Holding

Well, no plane trip tomorrow.  Dad had kinda a bad weekend.  He had to take a fair amount of pain medication and it's knocked him for a loop.

His wound has not completely healed and one area is now draining again.  They have a culture being prepared so we will know tomorrow whether or not it has any nasties roaming around inside.  He does not have a fever and his white blood count is not elevated, however, so I am optimistic.

The more mundane yet painful part has been a horrible pain in his neck.  Just from being bedridden, I suppose, but it's been extremely painful.  We just had a massage therapist in and she worked him over pretty good.  I could hear his neck bones cracking from across the room.  The therapy seems to have been near miraculous in its results.  He says he feels much better.

So...we're on hold.  I have made tentative reservations for Friday...but that is mere speculation on my part. 

The wound care folks are just about done with him and then we'll go downstairs for some more pain-in-the-neck therapy.

More when I know more...

Tick Tock

The countdown continues.  Tuesday cannot come soon enough for me or dad...  We want to go home.

Thursday we went over to Providence hospital for an appointment with his surgeon.  They took numerous x-rays.  The doc thought they were very pretty pictures indeed.  He's packing a bunch of metal in his right leg and the x-rays were quite amazing...lots of wires, pins and other hardware...but everything in its proper place and alignment.  His wound is healing well and the doc couldn't have been more pleased.

Yesterday we did the usual therapy routine and it went well...although he is still very skittish about anything that makes him feel like he might fall.  Can't say that I blame in on the one hand; but on the other hand his fear of falling makes therapy less effective than it might otherwise be...and I am concerned that once he is home he will simply refuse to participate in any meaningful therapy.  But that is a concern for another day...

He apparently had considerable discomfort last evening and this morning and has had two doses of narcotics.  He is oblivious today.   I will stay through lunch and hopefully I can get some food into him...but I doubt if I will be able to get him up and about today. 

In other news, Joan Kasson was up on business and Wednesday night we had a delightful dinner at a Kinley's, a very nice restaurant just a block from my hotel.  I had noticed the place in passing but had not recognized it as being a respectable establishment.  I had fresh Kodiak scallops and they were outstanding.  For dessert I ordered an apple/cinnamon sorbet and it was delicious - I think I need to buy an ice cream maker...

Well...back to Captain Aubrey/Dr. Maturin in Volume 13 of their saga titled The Thirteen Gun Salute.  The boys are off to the Pacific coast of South America to sow confusion among their enemies. If today proves as uneventful as I expect,  I will be purchasing Volumes 14-17 later this afternoon.  

Later gang... 

Extra Large - Petite

Well, homeward bound next Tuesday - first class from Anchorage to Juneau on Alaska flight 64.  All our therapy is focused on navigating the perils of the journey home.  Dad and I are becoming increasingly proficient on the use of the transfer board.  It sounds like we will not have a Hoyer Lift in Juneau until a week or so after our arrival.

The one pair of dad's worn out pants on hand are not transfer board friendly.  So after a long discussion with the physical therapist I was dispatched on a mission to the Sears mall.  My quest was for ladie's sweatpants in what I was told was the "petite" genre but size X-Large.  Huh?  I was far from certain about these instructions; but as near as I can tell "petite" means short and "X-large" means fat.

After explaining my needs at length to two clerks at the mall, they managed to convey to me that they did not carry petite sizes in any flavor.  But they did understand I was looking for sweatpants for a ninety-five year old gentleman who tops-out at about five feet and has a serious jelly belly.  After rummaging around for a bit we agreed upon a pair of very smart navy blue sweatpants that I am confident will be the cat's meow transfer board-wise. 

While out-and-about I also took the opportunity to purchase volumes elevent to thirteen of the Captain Jack Aubrey/Ship's Surgeon Steven Maturin adventure series as well as to vote in yesterday's primary election.

And speaking of elections, I guess I was at least mildly surprised at this morning's results.  Looks like Ms. Murkowski may be sent packing.  Guess she just wasn't crazy enough for Alaskan's dyed-in-the-wool Republicans.  I have listened to a lot of radio and tv ads the past month or so and have thought all along that Mr. Miller's blandishments, breast-beating, and lies were much more likely to turn the heads of Alaska's true believers than Ms. Murkowski's line of nonsense. 

Ms. Murkowski's campaign was focused on opposition to everything President Obama has attempted the past two years.  Mr. Miller's campaign was that Ms. Murkowski was really a supporter of President Obama - that she was, if not a card-carrying socialist, then at least a closet liberal. One could argue that Ms. Murkowski's ads were actually harmful to her - simply reminding the whack-jobs how bad the stuff was that she, herself, was being accused of supporting by her opponent.

Also, one suspects that the ballot initiative requiring parental consent for abortions by minors also was problematic for Ms. Murkowski who is tepidly pro-choice.  No doubt the mullahs were herding their flocks last Sunday to support Mr. Miller who is conventionally anti-choice.

Well, time to go to PT.  Later gang.

Let's Go Home!

A quiet Sunday.  Got dad into the atrium for 3 hours or so.  He was in good spirits both yesterday and today.  Today's physical therapy was good -   we got him standing with the assistance of a hydraulic lift.  The machine grabbed him by the butt and stood him up while he rested his arms on a table.  He can put weight on both legs.  The drill convinced him that he can be upright.  But will he ever be able to do those things by himself?  I tend to think not...

After the PT we spent a couple of hours in the atrium...he loves soaking up the sun.

Dad's mind is pretty good.  He is thinking about the logistics of getting home.  He REALLY wants to be in Juneau.   A huge motivator which all the staff and I will shamelessly use this week to gain his cooperation on things he might not otherwise be so hotsy-totsy about. 

I finished my business at the hospital around 2 PM and went for a work out. It was around 4:30 PM when I was done...so did not stop back at the hospital.  As I was parking at a low/middle brow (or is that middle/low brow) eating establishment, I got a call from the Juneau Hospice and Home Care folks.  Answered a few questions.  Talked about procuring various medical supplies.  I have the utmost confidence in the Juneau home care folks.  We are on course for a return home.

This is going to be a very closely run thing...and I am under no illusions regarding the effort involved in sustaining dad at home.  We may fail.  But then again, we may not - and dad's resilience never ceases to amaze me. 

And, as for me - as I was so fond of telling my colleagues at the office when faced with a difficult task:  "It all pays the same."  I am retired, single and fancy free...not that this was exactly what I had in mind...but life is full of whimsy and odd twists and turns.  Or as Grandma Newman used to say: "Such it is..."

In any event, by this time tomorrow I hope to be able to report a definitive departure date from Anchorage.

Until then...

My Father the Failed Coyote

A beautiful day in Anchorage today.  Not going to last though...the clouds are already rolling-in and I see showers on the hillside.

Dad was in good spirits today. He sat-up for almost three hours and I wheeled him down to the atrium where he could enjoy the sun.  We did exercises.  He watched a Mariners vs. Yankees game while I read a book.  He was not happy with the outcome of today's game although he waxed enthusisastic about yesterday's game where the Mariners gave the hated Yanks a serious pounding.  Dad's two most hateful things in life at this point are the New York Yankees and a wrinkle on the sheets under his butt.

The ol' coot's mind is pretty good - although narcotics do throw him off his stride and if he is given a pain killer at night he has some mighty interesting observations the next day.  More on that shortly.

The tale I wish to tell, however, I believe to be a more-or-less accurate historical account.  And it is one I had never heard before.  He related it yesterday while undergoing physical therapy.  The young lady therapist was hugely amused. 

It seems that back in the 1930's dad, "Stick" Sturrock, and another gentleman whose name I had not heard before and have already forgotten took a trip to Tijuana, Mexico.  The unremembered gentleman had worked at the Alaska-Juneau mine for several years; but his home was Seattle and "Stick" and dad accompanied him home.  The gentleman had a car in Seattle and all three lads drove down the coast to San Diego.

From San Diego they took a cab to Tijuana.  Dad's eyes lit up at the recollection of the dance halls with their associated female hangers-on.  They danced 'till hell wouldn't have it.  And after an undisclosed period of time - hours days or weeks - they returned to San Diego.

However it seems that at least one of the dance hall babes had not had nearly enough of the young Alaskans and hitched along. Dad said they "couldn't get rid of her."  He did not elaborate as to whom the young lady was particularly attached and I did not press him on the subject.  In any event, the dance hall gal was unceremoniously ejected at the border by the authorities.  So endeth dad's brief career as a smuggler of undocumented aliens - I suspect the term "coyote" had not yet been invented.

By way of contrast, this morning when I walked into the hospital room he launched on his adventures of the previous night.  It seems that two nurses came into the room about 2:30 AM and took all the covers off of his bed.  He thought they were drunk or on drugs.  He said there were "wild goings-on in the hospital."

The day before the doc had changed his pain meds from morphine or oxycodone to vicadin.  He had been given some vicadin at 10:00 PM.  When I suggested that the big party last night MAY have been a figment of his imagination he seemed half-willing to believe I may be correct.  But only half...

The vicadin seems much less long-lasting than the other narcotics.  He was able to function today...which is not the case if he has been loaded-up on the other stuff during the night.

Now...it may be the case that both of these stories are the product of drug-induced hallucinations or dreams.  But the first one strikes me as authentic.  And regardless, it is so charming that I am filing it away as part of family history.

So there you have it!

A Better Plan

Well, a long day yesterday.  But the end result is a new and improved discharge plan for dad.  He has a follow-up appointment with his orthopedic surgeon next Thursday and shortly thereafter we will return to Juneau and the familiar confines of the folks' double-wide at Switzer Village. In the meantime we will remain at St. Elias.

This plan is not without its perils, of course.  Dad is very weak and I have no reason to believe that a miraculous recovery is in the offing.  Slow progress is the BEST that can be hoped for and that is not guaranteed.  Mom, Linda, and I will have our hands full.  Dad is enthusiastic about the plan, of course.

I have been in contact with the Hospice and Home Care folks in Juneau and they will be providing us in-home services.  We'll put a hospital bed in the front room.  We may need a lift to get him in-and-out of bed; but I am learning how to use a transfer board (help him scoot on his butt from point A to point B using a small board) and after he sees the orthopod we may be able to do the stand and pivot routine.

I will be learning a number of new skills in the next week under the watchful eye of the St. Elias staff...  Excellent folks.

Speaking of which...duty calls...

Later gang!

Roller Coaster

A very unhappy meeting yesterday with the discharge planner here.  I was just walking into the hospital, feeling quite chipper after a good workout, when I was accosted at the door and presented with the statement that there were no open nursing beds in Juneau or Anchorage (I already knew that), an open bed was available for dad at the nursing home in Seward, dad would lose his eligibility to remain at St. Elias on Friday, and therefore we were going to be Seward bound.

Huh?  Seward?  No consultation?  No discussion of other possibilities?  I was not pleased with either the message or the messenger.

I left the discharge planner with the understanding I wanted to have a more serious discussion today and wanted more information about possible placements Outside (perhaps a Veteran's facility), or even a nursing home in Seattle or Portland.  I mentioned Wrangell too - apparently the hospital/nursing home there has carved-out a niche in serving Juneau folks when the Juneau facility is full.  I emphasized that I still assumed our goal was to return to Juneau at the earliest possible date either to the nursing home or to the folks' abode.

I spoke to mom and her reaction was no different than mine...then I called Catholic Community Services in Juneau to get them involved in a possible discharge plan home.  I have not yet heard from the St. Elias discharge functionary this morning...

I did, however, have a very pleasant conversation with the doc a few minutes ago.  She believes that dad could return home although it would obviously require a LOT of support.  She believes it is possible to rent hoyer lifts and I know that hospital beds are obtainable in Juneau.  I expressed to the doc my supreme displeasure with the notion of being turfed-out to Seward.  A few minutes later she came back and said that since dad had an appointment with his surgeon here in Anchorage on the 26th of this month; he really needed to remain here.

Now I would like to think that a doc's opinion would trump the discharge planner's desire to give us the heave-ho.  But at the end of the day this is all ultimately going to be about money - who is willing to pay for what - and I DO understand why Medicare is not eager to pay for dad to remain in a facility that provides services he no longer needs at a cost higher than a nursing home. 

So...mixed messages.  The battle is joined.  I am contemplating buying a length of chain and a substantial lock so I can lash dad to his bed when I am not present.  Hah!  Stay tuned...

Holding Pattern

Sorry I haven't posted...the wifi was down at the hotel most the of the weekend and it's hard to concentrate here at the hospital...always some distraction...

At any rate we are now entering a "hold" of the proverbial "all dressed-up but no place to go" variety.

Dad has been deemed too weak to successfully undergo rehab at the Providence facility.  And he is too well to remain here at St. Elias.  But he's not strong enough to go home (he cannot stand unassisted or even do a stand and pivot with my help - much less with mom's or my sister's assistance).  So by the simple yet effective process of elimination we are bound for a nursing home - at least temporarily - as soon as a bed can be located.

And right now there are no beds in Anchorage or Juneau.  All hands agree that Juneau is where we want to be; but if a bed opens up first in Anchorage we will have to do a little two-step.

In other news the seriously crappy weather continues in Anchorage.  We are now four days into a new record for consecutive days with measureable rainfall.  Over a month.  Even Juneau has been nicer - they had a couple of near 80 degree days last week.  Amazing.

Well, dad is awake so gonna chat-him-up for a bit and then go have supper.  Then home and TV and/or reading.  I  am now into volume seven of the Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin Royal Navy saga.  It's 1813 and the boys have just been shipwrecked on the coast of France.  But since there are twelve more volumes in the series, I have a hunch they will be able to extricate themselves in only another fifty or so pages.

Tally Ho!

Ms. Moosey

My description of dad's condition is a bit more graphic than usual...so I will put it at the end of this entry and those among you who are averse to such matters may easily take a pass...

On a cheerful note, Alison Elgee was in town the past couple of days and I certainly enjoyed her company.  Last evening before supper we cruised down the Seward Highway a few miles to Potter's Marsh in the hope of doing some bird watching.  And while the birds were noticeably shy we did get to see a cow moose up close and personal.

Ms. Moosey takin' a rest and a chew. 

And after we had walked to one end of the boardwalk, Ms. Moosey had the good taste to walk down towards the other end..

Ms. Moosey within about 50 feet of Alison and Elmo...close as we cared to get.

After our Potter Marsh experience Alison and I headed back to town for supper.  We met her colleagues, Michelle and Kelly, whose last names I am ashamed to say I have already forgotten, and who work for the Department of Health and Social Services budget shop and the Governor's Office of Management and Budget respectively. We dined at "Ginger" which Alison described as a pan asian restaurant with the emphasis on the pan. 

Supper was quite delightful.  The company and conversation were most congenial and the food good.  We shared appetizers which were very serviceable although certainly not extraordinary.  For a second course I had a spinach salad that was good.  

But the duck chinois main course was truly wonderful .  Rubbed with Chinese 5 spice and served on a bed of fried rice I would put this course up against anything I've had in the Great Northwest .  Delightful!

Dessert was also shared among the assembled and I was particularly taken by Kelly's green tea infused creme brulee.  My meal was washed down with several glasses of a pinot noir whose provenance also escapes me at the moment - althought I am sure it was Californian.  And a good glass of port with dessert.  Oh yeah, and a taste of something that was like an ice wine, but whose character is derived by a bacteria of some sort.  Interesting.  But way too sweet for me.  

A most delightful evening.

I have also downloaded several pics from my walk on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail last weekend.  But I will save them for filler later.  They are not remarkable. 

So...back to dad.

On the good news front, his mind is as clear as a bell.  And the staff love him.  Except maybe the nurse last night who he jumped all over for putting pillows under his back to his discomfort.  I expect she was trying to get him rolled over a bit...off his butt which is subject to bed sores.  A serious pillow fight by all accounts.

Today his occupational therapy started out fine with lots of arm and shoulder strengthening exercises  Unfortunately, the physical therapy did not go so well.  He stood, with assistance, several times; but then he crapped his pants.  Not surprising - you lay in a bed all the time and the first time you stand up nature and gravity come into play.

He wanted to go back to his room to get cleaned-up and unfortunately continued to suffer from loose bowel movements all afternoon.  It's humiliating to him to have to be cleaned-up.  And I was concerned this afternoon that the edema in his arms seems to be worse.  

His therapy is also hampered by his fear of falling.  When the therapist attempts to stand him upright...he freaks-out...cannot hold his head up enough to lock his hips into a stable standing posture.  Tomorrow I suspect we'll try a device that is designed to help counteract this very natural fear...

On the good news front, however, we are expecting an evaluation from the Providence rehab folks shortly and we are not going to be given the heave-ho from St. Elias.  The goal remains rehab and returning home.

I continue to serve as morale officer to the best of my ability.

Every day I gain more respect for the staff here at the hospital.  A truly great crew.

The jury is still out kids... 

People

Well, a pretty good day with dad.  Our PT this morning was attempting to stand-up with the assistance of the therapist and parrallel bars.  He could not stand by himself; but was able to stand with minimal support from the therapist.  His mind was very clear and good today.  Modest progress.  Tomorrow is committee review day...we'll see what they think...

My days have been pretty routine.  To the hospital in the morning, a workout mid-day, back to the hospital, supper, bed...and then do it all over again.  But even so, I have a few observations.

Alaska remains a state of itinerant laborers.  The oil guys, of course.  I was vastly amused by a conversation with a lad from Mississippi while I was at the Motel 6 waiting for a cab one morning.  He was waxing indignant about the influx of low-wage hispanics in Mississippi.  They take all the jobs.  They aren't like "us".  Yet he was oblivious to the irony of traveling 3000 miles or so to work on the North Slope three weeks on and two weeks off.  And I can assure you he ain't like "me"...although he may well be like "us" Alaskans - generically speaking -  in the year 2010.  A decent lad in his own way, I suppose, but nobody I would invite into my own home.

On the other hand, I had a delightful conversation with a gal at the Peanut Farm the other evening.  Turns out she is a uniformed Coast Guard reservist serving in the Gulf of Mexico.  She's been there for two years working on a project to remove hazards to navigation from the Misssissippi River and its various tributaries in Louisiana.  Lots of boats both small and not so small.  And lots of other weird shit besides.  She previously lived in Anchorge - served in Sitka and Kodiak and plans to make Alaska her home.  I would be more than happy to invite her into my home.

Last night I was choking down an exceedingly mediorcre meal at a well known chain restaurant of no distinction when I found myself sitting next to a young army guy.  A tour in Iraq.  A tour in Afghanistan.  From Texas originally.  Struck me as a very decent lad...sobered by his experiences...but quite together.  We spoke about a number of things political and otherwise and while he was certainly more conservative than myself, he struck me as tolerant, thoughtful, and mature.  I bought him dinner.

On the other hand, tonight I was sitting at the bar at TGI Fridays (another monumentally forgettable meal) when two guys sat down to my left.  They ordered a martini and a manhattan...were minding their own business when they were set-upon by a couple of louts sitting to their left who questioned their sexual orientation. 

The louts had been announcing to one and all for a half-hour that they were just in from fishing in the Bering Sea (I reckon this is supposed to be a babe magnet thing in the Deadliest Catch era) and apparently thought that a little gay bashing would further burnish their manly credentials.

To the credit of the TGI Friday's staff...the louts were immediately given the bum's rush.  I bought the gay bois a drink.

So there you have it...   

Out of the Mouth of Babes

A very amusing posting by daughter Amanda on facebook yesterday.  She's spending the summer as a counselor at the Newman Foundation's Painted Turtle camp for medically needy kiddos.   

Question to a 10 year old boy camper: If you could make up a constellation of stars in the sky to represent you, what would it be?
Camper: Me and Lady Gaga at a Sizzler!

 A date with Lady Gaga at a Sizzler?  Go figure.  At that age I might have said "big ol' jet airliner" or maybe "my friends' basset hound, Maynard."  That 10 year old is going to go far...

In other news, a fairly uneventful day.  Gave dad a fairly rigorous workout this morning and afterward he was hoisted into a wheelchair so I could take him outside for a bit.  It was quite nice early this afternoon and he enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air.  He was pooped-out after I got back from my workout late this afternoon so I did not force him to have a second go with the weights.  Still, I certainly detected some improvement with his strength - particularly his legs.  Tomorrow I believe we will try to get him standing upright.  We'll see...

Otherwise not much to report.  I'm waiting for the laundry to finish drying and will then go out and find some food.   

Good News Bad News

The good news first.  Yesterday they removed the central line in dad's neck as well as the wound vac on this hip.  His wound appears to be healing nicely and it is  no longer draining.  Unfortunately, they loaded the ol' boy up with oxycontin for the removal procedures and he was loopy all afternoon and evening.  Only minimal therapy yesterday.

The bad news is that they removed the central line and wound vac - two items that allowed him to meet the criteria for residing in St. Elias.  So, I expect a battle next week over what we do next.  The box in which I am afraid we are going to find ourselves is that he is too well to remain where he's at but too weak to go to the rehab program at Providence.  I assume that would leave an Anchorage nursing home as the only viable placement.  And I fear that the rehab at a nursing home will not be sufficiently rigorous to allow him to gain enough strength to go home. 

The staff has a meeting next Tuesday that I expect will be critical.  And the best thing we can do is demonstrate before then that he IS making progress with his therapy.  The physical therapist wants to try to get him standing on Monday.  A very important milestone.

I went to the hospital this morning and he was alert and feeling pretty good.  I assisted him with upper body and leg exercises.  I will go back late this afternoon and we'll do some more exercises.  The PT and OT staff don't work on the weekends. 

In the meantime, I am going to go for a walk on the coastal trail.  Need some fresh air.  The weather is pretty decent today with broken clouds and light winds.  Quite pleasant.

Perhaps I can get some decent pictures...  

Triceps

Two workouts for the ol' coot today.  Workout #1 was getting him on a table that was cranked from the horizontal to the vertical - putting weight on his legs for the first time in several weeks.  Did not require any effort whatsoever on his part - so he thought it was pretty damn good therapy.  It IS good therapy - makes his leg muscles work.  And he did fine.

Workout #2 involved hoisting him from the bed into a wheel chair and then motoring down to the "gym" where he did some upper body strength training.  Shoulders, biceps and triceps.  Again, he did pretty well.  In fact I think he surprised himself.  Then the hoist back to bed.

I am under the impression that both his physical and occupational therapists are of the opinon that he is a good candidate for the intensive rehab program at Providence.  Not so sure about the docs opinion and I have not yet seen the evaluator from Providence.  Dad says he's willing to give it his all - a commitment to cooperate with three hours of rehab a day. Stay tuned...

In other news I had a nice supper with Alison at Jens last evening.  I had a beef Wellington and Alison enjoyed the Veal entree.  We shared a couple of appetizers - a salmon gravad lax on my part and a duck sausage with honey and mustard on Alison' part.  Both tasty.  My dessert was a key lime pie and Alison had a Scandinavian berry compote with cream.  A delightful supper and a real pleasure company-wise.  It's possible we can do it again next week...

The weather forecast for the weekend is mixed.  Some showers but some sun too.  If dad is doing well I may see if he will countenance my taking a leave day...either drive down the Kenai or up into Palin country.  Would like to do some walking outdoors and maybe some birding...  I brought my camera and gear.  We'll see.

This afternoon I was working-out at the Alaska Club East and when I got off the treadmill and turned-around there was my cousin Brock humping away on the stairmaster.  He was right behind me...but did not recognize my bald pate.  Hah.

We immediately recognized each other face-to-face - although he did allow that I looked older than when I last saw him three years ago.  I have already forgiven him for the comment which, sadly, is simply a statement of the obvious.  On the other hand, he looks amazingly like his mom - something I guess I never really recognized before.  Which is to say he also looks somewhat like me - in a six foot plus sort of way.  Lots of shared genes when two brothers marry two sisters...his mom, Janis, was Aunt Emilie's daughter.  Jan passed away back in the 1970's.

I have spoken with Brock several times since I've been in Anchorage.  But dad has not wanted company - so we had not yet got together.  We will do so.  Brock has two boys - about 12 and 10, I believe.  They were swimming at the club.  His wife works in the ER at the Alaska Native Medical Center.  Brock is taking care of the lads.

By all accounts Brock, his wife Ruth Ann and the kids are thriving.  Perhaps I need to take my two young cousins shopping with their dad.  That would amuse me. 

Wet, Wet, Wet

Started raining last night and hasn't stopped all day...although it looks like there might be a break in the offing.  Might be a little better this weekend.  We'll see.

I've been doing my routine.  To the hospital between 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM, a couple of hours off for a workout mid-day, and then back to the hospital 'til 4:00 PM or so.  Lots of folks parading through dad's room during the course of the day.  The physical therapist got him into a wheelchair today and we toured around for awhile and then went to the "gym" for some strength training.  Dad's been doing better every day.  But it's slow.

This afternoon I met with the discharge planner and we talked about options.  Best, of course, would be discharge home.  But based on the pace of his recovery, I think it unlikely we will be homeward bound anytime real soon.  Providence has an intensive rehab program - three hours of therapy each day.  That would be the best option if Providence thinks he can handle it and he's willing to try.  The other option would be a nursing facility where I expect he would receive less therapy than he is currently receiving.  Discharge home would still be the goal but I strongly suspect the likelihood of achieving it would be less likely via the nursing home than through the intensive rehab.

At some point (I'm guessing one or two weeks) he will no longer need the medical support provided at St. Elias and Medicare and his private insurance will demand a discharge of some sort.  Time will tell.

In other news, Alison is in Anchorage on business and tonight we're going to a restaurant called Jens.  I'm really looking forward to it.  Jens was one of Arthur Snowden's favourite dining establishments.  I will report!

Doodle Dandy

A first rate day on the father front.  The ol' coot's appetite is rebounding.  He is engaged in his therapy.  Indeed he seems to have enchanted his various caregivers with his wit, charm, and good humor.  He's always been a serious bullshitter.  The occupational therapist got him sitting up this morning and the physical therapist had him upright again this afternoon.  In the interval he entertained the dietician and was the model patient while the wound people changed his dressing.  He maintains he has little pain.  The doc is very satisfied with his progress thus far.

I am going to take my camera to the hospital tomorrow and perhaps I can catch some good pics of the ol' boy and his admirers/care givers.

In other news, I am delighted with my new digs.  A small sitting room with a couch and TV.  A bedroom with a king sized bed and another TV.  A tub that is suitable for soaking.  And best yet, they reduced the rate to under $100  a day when I extended my reservation to 30 days.

Yesterday I got caught-up on laundry and otherwise got organized.  There's now milk, juice and ice cream in the fridge.  Cereal in the cupboard.  Life is good.

Just got back from the Moose's Tooth Pizzaria and Brew Pub.  Great beer.  I was not so impressed with the pizza although I will give it another chance.  Had a thin crust and I expect that  thin crust is not their specialty.  I did enjoy watching the kitchen/server staff however.  They've got a shift of 50 folks working the kitchen and tables and the joint has the same feeling of controlled chaos as an acute care hospital ward.  I'm guessing the place seats a couple hundred guests.  They have a payroll of over 150.  A going concern.  I was seated about 4:00 PM and when I left at 5:30 PM there were at least 50 people waiting to get in...

Two noteworthy obits today:

Just heard on the evening news that Mitch Miller of "Sing Along with Mitch" fame kicked the proverbial bucket today at the tender age of 99.  As a young kiddo, the Mitch Miller Christmas album was among my all time favourites.  Ahhhh the memories....

On a more esoteric note, Morrie Yohai, inventor of the Cheese Doodle, passed away on July 27th at a mere age 90.  Mr.Yohai was particularly proud of the Doodle as a healthy food insofar as it was an extruded BAKED as opposed to FRIED snack.  In his later years Mr. Yohai devoted himself to studying the Torah and was something of a mystic.

The sun is currently shining.  I may have to go for a walk although I did have a very satisfactory workout today.  And it's supposed to reach 68 degrees tomorrow so I am going to wear shorts come hell or high water.

Company

Well, a little variety yesterday.  I met my landlord, Bob Dilley, at the airport in the morning.  He brought me a suitcase with some of dad's medical supplies and my mail.  So today I'll pay bills.  How exciting.

Bob was on a mission - to secure a new and bigger boat.  He succeeded and the craft will be sent to Juneau via ferry later in the month.  He seemed quite pleased and the rest of the family will be too, I suspect.  The Dilley's are serious fisher people - unlike many Juneauites a boat is a cost-effective entertainment for the family - they're out on the water all the time.  A larger boat will allow for overnight expeditions.  And the Lindstroms will get a fair cut of their ocean bounty.  Heh.  Heh.

Picked Bob up at the Dimond mall in mid-afternoon and we had a late lunch before I dropped him at the airport to return home.  It was great to have the company and he assured me I have not missed anything in Juneau.

Dad's faculties seem to have returned to normal.  He read the paper yesterday and we discussed several stories.  He took a keen interest in Mr. Dilley's new boat.  The edema in his arms is noticeably improved this morning.  He said he did have a tough night...couldn't get comfortable and his butt itched.  But no pain associated with his incision.  Amazing.

Later today I am relocating from Motel 6 to an extended stay hotel.  Should have a bit more room and be generally more comfortable.  Will have a workout later, of course.

Steady on course...