing very quickly.  In a few weeks we'll be visiting Craig's cabin, and Matt and Rob will be there with their guitars, so that will be fun.

Anyway, I better get some food in me, the boys will want to play!

Dragsters and Dan Brown

When I was driving home last night, there were drag cars all over the main strip of town.  I went home and took care of the animals, then walked down to see what was up.  Apparently this weekend is the Motor City Nationals at the dragway, so they had a meet and greet in town.  I hung around while they loaded up a couple of rails and a pro-stock car.  Odd thing -- none of them were supercharged -- all naturally aspirated.  Must be an IHRA rule.

I also finished reading the DaVinci Code last night.  Good as a page-turner, but overall I thought it was weak.  The story line was exactly the same as Angels and Demons (right down to the handicapped supporting character).  Most of the religious stuff was close enough to possible to be believable, but like Angels and Demons, there were some spots that didn't quite flow for me, and interpretations that were wrong in my opinion, but they worked for the story, so, whatever.

Now I am going to read Space by Michener.

Red Jeep Mixes - 9

No self respecting person of my age can get away with claiming they don't like this stuff.  Come on, you know you love it.  325 Division hosted an 80's themed party at one point -- most of these songs were likely played that night.  Retro can be a good thing in small doses, but how to pick the songs for one single CD?  Screw it, make a triple set...

Red Jeep Mix #9 -- Retro Jeep

Disc 1

01 - The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
02 - Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
03 - Duran Duran - The Reflex
04 - Greg Kihn Band - Jeopardy
05 - Cult - She Sells Sanctuary
06 - INXS - What You Need
07 - Men at Work - Be Good Johnny
08 - Talking Heads - Burning Down The House
09 - Tears For Fears - Shout
10 - Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better
11 - Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchie
12 - Violent Femmes - Add it Up
13 - English Beat - Mirror in the Bathroom
14 - Berlin - The Metro
15 - Gary Numan - Cars
16 - Missing Persons - Destination Unknown
17 - Haircut 100 - Love Plus One

Disc 2

01 - Cure - Close to Me
02 - Peter Murphy - Cuts You Up
03 - Flock of Seagulls - Spaceage Love Song
04 - Naked Eyes - Always Something There To Remind Me
05 - Real Life - Send Me An Angel
06 - New Order - Blue Monday
07 - Cure - Love Song
08 - Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round
09 - Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax
10 - Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough (Live)
11 - Information Society - What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)
12 - Soft Cell - Tainted Love
13 - New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
14 - Cure - Just Like Heaven
15 - Smiths - How Soon Is Now
16 - New Order - Regret

Disc 3

01 - Talking Heads - And She Was
02 - Squeeze - Black Coffee In Bed
03 - Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
04 - Talking Heads - Take Me to the River
05 - Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
06 - INXS - Need You Tonight
07 - Violent Femmes - Kiss Off
08 - Thompson Twins - King For A Day
09 - Level 42 - Something About You
10 - Howard Jones - No One Is To Blame
11 - Paul Young - Everytime You Go Away
12 - Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
13 - Squeeze - Tempted
14 - Naked Eyes - Promises Promises
15 - Erasure - Oh L'Amour
16 - When in Rome - Promise
17 - Spandau Ballet - True

No PDC for me

Red Jeep Mixes - 8

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I can be a bit moody at times.  Usually I am pretty easy going, but I can get into a rut and be a bear to be around.  I guess most of us can be like that from time to time.  This mix is music that matches my mood swings.

Red Jeep Mix #8 -- Moody Jeep

Disc 1

01 - U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)
02 - Dave Matthews Band - Crash (Hip Hop Remix)
03 - Fat Amy - Chili Red
04 - Foo Fighters - Walking After You (Remix)
05 - Bryan Adams - Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman
06 - Lauryn Hill - Killing Me Softly
07 - Big Head Todd and the Monsters - Magdelina
08 - Edwin - Ain't it Good to be Alive
09 - Domestic Problems - Untitled
10 - Smashing Pumpkins - Drown
11 - Fat Amy - Bleed On

Disc 2

12 - Phish - Bouncing Around the Room (Live)
13 - U2 - Bad
14 - Dave Matthews Band - Proudest Monkey
15 - Pixies - Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf)
16 - Radiohead - Creep
17 - Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
18 - Jane's Addiction - Jane Says (Live Extended Version)
19 - Mother Love Bone - Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
20 - Filter - Take a Picture
21 - Fat Amy - Blue Nubb
22 - Big Head Todd and the Monsters - Brother John

Funny quote

Red Jeep Mixes - 7

You knew it was coming.  No mix collection would be complete without at least a touch of rap.  I am more of an old-skool rap kind of guy, but I mix it up a little.  I don't have a boomin system, so this stuff doesn't sound like it would if I had a pimped out caddie, but hey, it still gets the job done.  On with the mix...

Red Jeep Mix #7 - Gangsta Jeep

01 - Eric B and Rakim - Paid in Full (Coldcut Remix)
02 - NWA - 8 Ball (Remix)
03 - Ice T - Pain
04 - Ice Cube - It Was a Good Day
05 - Public Enemy - Swindlerslust
06 - Dr. Dre - Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat
07 - L.L. Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
08 - Public Enemy - Can't Truss It
09 - Dr. Dre - Still D.R.E.
10 - Geto Boys - Still
11 - Dr. Dre - Keep Their Heads Ringin
12 - Public Enemy - Don't Believe the Hype
13 - NWA - Fuck tha Police
14 - Ice Cube - Down for Whatever
15 - Tupac Shakur - California Love
16 - Snoop Dogg - Gin and Juice