Wow, I've been busy, as usual!
Let me see, I've seen Olympia Dukakis in "Electra" at the San Francisco American Conservatory Theater (ACT-SF.org), "The Lion King" as part of my season tickets at SHNSF.com, "A Christmas Carol" at ACT-SF, attended the Commodore's Ball at the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), dropped in to St. Paul to visit relatives and friends for Thanksgiving, saw a San Francisco 49ers game at Candlestick park and fought a sinus/headcold for about 10 of those days. Otherwise, things have been quiet!
In my last posting, I said I only had tickets for Dec 29. We'll, that has changed. I'll be in lots of places for the holidays. T
This Thanksgiving I did spend time with Erika in Minneapolis. She was there for the holiday and I spent a few days there visiting with her, Maureen, Mary Jo, Denny, Padriac, Angela and Stephanie plus more friends as well. The usual cast of characters!
At the Yacht Club, I have been named Chair of the fund raising committee for the GGYC Youth Sailing Fundraiser. It's a lot of work and a lot of fun as well. We'll have a big event in a few months!
All-in-all, this retirement thing is so busy, it more than enough for one person! I wonder when it slows down?
Monday, December 10, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Back, Again!
Ah, November in Northern California. Too bad I wasn't here!
Well, only for a few days. Shortly after returning from Minnesota, I headed to Denver to visit my son and his family. It is truly a pleasure to visit with them, spend time with the kids, visit my son's office and generally just hang out with the family. Casey, as always, was a super gracious hostess and makes the trips truly enjoyable.
Why would we visit my son's office? Because they set the place up on Friday afternoon as a Halloween party for the kids. Danny and Sarah had a blast with all the fun stuff they set up!
For iPad users, click Here to see my Denver trip pictures.
From Denver, I went directly to Hawaii. Well, with an overnight stop at my place in San Francisco to change from winter clothes to Hawaii clothes. And, so that Stephanie could join me flying in from St. Paul.
The trip was great. It started with both of us getting upgraded to First Class on the way to Maui! Thank you, United! It seemed like everything we tried to do turned magical. It was a great trip.
For iPad users, click here to see the Hawaii pictures.
We stayed at the Ekahi Villa's, the same place I stayed with Reenie and Tom two years ago, but in a different unit. Click here for a link to my November 2010 blog postings with the story and pictures from that trip to Maui. It explains the Ekahi Villas and the three beaches I call Mary's Beaches.
And, yes, the reason for the trip was the same ITPC conference by SEMI that has taken me to Hawaii each November since 2000 (except '09 and last year).
My trip to New York for Thanksgiving has been cancelled but not because of the storm damage. Rather, Erika won't be there so there is no really good reason to go for Thanksgiving. I'll connect with her elsewhere, I am sure.
And, no, the house has not sold. Yes, the house 2 doors away sold for $650,000 more than mine. It is 200 sq ft larger and the lot is only 66% the size of mine. So, the activity level has picked up, according to my broker.
Anyway, I am home for a bit with my next airplane ticket set for Dec 29 when I head to Fripp Island in the Carolina's for a Farmers' Get-together.
Ciao.
Well, only for a few days. Shortly after returning from Minnesota, I headed to Denver to visit my son and his family. It is truly a pleasure to visit with them, spend time with the kids, visit my son's office and generally just hang out with the family. Casey, as always, was a super gracious hostess and makes the trips truly enjoyable.
Why would we visit my son's office? Because they set the place up on Friday afternoon as a Halloween party for the kids. Danny and Sarah had a blast with all the fun stuff they set up!
From Denver, I went directly to Hawaii. Well, with an overnight stop at my place in San Francisco to change from winter clothes to Hawaii clothes. And, so that Stephanie could join me flying in from St. Paul.
The trip was great. It started with both of us getting upgraded to First Class on the way to Maui! Thank you, United! It seemed like everything we tried to do turned magical. It was a great trip.
For iPad users, click here to see the Hawaii pictures.
We stayed at the Ekahi Villa's, the same place I stayed with Reenie and Tom two years ago, but in a different unit. Click here for a link to my November 2010 blog postings with the story and pictures from that trip to Maui. It explains the Ekahi Villas and the three beaches I call Mary's Beaches.
And, yes, the reason for the trip was the same ITPC conference by SEMI that has taken me to Hawaii each November since 2000 (except '09 and last year).
My trip to New York for Thanksgiving has been cancelled but not because of the storm damage. Rather, Erika won't be there so there is no really good reason to go for Thanksgiving. I'll connect with her elsewhere, I am sure.
And, no, the house has not sold. Yes, the house 2 doors away sold for $650,000 more than mine. It is 200 sq ft larger and the lot is only 66% the size of mine. So, the activity level has picked up, according to my broker.
Anyway, I am home for a bit with my next airplane ticket set for Dec 29 when I head to Fripp Island in the Carolina's for a Farmers' Get-together.
Ciao.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Back in California
Time for another monthly update.
Spent the last week in Minnesota visiting with my sister, cousins and friends. Sis has a professional "organizer" helping her figure out how to best set up the apartment and the difference is amazing!
Went on two tours on Saturday in St. Paul. The 'caves' tour which is an old silica mine just of Wabasha south of the Mississippi. The caves were originally created because the sand was so pure, it could go directly into the manufacturing process for glass. The silica miners would go in a couple hundred of feet but then abandon the cave, assuming the sandstone was unstable for further digging. They'd then open another cave mine a bit further down the bluff. The customer? Henry Ford for all those cars he built.
The second tour was a history of St. Paul with a gangster twist. In the early part of the 1900's, St. Paul was the resort community for the nation's gangsters. We visited the houses where Ma Barker hung out for a bit plus places of infamy during St. Paul's hell years.
On Sunday night we got cousin Denny to fire up his pizza oven and he prepared a pizza feast. Wow, is he good!
The first week of October was a wild time in San Francisco. The America's Cup World Series regatta was held concurrently with the Fleet Week activities. Nothing like watching the Blue Angels over Alcatraz one minute and the next watching the AC boats racing past Alcatraz as well.
The Golden Gate Yacht Club put on quite a show. Fantastic buffet meals and front row seating for watching both the races and the airshow!
Turns out San Francisco had quite a weekend October 5-6-7. Fleet Week, America's Cup, Blue grass concert (multiple days) in Golden Gate Park (http://tiny.cc/e0wfmw), Burning Man Decompression (http://tiny.cc/e0wfmw), Castro Street Fair (http://tiny.cc/e0wfmw), and finally, the Italian Heritage Parade (http://tiny.cc/e0wfmw). Add in the sports: Cal football, Stanford football, Giants playoff baseball and Oakland playoff baseball. I heard the city expected over 2 million visitors for the weekend. I think they were all trying to get on my bus!
Other news: No, the house has not sold. However, a house two doors away went on the market for $650,000 more than mine last Wednesday and its under contract now. So its just a matter of the right buyer! And, having a house sell for that much more than mine certainly says I am not overpriced for the neighborhood!
I did lose about two weeks to a really nasty flu bug. I was literally down and out for three days after a nice Saturday boat trip across the bay to Angel Island for a club picnic.
While sick, I dragged myself to my SF place to take pictures of the Endeavour on its last journey to the space museum in LA. These shot were taken from my balcony while I was wearing pajamas.
That is about it for now. If you are on FaceBook, I am too as Pat Lamey or Patrick Lamey. It turns out there is a Patrick Lamey in Nova Scotia and one of us uses Pat and the other uses Patrick on Facebook. I cannot remember which is which but if you see my shining face, you'll know its me!
Spent the last week in Minnesota visiting with my sister, cousins and friends. Sis has a professional "organizer" helping her figure out how to best set up the apartment and the difference is amazing!
Went on two tours on Saturday in St. Paul. The 'caves' tour which is an old silica mine just of Wabasha south of the Mississippi. The caves were originally created because the sand was so pure, it could go directly into the manufacturing process for glass. The silica miners would go in a couple hundred of feet but then abandon the cave, assuming the sandstone was unstable for further digging. They'd then open another cave mine a bit further down the bluff. The customer? Henry Ford for all those cars he built.
The second tour was a history of St. Paul with a gangster twist. In the early part of the 1900's, St. Paul was the resort community for the nation's gangsters. We visited the houses where Ma Barker hung out for a bit plus places of infamy during St. Paul's hell years.
On Sunday night we got cousin Denny to fire up his pizza oven and he prepared a pizza feast. Wow, is he good!
 |
| First cousin once removed Katie Connolly, my sister Sister Maureen Lamey and cousin Dr. Mary Jo Connolly |
 |
| Fleet week starts with a parade of ships. The SFFD traditionally leads with all pumps running. This picture was taken from my balcony. |
 |
| The Navy's Blue Angels over San Francisco Bay |
 |
| The Fleet Race just underway late on Saturday afternoon. |
Turns out San Francisco had quite a weekend October 5-6-7. Fleet Week, America's Cup, Blue grass concert (multiple days) in Golden Gate Park (http://tiny.cc/e0wfmw), Burning Man Decompression (http://tiny.cc/e0wfmw), Castro Street Fair (http://tiny.cc/e0wfmw), and finally, the Italian Heritage Parade (http://tiny.cc/e0wfmw). Add in the sports: Cal football, Stanford football, Giants playoff baseball and Oakland playoff baseball. I heard the city expected over 2 million visitors for the weekend. I think they were all trying to get on my bus!
Other news: No, the house has not sold. However, a house two doors away went on the market for $650,000 more than mine last Wednesday and its under contract now. So its just a matter of the right buyer! And, having a house sell for that much more than mine certainly says I am not overpriced for the neighborhood!
I did lose about two weeks to a really nasty flu bug. I was literally down and out for three days after a nice Saturday boat trip across the bay to Angel Island for a club picnic.
 |
| Who knew I'd spend the next two weeks with an awful flu bug? |
That is about it for now. If you are on FaceBook, I am too as Pat Lamey or Patrick Lamey. It turns out there is a Patrick Lamey in Nova Scotia and one of us uses Pat and the other uses Patrick on Facebook. I cannot remember which is which but if you see my shining face, you'll know its me!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Comcast!
While I should be telling you about my escapades since returning to California a couple of weeks ago, I have chosen to write a rant about my recent experience installing Comcast in my SF place.
Bear with me, please.
Topic-->Comcast cable installation. TV and Internet connectivity.
First, I ordered cable service for internet and TV for my SF place. At the time, I request a purchase of a cable modem from Comcast to prevent paying $7/mo for a box they never update. I once paid that fee for over five years and when I had a problem, they came out and said, "You need a new box and we'll replace it for free because you rent it." Let see, 60 months times $7 per month is $420 for a Motorola box that cost under $100 when purchased through Comcast (and a lot less than that from Best Buy or Fry's). That is not free! So, NOT this time!
Second, brand spanking new cable modem arrives as promised from Comcast telephone sales person.
Third, service man arrives and then connects cable modem and declares, "This modem doesn't work. I'll install one of the rentals and when you get the cable modem exchanged, you can bring the rental to the Comcast office." Huh?
Fourth, when I ask him to install a cable card into my TV, he responds (after getting a message from his supervisor) that "Those things don't work, I'll give you a regular cable box instead." Excuse me, I have two of those working just fine in my TiVo's at my other place, so what is the problem?
Fifth, as I comment that the image looks terrible. "Well you have a HD TV and this is a standard cable box. You probably want a HD cable box." So I respond, go ahead, install the HD box. "They don't give us those to install, you have to go to the shop to exchange the one I am installing now."
Sixth, since the cable box is not HD, then lets just plug the coax into the TV and it can get the HD signal from the cable. Connection made, no image or sound on the TV screen after several channel scans.
My observations:
If Comcast sold me a broken cable modem, why didn't he simple do an on-site exchange with his working modem and my broken modem instead of making me go exchange the modem? After all, he goes to the shop daily and its far more routine for him to turn in a broken modem than for me to do it.
Why the BS about cable cards?
What are they thinking? Who wants a standard def cable box anymore? They actually do not stock the trucks with HD boxes? And, I have to go get the store and do an exchange? (Note, as a mid-60 year old, unscrewing the cable connections with arthritis is no picnic but now the wrong box is MY problem.)
So the score is: Internet connectivity is working. Trip needed to Comcast to exchange SD cable box with HD cable box. Exchange needed with on-line sales for broken modem. Trip needed to Comcast to return rented modem.
The last straw? They called, emailed me and texted me multiple times for a Tuesday appointment. I think I got daily texts, emails and telecons starting four days prior to the service call to make sure I would be there. Never once did they ask if I wanted HD TV service or a cable card type install.
Never once did they inquire after the service call if everything was done correctly. They did call and ask if the service person was polite (he was extremely polite) and competent (he screwed everything together just perfectly) and clean (he was meticulous in my place) but the NEVER asked if management had done the correct preparations for the service call. NOR did they ask if I was satisfied with the service call, only with the service person's behavior. When I started to volunteer some of my issues, I got "Here is toll free number to call...."
The bottom line? I should have listened to my friend Scott Ashkenaz :-(
Bear with me, please.
Topic-->Comcast cable installation. TV and Internet connectivity.
First, I ordered cable service for internet and TV for my SF place. At the time, I request a purchase of a cable modem from Comcast to prevent paying $7/mo for a box they never update. I once paid that fee for over five years and when I had a problem, they came out and said, "You need a new box and we'll replace it for free because you rent it." Let see, 60 months times $7 per month is $420 for a Motorola box that cost under $100 when purchased through Comcast (and a lot less than that from Best Buy or Fry's). That is not free! So, NOT this time!
Second, brand spanking new cable modem arrives as promised from Comcast telephone sales person.
Third, service man arrives and then connects cable modem and declares, "This modem doesn't work. I'll install one of the rentals and when you get the cable modem exchanged, you can bring the rental to the Comcast office." Huh?
Fourth, when I ask him to install a cable card into my TV, he responds (after getting a message from his supervisor) that "Those things don't work, I'll give you a regular cable box instead." Excuse me, I have two of those working just fine in my TiVo's at my other place, so what is the problem?
Fifth, as I comment that the image looks terrible. "Well you have a HD TV and this is a standard cable box. You probably want a HD cable box." So I respond, go ahead, install the HD box. "They don't give us those to install, you have to go to the shop to exchange the one I am installing now."
Sixth, since the cable box is not HD, then lets just plug the coax into the TV and it can get the HD signal from the cable. Connection made, no image or sound on the TV screen after several channel scans.
My observations:
If Comcast sold me a broken cable modem, why didn't he simple do an on-site exchange with his working modem and my broken modem instead of making me go exchange the modem? After all, he goes to the shop daily and its far more routine for him to turn in a broken modem than for me to do it.
Why the BS about cable cards?
What are they thinking? Who wants a standard def cable box anymore? They actually do not stock the trucks with HD boxes? And, I have to go get the store and do an exchange? (Note, as a mid-60 year old, unscrewing the cable connections with arthritis is no picnic but now the wrong box is MY problem.)
So the score is: Internet connectivity is working. Trip needed to Comcast to exchange SD cable box with HD cable box. Exchange needed with on-line sales for broken modem. Trip needed to Comcast to return rented modem.
The last straw? They called, emailed me and texted me multiple times for a Tuesday appointment. I think I got daily texts, emails and telecons starting four days prior to the service call to make sure I would be there. Never once did they ask if I wanted HD TV service or a cable card type install.
Never once did they inquire after the service call if everything was done correctly. They did call and ask if the service person was polite (he was extremely polite) and competent (he screwed everything together just perfectly) and clean (he was meticulous in my place) but the NEVER asked if management had done the correct preparations for the service call. NOR did they ask if I was satisfied with the service call, only with the service person's behavior. When I started to volunteer some of my issues, I got "Here is toll free number to call...."
The bottom line? I should have listened to my friend Scott Ashkenaz :-(
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Summer is Over
Other than the one week the last part of July, my days in California have been far and few between.
Such is the life of the single guy, I guess.
Actually, I said when I retired I had three objectives:
The report card is:
1. Lost a handful of pounds and more than doubled my daily walking activity from pre-retirement numbers. Need to double it again to reach the 11,000 steps per day target.
2. See below.
3. The house is still on the market. I really don't know why it hasn't sold other than the realtors are hearing that folks really want a flat backyard and my creekside setting is not an attraction. I think we need to retarget the audience and seek creekside setting folks. I know they are out there. The realtors agree.
As for item #2:
First week of June: New Brunswick for Daniel and Kamie's wedding. This gave me a chance to see all of Mary's kids.
2nd week of June: Nova Scotia and Cape Breton to meet the branch of the Lamey's who arrived 50 years before my Minnesota branch. (1798 vs 1848)
3rd week of June: Boston and Cape Cod, biking with Mary's group known as the Farmers.
4rd week of June: Las Vegas for a week's work, paid by my former employer.
1st week of July: Denver with my son and daughter-in-law plus my grandkiddies, Danny and Sarah.
2nd week of July: Minnesota to help my sister with her pre-move.
3rd week of July: More Minnesota.
4th week of July: California--either San Francisco or Los Gatos.
1st week of August: Manhattan to see my daughter.
2nd week of August: Upstate New York to see friends (Ute and Jochen) and then to Minnesota for my sister's move.
3rd week of August: More Minnesota.
4th week of August: Aunt Peggy died at the age of 89 so I was there for her funeral with that side of my family. Even more Minnesota.
So now I am back in CA and expect to be here until my return to MN about mid-October.
Nice to be home...
Ciao!
Such is the life of the single guy, I guess.
Actually, I said when I retired I had three objectives:
1. Take care of my health.
2. Spend more time with family and friends.
3. Simplify my life.
The report card is:
1. Lost a handful of pounds and more than doubled my daily walking activity from pre-retirement numbers. Need to double it again to reach the 11,000 steps per day target.
2. See below.
3. The house is still on the market. I really don't know why it hasn't sold other than the realtors are hearing that folks really want a flat backyard and my creekside setting is not an attraction. I think we need to retarget the audience and seek creekside setting folks. I know they are out there. The realtors agree.
As for item #2:
First week of June: New Brunswick for Daniel and Kamie's wedding. This gave me a chance to see all of Mary's kids.
2nd week of June: Nova Scotia and Cape Breton to meet the branch of the Lamey's who arrived 50 years before my Minnesota branch. (1798 vs 1848)
3rd week of June: Boston and Cape Cod, biking with Mary's group known as the Farmers.
4rd week of June: Las Vegas for a week's work, paid by my former employer.
1st week of July: Denver with my son and daughter-in-law plus my grandkiddies, Danny and Sarah.
2nd week of July: Minnesota to help my sister with her pre-move.
3rd week of July: More Minnesota.
4th week of July: California--either San Francisco or Los Gatos.
1st week of August: Manhattan to see my daughter.
2nd week of August: Upstate New York to see friends (Ute and Jochen) and then to Minnesota for my sister's move.
3rd week of August: More Minnesota.
4th week of August: Aunt Peggy died at the age of 89 so I was there for her funeral with that side of my family. Even more Minnesota.
So now I am back in CA and expect to be here until my return to MN about mid-October.
Nice to be home...
Ciao!
Monday, July 16, 2012
And now it is July?
Since my last posting, I have been in Boston and Cape Cod to visit friends; Las Vegas to do some work; Denver to celebrate the 4th of July with my grand kiddies. And Minnesota to help my sister prepare for her upcoming move.
And, no, my house had not yet sold. To view the listing, click on this link: http://www.californiamoves.com/property/details/2485412/MLS-81219028/14745-Golf-Links-Dr-Los-Gatos-Los-Gatos-Mountains-CA-95032.aspx
The group known as the Farmers, Mary's senior class community experiment group, had a mini-get together on Cape Cod. I joined them to make the 9th person on the trip. We had a great time and did a lot of biking. The cape has a number of railroad right of ways converted to biking paths.
Peter and Diana have the house on the Cape. We stayed there about 6 years ago for a larger Farmers gathering. Well, Peter let me use his old bike that looked suspiciously like a bike I bought in 1971. In fact, I think it was a twin to it. With a borrowed helmet and absolutely no riding gear other than the helmet, I took off and with the group covered over 20 miles each day.
Oh, did I mention the temps were in the 98 to 102 range. Call us nuts! And yes, there was a touch of humidity, like 90%.
The Las Vegas trip was for work. Applied Materials asked me to come back for a week to be the Master of Ceremonies of the annual Engineering and Technology conference. And it was a blast. First of all, being on stage in front of 800 people. And, second, seeing all of my old buddies from Applied. I truly enjoyed it!
Here I am on stage with Kevin James, the magician.
One night was unscheduled, so David (a former coworker) and I took in a Celine Dion show. If you ever get the chance, go see it. Wow! Oh, and it was the only time I was outside during the week, other than to and from the hotel to the airport. Yup, 115 degrees was about right!
While I managed to return to my room at a reasonable hour each night, primarily because I was on stage each morning at 8AM or so, on Thursday night after the close of the conference, the various groups of attendees made sure I did a tour of the bars and entertainment venues in the Hotel Palazzo. And we made good friends with various members of the staff.
No, I do not remember her name.
After Las Vegas, I headed to Denver to visit my grandkiddies and their Parental Units for the 4th of July. Chris and Casey are just such wonderful parents and it is so good to see Danny and Sarah grow up!
The Denver neighborhood association where they live has a wonderful 4th tradition. One of the local fire trucks comes to the elementary school and leads a parade of kids on bikes and walking adults on a five block parade through the neighborhood.
At the head of this column is a fire truck followed by several zillion kids on bikes and then the walking parents.
The parade ends at the elementary school where the fire truck hooks up to the fire hydrant and proceeds to spray the playground with cooling, fresh water. This was especially appreciated this year because the temperatures in Denver were like Cape Cod: 98 to 102 was typical.
You can see the spray of water coming in on the left side of this picture and all the kids and many parents heading for the "cool off" opportunity in the middle of the playground. What fun! Someone asked about the fire fighters not being at the Colorado wildfires. The response was, "Do you expect them to abandon Denver?" Followed by, "These guys are on call, two years ago during the parade, they turned on their lights, did a quick siren blast and then all the firefighters ran and jumped on the truck and 'poof', the neighborhood parade was over."
Danny and Sarah wore their 4th of July colors:
Sarah will be six this October. Danny will be 8 in September.
Upon returning from Denver, I had a theater performance at ACT (www.act-sf.org) on Saturday. It was the "Scottsboro Boys"--an absolutely wonderful performance telling a chilling tale of life in America in the 1930's. I have been going to ACT for almost two decades now. This is the only performance I have attended where there was a nearly unanimous standing ovation for the performance. I've seen standing O's from a third of the audience or maybe half, but never the full audience standing for a performance. If you get a chance to see it anywhere, please be sure to do so.
Oh, and it was so nice sleeping in San Francisco with the window propped open. At midnight I dug out the flannel pajamas. At 2 AM, I put the heavy comforter on the bed. After being unable to sleep in such warm weather in Boston and Denver, it was so nice to let that big Pacific Ocean cooling system provide a solid night's sleep!
I then headed to Minnesota to assist my sister in preparation for her upcoming move. The order (Sisters of St Joseph of Corondolet) in partnership with Presbyterian Homes demolished their previous "retirement center aka Bethany" and have built an open-to-the-general-public retirement village on the property. In the Twin Cities, Presbyterian Homes is very successful running retirement, progressive care and hospice facilities so its a very attractive match.
When the center, known as Corondolet Village (http://carondeletvillage.org/default.aspx) was in planning, my sister did not sign up for a place because she was doing quite well. Since then (3 years ago) she has had just enough medical difficulties to cause her to change her mind. And, a unit opened up from among the nuns' apartments so Maureen is moving in August. She originally thought it would be in November. Ah, the best laid plans. Anyway, I invited myself up to Minnesota to provide labor, encouragement and assistance in her move starting last week. We have packed her office, her kitchen, her TV accessories (Wii and other things she will not need for a while). We've delivered obsolete electronics to the recycle center, made donations to Goodwill and in general have made a lot of progress. But, there is still much to do!
Finally, as we take breaks on the moving project, we've been reading some of my sister's genealogy materials and we've made a discovery!
We have known for some time that my great grandfather spelled his name Leamy (not Lamey). Yet, when my grandfather William Maxwell was baptized, the name was spelled Lamey. In fact, his early children were named Leamy and his later kids were Lamey. Great Grampa never changed his name.
Well we've confirmed that Great Grampa's father moved from Drom, County Tipperary to Derrygarriff, KnockJames in County Claire. Unfortunately, his father was also John so I call them John the Migrator (Tipperary to Claire) and John the Immigrant (Claire to Minnesota). Well, we have learned that John the Migrator's father was Edward. And, given the dates, he was a contemporary of James the Pioneer who landed in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1798.
Is Edward Leamy related to James the Pioneer of Cape Breton? It is likely. We have also learned that in the mid-1700s, there were 15 Leamy households in County Tipperary registered in the equivalent of a census.
We also have determined my maternal grandmother was born on Calumet Island in the Ottawa River (not the St. Lawrence as we always thought). She moved to the US as a small child with her family.
Enough for now! Until next time!
Ciao
Pat
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
And, no, my house had not yet sold. To view the listing, click on this link: http://www.californiamoves.com/property/details/2485412/MLS-81219028/14745-Golf-Links-Dr-Los-Gatos-Los-Gatos-Mountains-CA-95032.aspx
The group known as the Farmers, Mary's senior class community experiment group, had a mini-get together on Cape Cod. I joined them to make the 9th person on the trip. We had a great time and did a lot of biking. The cape has a number of railroad right of ways converted to biking paths.
Peter and Diana have the house on the Cape. We stayed there about 6 years ago for a larger Farmers gathering. Well, Peter let me use his old bike that looked suspiciously like a bike I bought in 1971. In fact, I think it was a twin to it. With a borrowed helmet and absolutely no riding gear other than the helmet, I took off and with the group covered over 20 miles each day.
Oh, did I mention the temps were in the 98 to 102 range. Call us nuts! And yes, there was a touch of humidity, like 90%.
The Las Vegas trip was for work. Applied Materials asked me to come back for a week to be the Master of Ceremonies of the annual Engineering and Technology conference. And it was a blast. First of all, being on stage in front of 800 people. And, second, seeing all of my old buddies from Applied. I truly enjoyed it!
Here I am on stage with Kevin James, the magician.
One night was unscheduled, so David (a former coworker) and I took in a Celine Dion show. If you ever get the chance, go see it. Wow! Oh, and it was the only time I was outside during the week, other than to and from the hotel to the airport. Yup, 115 degrees was about right!
While I managed to return to my room at a reasonable hour each night, primarily because I was on stage each morning at 8AM or so, on Thursday night after the close of the conference, the various groups of attendees made sure I did a tour of the bars and entertainment venues in the Hotel Palazzo. And we made good friends with various members of the staff.
No, I do not remember her name.
After Las Vegas, I headed to Denver to visit my grandkiddies and their Parental Units for the 4th of July. Chris and Casey are just such wonderful parents and it is so good to see Danny and Sarah grow up!
The Denver neighborhood association where they live has a wonderful 4th tradition. One of the local fire trucks comes to the elementary school and leads a parade of kids on bikes and walking adults on a five block parade through the neighborhood.
At the head of this column is a fire truck followed by several zillion kids on bikes and then the walking parents.
The parade ends at the elementary school where the fire truck hooks up to the fire hydrant and proceeds to spray the playground with cooling, fresh water. This was especially appreciated this year because the temperatures in Denver were like Cape Cod: 98 to 102 was typical.
You can see the spray of water coming in on the left side of this picture and all the kids and many parents heading for the "cool off" opportunity in the middle of the playground. What fun! Someone asked about the fire fighters not being at the Colorado wildfires. The response was, "Do you expect them to abandon Denver?" Followed by, "These guys are on call, two years ago during the parade, they turned on their lights, did a quick siren blast and then all the firefighters ran and jumped on the truck and 'poof', the neighborhood parade was over."
Danny and Sarah wore their 4th of July colors:
Sarah will be six this October. Danny will be 8 in September.
Upon returning from Denver, I had a theater performance at ACT (www.act-sf.org) on Saturday. It was the "Scottsboro Boys"--an absolutely wonderful performance telling a chilling tale of life in America in the 1930's. I have been going to ACT for almost two decades now. This is the only performance I have attended where there was a nearly unanimous standing ovation for the performance. I've seen standing O's from a third of the audience or maybe half, but never the full audience standing for a performance. If you get a chance to see it anywhere, please be sure to do so.
Oh, and it was so nice sleeping in San Francisco with the window propped open. At midnight I dug out the flannel pajamas. At 2 AM, I put the heavy comforter on the bed. After being unable to sleep in such warm weather in Boston and Denver, it was so nice to let that big Pacific Ocean cooling system provide a solid night's sleep!
I then headed to Minnesota to assist my sister in preparation for her upcoming move. The order (Sisters of St Joseph of Corondolet) in partnership with Presbyterian Homes demolished their previous "retirement center aka Bethany" and have built an open-to-the-general-public retirement village on the property. In the Twin Cities, Presbyterian Homes is very successful running retirement, progressive care and hospice facilities so its a very attractive match.
When the center, known as Corondolet Village (http://carondeletvillage.org/default.aspx) was in planning, my sister did not sign up for a place because she was doing quite well. Since then (3 years ago) she has had just enough medical difficulties to cause her to change her mind. And, a unit opened up from among the nuns' apartments so Maureen is moving in August. She originally thought it would be in November. Ah, the best laid plans. Anyway, I invited myself up to Minnesota to provide labor, encouragement and assistance in her move starting last week. We have packed her office, her kitchen, her TV accessories (Wii and other things she will not need for a while). We've delivered obsolete electronics to the recycle center, made donations to Goodwill and in general have made a lot of progress. But, there is still much to do!
Finally, as we take breaks on the moving project, we've been reading some of my sister's genealogy materials and we've made a discovery!
We have known for some time that my great grandfather spelled his name Leamy (not Lamey). Yet, when my grandfather William Maxwell was baptized, the name was spelled Lamey. In fact, his early children were named Leamy and his later kids were Lamey. Great Grampa never changed his name.
Well we've confirmed that Great Grampa's father moved from Drom, County Tipperary to Derrygarriff, KnockJames in County Claire. Unfortunately, his father was also John so I call them John the Migrator (Tipperary to Claire) and John the Immigrant (Claire to Minnesota). Well, we have learned that John the Migrator's father was Edward. And, given the dates, he was a contemporary of James the Pioneer who landed in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1798.
Is Edward Leamy related to James the Pioneer of Cape Breton? It is likely. We have also learned that in the mid-1700s, there were 15 Leamy households in County Tipperary registered in the equivalent of a census.
We also have determined my maternal grandmother was born on Calumet Island in the Ottawa River (not the St. Lawrence as we always thought). She moved to the US as a small child with her family.
Enough for now! Until next time!
Ciao
Pat
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, June 11, 2012
Don't tell me its June!
Where has the time gone? I just realized I hadn't posted for a month! Wow!
OK, in no particular order.
Leyla is loving her new home. Three kids, another dog and a great set of parents. The last time I saw here, the look on her face was "Gee, don't I sort of know you from someplace? Maybe, once a long time ago?" Anyway, she is doing great!
The Golf Links house is on the market. You can read all about it by clicking here. Now, I had no idea what it takes to get a house ready to sell. In my adult life, I have sold the house on Country Road B2 in Roseville MN, the house at 1150 Brooks in Roseville MN, and the house at 2422 Apsis where we lived during the Golf Links remodel. Needless to say, I was too busy with work to lift a finger for any of those moves. In divine retribution, I did everything I needed to do to sell this one. What a job it is!
The photographer figured this angle to show the house. I was amazed and surprised how he captured the house.
Interestingly, my parents house in Falcon Heights MN was up for sale this month as well. Really a strange feeling to have "two homes" in my history for sale at the same time.
On June 2nd, Daniel (Mary's youngest) married Kamie in Sainte Anne de Madawaska, New Brunswick Canada. Where is that? Well, about a four hour drive from any airport: Quebec, Fredricton, Bangor Maine or six hours from St. John or Portland Maine. In other words, a long trip. Why, you ask? Simple, that is where the bulk of Kamie's family resides and Grandma is key to the family festivities. At 90+, she is no longer able to do long distance travel.
Here is the happy couple after the ceremony!
The wedding and reception were fantastic. A real treat. And, I wish the newlyweds well on their journey together.
From Sainte Anne, I headed East to St John and Cape Breton. On Cape Breton I meet several "Lamey" relatives. It turns out the Lamey's of Cape Breton arrived about 1800, roughly 50 years before the Lamey's of Minnesota arrived. Now the task is to figure out if there is true relationship between the Cape Breton folks and the Minnesota folks. My sister, Maureen, reported that she discovered an album of Cape Breton fiddle music recorded by William "Bill" Lamey (click here) some year ago. Dad reacted strongly to his late brother's namesake and eventually called Bill Lamey. Well, a few years ago I found Mary Lamey of Boston and she is the daughter of Bill Lamey, the musician! Mary helped me contact the Cape Breton family folks while I was there. Small world!
Pat Lamey of Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton meets Pat Lamey of California by way of Minnesota. Who knew? (Interesting,we both use Patrick for formal and business, and Pat for friends and family).
And, I am truly enjoying the time at my place in San Francisco. Cousin Mary Jo and her husband Denny were here in May as I put the house on the market. They stayed in the studio for a few nights and I do believe they really enjoyed it. Once I sell Golf Links and decide on a place in LG, I will be adjusting my life and habits to make it a more regular place to be. Right now, I am constantly back at Golf Links making sure the house is secure and the brokers have a fine showing each time they bring a potential buyer.
This was the view from my bed in the apartment as I awoke on Saturday morning this weekend. Ahh, San Francisco Bay!
OK, in no particular order.
Leyla is loving her new home. Three kids, another dog and a great set of parents. The last time I saw here, the look on her face was "Gee, don't I sort of know you from someplace? Maybe, once a long time ago?" Anyway, she is doing great!
The Golf Links house is on the market. You can read all about it by clicking here. Now, I had no idea what it takes to get a house ready to sell. In my adult life, I have sold the house on Country Road B2 in Roseville MN, the house at 1150 Brooks in Roseville MN, and the house at 2422 Apsis where we lived during the Golf Links remodel. Needless to say, I was too busy with work to lift a finger for any of those moves. In divine retribution, I did everything I needed to do to sell this one. What a job it is!
The photographer figured this angle to show the house. I was amazed and surprised how he captured the house.
Interestingly, my parents house in Falcon Heights MN was up for sale this month as well. Really a strange feeling to have "two homes" in my history for sale at the same time.
On June 2nd, Daniel (Mary's youngest) married Kamie in Sainte Anne de Madawaska, New Brunswick Canada. Where is that? Well, about a four hour drive from any airport: Quebec, Fredricton, Bangor Maine or six hours from St. John or Portland Maine. In other words, a long trip. Why, you ask? Simple, that is where the bulk of Kamie's family resides and Grandma is key to the family festivities. At 90+, she is no longer able to do long distance travel.
Here is the happy couple after the ceremony!
The wedding and reception were fantastic. A real treat. And, I wish the newlyweds well on their journey together.
From Sainte Anne, I headed East to St John and Cape Breton. On Cape Breton I meet several "Lamey" relatives. It turns out the Lamey's of Cape Breton arrived about 1800, roughly 50 years before the Lamey's of Minnesota arrived. Now the task is to figure out if there is true relationship between the Cape Breton folks and the Minnesota folks. My sister, Maureen, reported that she discovered an album of Cape Breton fiddle music recorded by William "Bill" Lamey (click here) some year ago. Dad reacted strongly to his late brother's namesake and eventually called Bill Lamey. Well, a few years ago I found Mary Lamey of Boston and she is the daughter of Bill Lamey, the musician! Mary helped me contact the Cape Breton family folks while I was there. Small world!
Pat Lamey of Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton meets Pat Lamey of California by way of Minnesota. Who knew? (Interesting,we both use Patrick for formal and business, and Pat for friends and family).
And, I am truly enjoying the time at my place in San Francisco. Cousin Mary Jo and her husband Denny were here in May as I put the house on the market. They stayed in the studio for a few nights and I do believe they really enjoyed it. Once I sell Golf Links and decide on a place in LG, I will be adjusting my life and habits to make it a more regular place to be. Right now, I am constantly back at Golf Links making sure the house is secure and the brokers have a fine showing each time they bring a potential buyer.
This was the view from my bed in the apartment as I awoke on Saturday morning this weekend. Ahh, San Francisco Bay!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Leyla (aka Wiggles) finds a home
This is going to sound like I made it up. I didn't, it is real.
I ran into a fellow cruising the neighborhood while taking Wiggles for a walk. I asked if I could assist him in any way. He told me he had just purchased one of the homes nearby. We chatted and he learned that Wiggles was up for adoption.
"My family arrives Saturday, can I bring them over to see Wiggles? We promised a dog to my daughter when we moved to California." Sure, no problem.
Well, unbeknownst to Dad (who was in California at his new job while the family was back East), daughter and Mom had decided on a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel the very day I met the Dad. Two days before flying to California, Mom bought a stuffed toy Cavalier with the white and tan markings--just like Leyla--to confirm the promise of the new dog.
Needless to say, once the daughter and Mom saw Leyla, Leyla had a new home!
We waited a few days until their furniture arrived, and then another day or so until Leyla did her "test sleep over." Its been 9 days and Leyla is still there. I think she has settled in. (Mom did have a long talk with the vet about Leyla's overall medical condition and her deafness. Mom was satisfied.)
All I know is that there is a very, very happy 9 year old girl who now has Leyla in her life. And Leyla not only has the girl, she has a family of five with another dog as companion (a lab mix).
As one of the neighbor's said, "Its a match made in heaven!"
Ciao
p
I ran into a fellow cruising the neighborhood while taking Wiggles for a walk. I asked if I could assist him in any way. He told me he had just purchased one of the homes nearby. We chatted and he learned that Wiggles was up for adoption.
"My family arrives Saturday, can I bring them over to see Wiggles? We promised a dog to my daughter when we moved to California." Sure, no problem.
Well, unbeknownst to Dad (who was in California at his new job while the family was back East), daughter and Mom had decided on a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel the very day I met the Dad. Two days before flying to California, Mom bought a stuffed toy Cavalier with the white and tan markings--just like Leyla--to confirm the promise of the new dog.
Needless to say, once the daughter and Mom saw Leyla, Leyla had a new home!
We waited a few days until their furniture arrived, and then another day or so until Leyla did her "test sleep over." Its been 9 days and Leyla is still there. I think she has settled in. (Mom did have a long talk with the vet about Leyla's overall medical condition and her deafness. Mom was satisfied.)
All I know is that there is a very, very happy 9 year old girl who now has Leyla in her life. And Leyla not only has the girl, she has a family of five with another dog as companion (a lab mix).
As one of the neighbor's said, "Its a match made in heaven!"
Ciao
p
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Leyla is up for adoption
* *
* Born deaf *
* *
Wonderful 5
year old female Blenheim needs a new home.
Not
recommended for very young children.
- My situation is changing and I can no longer keep this wonderful
little girl. - She was born deaf and responds well to hand signals.
- She lives in Los Gatos.
- Her medical care has been done at VCA Johnsons since she arrived
at 1 year old. - Like many
CKCS, she does have medical conditions from time to time. Any prospective owner needs to be aware. - Target Date for Adoption of May 1 (or earlier)
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Two Years
My flight to Minnesota on the 7th was uneventful. Dinner with my sister and checked into the Hilton Garden Inn in Minneapolis. The Hotwire price was outstanding although the daily parking fee was a bit pricey.
On Easter Sunday (8th) I went to Resurrection Cemetery. The Quirks are buried in a section of the cemetery that does not allow monuments or head stones, only foot stones.
When I walked up to this foot stone, the tears simply started. The road is a few feet away so I play our favorite music through the car stereo. And I spend time with her. I was there from about noon until 5PM or so. So many thoughts, so many feelings, so much to tell her about.
And such a huge void I must live with.
Perhaps because she is buried in Minnesota and I have only been able to visit annually, a whole pile of emotions seems to tumble out of me for several weeks prior to the trip, while visiting and after I get home. This year was particularly hard because the decision to put down Mary's favorite dog had been hanging over me for months and I finally made the decision just prior to the trip.
Even today is melancholy as I unpack my clothes and do laundry. We always had a nice meal celebrating our 'being home' and I will never share that with Mary again.
I really did not want to see family on April 8, in spite of it being Easter and my birthday. In Mary's honor, I ordered a ticket to see the current production at the Guthrie. Mary took me there the first time, probably in 1965 just two years after it opened. So I went to the Guthrie that evening and enjoyed a play to honor her words to me "embrace life for both of us now".
Before I left the cemetery, I stopped to see various family plots.
I was in California and getting ready for work--in fact I was in the shower--when the call came from Dad that Mom had died. I packed a bag and headed for Minnesota on the next available plane.
Aunt Claire was always a special lady in my life. And, in spite of the short time Mary and I were together (1990-2010 the 2nd time around) and living thousands of miles away, Aunt Claire had earned a special spot in Mary's life too. It happened at Uncle Coleman Connolly's funeral, held just three months after we were married in 1996. Aunt Claire and Mary spent a large portion of the wake on a couch together discussing life and the family. Mary often mentioned that touching experience.
My immediate family is buried in this same cemetery. John and Claire are on the edge of the bluff, Mom and Dad are set back from the bluff not more than 100 feet. And the Connollys (Mom's family) and Quirks are up on the hill on the far side of the property.
It is truly hard to spend time visiting those who have died. Its very hard when its a grandparent or parent or an Aunt or Uncle who you loved as part of your family.
But nothing is comparable to visiting the grave of your spouse. Nothing.
p
 |
| Mary's family plot is on this side of the tree, pictures taken about noon time. |
 |
| It still seems unreal that she is dead. |
And such a huge void I must live with.
Perhaps because she is buried in Minnesota and I have only been able to visit annually, a whole pile of emotions seems to tumble out of me for several weeks prior to the trip, while visiting and after I get home. This year was particularly hard because the decision to put down Mary's favorite dog had been hanging over me for months and I finally made the decision just prior to the trip.
Even today is melancholy as I unpack my clothes and do laundry. We always had a nice meal celebrating our 'being home' and I will never share that with Mary again.
I really did not want to see family on April 8, in spite of it being Easter and my birthday. In Mary's honor, I ordered a ticket to see the current production at the Guthrie. Mary took me there the first time, probably in 1965 just two years after it opened. So I went to the Guthrie that evening and enjoyed a play to honor her words to me "embrace life for both of us now".
Before I left the cemetery, I stopped to see various family plots.
 |
| My Mom, died April 8, 1988. |
 |
| My Aunt Claire married my Dad's brother older brother John. She died on April 8, 2003. |
 |
| Resurrection Cemetery is located on the bluffs above Augusta and Lemay (not Lamey) lakes |
 |
| My space awaits here with Mom and Dad. I didn't realize how my shadow impacts the meaning of this picture. |
But nothing is comparable to visiting the grave of your spouse. Nothing.
 |
| Time to go. The tree's shadow has shifted from my noon arrival. |
p
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Email circulated at my office today
Happy trails to you, until we meet again!
(With apologies to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.)
As of April 15, I am officially retiring from Applied Materials and full time work. Instead, I plan on spending lots of time with family and that means traveling to Pasadena, Phoenix, Denver, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and New York City.
I also plan on being a fanatic about the America's Cup too.
The year 2012 means I've been in the semiconductor business for 43 years (1969). It has served me well and enabled me to make the decision to retire.
Drop a line or call, I'd love to hear from you.
Oh, and feel free to forward this to friends and acquaintances, after 43 years I may not have everyone’s current contact info.
Pat
+1 408 827 8827
Pat@Lamey.us
www.Lamey.us
Pat
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
(With apologies to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.)
As of April 15, I am officially retiring from Applied Materials and full time work. Instead, I plan on spending lots of time with family and that means traveling to Pasadena, Phoenix, Denver, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and New York City.
I also plan on being a fanatic about the America's Cup too.
The year 2012 means I've been in the semiconductor business for 43 years (1969). It has served me well and enabled me to make the decision to retire.
Drop a line or call, I'd love to hear from you.
Oh, and feel free to forward this to friends and acquaintances, after 43 years I may not have everyone’s current contact info.
Pat
+1 408 827 8827
Pat@Lamey.us
www.Lamey.us
Pat
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Two Years
It is now two years since Mary died. My life has been sort of a 'sustain the status quo' as my primary mode. In the last several months, I have made major decisions and they are being done. I retired from full time work (effective Feb 1, actually April 15), I bought a studio apartment in San Francisco with a view of the bay, I will be selling the house Mary and I created in 2000 and spent the next decade 'finishing', I'll downsize to a townhouse here in Los Gatos, and Shawna, Mary's 17.5 year old dog, died last week.
Mary last spoke on Easter Sunday two years ago. That year, Easter was on the 4th. By Monday morning, the 5th, she was unconscious and her vital functions were virtually gone--kidneys, bowel et al. But, her heart and lungs were still working--weak--but working.
I hope you never, ever have to watch a loved one continue "living" when they are clearly not conscious and there is no hope for recovery. The hospital staff removed all the instruments so the lights, beeping and alarms were gone during the last days. They call it Comfort Care--provide comfort to the patient. This is, I now know, the last stage of Palliative Care.
Mary's condition told us that she was going to die. Her collection bag was empty because no fluids were being removed by her liver and kidneys because they were in failure. Her body simply continued to retain the fluid being delivered by her IV. There was far more impact on me when I realized all the activity with the doctors and nurses suddenly stops because she is in comfort care. They stopped taking measurements of temperature and blood pressure and all the daily things they routinely do in a hospital. The room was quiet, very quiet. Few visits by any of the hospital staff. The irregular rythm of nurses, interns, specialists and doctors appearing in the room suddenly stopped.
Mary had great nurses when her status changed to palliative care and then to comfort care. They were very patient with us, for the entire family had arrived by April 1st, the Thursday before Easter. Tim and Charlize. Lara, Scott, Madelyn and Emma. Daniel. Chris, Casey, Danny and Sarah. Erika. Reenie. They all made it to the hospital so they could say good bye to Mary. And Mary said good bye to each of them for she had moments of lucid conversation up to and through Easter Sunday. They stayed as long as they could and by the 8th, only Reenie and I remained.
In the late afternoon of the 8th, Reenie and I were both in the room, concentrating on our computers as we had talked through so much already. Reenie suddenly stood from her position at the foot of the bed. I was sitting next to Mary and as I wondered why Reenie had stood, I realized the soft whisper of Mary's breathing was no longer rhythmic.
There is nothing in life's experience like the death of a loved one. Be it sudden and accidental or be it long and drawn out as cancer often does, the hole created in your emotional being is large and painful. And the anniversary of the death resonates loudly in your emotional being. So much so, even two years later, you are in wonder at the massive impact it has on you.
If you are interested, you can click on this link which will take you to my blog from April of 2010.
And clicking on this link will take you to my blog for April of 2011.
Let me close this entry as I did last year.
Mary, my love
Let your itchy feet carry you
to new and wonderful places,
Let your spirit hold
and keep our love,
All Ways and
Always,
Pat
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
RIP Dawnglow Return to Sender
Shawna died today, March 28, 2012. She was 17 years, six months and 14 days old.
Shawna was a great dog and I will miss her terribly.
She has now crossed the rainbow bridge meaning she will be with Mary and Wolfie once again.
Rest in peace, Red Dog.
Name Dawnglow Return to Sender
Sex Female
Breed Spaniel (English Cocker)
Color Red
Birth Date September 14, 1994
Sire Hobbithill McMurphys Optimum
Dam Dawnglow Demoiselle
Breeder Sandra L LaFlamme
A simple set of pictures of Shawna over the years...
Shawna was a great dog and I will miss her terribly.
She has now crossed the rainbow bridge meaning she will be with Mary and Wolfie once again.
Rest in peace, Red Dog.
Name Dawnglow Return to Sender
Sex Female
Breed Spaniel (English Cocker)
Color Red
Birth Date September 14, 1994
Sire Hobbithill McMurphys Optimum
Dam Dawnglow Demoiselle
Breeder Sandra L LaFlamme
A simple set of pictures of Shawna over the years...
 |
| Mary and Shawna in 1997, shortly after Shawna joined us. Shawna was 3 years old. |
 |
| Shawna at 8 years old |
 |
| Shawna at 12 years old. |
 |
| Easter 2009 with Granddaughters Madelyn and Charlize (14.5 years old) |
 |
| Dr Wiese recommended I keep a coat on Shawna for warmth (16 years old). |
 |
| A recent picture with Pat and Shawna (17.5 years old) |
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Why don't I just go work for the Vet?
Now that the crisis with Leyla is under control, Shawna (my 17.5 year old) is acting up.
Unfortunately, in Shawna's case it appears to be an accelerating case of dementia. Or, it is due to a urinary tract infection.
The symptoms?
She seems totally disoriented for long periods of time. Last night on our walk (off leash), she walked up to a tree in the front yard. She stood there looking at it and swinging her head back and forth seeking an exit. It took her almost three minutes to figure out how to walk around it but only after I helped her.
She has taken to voiding her bladder where ever she is standing. Today, it was in the feeding area. If you know anything about dogs, this is the last place they void. She went out to the dog run with me yesterday and ran back into the house to void in the dining room. Today I took her for a walk, nothing happened until 2 minutes after we returned to the house--in the dining room.
The vet tells me this could be due to a urinary tract infection. Shawna is spending the day at the vets while they try to capture a clean sample of urine to test.
If there is an infection, taking care of it may reduce the problems with Shawna.
If there is no infection, then I have a really tough decision to make...although her current lack of house training and her confusion is making it slightly less difficult.
After all, Shawna is Mary's favorite dog.
p
Unfortunately, in Shawna's case it appears to be an accelerating case of dementia. Or, it is due to a urinary tract infection.
The symptoms?
She seems totally disoriented for long periods of time. Last night on our walk (off leash), she walked up to a tree in the front yard. She stood there looking at it and swinging her head back and forth seeking an exit. It took her almost three minutes to figure out how to walk around it but only after I helped her.
She has taken to voiding her bladder where ever she is standing. Today, it was in the feeding area. If you know anything about dogs, this is the last place they void. She went out to the dog run with me yesterday and ran back into the house to void in the dining room. Today I took her for a walk, nothing happened until 2 minutes after we returned to the house--in the dining room.
The vet tells me this could be due to a urinary tract infection. Shawna is spending the day at the vets while they try to capture a clean sample of urine to test.
If there is an infection, taking care of it may reduce the problems with Shawna.
If there is no infection, then I have a really tough decision to make...although her current lack of house training and her confusion is making it slightly less difficult.
After all, Shawna is Mary's favorite dog.
p
Canine HGE
Who knew?
Symptoms are depression, lack of appetite, vomiting and fresh bloody bowel output.
One would think this is a possible diagnosis for the old dog. Right? Wrong, its Leyla--again! She managed to come up with canine HGE. Its an unexplained, sudden onset of digestive distress coupled with bloody output.
Monday was a late morning given my late arrival from St. Paul. My morning routine is to drag Shawna out of bed and to the stairs leading to the dog run. She stands there trying to wake up while I release Wiggles from her crate. Wiggles shot by the stationary Shawna as is normal. However, Wiggles back area was all soaked and not pretty as she hopped down the stairs. I carried Shawna down the stairs (something I do if she doesn't follow Wiggles) and then followed both of them into the dog run.
Wiggles then assumed the doggie position and proceded to produce puddles of blood. OMG, Wiggles, what is going on with you?
Shawna, no longer being the focus of my attention, followed me into the dog run and then returned to the dining room to do her morning business...this is getting to be NOT FUN!
Rush to the vet with Wiggles. Initial assessment is canine HGE. Battery of tests, IVs needed, xrays in case of a foreign body in her abdomen, special blood test to confirm (or not) packed red blood cells a typical problem with HGE, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Oh, and a small deposit based on the estimate of the needed medical procedures. Hole in my pocket dawg strikes again!
End of the day call from the Vet,
"Leyla (aka Wiggles) is showing good signs. You have a choice of taking her home and nursing her or transferring her into the 24-hour doggie hospital."
"Is she likely to produce blood?"
"Probably once or twice more."
"I faint at the sight of blood."
"OK, I'll arranged the transfer."
By happenstance, one of the Farmers, Tom OC, was visiting with his daughter from Minnesota and they were going to borrow my Humette. They were drafted into doggie transfer duty before we had a lovely dinner together and then they took off for the evening.
At 6AM today the doggie hospital called and said that Wiggles could go home. I have since brought her home, fed her her special doggie digestive food and watched her normal looking output (no fresh blood). It seems she is on the way to good health, again. There is a special food routine for the next few days but overall, Wiggles appears to be on to solid ground.
Ciao,
p
Symptoms are depression, lack of appetite, vomiting and fresh bloody bowel output.
One would think this is a possible diagnosis for the old dog. Right? Wrong, its Leyla--again! She managed to come up with canine HGE. Its an unexplained, sudden onset of digestive distress coupled with bloody output.
Monday was a late morning given my late arrival from St. Paul. My morning routine is to drag Shawna out of bed and to the stairs leading to the dog run. She stands there trying to wake up while I release Wiggles from her crate. Wiggles shot by the stationary Shawna as is normal. However, Wiggles back area was all soaked and not pretty as she hopped down the stairs. I carried Shawna down the stairs (something I do if she doesn't follow Wiggles) and then followed both of them into the dog run.
Wiggles then assumed the doggie position and proceded to produce puddles of blood. OMG, Wiggles, what is going on with you?
Shawna, no longer being the focus of my attention, followed me into the dog run and then returned to the dining room to do her morning business...this is getting to be NOT FUN!
Rush to the vet with Wiggles. Initial assessment is canine HGE. Battery of tests, IVs needed, xrays in case of a foreign body in her abdomen, special blood test to confirm (or not) packed red blood cells a typical problem with HGE, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Oh, and a small deposit based on the estimate of the needed medical procedures. Hole in my pocket dawg strikes again!
End of the day call from the Vet,
"Leyla (aka Wiggles) is showing good signs. You have a choice of taking her home and nursing her or transferring her into the 24-hour doggie hospital."
"Is she likely to produce blood?"
"Probably once or twice more."
"I faint at the sight of blood."
"OK, I'll arranged the transfer."
By happenstance, one of the Farmers, Tom OC, was visiting with his daughter from Minnesota and they were going to borrow my Humette. They were drafted into doggie transfer duty before we had a lovely dinner together and then they took off for the evening.
At 6AM today the doggie hospital called and said that Wiggles could go home. I have since brought her home, fed her her special doggie digestive food and watched her normal looking output (no fresh blood). It seems she is on the way to good health, again. There is a special food routine for the next few days but overall, Wiggles appears to be on to solid ground.
Ciao,
p
Monday, March 19, 2012
Heading Home (Day 4)
Sunday, March 18: Again a late start. I picked up my sister and we went to the nearby rent-a-space place which my cousin Mary Jo had strongly urged us to use. Its new, clean, air conditioned and just a couple of blocks from Maureen's current apartment.
Maureen had done some counting and measuring of some of the stuff so we rented a 5 x 15 space. This allows her to keep an aisle down the middle and not have to pile things too high to get them into place. Overall, I think it will work just fine for her. We didn't bring the ceremonial first box. But, I am sure Maureen will arrange that soon.
We had lunch and then I dropped her off at her place. Around the corner to fill the rental car with gas and then off to the airport.
Now, you know I fly a lot. You would think I would have:
1) checked for messages from United,
2) used a web browser to check my flight or
3) used my smart phone and one of several apps to check status.
OH NO!, I focused on the rental car deal. The rental car was $25 a day and $19 per hour. So, if you turn the car in after the 72nd hour, you basically get dinged for the next day. They weren't going to get another $19 out of me! No way! I turned the car in an extra hour before my normal airport arrival time to avoid the $19!
I turned in the car, went to the counter to pick up my boarding pass, bounced through security and then looked at the board to see what gate I was going to. United 672 San Francisco Gate E6 5:50 departure DELAYED 7:30PM.
Here I was a full 3.5 hours ahead of my flight thinking "What have I done to save $19?"
At that point I checked my smart phone. I only had three phone calls and three text messages from United the flight was late. How did I miss them? I had turned the phone off and forgotten I had done so to save battery...duh.
Home late and tired. A good trip overall.
Ciao
p
Funeral on St. Patrick's for Patrick (Day 3)
March 17, 2012: I ate breakfast at the hotel because Super 8 does such an outlandish spread for breakfast! I said goodbye to Sandy and Bernie as they headed off to see her folks.
I diddled around before finally pointing the car to St John's Abbey. I arrived late and sat way in the back corner of the large seating area. Again, the monks had decided to put everyone in the choir so I basically was far behind the celebrants. One of the Farmers noted that Patrick has the good sense to have his funeral on St. Patrick's day.
Father J Patrick McDarby OSB, 1927-2012
The celebrants were leading a prayer as I sat. The emotion of being at a funeral washed over me at that point and the tears started. Patrick said a mass for Mary during our weekend at St. Johns in the summer of 2010. Hearing the prayers again, being in that abbey church that Mary loved, and being there because Patrick was gone just hit me like a brick.
Of course, at the moment I am absolutely in full tear mode, one of the monks approaches me and wants to confirm I am there for Patrick's funeral mass. The tears were flowing profusely as he asked and all I could do was nod my head. He then offers to lead me to the choir area so I can hear the ceremony better. Still unable to talk, I shake my head no. With hand signals and a moment or two, I can talk a bit and I told him that Patrick was a favorite of my late wife (a Farmer 68-69) and this was the first funeral I had attended since she died. As a result, I was having a major emotional meltdown and I'd prefer to simply sit in this far back pew. He was very gracious and left me alone for the rest of the ceremony.
The attendees then headed for the cemetery and more prayers and song were done for Patrick. He was lowered into the ground and we each threw a handful of dirt on the simple pine wood casket.
I skipped the lunch because I headed to Duluth to visit with Reenie (Mary's sister) and husband, Tom. We met in Hinkley Minnesota at a place called Tobies. We had a fine visit, a late lunch and discussed the solution to all the world's problems. Reenie has had a rough time medically these past few months but she seemed to be in fine condition and was feeling much better.
I returned to Minneapolis and checked into the Radisson (priceline rocks). After dumping stuff in my room, I went for a walk up and down Nicollet Mall. Minneapolis was one of the first cities in the US to take a major street and turn it into a permanent walking mall. I think it was done in the 60's. The Mary Tyler Moore TV show was 'based' in Minneapolis and it opened with Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat in the air on the Nicollet Mall. Here is the statue that been put up since that show was done.
Here is the opening clip from the TV show. The end of this clip is the moment they are capturing in the statue.
Mary Tyler Moore Opening Clip
Well, the weather here has been unbelievably warm! The car thermometer is showing 80, 81, 82 degrees during the day. Considering that March usually brings a major blizzard--often on St. Pats so its called the St Pat's Blizzard. To have shirt sleeve weather for St Pat's is unheard of. The mall was full of people and police. I leaned I had just missed the parade, one of the reasons the mall was swarming with people. After a nice stroll and lots of people watching, I went back to the hotel for a late supper. Again, a martini to toast Patrick and a brie and spinach salad. It was really good.
Here is the opening clip from the TV show. The end of this clip is the moment they are capturing in the statue.
Mary Tyler Moore Opening Clip
Well, the weather here has been unbelievably warm! The car thermometer is showing 80, 81, 82 degrees during the day. Considering that March usually brings a major blizzard--often on St. Pats so its called the St Pat's Blizzard. To have shirt sleeve weather for St Pat's is unheard of. The mall was full of people and police. I leaned I had just missed the parade, one of the reasons the mall was swarming with people. After a nice stroll and lots of people watching, I went back to the hotel for a late supper. Again, a martini to toast Patrick and a brie and spinach salad. It was really good.
I ate a the bar so I met all sorts of folks. The most interesting was a St. Ben's grad from the class of 2011. When I said I was in town for a funeral and the conversation led to "a monk at St John's", she reacted quite strongly. It turns out she had worked in the monks retirement center while a student. When I showed her his picture, she confirmed that she had known Patrick! Small world!
Well, I closed the bar at the Radisson. Not hard to do, they only kept it open until midnight. Clearly, it was not party central for St. Pats.
Ciao,
p
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