The little pleasures in life...

Whew...Very hot today...I was almost happy to hang out in the nursing home today, because they keep it nice and cool.:)

The morning started rough...The whole world was crumbling around my Dad because he could not get any channels on TV except to watch "My Friend Flicka in Spanish!" Boy, did that make him mad. So, needless to say, I was on the phone ordering Direct TV as soon as my Mom called me this morning...It gets installed tomorrow morning.

We went down and spent the morning with him. When the Physical Therapy guys came to get him for his session around Noon, my Mom and I decided to grab some lunch. We passed my Dad's friend Mark, who waited for him to get done with PT, and along with my Uncle, sat outside and watched my Dad relish in the Marlboro (well 3 Marlboros) that my Uncle lit for him...My Uncle said that his attitude went from caustic to teddy bear in about 1.2 cigarettes...;)

When we went back a little later, he was much calmer, and really had a gung-ho spirit about him. That nicotine is really something...:) Just kidding...I think it is a combination of many things, but that familarity helped to ground him a little.

He had a great night...I went and got him a Schlotsky's sandwich and chips, on request, and he got to go out for a smoke on the patio with my Aunt and Uncle, Mom and I...A perfect end to a beautiful, summer evening. He was looking forward to a good night's sleep.

A funny story before I finish tonight...When my Dad was in the emergency room a week and a half ago, he had not eaten at all that morning. He was so hungry. The ER nurse said I could go grab him something to eat. So, I ask him what he wants. He tells me that he wants "a good sandwich from that place." I asked him if he could be more specific...And he said " you know...that good place...Over there..." And he is pointing to the corner of the little room we are in. So, I start quizzing him to try and find out what he means. "You mean Submarina?" He says "No, I said I wanted a GOOD sandwich..." So, after about 2 minutes of this going back and forth, he gets frustrated with me, and decides he is going to ask the ER nurse what the name of the place is...This would be fine, if the ER nurse was nearby...She was at the nurses station, which was about 20 feet away, and he could still see her. Well, he looks at the dry erase board where the previous shift had written their names..."RN: Monika and TECH: Rose." He begins bellowing "ROSE!" over and over again. I am telling him to stop shouting, and to be quiet...Well, this was really bothering him, along with the fact that the ER nurse was unresponsive. After about 7 or 8 shouts of "ROSE!" I get his attention and try and work out what he is talking about, and tell him that I don't think her name is Rose.. I ask him where it is...He says "the Mall..." I ask him which end...He says "by Montgomery Wards..." I say "you mean Walmart?" He says "yes, on the corner..." I say "you mean Schlotsky's??" He says "Yes. I love that place." I tell him that I had no idea he even knew what Schlotsky's was...About this time, the ER nurse walks in, and I take a look at her name tag, turn to my Dad and say..."Dad, this is Susie..." No wonder she didn't answer to Rose...:)

Have a wonderful weekend, and love to all.