STILL WITH IT

I can't believe it. After much talk, the gentleman that was to buy my boat did ot show up. I'm not heartbroken, but I am disappointed. We took the boat out twice this weekend, and each time solidified my belief that the boat is stronger now than ever before. I don't want to sell it at all. But I need to. Wanna buy a boat? I'm getting tons of calls, but none follow-through.

Here's the update into Alison's health: This week just a white-blood cell booster but next week is the next CT scan. And right now, I am not worried. Last weekend Ali and I cleaned the garage. I'm not worried because I put her walker and her shower chair out there - to collect dust. Her physical pain is nixed. She's doing so well. I try to encourage her a little everyday. I know that to persevere takes courage. To win takes directed effort and even enthusiasm. She's already done better than I would have, but I know a little encouragement goes a long way. My hat's off to her. Keep it up honey!

Tragedy Strikes

If you have a TV, you know what happened here at the Airshow. I'd just come in off the boat, thinking I'd seen the Angels fly yesterday anyways, when my dad called asking if I knew what happened. I had no clue.

What a tragedy. I hope no civilians were hurt or killed. What happens next is the military cordons off the site with an emergency reclamation team, and launches a mishap investigation. It'll likely be weeks before we know the 'why.'
I did think it was funny that CNN was just patching anyone in the area onto live Television. One caller said, yeah, I saw a puff of smoke....I'm actually halfway home to Columbia now..." And Fox was worse, quoting a Mr. Popp as Mr. Poop on their initial web-article.
The whole thing puts an eerie spin on my last post.

Blue Angels and the Boat

Ali and I decided to make one last boat-trip today, out into the river to watch the Blue Angels perform. The river is wide, and at the end of the runway, so it's the best seat in town! You can see pictures here, or just click to another webpage...
It's airshow weekend in South Carolina!

Thinking of the Good Times

I THINK today will be the last day that I own my boat. So, I wanted to put some pictures on here to reminisce...

Definition

Lately I've thought about definitions. I suppose it started with my sister's brainstorming:
'What is the definition of creativity?'
'What defines creativity?'
When I draw something, my marks define the object I'm articulating. My thoughts make tiny decisions in tinier increments of time, which fire action commands to my hands, actions which produce effects that are interpreted by my eyes. My eyes send their information back to my brain, which compares the effects with my design.
I design, nay, define my drawing.
Since I had that thought, I've noticed the definition concept in more and more places. HDTV.

I'll end now by saying we're drawing our lives. Our decisions become the markings that define us. I'm more and more aware of this, and getting better at using my minds eye to interpret my own defining marks... and adjusting as necessary.

The Frantic Pace of Life

I called home yesterday and heard Alison's tears. She couldn't describe to me what was wrong, and I had to return to class in two minutes. It was difficult to leave the phone, but as soon as I returned to my seat I knew why. She was lonely. She gets that way after her family leaves. And she's not used to having me gone yet either. For a good bit life was her and I, taking the days to adjust to life with cancer. Now we're transitioning again. And tears mean transition. They also mean that I need to breathe slower.

Is life this crazy for everyone?

I've been working 5:45 AM to 6:45 PM, then studying till 9 PM before I pass out. Today was the test, which I barely passed, so tonight is the first night I had to spend with Ali. I'm working on leaving my current job for another, covering for the guy that covered for me for so long (he needs a good vacation and technically I should be paying for it... he did a lot while I was out). Add to the schedule that I am attending a 40hr Lean/Six Sigma Green-belt course (the test mentioned earlier was not for this), and my schedule equals caffeine and sleep.

Back to my point: Alison's a sweetheart. She had a treat from Sonic for me when I got home today (eat your heart out Michael), and had cleaned the house. She's the ultimate wife, even in poor health. I'm earmarking this page, and coming back to it in order to remind me to try to thank her properly.

Handling Sin

The family has departed after a nice stay, many many logs reduced to ash in the fire-pit, and a good easter meal. Alison and I are feeling worn, and we're relaxing to compensate. Normally in these situations, we'd both read a book and nap intermittently, but finding ourselves lacking in the former, we ventured into town. Shantaram was the suggestion from an old man in the book store on Bay Street, so I thought he may have another suggestion. So when I asked today, I followed him blindly. Alison and I had a good time there, and as I left I recognized that for the first time, I find myself preferring the local bookstore to the larger, more popular chains.


Synopsis:
In the Ides of March, our hero, Raleigh Whittier Hayes (forgetful husband, baffled father, prosperous insurance agent and leading citizen of Thermopylae, North Carolina), learns that his father has discharged himself from the hospital, taken all his money out of the bank and, with a young black female mental patient, vanished in a yellow Cadillac convertible. Left behind is a mysterious list of seven outrageous tasks that Raleigh must perform in order to rescue his father and his inheritance.

Graduation

This morning Alison's nephew became a Marine. He graduated from Parris Island Recruit Depot, which happens to be about ten minutes away from the house. It was really something to see the transformation in him.

We're entertaining family this weekend. And I am glad they all were here to see him and to congratulate him. Go get 'em, Marine.