Wednesday, September 30, 2009


As you can see, this card is from Grandpa & Grandma O'Malley. If I remember correctly, I was seven years old on this birthday. I'm so glad I saved it. Sometimes being a pack-rat pays off.
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - Happy Birthday to Grandpa & Granny's daughter! haha

I haven't written much about Mother's progress lately because I've been distracted by various shiny objects. BUT from all the accounts I'm receiving from my sources, she's doing quite well. Highly motivated, over-achiever. haha Good for her!! I'm still going down to help her and Grandpa because I said I would and it's WARM down there.

She can't quite do everything she did before the surgery but for now she's mainly focused on being able to walk and religiously doing her exercises to strengthen her knee and also keep the other leg strong so it doesn't feel neglected. Kudos to Granny!

I want to get this up and running, so I'll see ya later. bye for now. djb

Sunday, September 20, 2009


Mother's totally cracking up but we're not sure exactly what she was laughing at. All I know is we had a great time on that boat on Lake Geneva. It's the favorite lake of both Granny and me.
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Sunday, September 20, 2009 - Since I've been so goofy lately, I did forget to wish Steve and Mary happy birthdays....so I'm going to call them today. Usually, Grandpa and Granny have a combined birthday party for the two of them but because of her recuperation situation that's not happening this year.

However, when I did talk to Mother last night, she told me that she was going to church this morning -- haven't talked to her yet today. I was so excited for her. How wonderful to be able to go to church and be "normal" again. See all of her buddies. It's great! Yesterday was one month since her surgery!!! WOW! She's doing really well.

The visiting nurse came to visit her again -- because that's what visiting nurses do!! This nurse was able to get several more home visits okayed by the powers that be. She's quite impressed by Granny's progress. Part of it is called determination, focus, having a goal. Wanting to go back to the pool again. Get off the feeling poorly bandwagon. Rejoin life.

Better go. We're supposed to get some rain this afternoon but who knows. The weather will do whatever it wants to do. Doncha know. bye, djb

Thursday, September 17, 2009


Here's me, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ron and Aunt Diane on September 17, 1988 posing for a picture before Liz and Ron's wedding on the Lady of the Lake on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
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Thursday, September 17, 2009 - For all the hullabaloo about changing the health care in our country to something different, i.e., scary and more expensive, we've seen what exists now (for those over 65) up close and personal and it's pretty bizarre and random at best. And to think that when the boomers start flooding the market, it's only going to get WORSE, ay carumba!

It's so strange and convoluted that I can't even begin comprehend it. After all, I am on medication that makes me crazy and goofy. They keep changing the amount of in-home rehabilitation my mother is supposed to get. First, it was 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Then, it was 6 times total. Then, it was reduced to 5 times total. I think it's now 4 times in total. What??

I did talk to Diane after I wrote the above paragraph. She thinks that the reason they're lessening the amount of physical therapy that Mother is receiving at home is because she's doing so well compared others in her age group. After all, Granny is highly motivated to get back to walking again without the walker and/or a cane. Kudos and good luck to Gran!!

I still recommend the article in Rolling Stone magazine about the health care crisis - they do use some salty language, but it IS very informative in a down to earth sort of way. It connects the dots and explains why our country is going to hell in a handbasket. Pretty much it can be explained in one word: GREED with a side order of hubris.

Remember this: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Who said that? I don't know. I'm running out of time or I'd find out -- it's almost 8 a.m. and I must be going now.

Mother keeps on working on her exercises like the trooper that she is. Grandpa is helping and encouraging her every "step" of the way. Diane is the BEST daughter because she's on the case. I'm here and NOT there. Hopefully, I will one day be there and not here. sigh....bye. djb

Thursday, September 10, 2009


It's been 132 years since Grandpa O'Malley was born. Here's the 50th Anniversary picture of Grandma and Grandpa O'Malley. You rarely saw one without the other.
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Thursday, September 10, 2009 - Happy Birthday to my mother's dad. Bye Grandpa, bye Grandpa!!! (My brothers will know what I'm talking about - inside joke!!)

Granny has been home since Saturday, September 5th. She HAD TO get out of the rehab facility before the Labor Day weekend because on a normal weekend, everything shuts down. On a holiday weekend, it's a virtual ghost town!! Good luck getting anything accomplished.

I haven't posted on here in a few days because the fluctuating pressure problems with my eye have slowed me down for a time but I'm back in the hands of the smart guys, the big guns, the true professionals who are smart and thorough. It's a long, sad story, and I'm praying that it has a happy ending. ay carumba...

In fact, Granny and I are commiserating while we both attempt to heal and get back to 100% -- though we are in different time zones, we're in the same medical zone and it's bizarro world at times.

Rehab News: Mother has been using her walker to walk every hour or so. When she went to the surgeon yesterday, he said that she was doing well for someone who was 3 weeks post-op. Can't sleep very well - that's normal. Leg hurts - that's normal. Leg swelling - that's normal. My doctor's an idiot - that's normal. Sorry, couldn't help that one. That's just a joke. He's actually a very nice doctor.

So, Mother's recuperation and rehab on the home front are progressing as well as possible. There's always a few bumps along the road but she and Grandpa (with the help of Diane) are navigating quite nicely.

Wish I could be there to help them but apparently I'm "supposed to be" here. hmmm I'll try to keep up with the UPdates in a more timely manner. Good luck with that. see ya later, djb