Archive for September, 2007

It’s not uncommon for me to read a book then see the “based on” movie at a later time. I usually try to read the book first, and often I’m disappointed by the movie. I think the most recent book/movie was my biggest disappointment yet.

One evening I saw the movie “The Redemption of Sarah Cain” on TV. I have a fascination with the Amish community so when I saw the movie I thought I’d enjoy it, so I DVRd it and watched it. When it started I realized it was written by Beverly Lewis and I usually like her work. The movie, however, wasn’t all that great.

A week or so later I went to my parents and my mom had just finished the book, so I took it to read. I wasn’t really looking forward to it but my bookshelf doesn’t have many unread books at the moment so it got moved to the top of the list.

Much to my surprise (not that I should be) the book is NOTHING like the movie. Seriously, N O T H I N G! OK, I’m sorry, the main characters in number and name are the same (well, the ones that weren’t left out of the movie) but other than that and the fact that the kids are Amish and orphans the books is completely different from the movie. For goodness sake, they take place in two different locations (Portland and Lancaster county!!!) and Sarah had a completely different career which was a pretty big part of the movie.

Why say the movie is based on a book if nothing in the movie even closely resembles the original story?

So, my recommendation: buy the book and use your movie watching time more wisely.

Till later…


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So, I’ve rebooked my flight so let the countdown begin.

Till later…


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Holy cranberries and lobster tails. What a week. So, my last post we were waiting to see what level Staph infection my dad had, right. Well, Saturday they determined he did NOT have a staph infection so they sent him home. They were waiting to get the rest of the blood results to figure out what type of infection he had. Well guess what, my mom and sister were right after all — he was dehydrated. No infections. :)

Well, they still had that antibody problem, right? Well, it seems when they reread the antibody test results it wasn’t as bad as they first thought. He doesn’t have to have that procedure four weeks prior to the surgery. I guess he just has to have the infusions that he was supposed to have last Sunday and Tuesday so he could have the surgery on Thursday — yesterday.

As of yesterday they transplant coordinator said they’d have a date for us but it would “definitely” be some time AFTER November 1. Guess she looked at the calendar wrong or something because the surgery date was rescheduled today for October 19. (Maybe her calendar reads like my dad’s and October comes after November???)

I guess this last week was a trial run or something. I don’t know.

So, now I get to figure out when I’m flying down and rebook my plane ticket. Thank goodness for Southwest. :) I never liked flying with them until I realized how great they are with booking and rebooking travel. They’ve sold me. Not to mention the fact that they treated my dad really good when he traveled last year when he was so sick. Unlike another airline whose name we won’t discuss but it starts with an A and is the only airline I know who is named after a state that has polar bears as residents.

So, I guess I know when I’m going to CA now. :) Just need to talk to my dad to find out when he wants me to arrive…I’m hoping for a couple days before surgery.


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Sometimes it takes a crisis, or a move, or meeting a guy. But everyone goes through something in their life when you truly “Find Out Out Who Your Friends Are”. I’ve been through two moves where I found out who my friends were — one when I was young and one two years ago. I’ve been through a few crisis’ where I was able to find out who my friends are. Recently a friend met a guy and I was able to find out who my friends are through watching people’s reactions to her. Friends are the ones who still call whether you’re down the street or 1000 miles away. Friends are the ones who will lend and ear or shoulder, offer to do your dirty laundry or will drive 400 miles to be there when you’re in the midst of a crisis. Friends are excited for you no matter how sad they are when you meet an amazing guy who treats you well.

Do you know who your friends are? I really hope I’m counted in that group.

Till later…


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So, I can’t explain it like my sister so here’s the update on my dad. Needless to say, I didn’t fly out this afternoon like I was supposed to (thus the drinking alone post below LOL).

Hi Everyone!
Well, it’s been a LONG week! One filled with every emotion possible. My dad and I had to fast for some blood tests and immediately following we had an appointment with the anethesiologist. We didn’t have time to eat and my dad was really weak so I sat in the room with him while my mom went to get him some juice. My dad and I were in the room with an RN when he told her that he was feeling light headed and needed to lay down. As he stood up, his face went blank and he fell to the floor. Luckily the RN and I caught him before he landed. We sat him up just as my mom was getting back and they called a doctor in, and again my dad’s face blanked out and he passed out again. This time his whole body was shaking and his head was laying in my lap. The doctor ordered the nurse to call a “Code Blue” and in about 10 seconds there were about 15 people in the hospital room with us (the room was about 8′ x 8′). My dad was out for a few minutes and the doctors couldn’t get a pulse or feel him breathing. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life. My dad’s eyes were wide open and still with his head in my lap. He looked up at me and still had this blank look on his face. I leaned over to talk to him, but he just wasn’t “there”. He finally came to, and kept asking “Where’s my wife?” my mom was pushed back in the corner, so he couldn’t see her. They took him into the ER and got him on some IV’s and took some blood tests, chest x-rays, CAT scan, EKG, and a CT Renal Scan. My mom and I just kept saying we thought he was dehydrated. We spent the whole day in the ER with different doctors telling us different things. The transplant would be postponed 6 weeks, then the transplant was still on as scheduled. When we left the hospital, the transplant was still on as scheduled and since I had missed all my appointments I was scheduled back at the hospital the next day to complete the pre-op stuff.
On our way to the hospital the next day, I get a phone call from the transplant coordinator. She tells me that all his tests came back OK (no infection, nothing wrong with his heart, etc) BUT there was some reactivity when they did the final cross match of my blood with my dads blood. The good news is, the surgery is still on, the bad news is there is an extra prodedure scheduled that needs to take place 4 weeks prior to the transplant. This was bad news meaning we had to postpone the transplant by a few weeks. My dad didn’t know this yet so we were on our way to the hospital to get there before the doctors but we were too late. They had taken him in for dialysis and a doctor had told him during the treatment. Needless to say, he did NOT take it too well. He was alone and scared. And of course, heard the worst “the transplant isn’t going as planned” after that, he “checked out” and didn’t hear what the dr had to say. When he got back to the room, we were able to explain everything.
The transplant coordinator came to the room and explained everything in greater detail and my dad was feeling a lot better after she talked to him. So, we are all happy again and getting used to the idea that we just have to wait a little a longer. BUT… then the nurse came in and let us know that the blood culture from the night before came back and my dad does in fact have a staff infection. This is bad news! There are different types of staff infections. From being a regualr infection, to being fatal. They put him on an antiobotic IV just in case.
At this point, I’m not sure when the transplant will be. The transplant team doesn’t even know about his staff infection. Right now, the transplant is last on my mind. I’m so grateful my dad is here with us. This week was a huge scare! One that I really could have done without. But, everything happens for a reason. If he hadn’t passed out, we wouldn’t know about the infection.. and that would be bad had the transplant proceeded as planned.
As for now, we don’t really know anything. My dad is up at UCSF until further notice. Have no idea when he’s coming home. He’s a wreck. He’s so drained, scared, tired, full of every emotion. Going from good news, to bad, back to good, back to bad, then worse. This has been a rollercoaster week. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and please continue to pray as we find out more this up coming week about what’s going to happen. Until later….
Love,
Tami

And, now because everyone keeps asking I’ll just tell you…I’m holding up fine. I have some work stuff I’ll be getting caught up on this week and some stuff I’ve wanted to do for my business for a while that I think I’ll have the time to work on this week because I’d planned on being gone. I was kind of rambling around today because I didn’t know what to do. My house is clean, my work is pretty caught up, everyone thinks I’m gone so I had no plans. So, what did I do? Well, I woke up late, I lounged around, I watched a movie, I went shopping by myself (didn’t buy anything, just browsed), I went to the movies by myself, then took myself out for dinner where I had a drink. I actually had a GREAT day.

I had time last night to work on some procedures for a new client and to start auditing their books for my taking them over. Alls good in this little house. :)

Till later…


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Which is more depressing drinking alone at a restaurant or drinking alone at home?

ETA: You’d think I really was depressed since I went to the movies by myself then went out to dinner by myself and had a drink by myself, but you know what. I’m NOT. I just really enjoy my company. LOL Actually, it was just really relaxing to just be alone with no worries today.


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