Good-bye, Wisconsin

Yes, this post is 36 hours late, but when I finally got home at 12:30am Saturday, I couldn’t remember how to speak English, much less find the energy to post.

My Beloved Husband came down to cook for me and make me tea because he is the most awesome man on the planet. Mostly, we spent the weekend snoozing and fretting about my parents. They are elderly and my dad got very sick last weekend (extra bad because so far he has been the “healthy” one). We had planned on moving them from Florida to Oswego, NY in September so we could take care of them. Now we have to make it happen fast. I am about to get a crash course lesson in Medicare, Supplemental Insurance, assisted living facilities, etc. etc. etc.

Does anyone out there have experience with emphysema patients who need oxygen 24/7 flying on commercial airlines?

Here is a related piece of advice: don’t smoke. Don’t smoke. Just…. don’t, OK? My mom is dying an inch at a time because she sucked down all that nicotine and tar. It’s a hideous, scary way to go.

On to cheerier subjects.

Had a really good time at New London High School, my last WI stop.

This is their mascot: Image hosted by TinyPic.com a giant bulldog.

The winner of the Toughest Binder of the Year Award. Image hosted by TinyPic.com

This is the first PROM school project I’ve seen!! (Yes, I find this exciting.) Image hosted by TinyPic.com

I’m speaking at Council Rock South High School tomorrow, Council Rock North on Tuesday, West Broad Elementary on Wednesday and Lenape Middle School on Thursday. (These are all near my house, which means I get to sleep in my own bed every night and see Meredith!)

Friday I drive down to the Frostburg State University Children’s Literature Conference.

I am a few weeks away from getting back to writing. I can’t wait!!! *salivates*

30 Replies to “Good-bye, Wisconsin”

  1. I’m really sorry about your mom. We just watched a movie in health about emphysema and it really scared me.
    That school project for Prom is super cool! I wish we could do cool projects like that.

  2. I’m really sorry about your mom. We just watched a movie in health about emphysema and it really scared me.
    That school project for Prom is super cool! I wish we could do cool projects like that.

  3. I’m really sorry about your mom. We just watched a movie in health about emphysema and it really scared me.
    That school project for Prom is super cool! I wish we could do cool projects like that.

  4. On a flight we were on a few weeks ago, a woman got bumped from the small plane we were booked on (puddle jumper from Philly to Albany) to a larger, later flight because she couldn’t bring oxygen onto the smaller plane. I don’t know whether this was a space issue (even some luggage that was normally allowed as carry-on had to be checked, the overhead bins were so small), or something to do with how small and large planes are pressurized, or something else, but it’s worth checking into. I do know the woman and her husband were rather upset; they didn’t find out there was an issue until they were at the gate.

  5. On a flight we were on a few weeks ago, a woman got bumped from the small plane we were booked on (puddle jumper from Philly to Albany) to a larger, later flight because she couldn’t bring oxygen onto the smaller plane. I don’t know whether this was a space issue (even some luggage that was normally allowed as carry-on had to be checked, the overhead bins were so small), or something to do with how small and large planes are pressurized, or something else, but it’s worth checking into. I do know the woman and her husband were rather upset; they didn’t find out there was an issue until they were at the gate.

  6. On a flight we were on a few weeks ago, a woman got bumped from the small plane we were booked on (puddle jumper from Philly to Albany) to a larger, later flight because she couldn’t bring oxygen onto the smaller plane. I don’t know whether this was a space issue (even some luggage that was normally allowed as carry-on had to be checked, the overhead bins were so small), or something to do with how small and large planes are pressurized, or something else, but it’s worth checking into. I do know the woman and her husband were rather upset; they didn’t find out there was an issue until they were at the gate.

  7. *HUGS* Sorry to hear about your parents, especially your mom. I’m vehemently anti-smoking. I lost my father due to smoking. It’s been over a decade and I’m still grieving.

  8. *HUGS* Sorry to hear about your parents, especially your mom. I’m vehemently anti-smoking. I lost my father due to smoking. It’s been over a decade and I’m still grieving.

  9. *HUGS* Sorry to hear about your parents, especially your mom. I’m vehemently anti-smoking. I lost my father due to smoking. It’s been over a decade and I’m still grieving.

  10. Oh no! It’s a lot easier to get parents into some kind of elder care facility if they can still take care of themselves – and then graduate into an assisted living wing. Going straight into assisted living could be a problem. And I can vouch that the supplemental insurance is a necessity. Medicare is just the beginning. Kudos to BH for his support.

  11. Oh no! It’s a lot easier to get parents into some kind of elder care facility if they can still take care of themselves – and then graduate into an assisted living wing. Going straight into assisted living could be a problem. And I can vouch that the supplemental insurance is a necessity. Medicare is just the beginning. Kudos to BH for his support.

  12. Oh no! It’s a lot easier to get parents into some kind of elder care facility if they can still take care of themselves – and then graduate into an assisted living wing. Going straight into assisted living could be a problem. And I can vouch that the supplemental insurance is a necessity. Medicare is just the beginning. Kudos to BH for his support.

  13. “Here is a related piece of advice: don’t smoke. Don’t smoke. Just…. don’t, OK?”

    Thanks for saying this. I hate to nag, but I watched my own mother die of COPD, and now when I see teens smoking I just want to walk up to them and snatch the cigarettes right out of their hands.

  14. “Here is a related piece of advice: don’t smoke. Don’t smoke. Just…. don’t, OK?”

    Thanks for saying this. I hate to nag, but I watched my own mother die of COPD, and now when I see teens smoking I just want to walk up to them and snatch the cigarettes right out of their hands.

  15. “Here is a related piece of advice: don’t smoke. Don’t smoke. Just…. don’t, OK?”

    Thanks for saying this. I hate to nag, but I watched my own mother die of COPD, and now when I see teens smoking I just want to walk up to them and snatch the cigarettes right out of their hands.

  16. Sorry about your Dad

    My parents are in Florida also. I dread the day when I must make the trip to bring one or both home to Oswego to live out their days. My suggestion would be to notify the airline when you purchase the tickets. If you are NOT traveling with them, have airline personnel meet them at the gates for connecting flights with transportation. I wish you the best of luck and will say a prayer for you and your parents. From your favorite, I hope, paralegal!! 🙂

  17. Sorry about your Dad

    My parents are in Florida also. I dread the day when I must make the trip to bring one or both home to Oswego to live out their days. My suggestion would be to notify the airline when you purchase the tickets. If you are NOT traveling with them, have airline personnel meet them at the gates for connecting flights with transportation. I wish you the best of luck and will say a prayer for you and your parents. From your favorite, I hope, paralegal!! 🙂

  18. Sorry about your Dad

    My parents are in Florida also. I dread the day when I must make the trip to bring one or both home to Oswego to live out their days. My suggestion would be to notify the airline when you purchase the tickets. If you are NOT traveling with them, have airline personnel meet them at the gates for connecting flights with transportation. I wish you the best of luck and will say a prayer for you and your parents. From your favorite, I hope, paralegal!! 🙂

  19. Re: Sorry about your Dad

    Hey there!

    We’ll travel with them – there is no other way to do it. I can’t imagine letting them go alone. It’s strange to feel protective about elderly parents the way I felt about my kids when they were little… I guess this is all part of the Big Plan. At least they’re still alive, and we can help. That feels good.

    (Yep, you’re the fav paralegal!) 🙂

  20. Re: Sorry about your Dad

    Hey there!

    We’ll travel with them – there is no other way to do it. I can’t imagine letting them go alone. It’s strange to feel protective about elderly parents the way I felt about my kids when they were little… I guess this is all part of the Big Plan. At least they’re still alive, and we can help. That feels good.

    (Yep, you’re the fav paralegal!) 🙂

  21. Re: Sorry about your Dad

    Hey there!

    We’ll travel with them – there is no other way to do it. I can’t imagine letting them go alone. It’s strange to feel protective about elderly parents the way I felt about my kids when they were little… I guess this is all part of the Big Plan. At least they’re still alive, and we can help. That feels good.

    (Yep, you’re the fav paralegal!) 🙂

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