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Tu 5/12/15

Up 5am and asleep last night by 930pm. Finished the Auschwitz documentary and the bio doc of Harry Nilsson.

And, the blogs for the trip are probably the most detailed that I've ever written. However, not much at all has happened, and I sure hope all of today goes just as smooth and uneventful.

Hit the breakfast buffet right at the stroke of six, and then the plan is to Mapquest a run through the La Quinta neighborhood, hit the streets, and on the road to the airport by 9-ish. My flight is at 110pm (I've Checked In Online....whatever that means), and everything is as it was when I booked many weeks ago. Even the seating assignments remain unchanged.

On the run at 630am and jogged west on Greenway to 35th. This is the corner of the Shell station where I got gas yesterday afternoon. The 'taco salad shell' was from Del Taco which is part of the station.
At 35th I took a left and headed south to Acoma Dr. This was only about half way to Thunderbird, but my watch read 32", so I turned around and took the same route back on the other side of the street so that I was running toward traffic for nearly all of the run. Greenway is mostly three lanes in each direction, but also a frontage road on the north and south sides of the road. That is one wide thoroughfare.

Left the room right at 9am, handed in the key cards, and on the road to the airport. Well marked and no trouble, but I didn't see any signs for the rental return until I was passed the terminals. When I got to the Hertz returns it was a snap. My receipt will come via email. Walking to the bus to the terminal at 940 am.

Some weirdness at check in, but I finally got someone to print the boarding pass. I'm sitting at the gate that I will leave at 110pm this afternoon. Three hours, some trouble getting on to the internet, and I can't figure out what happened, but working fine now.

Just realized that I've left the final dose of Tamsulosin in the drawer at the room. No harm, but I can't believe I did this. To the best of my knowledge, everything else is onboard. It's 1145am and the time is passing slowly. A five minute screw-around trying to get online, but it finally comes. Same problem with the tablet.

630pm at Dallas Ft. Worth

The flight from Phoenix went without a hitch and we were in the air for almost exactly two hours.
I lost two hours due to the time change, but Dallas is on the same time as Springfield.
Cold on the flight and I was glad that I had the jacket, but legs were still very cold. I think the everyday runs of the last week make a dip in the whirlpool and some time spent in a steam room almost mandatory.

Read The Grifters and played with the interactive stuff on the headseat in front of me.  I had access to gate information that my flight to Springfield would leave, but either it was changed or they had sit wrong. I went to Gate B-23 to learn that it had changed to Gate B-20.

The airport is huge and The Sky Link is necessary, however since I got in at 520pm and my flight doesn't leave until 820 pm  (boards at 750pm) I went for a half hour walk from Terminal B to Terminal D.  Maybe a beer at Friday's.

Email to Janny while waiting to take off to Springfield from Dallas-

750pm at Gate- B20 Dallas Fort Worth 

Two more hours in the air from Dallas to Springfield, and then a ten minute drive down vets.

Arrived much too early at Sky Harbor, but no problems with Hertz or anything else. And I loved that car! Two hours from Phoenix to Dallas.

The sky looks kind of bad, and I hope we won't be held up. I'm about ready to put an end to Dementia Fest 2015.

I'll probably send you a note that I am actually in the condo and preparing a snake for The Bud Man when I finally fire up the PC on Durkin.....Can't wait......see ya kw



EPILOGUE-


When I arrived at the Springfield airport it was totally packed with people who were welcoming back WWII vets from a day trip to Washington DC. Absolutely surreal!!

I left one dosage of Tamsulosin in the motel bureau with the instruction manual to the new cell phone (that I never used!)

On Tuesday, May 19th I met Janny and Joe in Washington Park at 430pm during one their daily walks. They reimbursed me for the trip from the Natty Trip Fund. $1,165.33. And, worth every penny.

DAY SEVEN

Mo 5/11/15

Up at 530am. Last night I watched part of a bio-pic on Harry Nilsson and then an hour documentary about the blueprints of Auschwitz that were recently found in Soviet archives. A distressing , yet refreshing deviation from the absurd nonsense at the dementia academy over on west Paradise Lane.

Finally some typical Arizona weather. 80 by 9am (on the run) and mid 90's by the final visit to Sun Land.

Instant oatmeal, toast, and a half bowl of cereal at 605am. A walk around the motel grounds with a couple of cups of strong free breakfast-bar coffee. Back in the room, I dashed off an email to Janny which was an explanation of what really occured during her 4pm call to Elsie's House.

On the machines at LA Fitness by 815am. I did a 45" set on the Matrix crosstrainer, and then out on the street for a run in the 'dry heat'. I headed west to 59th by Tagliani's to Grover, and then over to 55th. I had planned to do a 'figure eight' pattern, but this would have run more than an hour. Looped around through the rather scruffy neighborhood, and finally south on 55th to the fitness center. About 50"; felt good.

45" Recumbent bike (Bravo 99.1 FM). 30" Walk. 4.2 pace. 30" Cross (Reverse). Steam room was rockin'; whirlpool; pool.

Banging on the door at Elsie's right at 1230pm. Cindy and Rosie were there and I related the story of The Brandenburgs trip to the parking lot of The Grand Canyon (back and forth from Sun City without leaving the car) with Natty at the controls. She was shocked at his obvious insensitivity, but she actually likes the guy. My point was she didn't know him when he 'really' had a hard edge to his personality, and he is actually getting easier to deal with as he mentally declines. I was prepared for a big scene since this was our final encounter (betting with the odds because this negative kind of thing has happened many times before), but he was good as gold the entire day. He was brimming over with enthusiastic thankfulness, and it almost bordered on parody.

Out the door with the wheelchair and walker and heading for our usual haunts- Sun Land and McD's on Thunderbird. I did some more of 'This Is Your Life' while we were driving and never once was told to be quiet since he was the subject of the dissertation. I kept it up at the gravesite and he was miraculously able to spin it so that it became clear that it was his 'wonderfulness' in raising me that allowed me to 'thank him' for being such a Great Dad. I might have thrown up in my mouth, but he noticed nothing. As long as it's all about him and 'never is heard a discouraging word' , he couldn't be nicer.

When we were walking into the McD's and he blurted out that 'he had a very strong urge to urinate', do you have to urinate'? He said that he needed a stall, but when we got into the bathroom,  the only stall was in use, but luckily the guy split almost immediately. The procedure went fairly uneventful, but I could have done without the running (no pun intended) commentary.

The usual compliments to the culinary ability of the superb chefs at the institution of McDonalds, and he enthusiastically enjoyed the dining experience. As we entered, one of the other elderly nitwits thanked him for his service because he was wearing his 'Veteran of WWII' ball cap. Where's my congratulation ? I have never shot anyone in the face, like Dick Cheney.

Back to the house and Rosie had left when her shift ended at 3pm, and I thanked Cindy for her great work and said goodbye to him, and told him that I'd be speaking to him next Sunday at 930am. He thanked me repeatedly, and seemed absolutely thrilled with the great son that he alone has created.

Over to the neighborhood Frys for a salad and maybe some new flip flops, but nada. Then, to the Shell station at 35th and Greenway to fill up the tank and I bought a Mexican salad type of thing for later (my big meal out- but in the room). Almost twenty-seven bucks topped off the tank and I hope this is viewed as 'full' when I drop off the car tomorrow.

The plan is to run from the motel and then head to the airport. Maybe I'll stay in the American lounge for a bit too long, but I just want to get back to Springfield without any surprises.

Random Thoughts; Morning of Mo 5/11/15

Tested the room's wifi connection at 'Speakeasy Speed Test' and it clocked in about 4.80 Mbps Download, and .49 Mbps Upload speed. The two options were Los Angeles and Dallas, and they were both nearly identical. I'm suspicious of these results since it feels very much like my home connection which is closer to 8 Mbps.

This is an email that I sent to Janny on Monday morning that clarified the situation when she called Elsie's House at 4pm, Sunday.

When you called yesterday right at 4pm The Old Man and I had just walked in the door fifteen minutes earlier. I had been with him from 1230pm until then. Tony was eating a meal (she seems to either be parked in the Paradise Room (what the residents call the living room) or at the kitchen table with an uneaten plate of food in front of her), Marilyn was watching television, Lannie's husband was talking to me in the Paradise Room with their eighteen month grandson, Oliver, and his mother, Lannie's daughter. 

The house was was in a moderate uproar and unless the attention is focused solely on him, he will do everything in his power to shift the balance back to him, where in his mind, it always rightfully belongs. We heard him deny that he had been anywhere on Sunday (a flat-out lie), and I really think that even he remembered our outing, but to admit that he would not be able to sell his warped scenario of 'poor little ignored Natty'.

For some reason he insisted that Lannie would be the one to take him for another excursion, and he just exclaimed that 'he was done with Kenny Boy for the day'. I had earlier declined (loudly and forcefully) the visit to the Mexican swap meet (with mariachi band), and Lannie was able to get out of it by saying that his wheelchair and walker would not fit into her car. So this put the ball in Reenie's court, and she would be taking him to this event. Oddly enough, it was right at the intersection of 43rd and Thunderbird which is also the location of 'our' McDonald's.

I'm looking forward to the details, but I guess that I'll never really know since Reenie is the weekend helper and she won't be at the house this afternoon. It must have been a trial by fire since she seems a bit too reticent for the The Old Man's egomaniacal steamroller of a personality.

Physically he's healthy as a horse, and mentally he's the same demanding jerk that he's always been. 

Just thought you'd like to know, The Real Story....seeya kw

DAY SIX

Mother's Day Su 5/10/15

Up 535 am, and sent a Happy Mother's Day greeting to Janny and drinking room coffee until the breakfast bar opens at 7am. Back for a free cup of stronger lobby brew and walked the parking lot to get the laxative to take effect. It did.

Once again, it was ten degrees warmer in Springfield. 70 there, and 60 here, but the temps rose to the high 80's by late afternoon. On the machines at LA Fitness by 8am. 45" Cross (Reverse). Out on the street for a counter-clockwise run. 55th to Union Hills to 59th to Tagliani's and back across to the fitness center. 45" (listening to The Best Of The Talking Heads). 45" Recumbent bike. 30" Walk. 4.2 pace. 45" Cross (Reverse). Steam Room (a guy poured cold water on the sensor and got it rockin'. Now I know where it is)/ whirlpool/ pool.

At Elsie's by 1230pm. Lannie and Reenie (?) working the weekend shift. Lannie mentioned that he told her that he might not want to go to Sun Land this afternoon. I was surprised that he said that, but he talks so much foolishness that I was prepared to take a drive east on Thunderbird and then turn around and hit 'our' McD's and call it a day. But, he never mentioned this change of plan to me, so off we went.

As we were driving along Thunderbird I was expounding on how wonderful Mike Garson's piano solo was on David Bowie's 'Aladdin Sane', and he loudly proclaimed that he didn't think one should drive and talk at the same time and I should just be quiet and drive. For a split second I was ready to dump him out at 45 mph, but then I remembered who I was dealing with- Mr. Charm himself. It's been just too easy of a week dealing with him, and he reminded me just what a fucking jerk he really is. However, the rest of the day went just fine and he continued to thank me for taking him to Sun Land and how much he enjoyed the meal at McD's.

Today I was able to connect to the wifi at McDonald's and I just sat there reading about XTC and The Dukes of The Stratosphear, and paying as little attention to him as possible.  However, while he's eating,  it is impossible to ignore him because he is ignoring you more. Fine by me.

We got back to the house and the driveway was full of cars. Lannie's husband and her daughter in law were there with Oliver, Lannie's  18th month old grandson. I talked to Mr. Lannie about his printing business and made my escape by 430p. Janny called and he was in a snit and wanted to 'take a drive' and was hectoring and browbeating all concerned to 'stop talking' and let's leave.....I'M READY. Janny was ON and OFF in less than five minutes and I would have liked to have exchanged a few words, but I'll sleep tonight.

When I left, Lannie was telling him that he would be going to the Mexican swap meet with Reenie. He was convinced that Lannie should drop everything and go with him. Oddly enough, where this place is located is directly across the street from 'our' McD's. Hope it goes well, but I'm so, so glad that I won't be involved. Trial by fire for the young miss Reenie.  


445 pm back in the room sippin' and Chromebookin'......

Mothers Day Email to Janny

Happy Mothers Day, and I wonder if the place will be rockin' out at Sun Land this afternoon due to the holiday. 

Yesterday I did a little 'This Is Your Life' with him while we were at the gravesite. I don't think that he remembers anything from his past EXCEPT that he was the key figure to all of the people in his life and that he did everything humanly possible to promote and serve everyone to the utmost. If anything can be spun to put him in the most positive light, then he will do it, even when he doesn't have the slightest idea what he is talking about.  

Because of the trouble between two of the helpers (Lannie fired both of them), Lannie has decided to make Cindy the manager of the house. Because there are now three clients it makes sense that at least two helpers are always on duty, and one should have the final 

word. Of course, The Old Man sounds as if he is in charge because he is continually making demands and issuing commandments, but his steering wheel isn't connected to anything at all. 

Strange, but it doesn't really bother me all that much to drive him around and wait on him while we are at McD's. As long as I know that my daily morning workout will not be compromised and that there are a few cold beers at the end of the day, then I know that I can withstand his ham-fisted psychological battering. Or, possibly it's the fact that I am in no danger of becoming all that emotionally attached to the client. 

Again, he's physically strong and Lannie showed me his daily blood pressure readings, and I was shocked. Sometimes he has the resting pulse of 56....that's about what a long distance runner would have. Mine is that low, but I thought it was the fact that I do a two or three hour aerobic workouts daily, but maybe it's just the genes. He's less mentally sharp, and he can wind himself up and become quite angry, but it's not too difficult to back him off, and everyone that is around him on a daily basis is quite proficient at this technique. 

I wasn't looking forward to last Tuesday, but I am certainly looking forward to this Tuesday, and it looks like all of the violent weather will be gone and I'm looking forward to an uneventful flight home.  Thanks for looking after Buddy and seeya soon....kw

DAY FIVE

Sa 5/9/15

I had forgotten that the breakfast bar opens at 7am on weekends, so I just had a couple cups of room coffee before the morning's main event.

The weather at 530am was in the low sixties, and I used my jacket to walk to the lobby. A bowl of cereal and a bowl of instant oatmeal, toast, and three bagels for later. And, once again, it's warmer in Illinois than it is here. I heard on the radio that this is very unusual, and temps are actually fifteen degrees cooler than normal. Ninety is about the average for this time of year, and tomorrow the correction will begin.

At LA Fitness by 735 am and I did 45" on the cross trainer (Matrix/Reverse- balcony level). Then, outside for a 'clockwise' run around the neighborhood. East to 59th St. and I noticed that Tagliani's restaurant is in the parking lot adjacent to the fitness club. I think that the first time I ate (and drank beers) in that joint was almost fifteen years ago. North to Union Hills, and over to 55 and back to Bell. 45" (Aladdin Sane). 45" armchair bike. 30" Walk. 4.2 pace. 45" Cross (Reverse). The steam room was repaired and working like a champ. Seats seven or eight people comfortably, and since it's in the pool area, women are welcome. It was a bit disconcerting when I realized that I was in the 'heated mist' with a woman. Obviously women enjoy the steam as much as the men do.

At Elsie's by 1230pm and I was greeted by a brand new angel. She looked very young, and I just assumed that she was one of the weekend replacements, however Lannie told me much later in the afternoon that she was actually being tested for the job. Also, Cindy will be 'the house manager'. Lannie was giving the Old Man a bath when I arrived, and I waited with the tablet and chatted with Marilyn. Then, there was a brief fight about the wheelchairs. He didn't like the fact that Tony would be using his wheelchair while we were out. But he finally listened to reason once he was told that we would not go unless we could take the foldable wheelchair.... Elderly Day Care....

On the road to Sun Land and McD's by 130pm. An absolutely beautiful day. Temps in the upper 70's, breezy, and bright sun. No road construction on Thunderbird because it's Saturday. Spent about a half hour at the site, and I took a few shots. I filled him in on the history between him and Jennieve, and he seemed to appreciate the info.

Around 3pm we rolled into 'our' McD's on the corner of 43rd and Thunderbird for the usual order. Except today I ordered three dollar cheeseburgers. I wanted to take two back to the room, and when I looked in the bag, they had given me two cheeseburgers, but the third one was just the 'guts' (without the bun) in a clear plastic container. How the fuck could that have happened? To order such a specific cheeseburger variation would have required minutes of conversation.   "Yeah, I ordered the new Toyota Camry, and I somehow was given one without a steering wheel". Fucking nitwits, but the mis-order was rectified without too much of a problem. Today, he gobbled up his regular order, plus the cookie and sundae.

Back to Elsie's by 4pm and I spoke with Lannie for about a half hour and then headed out. I tried to use the tablet at the McD's to locate a local Dollar Store to get some new flip flops, but no signal at the store. At Lannie's' I learned of a Dollar Tree at 35th and Bell, but they only had women's. Took Rt. 17 south to the motel.

Sippin' Buds and the plan is to give the Natalie Portman Jean Reno picture another shot.......

FORTY MINUTES IN TUCSON

Email to Janny, Fr 5/8/15

I'm glad that he could remember enough of the graveside encounter to tell you on your phone chat that he enjoyed himself. As I said in the email, he didn't connect whatsoever until he realized that the stone next to Jennieve's was his, and then he was over the rainbow. 

He's much physically stronger than the last time I saw him, although mentally he's lost quite a bit. It's difficult to determine how much his lack of acuity is due to hearing (he still doesn't wear the hearing aids) or his impaired vision. He has new glasses, but Lannie said that he his significant macular degeneration and cataract problems. 

To be around him is experience "Defcon Red Alert Over Nothing' on a continual basis. I'M READY TO GO...WHERE ARE WE GOING?....NO, DO THIS....NO, DO THAT...TURN OFF THE FAN...DO THIS...NO, DO THAT.  His handlers (angels) are able to deal with him and take the abuse with good grace. Oddly (shockingly!), he doesn't try his normal shenanigans with me, and he's been on his best behavior and we've never had anything even approaching 'a scene'. I've even corrected him on his table manners in McD's, and he allowed me to remove the bits of napkins that he had blown his nose in from the table. At first, he acted as if these needed to remain, but relented. And, he enjoys listening to the classical music on the radio in the Camry. 

Well, it's only a bit over the half-way mark on this trip and we still might experience a negative encounter, but today I took a day off and headed to Tucson. It basically was just a nice drive in the desert in the middle of nowhere in bumper to bumper traffic. I thought it would be like driving to St. Louis from Springfield.....long stretches with not many cars, but today it was crazy with traffic. I drove through the center of Tucson, got gas (prices were 25 cents cheaper per gallon), took two idiotic snapshots on the tablet from the inside of the car while driving, and headed back. Just in time to hit the gridlock in Phoenix on a Friday evening at 4pm.

Tomorrow I'll be back for a visit to  Elsie's house, and I think that the rest of the trip I'll be taking him to Sun Land and then McDonalds's. He likes it, and it's controlable. The gang at Elsie's are lobbying for a Sunday swap meet with a Mexican mariachi band which I think I could very much do without. And, any trips to Walmart on a motorized cart are being tastefully ignored,although everyone seems to agree that he's a marvelous and courteous driver.......seeya..