Category: Family

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Sunday Blatherings

Dunkin’ Donut run in the morning.  I have yet to invoke my AARP card ‘free donut with large coffee’ thing.

Started watching the Broncos-Eagles game, but decided to go out and run errands instead.

Didn’t pick up anything from Barnes & Noble.

Picked up some grey paint from Gator Games.

Didn’t pick up anything from Toys R Us.

Didn’t pick up anything from Tanforan Shopping Center.

I stopped by McDonalds because I wanted a milkshake.  I ordered a Mighty Kids meal, and when I asked for a chocolate shake, the cashier said that they were out of shakes.  What?

I stopped by Best Buy to support my niece and her Girl Scout troop, who were selling chocolate and nuts in front of the store.  I went inside to find an ATM, and ended up picking up Call of Duty WWII.

I went home and used my new paint to finally start painting up my Militarum Tempestus Scions again.  I also watched the end of the 49ers game.

And now I’m watching Marvel films on TV.

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The 80s

Today is my Dad’s 80th birthday.

I’m the smaller one in the picture.

He was my first hero.  At 5 years old I suspected that he may actually be Superman, because he wore glasses, just like Clark Kent.

He did his fatherly duties as well as anyone could, maybe better sometimes.  He’d take us out on weekend trips to the movies or the flea market or to a park.  He took each of my siblings and I out for driving lessons.  He takes care of his kids and grand kids as well as he can.

I remember once asking if I could take up model rocketry as a new hobby.  He said no.  Later, at one of the time my brother was practicing driving/parking in the parking lot at Candlestick Park, we watched some folks launching model rockets.  Next thing I know Dad is taking me to Toys R Us to pick up an Estes Rockets X-15 starter set.  Over time he built a home made launch pad for me, better than the plastic one that came with the starter kit.  I built 6 or 7 kits and we probably launched a total of 5 rockets before I lost interest in it.  At least 1 or 2 were lost to the winds of San Francisco.

He’s given us his unconditional love, as well as a few health scares along the way.  At 50, I sometimes find it annoying how he still feels the need to make sure I have something for breakfast or dinner, even though I’ve been doing that for myself for over half my lifetime.  But I get it.

Still annoying, though.

Happy 80th birthday, Dad!  I love you.

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Post-Procedure

So, that was that.

Dad dropped me off at the hospital and I wandered around until I found the endoscopy department.  I checked in and filled out some paperwork.

A few minutes later a nurse brought me over to the changing room, where I stripped down to two hospital gowns and a pair of hospital socks.

I made one last trip to the bathroom and was led to the pre-procedure area and laid in bed as my vitals were taken and had an IV attached to my hand.  The doctor stopped by to talk and have me sign the consent form.

I laid there for a little over an hour, because the guy ahead of me came in late, so they were taking care of him first.

Another nurse appeared, and two of them wheeled me into the procedure room.  I answered a few more questions as they hooked me up to some monitors to track my vitals.

As the nurse attached and injected a couple of meds into my IV, I then woke up in the post-procedure area, feeling light headed but not nauseated.

I was out like a light during the entire procedure, which lasted about 20 minutes.  I think I was out for almost an hour.

I was given some apple juice and then given my clothes to change.  The nurse walked me back out to the check in/waiting room, where I waited for Dad to pick me up.

Dad dropped me off at home (he had to go out and get his meds) and I ate a pack of saltine crackers.

I then took a nap.

Now I’m hungry, so I ordered a cheeseburger.

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Return to Levi’s

My cousin Rich was kind enough to invite me to the pre season home opener between the Broncos and the 49ers.

Coin toss

As much as I’m content to watch sports at home, nothing beats being among the crowd during a live event.

We stopped by Chik-fil-a before the game.  I’d never had it before, so I ordered grilled chicken nuggets.

At the stadium, the weren’t going to let us in because if their “no outside food” policy, so we had to scarf down our meals rather quickly.  Once we finished, we made our way to our seats, just in time for kickoff.

We stayed in our seats through the first quarter, then went around the stadium. Rich was looking for a friend who might have been able to let us sit in the lower bowl for a bit, but he was not working the game.

While walking around and checking out the new banners and stuff, we noticed that there were banners for 4 of the five 49ers Super Bowl wins.  The missing one?  Super Bowl XXIV.  I wanted to take a picture under it while wearing my Elway Broncos jersey.

Eventually we met up with the recently retired GY, working his first game at the stadium.  After chatting for a bit, it was halftime, so we decided to go home.

Thanks again to my cousin Rich for the opportunity to see the stadium, and my boys from Denver, again.