Dore

Dore is my mother in law. She is facing hard times. She sold her ballroom gown business two years ago to a saleswomen who worked in her firm. The new owner has reneged on making rent payments and loan payments to Dore. As a result, cash flow problems have caused Dore to move out of the home that she remodeled two years ago.
Dore has been offered refuge in our house which by the way is quiet empty after the kids moved out and the dog was put to sleep.
Dore likes to paint and cook. I will write more about her as time goes on.

Brandy-Einstein

Today we put Einstein to sleep. She would have been seven years old on new years day. She suffered from a neurological disorder manifested by seizures, listing to the left, somnolence, and depression. She was a beautiful dog. It was very sad. Today we suspended all exercise and took her to the veternarian, who was very sympathetic. He administered an intramuscular tranquilizer and then potassium chloride. Sandy kept a lock of hair.
This is a picture of Joshua holding Einstein in better days.

Key West With Dave and Barbara

We took the high speed catamaran from Fort Myers Beach to Key West with friends David and Barbara Peirson. It was cloudy and cold and the trip down to Key West was rough. David had motion sickness which improved with dramamine and sea bands on the return. We road our bikes on Key West. The beach was nice but cold. The hotel on the atlantic beach side was very comfortable. The circus performers on the sunset pier were entertaining as was the latin band playing dance music that Sandy and I could dance to.

Sandy is hard to please. I will do the best that I can.

Old Dogs

Einstein is suffering from a neurological disorder which has caused her to have seizures and abnormalites in gait. Sierra sits in front of her crate and cries because she knows that there is something wrong with Einstein.

We can't bare to euthenize Einstein because we love her so much.

Pittsburgh December 2009

We are Visiting Janice Ted and Abby. We have been to the gym. It has snowed. We watched a movie with Sandra Bullock called Blindside. I posted two pictures taken in the snow flurries. This has been a healing visit. We have been through much with Dad's, Mom's, Jake's and Danielle's problems. Abby is a joy. Sandy and Janice are going up the mountain to have a fortune teller answer their questions.

The Mirra home is filled with old photos of our family. It is painful looking at some of them. I can't look at some of them without hearing old quotes from my father which seem so hollow now. "About 15 months ago my mother left my father after 55 years of marriage." I picked my Dad up and when he became suicidal my sister and I took him to a neurologist's office where he was committed to a lock down psychiatric unit.
My mother is feeling guilty and is taking it out on me. I don't spend enough time thinking about her. She is beginning to have medical problems of her own. She does not wish to get help from me and my doctor colleagues in Fort Myers, Florida. She has spinal stenosis and buldging spinal discs.

I have posted two photos taken of my mother and me when she had her welcome party at Lakehouse West. (This is the assisted living facility where she has elected to spend her last years.)

Today I plan to watch the Florida Gators take on the Crimson Tide of Alabama. I will drink Guiness and enjoy my niece, Abby.

It continues to snow and the temperature is hovering around 32 degrees. I dropped the camera in the snow today but it continues to work well. I will post more pictures to the blog.

Post Thanksgiving Sunday

Finished the visit with Danielle. She is suffering from allergies. She needs to take non sedating antihistamines.

We played tennis. Our games are improving. Shots have more force. Less energy is expended. We ate lunch again with Marsha and Tom who are becoming close friends. Tomorrow is our second league match.

I biked to six mile cypress on a twenty mile loop. Sandy could not stand to let me work out alone and road her spin bike to the video on TV.

Einstein looks ill and Sandy will take her to the vet tomorrow.

I spoke with Mom today and told her that I would like to accompany her to her doctor visit on Wednesday. Her primary physician hooked her up with and orthopedic surgeon. I told her that the orthopedic surgeons are probable not the best manager of spinal problems. I think that Sue Mirra agrees.

Sandy and I are still entertaining the idea of biking cross country. Danielle's Law School graduation may be in the middle of the bike trip however.

Trust

You can only trust yourself completely.
My mother is failing physically and mentally.
She left my father when his dementia became more than she could handle.
She has stated that without her money I would not care for her.
My sister states that my mother's medication is making her make such rash statements.
I have been a rock of stability for my family.
I have nothing to be ashamed of.
I took my nephew in when he became more than my sister and her husband could handle.
My sister and mother both feel uncomfortable because I have stepped up and shouldered their burdens when they became too heavy.
I will now do what I want to do and when I want to do it.
I will not have to ask permission. I will be strong and keep my own counsel. I will not let my guard down.

Investments are rebounding. Decisions made years ago have been proven correct. Inflation concerns are real. Income is low but principle is secure and diversified. Goal is to get some safe income without jeopardizing the principle.

The children will create new challenges. Danielle appears stronger. Joshua is going to get more education. How much support he needs is a question.

My relationship with Sandy is evolving. She is beautiful, caring, and expensive. My mission is to manage our budget without being repulsive.

Lincoln Park Conservatory

There was this wonderful conservatory in Lincoln Park with the most beautiful plants and flowers. It was enclosed by a high greenhouse and it reminded me of the Sibley Center at Callaway Gardens. There were numerous fountains which imparted a gentle sound to the setting. There were a few children with their parents but not as many as at the zoo. The people walking down the walkways in the conservatory were quiet. The colors were almost every shade of green with an occasional splash of red, yellow, or violet. The plants were exotic and all very healthy and not overly groomed. There were labels on the plants but I did not pay much attention to them. There was an opportunity to sit on benches that lined the walkways giving one a chance to rest while contemplating the plants. My back was hurting from the start stop walking that I had been doing in the zoo with Sandy and Danielle and I was greatful to take a break.

It takes some time to upload the images on the slow internet connection that we have at the apartment. So far I have not told anyone of the existence of this blog. I am using it as a diary. Sometimes I even have difficulty finding it myself. I read over the entries that I started making while we were in Costa Rica last month. I am glad that I made them. It seems that I forget things faster than I experience them. I wish that I could organize my thoughts into categories so that I could reference them more quickly later.

We are staying in an apartment in the building that Danielle and Marshall live in. It is on the 20th floor. It overlooks lake Michigan. Yesterday there were hundreds of sailboats that we witnessed sailing back and forth over the lake while a plane dragged a Heiniken Light Banner overhead. It was a sunny day. Not too hot. We drank beer, ate sandwiches and watched the US Open while the boats sailed along.

Chicago September 2009

We drove up from Florida in two days.
Visited with Danielle and Marshall. We toured the Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory. It was a beautiful sunny day. I will attach some pictures that we took.

I am upset about the trashing of the president by the republican right wing. I watched the video on youtube about his healthcare speach.

I was impressed at the disqualification of Serena Williams in the US Open Women's semifinal when she cursed and threatened a lineswoman.

We will drive to Michigan to visit Louis Eason and Sandy Frank. They will take us to see some dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan. We miss seeing them.

We dined at a Japanese Restaurant which was a real rip-off last night. $180.00 for four people. Danielle was happy with the restaurant that she chose, so I had to keep my mouth shut. It was dirty, greasy andthe food didn't taste so good. I don't know how this restaurant survives in a recession.

Financially I was happy to see a recovery in the price of amedysis with some of the boards noting the profitability and value in this company. People have resigned from the company before. I believe that the CEO is firmly in control of this company and that it is his way or the highway.

Early Morning Views at Recreo

Sun rises at 5:30am. You wake up with the birds and animals and climb to the top of the resort which is situated on a mountain overlooking the Pacific. Monkeys frequent the steep dirt road. Clouds drape the mountains.

Costa Rica Vacation With Danielle and Joshua

Joshua Kayaking in Costa Rica

Joshua is coming on strong! Here you see him manning the Kayak. Josh has a kayak and a small boat at 1371 Sautern Drive in Fort Myers. He lives with us and I know that we can count on him. Joshua is a graduate of Florida Institute of Technology with a major in aviation management. He works at Private Sky. He likes to fish, boat, play pool and drink beer. He loves the two dogs at our house and he built a fish tank in our family room. He has been rock solid this past year while our family has gone through crisis after crisis. He traded in his small Mazda that we purchased for him and bought a Toyota Tundra which can carry his kayak. He still drives to Melbourne, Florida to see his friends from his college fraternity the "PIKES."

Hurricane Bill

We are in Costa Rica and watching hurricane Bill make its way across the Atlantic. We are hoping that it will turn to the north and away from Florida.

This is Sandy (Cassandra)... my wife and my beauty... We have been together for 27 years and married for 25 years. We have two children, Danielle age 24 and Joshua age 23. They are with us in Costa Rica for a whole week. We have not been together on a family vacation in quite some time. This photo was taken of Sandy last February in Chicago where we spent an entire month helping Danielle. Danielle is in Law School in Chicago. Joshua lives with us in Fort Myers. He works for Private Sky, an aviation company.

Sunset Costa Rica

The sun was going down over the Pacific. The cook was stirring up another delicious meal and I was explaining to Sandy why I would not put myself in the hot kitchen to learn her method of cooking. The Dow Jones Industrial Average went down over 180 points today. We finished off a case of beer. Josh and I lost at Spades to Sandy and Danielle. I am reading a stupid mystery novel by Lawrence Block who happens to be a marathon walker. The toilet is busted in the unit that we are staying in.

Bigstu's Second Google Blog

This is a test of the blog. I have already submitted a photo that I took in Chicago in February 2009. I am considering making this my diary. I will submit a photo taken of me by me today. I am in Costa Rica with my family. I spent the day climbing the hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, photographing using video and still photography, swimming in the ocean, Kayaking, eating, napping and playing cards with my family.

Chicago Museum of Fine Art February 2009