I'm still alive...but barely

It's been a really weird two weeks. Trying to keep this brief but cover everything that's been going on I'm going to hit the highlights of recent events starting backwards.

The Cold

Everyone in my office and all my friends and family have been walking around sick. Par for course they won in the end and gave it to me. Thanks guys. For three days I've felt like shit. Back in October I got the flu shot so I've not developed the full fledged version of this crap but I got something and it's not pretty. I fell somewhat better today but far from being 100%.

The Cancer

My brother in Atlanta isn't doing well at all. In fact he's getting much worse. It's past the point of treating his cancer it's a matted of keeping him as close to pain free as they can without killing him with Morphine. He's very fortunate to have Hospice coming to the house to control his medications but he's reached the point that he so much as said that he doesn't want to die at home. I feel it's a matter of days before he makes the decision to check into a Hospice facility. He really doesn't want his wife to have deal with him dying at home and the horrible stigma their house will have for her. All I can do is pray that his suffering ends sooner than later. He isn't going to get any better and at this point he has no quality of life. I've never been extremely close to him as he was grown and out of the house by the time I was born but it's hard watching my sister and mom have to watch this happening.

While I was away

Apparently PP #2 was a real bitch to my peers and coworkers. In her true fashion she opened her damn mouth and poison poured out. Both of the women I work with came close to telling her to fuck off and quitting on the spot. I'm flattered that they jumped to my defense when the crazed PP #2 questioned whether or not someone had actually died and if I was even at a funeral. The upside to this is that before I left I called PP #1 and told him of aunts passing. He told me to go. I was needed up there more than down here and that nothing was more important than family. I just love this guy. He said he'd deal with PP #2 and deal with her he did. I suppose he got wind of her latest vicious attacks on my team and let her have it. She is no longer attending our bi-weekly meetings and is to have no contact with us unless she can "control her mouth" -- I love it! She stands to lose millions of $ if she pisses off PP #1 and he walks so I have a feeling she'll obey his (our) wishes for a while at least.

The Funeral

On the 10th I rode up to Atlanta with my mom & sister for my Baba's funeral. Not to sound weird but it was an uplifting experience for me. In the case of her passing it was more of a celebration of life as opposed to a sad occasion. She was likely the only true Christian that I've ever known. She literally lived to die. Her entire life was dedicated to her faith; loving people from every walk of life; sharing her wisdom and blessings; and eventually accepting the reward that the Big Guy had in store for her when her life on earth was over. She died at home and apparently in a matter of seconds. For the family it is hard letting her go but knowing she is now in a place of eternal joy (which she deserves) makes it easy for me to let go. While up there I was able to see many relatives and acquaintances that I'd not seen in a decade or more. It was nice seeing everyone and reliving the past a bit but I was glad to get home. I flew back in on then 12th and was back to work on the 13th.

The Cruise

It was wonderful. Great food & libations. Beautiful weather and people abound. My new favorite place in the world is Marigot Bay, St. Maarteen. It's the French side of the island and it is a place I could move to and live out my days a happy man. The only downside is that there are few if any hand rails on the shops entrances and being the klutz I am I took a nasty fall on some marble exterior stairs. I didn't actually hit the ground but I did twist the same ankle and land on the same foot that was broke/shattered about 13 years ago. Needless to say it still hurts. I didn't need crutches or anything -- just plenty of Pina Coladas to dull the pain. Eventually I'll have to have this foot/ankle operated on but no time soon. I'm putting that off as long as possible.

During the week I met some very interesting people and spent until 3:45 one morning drinking and sharing tales with Bowser from Sha Na Na. After seeing his show I was convinced this man was another cheesy has-been entertainer but meeting him later on and getting to know him changed my mind completely. He is hysterical! One of the most sarcastic, bitchy, brilliantly dry humored people I've ever met. Sans the hangover the next day it was one of the best times had on the cruise. Also, that same night, I met the owner of the spas on the Royal Caribbean line ships. Having this guy around was like being in a gay bar with the stereotypical drunken drama queen who shares WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION and passes out unsolicited advice to ANYONE who will listen. We all had a good laugh avoiding him and enduring him while he was around. A relatively nice guy but only in small doses.

So that about sums up my life over the past 3 weeks. Me and my cold are off to work in an hour. I'm finalizing the plans & design for PP #1's new office and meeting with the architect today to implement MY changes. I love it. This is truly a project I will put into my portfolio should I ever decide to jump back into full-time design again. If I do say so myself it is going to be a fabulous building. (Pats self on back)

I hope to be able to catch up on what's happening in your lives later today.

Have a great day.