mightyfastpig

10:55 pm: Dad at Home
After 67 days in hospital, Dad has finally gone home to his condo.

Tags: dad, family

11:10 pm: Birthday and Dad news
Dad's going home this weekend, which is a tremendous relief for him and everybody else after over two months in hospital.

I am now 35 years old. I've been told that I look like I'm in my early 20s, which is nice to hear. My birthday is only 4 days before Hallowe'en, so it makes having a party difficult. I spent my birthday itself with my writer's workshop on our retreat at a country house in Roberts Creek. I've known some of the people in the workshop for twenty years or so, which is longer than nearly anything else I've been a part of in my life. The retreat was good for getting away from it all for three days, plus I got some writing done.

I did nothing for Hallowe'en, I'm sad to say, even though I had an invitation to a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I'm just tired after working full time and getting up early, plus all the other personal and work things I've been dealing with. I was tempted to wear my collar to work, or even just my BIO t-shirt, but that would be pushing my luck and I need the money.

Thanks to all the people who said Happy Birthday to me.

Tags: dad, family

10:18 am: Upswing
Dad looks a lot better these days. We made up after the CD player incident, and I've been recording audio messages from him on my music player to send to friends and relations. He's almost got his own podcast.

All the stress of the past 6 weeks finally caught up with me on the weekend, right in the middle of Sin City on Saturday night, and I've just felt tired and sick since then. Trying to take it easy and recover.

Tags: dad, family

08:53 pm: Borrowing books on CD/tape
Does anyone have any books on CD or tape I could borrow?

My dad is still in hospital after more than a month, and it may be another month before he gets out. Listening to music or books on CD or tape would help alleviate the boredom. However, I don't have any audio books. Or rather, I don't think he'd enjoy my Red Dwarf and Monty Python recordings.

If the library was open (thank you, Mr. Mayor!), I'd get some there, but instead I have to prevail upon others. Does anyone have any books on CD or tape I could borrow? Preferably modern-day spy-thriller type stuff.

Tags: dad, family

11:56 pm: When can I rest?
I got the story finished, though it was 1100 words instead of the 800-1000 specified. 1000 words is shorter than I remember. No response to the email yet.

The first full meeting of the executive board went pretty well. We didn't get half of the agenda done, but I've come to expect that the wheels of organizations turn slowly. The real pain will be the big party this Saturday. I have more confidence in my board mates.

And I'm still dragging myself out to Richmond and back every day. Tack on a trip to the hospital to visit Dad every few days too.

I finally have a face to face meeting with Dad's doctor on Friday. Hopefully we can get some answers about what's going on and what to do about it.

Tags: dad, family, vdsc, work, writing

10:14 am: My Dad
My dad has been in the hospital since Tuesday evening, in a windowless emergency ward room with walls the color of month-old bread.

I'm less concerned about the immediate situation than the long term issues. I feel bad that I let him down and abandoned him, seldom calling him, but I think he chose to live in Steveston on the southern edge of Richmond. That's a long way to go for me, as I don't drive, and buses don't go all the way there. His condo is a nice place, but it's a long way from everything. It isn't like you can step out for a walk and have parks or shops or anything. He isolated himself, in part.

That's why I hope he moves to a new place, somewhere in the city where there are places to go and I don't need to take an hour-long bus ride to see him. (I'll admit to my personal dislike of Richmond, too.) He needs support, but he also needs to ask for support.

Tags: dad, family