Update on Roberta

The MRI of Roberta's leg did not show any clot. She has started a wide spectrum anti-biotic to deal with the leg infection whichever -itis it might be.

In memory of a Great Man- one year on

One year ago today we lost a wonderful man. A husband, a father, a brother, a teacher, and a grandpa. I miss you dad.

Roberta Update

I have spent the week in Florida with my mom assiting with the doctor visits and the battery of tests she is under from her hip surgery. For those of you keeping score at home, the original hip has been removed and she has a 'temporary' replacement in there. This one is packed with anti biotics and helping her fight the MRSA infection she is battling. Recently she is dealing with pain in the leg which may be associated with either phlebitis or cellulitis. Regardless we had an MRI today to rule out a clot and this has been the third such test we have done in that area. She is currently walking with a walker and has the option to use a wheelchair but does not. Her walking is improving and she notices she no longer has the pain the drove us down this path in the first place. The pain she has now is assocaited with the surgey and the various layers of tissue and muscle that had to be cut to insert the prosthesis. The prognosis is good. She has weeks of IV anti biotics still to take. We met with the surgeon yesterday who was up beat and optimistic about the weeks to come. Finally, the tempoarary hip that she has is one that can be used for 10-15 years so she may opt to just leave this one in and move on. With David and I based hundreds of miles away, she has been relying on a wonderful network of friends to help her get to and from her various medical appointments. These wonderful people help her everyday and for that we are very grateful.

Name and Shame- Fannie and Freddie

What’s the deal lately with current and former Treasury and SEC officials predicting a bailout out Fannie and Freddie? Could they do anymore to undermine the chances of success at these two quasi- government organizations? Do they have an agenda here? If you are like me you are absolutely astounded by the sound bites coming out of Henry Paulson and Arthur Levitt. Mr. Paulson’s comments are most shocking as the Treasury Secretary and someone who will need to deliberate over these proceedings. Mr. Levitt, now in the private sector and employed by the super-secretive, super-devious Carlyle Group.

Thanks Goldman, we really needed that!

Just when you thought it was safe to buy gas again, the venerable Goldman Sachs goes out of their way to enhance their bottom line at the expense of the ordinary American. They seem to be long a lot of oil futures that became worthless recently so they went out of their way, in the waning days of summer, to reiterate their price target on crude oil at $149 a barrel. What has this country come to? Was it not satisfactory that increased inventories and decreased demand led oil down from its peak to about $112 a barrel? Is there anyone besides me that is feeling a little wronged by this? Shame on them. My sense is that the analyst phoned in this reminder from his summer home in The Hamptons. Americans should be outraged.

Remorse

I attended Alex's funeral on Saturday in Herndon. Jennifer had warned me of the hardship of attending a funeral of a child. Having attended more than her fair share in her career as a critical care nurse she was well versed.
I guess it was everything you'd expect however what does one expect when a 14 year old decides to take his life?
It was standing room only which makes sense because he was popular. There were scores of kids there. In essence the clash occurs at that point. Two foreign worlds collide. A mass of youth... Innocent, pure, bright trying to console each other at this harsh reality. They were kids really. Not old enough to drive, not old enough to vote, not old enough to drink wrestling with a tragedy. For me that was the first hard part of the event although my challenge is trivial compared to others. I spent the event standing next to Bhaskar. His silent solitude and respectful stillness in stark contrast to my own discomfort. The pastor delivers a riveting eulogy about putting meaning to all of this. I am impressed with how coherent it is on a horrible subject... Does he do this often... I mean for 14 year olds? Bhaskar and I exchange reassuring glances choosing to refrain from delivering the responses in prayer as our own faith differs. I am praying for Alex in my own way.
At the reception I embrace Dana. My carefully scripted words of condolence lost in the moment. I fumble with pieces of sentences to say how sorry I am. Ironically it ends in laughter as opposed to tears.
I drive home a virtual zombie thinking what if this were to happen to us. The car arrives home and the abrupt halt in the driveway jolts me from my obscure day dream. I enter the house and hug the kids slightly tighter than before. I feel fortunate. I wish I could change the sequence of events. But I cannot.


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Unexplainable Tragedy

Our office today was devestated with the news that 14 year old son of a member of our IT department chose to take his own life. Trying to formulate a coherent sentence after that is impossible. Parents should never have to endure the grief associated with burying their children. We're left only to guess what went through his enigmatic mind before deciding that was the way forward.
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Cash Back on all Back to School Savings

Shop Dave Mall is running a number of back to school specials that will make your shopping easier, more enjoyable and cheaper. Why not avoid the long lines this year and make all of your back to school purchases on-line. In doing so, you can save gas, save time, and save money. Check out ShopDaveMall.com for all of the current features. Some back to school highlights:

• eBags (for backpacks and the like)- 5% Cash Back Extravaganza



• Office Depot (for supplies)- 4% Cash Back Bonus
• Macy*s (for clothing) - Wow!! 3% Cash Back to you
• Nike- 4% Blowout!!

Check it out Now at ShopDaveMall.com

Infinitive Traithlon Series: Broadlands

Today i participated in my first sprint Triathlon in the Broadlands (Ashburn, VA). The day started off cold and rainy however I finished with a respectable time for a first timer. I was 52 out of 84 men. I finished 18 out of 28 men in my age group.
The event was made up of a 400 meter swim, 12 mile bike ride and 5 k run. My times on each were 9:25, 45.34, 27.35 respectively. Inclusive of transition time my total was 1:26:32.8
I had two major league challenges today. Firstly, I wiped out on my bike trying to make a turn. The rain was puring down and i miscacluated how quickly i could navigate the turn. Secondly, some spectators directed me the wrong way on the bike.
The wipe out gave me some serious road rash on my knee, elbow, arm and back. Jen patched me up and I am back in action. Click here for overall results.

Roberta Update

A little more of an update on Roberta for today. She came home this afternoon. The infectious disease doctor would not let her go to rehab in order to do the six weeks of antibiotics that she has in front of her. So instead, she is going to an infusion center every day for six weeks. She has a pic-line in her arm to allow for easy access. It took them three tries at installing it, so it better be worth it. David has the honor of doing the maiden voyage tomorrow with her. David is planning on leaving on Sunday. He has lined up several friends to fill in as transport to/from the infusion center and to look in on her. Beverly comes a week from Monday, so we know she will be in good hands. After Beverly leaves, I will be going down with the girls (Hannah and Abby). Once the six weeks is up (Sept 15th), it will probably be two more weeks of being infection free before they will want to put the hip back in (around Oct 1st). Then its several weeks of rehab from there. That's the plan right now. If you want to reach Roberta via email, LEC63@aol.com.

Soldiers are people too

So I am making my way to the back of my second AA plane today. The first one was defective. I am now still in Dallas at the time I should have been home. As I reach to put my hand bag in the overhead I see the neutral, digitized color of desert fatigues disguising the pack already there.
An unexpected chill trickles down my spine. My thoughts revert to a scene in Generation Kill on HBO where the soldiers open cases and cases of jungle fatigues.
I casually take the center seat wondering if it belongs to an over zealous, acne challenegd teenager from Texas. The utlitarian nature of the pack comes into view. I wonder - am I sitting next to one of the brave men that don the uniform?
The plane is late. The pilot is squawking about some maintnance blah, blah, blah. I am anxious. It is now 3:45 central time and I am only here because my 12:45 flight was cancelled. The collective sigh of exasperation is seen on the familiar faces that schlepped over from terminal D to A to get on this plane.
Its hot. The plane is on ground based power which faintly generates a breeze overhead. The shades are drawn as we try to cool the cigar tube in the 100 plus degree texas sun.
I feverishly make calls to Jen. She now has a big task to do. My sprint tri is tomorrow and I need to register tonight back home. Packet pick up and bike check. AA has blown any chance of me doing this. Jen has to somehow put my bike in the station wagon, get it to ashburn to be checked. The bike only fits when the seats are down and what will jen do with the kids? We exchange ideas as my staurday event becomes her friday afternoon debacle. After a long week she doesn't need this. Nor do I. She is a saint. She says she'll do what she can.
I am restless in my seat. When will this flight leave??
The guy next to me is in street clothes. His combat boots give him away and confirm my suspicion. It is a soldier.
As minutes turn to hours our joint exasperation mounts. He pulls a paper from the sack and takes out his phone. While speaking to Jen I notice a number of official looking stamps... Passport stamps on the paper. Kuwait.
I am restless because this crisis has blown my evening with Jen, the race, etc. He's restless because he's not sure he can make his connection through Dulles to Kuwait.
We chat briefly. He has three kids, doing his third tour in Iraq. He takes interest in the triathlon I have tomorrow. We talk the politics of war. My mind is in a parallel universe. While I try to string together coherent sentences reality hits.
I am going to run a race he's going to defend our nation.
Tonight I will go home and kiss my girls after three days away in Texas. Today he kissed his three boys (all under five years old) good bye. He won't see them for months.
This week I have dodged risks and issues in the boardroom. Next week he'll dodge bullets in a war zone.
Tonight I'll drive home from the airport in car. Tomorrow he'll drive an armored humvee.
You get the point. These issues, the bike crisis. Its all relative.
Its easy to lose sight of the war that grinds on in the background. Network news coverage focuses on the election. Each day we send men and women into harms way. They rise to the challenge.
As the week draws to a close... Thank G-d there are men and women that choose the military as a calling. That willingly wear the uniform with pride. That execute the orders of the executive branch without prejudice. That allow us to be free.
I don't know if my friend will make his Kuwait bound direct flight. If he'll reach Kirkuk to resume teaching the Iraqi regulars to defend their own nation. However, for me, I'll feel very fortunate that my schedule next week does not include wearing a flak jacket, avoiding IED's, and being 7000 miles from home. I feel very lucky to have people like him doing what he does.

Roberta Update

Roberta has been discharged from the hospital today. David took her home and is helping her get things sorted out at home.

What do Pilots look for

While sitting on my delayed AA flight this afternoon I took particular interest at the goings on next door. At the gate next to mine at DFW the pilot was taking his time to meticulously review the outside of the plane. Wings, wheels, panels. It left me thinking. What is he looking for? I mean beyond the obvious- wear and tear, cracks, missing pieces? Are pilots trained to do this? Pilots please reply.