This Weather is Ducked Up!

On Sunday - we raced from the car to Starbucks because it was a freakin' torrential downpour.  When we left Starbucks, the sun was breaking through.

We ran to the store in a flurry because The Dad said the selection show started at noon.  So we literally ran through the store for necessities.  We got home at 12:15, with the wind picking up, clouds racing by overhead and a temperature drop.  And no selection show until 3 pm.   Attention to times, details... not a huge priority for The Man.  <Grrrrrrr!>

By the time I was done starting some laundry, making nachos and mac and cheese for the choosy kids choose cheese kid and settling in for a few DVR'd shows (now that the Selection Show wasn't on) it was raining sideways outside.  Then it snowed.  Then it hailed.  Sun came out.  Clouds moved in.  Thunder rolled.  Dogs barked.  Sleet.  Rain.  More thunder, snow and the sun again.

Monday - Mother Nature merely just pissed on us.  Mostly she just dropped her temperatures again and threw in some rain off and on.

Today.  Well the wind that the forecasters said was going to start around 5 AM, came last night at 10 PM (shocker).  It's windy out a bit today...  but this morning when we went to the club it was 47 degrees and blowing a bit.  When we left the club it was raining sideways again.  Driving to work was just gray and drab and depressing and my temperature gauge said 36. A lovely 11 degree drop since 6AM.  It was snowing while I was at work.  The sun came out an hour ago.  And while I typed this, it hailed.  

There is nothing good about March in The Can.  Nothing.  In fact, Jeff and I are considering "getting married" in June in Vegas and moving our anniversary to that day.  

I can only be thankful that my kids no longer play baseball.  And that tennis isn't played in the rain.  And that Zach is March's Pooper Scooper of the Month.  

I hate this weather.  I hate March.

Ding Dong

Writers block tonight...

I made the mistake of telling The Dad that I just do not have anything to write about tonight.  

So he leaned back on the couch, yanked on his shorts and said... "I got your topic right here."

Yep... <sigh>  That's all I've got for tonight.

Buh - Buh - Buh.... BRACKET TIME!!!

I'm feeling a little "word" spent after the last couple of emotional days and conversations, thoughts.  I know all to well how easy it is to stay in a wallowing state and wonder where the days and time went... so I'm going to pick myself up today - right now, because... holy shit... "Daylight Savings" apparently happened and now half my day is gone.

It's Bracketology Time and I will post my picks here later on today after the bracket is set.  I know that this means mostly nothing because I never win the brackets I enter...  <shrug> but it will count as my post for the day.

New day.  Cue - new song(s).

What Pat Knew...

I picked up a few things for the Fiorillo girls this morning - non-traditional things (well, aside from Robs' vodka) because they're going to get enough casseroles, lasagnas and funky salads over the next few weeks.  I wanted them to have something so that if they were out and about and decided against "casserole agaiiiinnnn?" they had an option.  Or if they just wanted to be out of the house... they had something to go do.  Or if they needed music for their iPods to drown out their thoughts - they could do that too.  I looked for a poster of Jon Bon Jovi for Robin because she loves him more than me - but I still love George Clooney more than her.  That doesn't really matter. But get this -  whether you believe it or not... no stores in my vicinity are currently selling posters of JON BON JOVI?!?!?!  What?!?!?!?  That was a little distressing for me... so hopefully she drinks enough of the vodka I brought, that she will forget I mentioned JBJ at all when we went to see her today.

All that aside - it's "these" events in life that find us having those deep, thoughtful talks with our loved ones - and how we would be, what we would want, how we want our spouse to be if it's us... Conversation that just isn't usually brought up when you have friends over for appetizers and drinks, ya know?  You can talk about it all until you're blue in the face, but really - do we know how we would be, what we would do if it was us?

After seeing Robin and the girls today - I nearly instantly felt better knowing they are doing well, under the circumstances.  But when you live with cancer, you know.  You have those talks, you make those decisions.  You hope you'll beat it.  But there's a point where... you know.  Those of us not living under that roof... we don't.  Sure many of us have had a parent, friend, someone we know who has cancer, or lost their battle with cancer (other than Pat-Man)... but unless you've lived with it - you don't know.  

But here's what I believe.  I believe, after seeing all of "Pat's girls" today - that he knew... they were going to be okay.  He knows he left them in good hands.  Yours.  Ours.  Theirs.  I know Pat would have fought harder, longer, willed himself to live even three hours or days longer - if he had any doubt that they wouldn't be alright.  But he knew.  

And today - we saw.  (And in some cases... <Erin>... smelled)  

I am keeping the same song for another day because - it's a great song.  I am also posting the site for the bracelets as there have been some posts, emails and texts about them.  The neat thing is - that they now make a copper one that is a skoche more affordable if you're wanting more than one.  

http://store.fcancerembracelife.com/bracelets.html

Gone Too Soon...

Pat and his girls...
April 11, 1963 - March 9, 2012

Please say a prayer for Robin, Erin and Gina.  While cancer hasn't been forgiving to so many, including Pat and his family - everyone prayed this trip to the hospital was to help him get stronger to fight.  I never in a million years thought I would get the text I received today from Robin.  "He's gone."

He fought long and hard...  with strong will, determination and a family he so so loved and loved him back.  It's not fair, we cry.  And that is true. 

Jeff and I bought Robin and Pat bracelets a few years ago...  and I don't hesitate now to show you them and loudly exclaim - 

Cinderella! Cinderella! ~ Help Find Her Glass Slipper!

The night following my B.S.N. (bathing suit nightmare) I dreamt all night long about my favorite North Side friend - Robin.  

Robin is the wife of Pat - whom I told you about a while back after a trip to the doctor yielded some unwelcoming news.  The "C" word was back.  

I can't think of a time I dreamt about Robin... or Pat... ever in the 7 years I've known them. Drank with them... Danced with them (Bon Jovi, Vegas... oh, the good old days), dissed with them, but never had a dream about them.  And so I knew that this dream meant something.  I intended all day Tuesday to send her a text or email and just say "Hey" because I had to follow my instincts.  And then, as I've let happen for 10 weeks now, I emerged myself in my work - always eager to get as much done as I possibly can and stay ahead of the ongoing craziness of TV World! (Not possible)

On Wednesday I returned to my desk and saw that I had missed a call on my cell phone.  It was Rita... she was calling to tell me Pat was in the hospital.  No visitors.  No calls.  He's just dang sick.  The last round of chemo took its toll and while he was trying to power through it and work and stay as upbeat and as "just Pat" as possible - it was rest he needed... and now blood.  His counts are so low... lower than low and he needs to be where they can monitor it all of the time.  For now.  

So I immediately contacted Robin - and intend to every day until her guy is home.  If even just to say "hey, you stupid north side witch!"  <smooch>.  She doesn't have to respond, she just has to know I still think I'm better than her.  

We chatted tonight and what many people don't know - is that her oldest daughter and my youngest son are betrothed.  Including them - they don't know...  Anyhow, we were chatting about Erin and how busy she's been this year, her senior year - which is probably a good thing.  Her plans, Shadle Park... stuff.  Erins' senior project came up and during this time that I can't do much for Pat as he works to get healthy in the hospital, or Robin, who's pulling double parent duty... again... on the north side.  So when she told me what Erin's project was/is - I said to myself "Self... you can post this on your blog and reach out to your network to see how/if they can help her with her project."  

Erin's project is this:  She's doing a "Dress Drive" for formals.  She's selling them for uber cheap and donating the money to charity.  "Which charity?" you say?  Childrens' Hospital, that's "which charity".  Any dresses that go unsold will be donated to the Spokane School Districts' HEART program and to the Tiger Closet at Lewis & Clark High School.  Something I never knew existed - and I worked for the district.  Go figure.

Meet Erin

Erin has collected a number of dresses and will soon have a "Try On &  Buy One" day.  She's even gone so far as to bring in a seamstress who will be on site to do FREE alterations that day!  

If YOU have a daughter and are reading this - you LOVE this!  Right?!?!?  I actually have a couple of suitable dresses from "Coaches Vs. Cancer" gala's past that I am donating... so it doesn't have to be a "prom" dress per se.  

How about you?  Erin and her mom will pick up any dress you donate or feel free to bring them my way and I'll make sure they get them.  For more information - please contact Erin at : Citywidedressdrive@hotmail.com

For far too long, Erin and her sister have been growing up faster than any child should have to.  They know more medical terminology you and I may never know or hear or understand.  I'd love to make Erin feel "charmed" - The best of the Cinderella's out there. Dig in your closets, be it yours, your daughters, nieces, sisters, best friend... and see if you can't make this a time to remember something great!

Thank you.