Month: February 2005

I am all famous about my pennies and “request for receipt” on the PA turnpike. Almost everyone in the booth of my section knows about me – a guy with an oversize piggy bank, paying toll with pennies, a lot of pennies. One gentleman even introduced himself as “Tim” and asked things about me. Where I work? What kind of profession I am in? Why I need receipt all the time? etc. They are all very friendly after they know me. Of course, I am friendly too just trying to get rid of my pennies.

I’m not sleeping that well these days, hmm, stressed about moving? Dunno. Nothing interesting to report – the prednisone seems to be helping Jeremy, he woke up this morning alert and talkative which was absent in his demenor the last few days. Vince woke up by peeing in his bed. I’ve been doing the morning dog walks for the past few days since Jeremy’s feet have been too swollen to walk on and the mornings have just been beautiful. Granted, we live in a development where they are constantly doing construction, but at 7 in the morning, the light is beautiful and everything is quiet and it seems as if all possible roads can be taken and enjoyed and to quote the the Donald-meister – it’s all good.

Oh yes, and right now, there is a ladybug crawling across my desk. I take it to be a good omen.

Last night, Aunt Liz called for the first time in 5 years. To be honest, I was real surprised. She was very interested and concerned about my current situations. We talked about 10 minutes. So far, she has tried to avoid me about 5 years right after grandmom’s death. The reason, I guess, was very simple. I disagreed with her about the way of handling the situation with grandmom. I thought we should let her go peacefully. I guessed she felt terrible that I was not on her side during the heated discussions among our siblings. You know, of course not everytime, all the time, people should agree with you. Even, wife and husband, sometimes can not agree on something. But, the big picture is that there are other things beside this need to be taken of. What a wasteful 5 years? I am glad she can forget and forgive.

Again, during the heated discussions about grandmom, I was pointing out that Uncle Robert would not make any decision on how to handle grandmom situations even though he had grandmom’s written will that he was the sole one to decide. I am complaining that if he promised grandmom of anything, he should definitely take the responsibility to do just that. Well, after that, that was absolutely no communication between us. He even turned down politely my suggested visit to him back at the time that there was a Martin’s family re-union in New Mexico. I think this one will drag on for more than 5 years. Hope, it is short though.

The lesson, I am trying to pass on to those having our genes, is that please don’t just let one thing (or couple of things) stands in the way to ruin everything else. Our family traits have the tendency to do just that. Understanding, flexibility and communication are the key. No two people think alike, act alike. There are a lot of other areas, beside one or two things, that common good & interests should bring people together, not to agree, but at least to work together of getting satisfied solutions for everyone involved.

Time is up. I need to go downstairs doing exercise.

Okay, start anew. Here are my three sentences:

1) believe in yourself, get all the help that you can out there
2) keep looking and smiling (set a goal for job hunting, 5 resumes a week?)
3) communication, communication & commnunication

Jeremy’s on steroids. I’m hoping it’ll kick up his energy level for a few days and he can do all this cool stuff around the house, file paperwork, dust shelves and de-spy-ify the computer. Vince is still up at 10:30 in the evening because he fell asleep for his nap at 4 pm, again!

I stayed home today due to my cold. It is better now. I think I can go back to work tomorrow. However, i can talk to you guys today. I am not allowed to use internet at office. Some people got fired due to use of internet with gov. computer.

I am going home. Blog to you tomorrow.

Hope they are getting better. I don’t want to call to disturb them.

Poor Noel. You are the only one in the family has no nothing on Valentine’s Day.

At the end of every cold, Jeremy gets hives and as he gets older the hives are getting worse. So he is staying home today and going to the doctor later this afternoon. Vince and I went to the post office to pick up another present from Ruth! Thank you, Ruth! Pretty quiet around the house today.