I just got done reading the book "Animal Vegetable Miracle" by Barbara Kingslover.
The book is a memoir of an entire year of her family eating locally. I won't go into too much detail. I would just say if you are interested then I would highly recommend reading the book.
When I started reading this book back in February I wasn't sure where I would be living now. At some point I realized that they were living right down the road from me. I was pretty jazzed at the thought that I would be living in an area that was full of fresh, organic, local food. I continued to read the books in hopes that I would get inspired and obtain ideas of how it was possible to eat locally all year.
She grew a lot of her own fruits and vegetables. She also had laying hens, chickens, and turkeys. They were able to find cattle ranchers to get grass fed beef. Non-CAFO beef... don't get me started on that. She canned all through the growing season and bought tubers in bulk. They frequented the local farmers. She also learned how to make her own cheese. Yum.
So I had to sit and ponder what could I do to make my diet more local.
First off I decided to grow some veggies and herbs in a container garden.
I am watching all the produce I buy at the grocery to find a vendor called "Appalachian Harvest" (a local distributor of organic produce). I found the local farmer's market, which we already visited once. Stocking up on farm fresh eggs, peanut butter, local wine, pickled dill beans, and homemade English muffins. Further into the summer we will be able to get vegetables too.
Meal planning will reduce my wasteful eating. The more you plan the better you eat. That is a fact that has to be proven by some study somewhere. If I know what I'm eating every night and have all the ingredients then I am less likely to pick up a box of mac and cheese.
I'm still looking for more ideas of ways to eat local and improve my nutrition.
Why is eating local so important?
Well there are many reasons but here are a few I can think of off the top of my head.
Number one think of yourself. Eating local is healthier. You are more likely to know where the food comes from. Trust factor. Quality control is better if the farmer is your neighbor. May be more likely to be organic, especially in my area. The fresher the fruits or vegetables the more nutrients exist in them. Same reason that its better to let the foods ripen in the sun.
Next is better for the environment. Yeah I'm not trying to be some Al Gore person or anything. But anytime you can help reduce the amount of fuel used to transport your foods the better it is for mother Earth. I used to think it was cool to get ramen noodles straight from Japan. Now the thoughts of how ridiculously long those salty noodles had to travel makes me gag.
Also it's better for the economy. Especially the local economy. Buying local supports the farmers directly. I'm all for helping the people actually producing the food that I'm eating.
I suppose I am done with my rant/lecture for now. Enjoy the night all.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Waiting through nothing
This past week has been what I will call "Boredom in Wait".
I worked on Sunday a short opening shift. I didn't mind leaving early it was boring there and I wish kind of tired from a migraine I had that morning.
Monday I had off. I did a whole lot of nothing. Yeah it was pretty exciting let me tell you. Well I did go over and hang out with Jessica and Logan for a while. I was glad they were up to entertaining me for the afternoon and evening. It cheered me up to be around good friends, even if we weren't out "doing something". I liked just chilling around her house watching Logan make poopy diapers.
Tuesday I got to go into work at my normal markdown earliness. I had a blast doing markdowns with Jenn and Rebecca. They were so cool to let me do my own thing with the sale displays. I used to get to do that more often before holiday. It was very chill for most of the day. Until one of the upper management called Jenn to b*tch her out for them running out of payroll hours. Not sure why that was her fault. Then she and the other assistant manager spent a while cutting hours for the rest of the week, which included the last hour of my day and two hours off my Thursday shift. I was not amused. I went from super excited and happy to be there, to super depressed that I had barely any hours to begin with and now I'm almost down to nill. I spent the rest of the night sulking about it.
Wednesday I had off as well. I spent that whole day whinning to myself about how lonely I was. I don't think I can say I accomplished anything. I should have at least gone to the grocery.
Thursday I had another short day at work. Almost not worth going in for. The store was slow, except returns and random phone calls. Plus that shoplifting that had stolen from us before and ditched her tote bag full of merchandise in Banana Republic when my manager went to confront her. Yeah, she came in too. I didn't see her though. It all happened around me. It was strange. Then I called Jessica to see if she had a better day and to see if we could go see Bride Wars. She proceeded to tell me what an awful day she had had already by two o'clock. I insisted on doing something for her, so she conceded and let me pick her a sandwich up at Subway. I finished at the Super Target and went to the gas station really quick. Then I ventured into Subway. Oh My Gawd. I got behind the two craziest ladies ever. They argued with the poor 'sub artist' for fifteen minutes about which subs were on the $5 menu and whether they could substitute ham for pepperoni or whatever. It was beyond ridiculous. They were rude and inconsiderate. I was about to strangle the both of them. I felt so bad for the employee. Plus I was trying to take lunch to a newborn's mother who hasn't eaten since breakfast. Finally I got to her place, by then I was starving. We hung out the rest of the night.
Today I woke up with the slight possibly of going into work, since I had an on call shift. At least it motivated me to get up and get moving semi-early. Of course when I called in they didn't need me to come in. So the drudge of another day in my apartment laid on me. I moped around for the most part. Although I did clean my bathroom, including the skanky sink drain. And I baked cookies, successfully, which is a big deal for me.
I wrote all of this mostly out of boredom.
The point of the entry was to make the point of how I spent all week waiting for something to happen. Instead of making something happen or recognizing the things that did happen. Skating through life unaware of the good things in life. Its a sad state of affairs.
The other part of waiting is I'm waiting patiently for this week to be over, because next weekend I get to go to Boone. I haven't been to Boone since... June. That's right around forever. I can't believe I missed Paul last autumn in school up there. That's my favorite time of year for the mountains. The winter's bitter cold is not my favorite... probably my least favorite. Ugh...
Nonetheless I will be waiting in boredom till this week is done so I can have fun. Maybe I can try harder to enjoy the remaining days of the week.
I worked on Sunday a short opening shift. I didn't mind leaving early it was boring there and I wish kind of tired from a migraine I had that morning.
Monday I had off. I did a whole lot of nothing. Yeah it was pretty exciting let me tell you. Well I did go over and hang out with Jessica and Logan for a while. I was glad they were up to entertaining me for the afternoon and evening. It cheered me up to be around good friends, even if we weren't out "doing something". I liked just chilling around her house watching Logan make poopy diapers.
Tuesday I got to go into work at my normal markdown earliness. I had a blast doing markdowns with Jenn and Rebecca. They were so cool to let me do my own thing with the sale displays. I used to get to do that more often before holiday. It was very chill for most of the day. Until one of the upper management called Jenn to b*tch her out for them running out of payroll hours. Not sure why that was her fault. Then she and the other assistant manager spent a while cutting hours for the rest of the week, which included the last hour of my day and two hours off my Thursday shift. I was not amused. I went from super excited and happy to be there, to super depressed that I had barely any hours to begin with and now I'm almost down to nill. I spent the rest of the night sulking about it.
Wednesday I had off as well. I spent that whole day whinning to myself about how lonely I was. I don't think I can say I accomplished anything. I should have at least gone to the grocery.
Thursday I had another short day at work. Almost not worth going in for. The store was slow, except returns and random phone calls. Plus that shoplifting that had stolen from us before and ditched her tote bag full of merchandise in Banana Republic when my manager went to confront her. Yeah, she came in too. I didn't see her though. It all happened around me. It was strange. Then I called Jessica to see if she had a better day and to see if we could go see Bride Wars. She proceeded to tell me what an awful day she had had already by two o'clock. I insisted on doing something for her, so she conceded and let me pick her a sandwich up at Subway. I finished at the Super Target and went to the gas station really quick. Then I ventured into Subway. Oh My Gawd. I got behind the two craziest ladies ever. They argued with the poor 'sub artist' for fifteen minutes about which subs were on the $5 menu and whether they could substitute ham for pepperoni or whatever. It was beyond ridiculous. They were rude and inconsiderate. I was about to strangle the both of them. I felt so bad for the employee. Plus I was trying to take lunch to a newborn's mother who hasn't eaten since breakfast. Finally I got to her place, by then I was starving. We hung out the rest of the night.
Today I woke up with the slight possibly of going into work, since I had an on call shift. At least it motivated me to get up and get moving semi-early. Of course when I called in they didn't need me to come in. So the drudge of another day in my apartment laid on me. I moped around for the most part. Although I did clean my bathroom, including the skanky sink drain. And I baked cookies, successfully, which is a big deal for me.
I wrote all of this mostly out of boredom.
The point of the entry was to make the point of how I spent all week waiting for something to happen. Instead of making something happen or recognizing the things that did happen. Skating through life unaware of the good things in life. Its a sad state of affairs.
The other part of waiting is I'm waiting patiently for this week to be over, because next weekend I get to go to Boone. I haven't been to Boone since... June. That's right around forever. I can't believe I missed Paul last autumn in school up there. That's my favorite time of year for the mountains. The winter's bitter cold is not my favorite... probably my least favorite. Ugh...
Nonetheless I will be waiting in boredom till this week is done so I can have fun. Maybe I can try harder to enjoy the remaining days of the week.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Working Hard or Hardly Working?
Life continues to be a day to day struggle here in ole Charlotte for me.
I thought I was finally getting out of my penniless hole by having actual 'full-time' hours during the Christmas season. Unfortunately I dropped from having 40 hours a week to having last week and to a measly 2320ish this week. I am hurting inside. I was barely scraping by with 40 hours a week! I am so frustrated with it all right now.
Money tends to be the bane of my existence. I used to be awesome at saving money now I have no money to save.
This is about the time I start doing my what-am-i-gonna-do dance. Am I going to look for another job completely, pressure a raise or promotion, having two or more part-time jobs, or just continue on my same course hoping something improves on its own.
I guess I have to explain the pros and cons to each option. Most people would say just dump that ole retail job and pick up a new one. They is always a flip side, its never that easy.
Starting all over with a new job:
Pros:
Having Two or more Part-time Jobs:
Pros:
Hope Things will Change or Improve:
Pros:
Hopefully I'm not missing the part where staying my course is not the best option. They all have many cons unfortunately. I wish something better would fall in my lap or the solution would appear like a light bulb over my head. I just don't see that happening anytime soon.
Till then I will stay annoyed, scared, stressed, sad, and hopeful about my future.
I thought I was finally getting out of my penniless hole by having actual 'full-time' hours during the Christmas season. Unfortunately I dropped from having 40 hours a week to having last week and to a measly 2320ish this week. I am hurting inside. I was barely scraping by with 40 hours a week! I am so frustrated with it all right now.
Money tends to be the bane of my existence. I used to be awesome at saving money now I have no money to save.
This is about the time I start doing my what-am-i-gonna-do dance. Am I going to look for another job completely, pressure a raise or promotion, having two or more part-time jobs, or just continue on my same course hoping something improves on its own.
I guess I have to explain the pros and cons to each option. Most people would say just dump that ole retail job and pick up a new one. They is always a flip side, its never that easy.
Starting all over with a new job:
Pros:
- more chance for promotion sooner
- possibly of more pay and hours
- possibly of better benefits and/or perks
- possibly of better working conditions
- make new friends through work
- starting over with trial period for receiving medical benefits (huge COBRA costs or going without)
- possibly of less pay and not many more hours
- possibly of worse working conditions
- no where I can think of has the same merchandising opportunities in store
- could be bad customers and worse co-workers
- no guarantees I will find a job right away or at all (look at the economy)
Having Two or more Part-time Jobs:
Pros:
- more hours
- more money
- variety
- more experience
- finding a place that will offer benefits to part-time employees
- starting over with trial period for receiving medical benefits
- could be bad customers and worse co-workers
- no time for anything
- no guarantees I will find a job right away or at all must less two that will have cooperating schedules
Hope Things will Change or Improve:
Pros:
- no job hunting
- keep medical benefits
- keep current income
- possibly of major upcoming changes in the store
- possibly of performance based raise by March
- have time for wedding planning
- have time to with family, friends and Paul
- time to help a friend with a newborn
- continually being passed up for promotion
- store has little budget for extra salaried positions
- feeling of being black balled for promotion
- continually depressing working conditions
- lame pay but still high for the position I hold
Hopefully I'm not missing the part where staying my course is not the best option. They all have many cons unfortunately. I wish something better would fall in my lap or the solution would appear like a light bulb over my head. I just don't see that happening anytime soon.
Till then I will stay annoyed, scared, stressed, sad, and hopeful about my future.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Dressing the best
So I am happy to announce that I found my wedding dress.
And bought it.
Well half down anyway.
I am so excited!
The story is a bit strange...
My sister, that lives in California, was home for Christmas so my mom was determined that she was going to see this wedding dress that I had tried on the last time that we went shopping. She called the bridal shop at the beginning of New Year's week. They were going to be closed on Wednesday and Thursday for the holidays. Unfortunately I had to work Monday and Tuesday, and I was leaving to go to Cary to visit Paul and his parents. So it was looking as if the modeling wasn't going to happen.
I could tell she was pretty bummed out about it. I decided to make a detour on my way to Cary and stop in Concord to try it on for her. (It was more for my mom then Lindsay, who probably didn't care either way.)
We met up at the bridal shop as soon as it opened on Friday. We all got piled in the little house and I explained to the ladies I wanted to try on this dress again for my sister. They had the style number on file from my last visit. We began to look through the dresses in the little bridal room. The attendant looked a little flustered as she couldn't find the dress anywhere. I shrugged not expecting anything strange. I work in retail and I know nothing is ever where its suppose to be. She came back in dragging the long dress behind her. I jumped into it in the dressing room (literally I have to jump into it). She disappeared as soon as she got me zipped up.
My mom and sister where admiring the dress when she slinked back in the doorway. I was standing on a little platform and she looked up at me and said, "We need to talk about this dress." My heart shank. What does that mean, I thought silently. "Uh huh" I replied. She proceeded to explained to me that the designer has decided as of the end of the year to discontinue making this style. I'm sure all the blood disappeared from my face.
She quickly began to explain my 'options' for getting this dress if I was serious that this was "the dress". I nodded and looked back my mom, who agreed. Well I could pay the designer a $50 fee to cut the dress for a limited time. Or I could buy the sample model I currently had on my body. The woman explained that I could get a 20% discount on the sample model. I stared at the dress, looking back and forth at it and the mirrors. Then I furrowed my brow and looked back at my mom and cocked my head at her. "Am I missing the reason why I shouldn't buy the sample model?" She shrugged, she thought it was fine if I was ok with it. So I looked at the sales person and replied, "I want it then!" I put half the amount down. They needed to keep it for a bit to take out the zipper panel in the back and check and make sure there were no defects and all the beading was fine.
I finally stepped off the platform and exclaimed I had to get out of this thing that I was sweating now! Ha!
On the way out my sister ran into one of her high school friends who happened to be wedding dress shopping with her sister as well.
Random...
I now know this the right dress. I am doing the right thing. I am so ready.
And bought it.
Well half down anyway.
I am so excited!
The story is a bit strange...
My sister, that lives in California, was home for Christmas so my mom was determined that she was going to see this wedding dress that I had tried on the last time that we went shopping. She called the bridal shop at the beginning of New Year's week. They were going to be closed on Wednesday and Thursday for the holidays. Unfortunately I had to work Monday and Tuesday, and I was leaving to go to Cary to visit Paul and his parents. So it was looking as if the modeling wasn't going to happen.
I could tell she was pretty bummed out about it. I decided to make a detour on my way to Cary and stop in Concord to try it on for her. (It was more for my mom then Lindsay, who probably didn't care either way.)
We met up at the bridal shop as soon as it opened on Friday. We all got piled in the little house and I explained to the ladies I wanted to try on this dress again for my sister. They had the style number on file from my last visit. We began to look through the dresses in the little bridal room. The attendant looked a little flustered as she couldn't find the dress anywhere. I shrugged not expecting anything strange. I work in retail and I know nothing is ever where its suppose to be. She came back in dragging the long dress behind her. I jumped into it in the dressing room (literally I have to jump into it). She disappeared as soon as she got me zipped up.
My mom and sister where admiring the dress when she slinked back in the doorway. I was standing on a little platform and she looked up at me and said, "We need to talk about this dress." My heart shank. What does that mean, I thought silently. "Uh huh" I replied. She proceeded to explained to me that the designer has decided as of the end of the year to discontinue making this style. I'm sure all the blood disappeared from my face.
She quickly began to explain my 'options' for getting this dress if I was serious that this was "the dress". I nodded and looked back my mom, who agreed. Well I could pay the designer a $50 fee to cut the dress for a limited time. Or I could buy the sample model I currently had on my body. The woman explained that I could get a 20% discount on the sample model. I stared at the dress, looking back and forth at it and the mirrors. Then I furrowed my brow and looked back at my mom and cocked my head at her. "Am I missing the reason why I shouldn't buy the sample model?" She shrugged, she thought it was fine if I was ok with it. So I looked at the sales person and replied, "I want it then!" I put half the amount down. They needed to keep it for a bit to take out the zipper panel in the back and check and make sure there were no defects and all the beading was fine.
I finally stepped off the platform and exclaimed I had to get out of this thing that I was sweating now! Ha!
On the way out my sister ran into one of her high school friends who happened to be wedding dress shopping with her sister as well.
Random...
I now know this the right dress. I am doing the right thing. I am so ready.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Baby Fever?!
So my other baby having friend just had her second little boy. Colton 6 lbs. 6 oz. and 20 inches.
Plus I spent the better part of the past two days with Jessica and little Logan.
I can officially say that I do NOT have baby fever.
Not that Logan isn't too adorable. It just occurred to me yesterday, while watching him eat, sleep, poop, that I'm certainly not ready for all that. He is a super sweet baby. He is pretty content most of the time. But he wants to do it when he wants to do it and there is nothing you can do to deviate from that schedule. Well you can but its not pretty. I spent part of the day accompanying him and her to the chiropractor and the grocery plus stopping for lunch. He was so irritated by having his scheduled thrown. She couldn't feed him at the moment he was hungry and there wasn't a good place to change him at lunch. Then after eating all he wanted to do at the grocery was to be carried around by mommy.
Its just amazing the amount of care and consideration for that being of life. Every moment you have to think of him. Consider his needs even above your own. Well not me but the mommy.
Its hard for her to focus on herself. Even as basic as bathing, eating, hydrating herself is pushed aside. Its nuts to think that's how it is. But somehow I get it.
I'm glad that I can be there and help, but also I get to see it all first hand. I feel like a lot of the time I'm just sitting back and absorbing and learning. Its for my own personal knowledge base but also I want to be ready when I get to babysit him.
Its amazing to watch Jessica interact with him. She's cuddly, sweet, and caring. I'm not surprised that she is. It's amazing to see her know how to react to every burp, squeak, moan, whine, and cry.
I love that baby. He is precious.
But I see her exhaustion. The brink of insanity that she teeters on daily.
I know its just the first few months. So does she. And the routine has been getting better.
Again I do NOT have baby fever. I am perfectly content going and seeing them a few times a week. But no thank you on having my own right now.
Although I do have marriage fever. NOT wedding fever. Get it straight people.
The thoughts of planning and having the wedding is totally stressful. But the thoughts of being married to Paul... makes me ridiculously elated.
I can't wait till his last semester is over and he can move down here. It's strange to think that when I moved away from him we were facing two long years away from each other. Now its just 5 months. Less than half a year. I can hardly believe it. It is going to be here before we know it. I'm so excited.
Now I'm just getting gooey.
To sum it up: One more time I do NOT have baby fever or wedding fever. Just marriage fever. Mostly just in love with Paul. I love little Logan. Jessica and Brian are awesome friends, parents and people. I'm excited my dad got and enjoys his new C-pap machine. I'm glad Paul is having a blast in Vegas. My mom continues to be irritated with me about spending so much time at the MacIntoshs'.
That's about it for an update. Have a great weekend all.
Plus I spent the better part of the past two days with Jessica and little Logan.
I can officially say that I do NOT have baby fever.
Not that Logan isn't too adorable. It just occurred to me yesterday, while watching him eat, sleep, poop, that I'm certainly not ready for all that. He is a super sweet baby. He is pretty content most of the time. But he wants to do it when he wants to do it and there is nothing you can do to deviate from that schedule. Well you can but its not pretty. I spent part of the day accompanying him and her to the chiropractor and the grocery plus stopping for lunch. He was so irritated by having his scheduled thrown. She couldn't feed him at the moment he was hungry and there wasn't a good place to change him at lunch. Then after eating all he wanted to do at the grocery was to be carried around by mommy.
Its just amazing the amount of care and consideration for that being of life. Every moment you have to think of him. Consider his needs even above your own. Well not me but the mommy.
Its hard for her to focus on herself. Even as basic as bathing, eating, hydrating herself is pushed aside. Its nuts to think that's how it is. But somehow I get it.
I'm glad that I can be there and help, but also I get to see it all first hand. I feel like a lot of the time I'm just sitting back and absorbing and learning. Its for my own personal knowledge base but also I want to be ready when I get to babysit him.
Its amazing to watch Jessica interact with him. She's cuddly, sweet, and caring. I'm not surprised that she is. It's amazing to see her know how to react to every burp, squeak, moan, whine, and cry.
I love that baby. He is precious.
But I see her exhaustion. The brink of insanity that she teeters on daily.
I know its just the first few months. So does she. And the routine has been getting better.
Again I do NOT have baby fever. I am perfectly content going and seeing them a few times a week. But no thank you on having my own right now.
Although I do have marriage fever. NOT wedding fever. Get it straight people.
The thoughts of planning and having the wedding is totally stressful. But the thoughts of being married to Paul... makes me ridiculously elated.
I can't wait till his last semester is over and he can move down here. It's strange to think that when I moved away from him we were facing two long years away from each other. Now its just 5 months. Less than half a year. I can hardly believe it. It is going to be here before we know it. I'm so excited.
Now I'm just getting gooey.
To sum it up: One more time I do NOT have baby fever or wedding fever. Just marriage fever. Mostly just in love with Paul. I love little Logan. Jessica and Brian are awesome friends, parents and people. I'm excited my dad got and enjoys his new C-pap machine. I'm glad Paul is having a blast in Vegas. My mom continues to be irritated with me about spending so much time at the MacIntoshs'.
That's about it for an update. Have a great weekend all.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Baby!
Oh my goodness!
Baby Logan is here!
I can't wait to see him. And Jessica and Brian. He is gonna be so stinking cute. I know it. He is 7 lbs. 14 oz. My mom said that's about my birth weight.
It was a hard birth. I know Jessica and her whole family is exhausted.
I hope I can go see them tomorrow. I actually have the day off. I took off so I could take my dad to get a root canal. Now I also have to pick my mom up from the airport. But I won't have to do all that till early afternoon. So I have all morning to see them. I hope it works out.
EEEEEEEEEEEEE! I'm so excited! I hope I can sleep tonight!
Baby Logan is here!
I can't wait to see him. And Jessica and Brian. He is gonna be so stinking cute. I know it. He is 7 lbs. 14 oz. My mom said that's about my birth weight.
It was a hard birth. I know Jessica and her whole family is exhausted.
I hope I can go see them tomorrow. I actually have the day off. I took off so I could take my dad to get a root canal. Now I also have to pick my mom up from the airport. But I won't have to do all that till early afternoon. So I have all morning to see them. I hope it works out.
EEEEEEEEEEEEE! I'm so excited! I hope I can sleep tonight!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
5
I didn't even know there was such a thing as quintuple bypass surgery.
My uncle started to have chest pains when he bent over last Wednesday. He acknowledged it but pushed it aside having to prepare to go to his new girlfriend's parent's house for Thanksgiving. He pushed through the weekend. Having numbness and tingling in his limbs. Monday he finally decided that it was time to make a visit to the doctor. Although by the time he was ready to go his business partner/ex-girlfriend tried to get in the car to go, he had full numbness in all his extremities. He could not get in the car himself. They called 911 and the ambulance took him the ER. The doctors told him that he was too critical for their hospital and he was transferred to a hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi. The tried all night to stabilize him. They put stints in his arteries. But his body rejected them. They elected to do bypass surgery. One of his main arteries was 100% blocked, another was 95% blocked. They were unable to properly stabilize him before surgery. They told my grandparents that he had a 50/50 chance of surviving the surgery. The surgery was scheduled to be 8 hours. After only about 4 hours they emerged proclaiming the surgery a success. He had a quintuple bypass.
5 arteries were replaced. 5? I have never heard of a quintuple bypass. Triple yeah. Even quadruple. But never a quintuple. Ridiculous.
He is off the heart bypass. His heart is only functioning at 35%. He is still on a ventilator. He has to wake up before he can be taken off the ventilator. It is a very critical time. If he doesn't react favorably, he could have a stroke and die, he could have a heart attack and die, or just die. As my dad put it he could wake up, know he survived the surgery, have the tube removed, and stroke out and die. If he does survive all of this, his recovery will be long and painful.
I'm not particularly close to my uncle. He is my mom's half brother. He is kind of the miscreant of the family. He is always getting in to trouble. Dating, marrying, having kids, and then moving on. Starting businesses, losing money and moving on. He is a unique character.
At Thanksgiving my mom's other half brother came to eat with us and we were telling jokes and stories about Uncle Rusty.
I don't know what I am going to feel if he does pass. I don't know how to deal with the loss of family. The adult way. I was only a teen when my grandmother died. I'm not sure what I'm suppose to say to my mom. She is very upset. She is alone in her little apartment. My dad is stressing out about paying to fly her down to Gulfport. I guess I am sad, scared, nervous, anxious. That doesn't really narrow down how I feel.
I'll update again when I know more for whomever is interested.
My uncle started to have chest pains when he bent over last Wednesday. He acknowledged it but pushed it aside having to prepare to go to his new girlfriend's parent's house for Thanksgiving. He pushed through the weekend. Having numbness and tingling in his limbs. Monday he finally decided that it was time to make a visit to the doctor. Although by the time he was ready to go his business partner/ex-girlfriend tried to get in the car to go, he had full numbness in all his extremities. He could not get in the car himself. They called 911 and the ambulance took him the ER. The doctors told him that he was too critical for their hospital and he was transferred to a hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi. The tried all night to stabilize him. They put stints in his arteries. But his body rejected them. They elected to do bypass surgery. One of his main arteries was 100% blocked, another was 95% blocked. They were unable to properly stabilize him before surgery. They told my grandparents that he had a 50/50 chance of surviving the surgery. The surgery was scheduled to be 8 hours. After only about 4 hours they emerged proclaiming the surgery a success. He had a quintuple bypass.
5 arteries were replaced. 5? I have never heard of a quintuple bypass. Triple yeah. Even quadruple. But never a quintuple. Ridiculous.
He is off the heart bypass. His heart is only functioning at 35%. He is still on a ventilator. He has to wake up before he can be taken off the ventilator. It is a very critical time. If he doesn't react favorably, he could have a stroke and die, he could have a heart attack and die, or just die. As my dad put it he could wake up, know he survived the surgery, have the tube removed, and stroke out and die. If he does survive all of this, his recovery will be long and painful.
I'm not particularly close to my uncle. He is my mom's half brother. He is kind of the miscreant of the family. He is always getting in to trouble. Dating, marrying, having kids, and then moving on. Starting businesses, losing money and moving on. He is a unique character.
At Thanksgiving my mom's other half brother came to eat with us and we were telling jokes and stories about Uncle Rusty.
I don't know what I am going to feel if he does pass. I don't know how to deal with the loss of family. The adult way. I was only a teen when my grandmother died. I'm not sure what I'm suppose to say to my mom. She is very upset. She is alone in her little apartment. My dad is stressing out about paying to fly her down to Gulfport. I guess I am sad, scared, nervous, anxious. That doesn't really narrow down how I feel.
I'll update again when I know more for whomever is interested.
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