Back!

Okay, I know that May 5th. was a long time ago and that I never even got around to writing anything about Game 7, which was so long ago that no one remembers that the Hawks actually took the Boston Celtics to 7 games before losing the first round of the Eastern Conference Championship Series. But things have been complicated and life has been a bit strange lately. Besides, I'm dieting and I never have anything worth saying when I'm dieting because I'm too busy being hungry. Got to lose some weight though because my trousers are getting really tight and I hate looking like the guy who just had the big pasta dinner when he should have stuck with the salad. Know what I mean?

The difficult stuff? Well, for starters, Mom moved into a facility up in Ohio that caters to people her age. It was an emotional roller-coaster for everyone, but especially my sister Judy who has watched over Mom the past nine years and who would have probably done just about anything to avoid having to participate in such a decision. But Mom is nearly 90 years old and the level of care required has increased year on year and it finally reached a point where she could no longer bear that burden alone and there just wasn't enough support from the rest of the family (including yours truly) to make it feasible. Everyone had legitimate reasons why they could not take Mom into their homes for any lengthy period of time......mine was that with two children approaching their teens we simply did not have the bandwidth to accommodate a person with Mom's needs into our lives, as harsh as that sounds to most folks. The federal government certainly doesn't help that much although with Medicaid she is entitled to a space at the Ohio facility and according to Mom it is a pretty decent environment; i.e.: not your traditional nursing home. It is actually a rehabilitation center and they have a small group of seniors that live there. Mom gets physical therapy everyday and is finding that she can walk better, although I think it takes it toll on some days and she finds herself a bit weary. Hell, you go to physical therapy when you're 90 years old and you might find it a bit taxing as well! Anyway, thanks to our sister Mary, who lives in Ohio and who found this facility, things seem to be working out for the best. She and Judy sorted the details and coordinated the move, and with some financial assistance from my brother Jim, the move happened in early June. We'll have to wait to see it it continues to be as successful as the first week plus appears to be......I know everyone is holding their breath in hopes that Mom really does adjust and finds it to an acceptable place to live. God, I hate the idea of growing old!

On other fronts, the business role continues to be quite challenging with the current economic environment. I remain committed to advancing the business, but I don't know how long it will take to affect a real turnaround and that is always problematic when you are working for someone else. I see some signs of improvement, but not enough to stand on my desk and shout for joy, if you know what I mean.

Joe continues to improve, which is great news. The latest drug that his doctor prescribed seems to be having a very positive effect on his behavior and his general attitude towards life, and we are hopeful that this is a path to some level of stability down the road. He (and Kate) certainly deserve a break from some of the frenetic emotional roller coaster rides that have been indicative of the past year. Too many ups and downs wears on a person and with Kate bearing the brunt of the daily engagements it has been especially difficult on her. The cost continues to spiral upwards and we are now spending between $1,200 and $1,500 per month on the doctors and the drugs with almost zero support from our medical insurance. Of course the COBRA finally ended and I purchased a plan from Blue Cross/Blue Shield that costs us over $1,500 per month and still no help with Joe's condition. It is as if no one wants to recognize that kids suffer from ADD, Tourette's or OCD. Lose a limb and BCBS is right there with a check, but get a neurological condition and they just don't want to know. Is health care on my presidential agenda for November? You're damn right it is and whoever I vote for had better put forward a plan that makes sense.

Can you believe what's happening in this country at the moment? I purchased petrol yesterday and the cheapest I could find it on my route home was $4.07 a gallon at a Kroger's on Roswell Road. Most of the stations were in the $4.09 to $4.29 per gallon for regular and over $4.50 for the super premium levels. It's insane. The cost of petrol is up 95% since January of 2007.......95%! How crazy is that? And don't tell me it's about supply and demand. There are some traders out there making a serious buck for their clients on the backs of most Americans and the guy we got running the head shed doesn't have clue. It's scary folks that we put such an idiot in the White House. All of us who voted for him deserve to have our hands smacked severely for being so stupid. What were we thinking?

I'm completely at a loss as to which direction to go now that Hillary is out of the race, and I suspect she is completely out of the race. I can't imagine for a moment that Barack and his team want her baggage along with Bill, who proved to be a complete and utter disappointment during her campaign. What would they do with Bill if they offered her the VP slot? Besides, I don't think she really wants any part of Barack or his administration anyway. Bide her time and wait to see if the guy folds during his first term, which is very possible; i.e.: another Jimmy Carter. On the other hand, if he lays out a plan that makes sense even if it means higher taxes for awhile, I'm going to find myself taking a serious look. The more I watch John McCain the more I find myself thinking about Richard Nixon. I know I've said that before, but take a look folks. He really is starting to look and act like Nixon in the 1972 election. Too smug and far too condescending for my tastes. I thought I'd find myself voting for him a few weeks ago, but a few weeks can make a huge difference in this election and right now if Barack lays out a plan for achieving his objectives and that plan has substance I'm voting for the guy. Scary, right? My niece will be painting herself blue and running up and down the streets of San Francisco shouting "My Uncle Pat voted for Barack"!. Okay, maybe she won't go the blue paint route, but if I vote for Barack she will definitely start to believe in miracles. Hell, even I would have to believe in miracles if I vote for the guy, but who says a leopard can't change his spots? I've seen enough of neo-conservatives to last me a lifetime and while John McCain is far from a neo-con, his sound bytes seem really in tune with the current administration. Anyway, like I said......a few weeks in this election and things change.

Nothing much left to report although in reality a ton of stuff has happened over the past 6 weeks. I'll try to get back in tune with my writing over the coming days and make a serious effort to have something positive to say about life, the universe and the pursuit of happiness.

I'll close by posting a photo of Joe and his Godfather and our good friend, "Uncle Charlie" Gottenkieny at a basketball game (where else folks?)