January 2024
January 31, 2024 - Wednesday - Today I had a FaceTime lunch with a friend. I was kinda tired all day and really wanted a nap. For a while during our lunch Zak was behind me snoring. Just rubbing in the fact that he was sleeping in my bed and I wasn’t. I got up to get a photo of him and he woke up. Hahahahaha
January 30, 2024 - Tuesday - This week has been and will continue to be a busy week at work. I worked a bit late but then left to go see Dad. I got this photo in the same place where I took the foggy photo from a few days back. Unfortunately by the time I got to see Dad he was already tired. I only stayed for a little while. He was ready to get some rest.
January 29, 2024 - Monday - Today was a really busy day at work. When I finally got things wrapped up I left to go see Dad. I turned a corner and I’ve not seen these cows here before. I stopped and got a quick photo of a few of these guys before continuing on to the hospital. Dad was doing pretty good today again. He’s had several good days in a row.
January 28, 2024 - Sunday - I slept in a little bit today too. When I got up I made a bit of oatmeal for me and the pups. Coincidentally I served this in a blue bowl. It looked really cool with the blueberries. I went to see Dad after. We watched the Chiefs and Ravens for a while, but then Dad fell asleep. I stayed for a while hoping he’d wake up. He didn’t.
January 27, 2024 - Saturday - I slept in a bit this morning. I went to go see Dad for a bit, but then my Aunt called. On the way to pick her up I had what was left of my dessert from last night. I went to pick up her and my other Aunt so they could come visit Dad. They got to spend a long time with him. There was lots of laughs. Today was another good day.
January 26, 2024 - Friday - I took the day off today to be with Dad. He had surgery today. I thought I’d be sitting next to a sleeping person all day. He was up and talking all afternoon. I stayed with him until later in the evening. I went out to dinner with my oldest sister and her family after. It’s always fun getting to hang out with them. We even got dessert. Again.
January 25, 2024 - Thursday - Today our trio of friends that meet for dinner was just a duo. Before dinner I went to see Dad. He FaceTimed with Riley most of the visit. He was having a really good day. It was good to get to visit with one of my friends over dinner and get caught up. It’s been a pretty long while since our last dinner together. We had dessert after dinner too.
January 24, 2024 - Wednesday - Today I was pretty busy with work, but my brother called and invited me to lunch. I decided to go ahead and go. I almost never go out for BBQ because why would I. My brother said it’s too cold and too rainy to be cooking outside. The turkey was really good but I don’t know why BBQ places don’t trim the fat off their briskets.
January 23, 2024 - Tuesday - Today I worked all day again and then left a bit before it got dark to go see dad. It was crazy foggy. About 30 minutes into the drive I began to think maybe I should have stayed home. You could barely see down the road. Coming home in the dark was even worse. Fortunately I was able to follow a pair of taillights most of the way home.
January 22, 2024 - Monday - I bought raincoats for the girls for weather like today. They were okay with me putting them on them, but they didn’t like going for a walk with them on. Pancake handled it better than Biscuit but neither of them liked the coats. But they came home mostly dry. I took this while they were peeing right as we came out for our morning walk.
January 21, 2024 - Sunday - Today was another great day. I made plans with two of my aunts, Dad’s sisters, to go see them for breakfast and then take them to visit Dad. It was so good to get to visit with them all morning. Dad pretended to be asleep the whole time they were there. After our visit we went out for a late lunch. It was great to spend most of the day with both of them.
January 20, 2024 - Saturday - I went to see Dad this morning. After spending time with him I went over to my friend’s house for the remainder of the day. We grilled burgers. I made guacamole. We smoked a couple of cigars. I brought some firewood for his new fire pit. It was cold out but this made it a whole lot better.
January 19, 2024 - Friday - This is the only photo I took today. It was a cold clear night. I took this near the end of our walk. We usually go down to this intersection and turn around and head back home. It was a brightly lit night with half a moon out. When I took this I remember thinking what a crappy camera my early phones had.
January 18, 2024 - Thursday - I spent most of the day working on the couch rather than my desk. I think I just wanted a change of scenery for the day. Biscuit and Pancake were lying in their bed next to the couch. Even though it was still very cold it was a sun shiny day. I got this photo of Pancake with the sun on her this afternoon.
January 17, 2024 - Wednesday - Today I worked all day and then drove out to see dad after. The VA hospital in Dallas is huge. It’s a long walk from the parking lot and just about as long once you get in. This model of the hospital is one of the landmarks that I use to know where to turn and get on the right set of elevators.
January 16, 2024 - Tuesday - Last week one of my God Daughters who lives here in Burleson texted me to make dinner plans. We met at a place they like in town. I had told her and her BF that I was having a hard time finding restaurants that I like here. I met them this evening at a local place. They have a tater tot appetizer that’s really good. My entree was good and so was this dessert.
January 15, 2024 - Monday - What a difference 12 hours makes. I was planning on going to see Dad this morning. It wasn’t until I looked out the window and realized maybe it was best that I stay home and get as much work done as possible. I took the pups for a walk this morning. By the time we went for our evening walks the streets were all clear.
January 14, 2024 - Sunday - It was cold today. This morning I made a big bowl of cinnamon and brown sugar oatmeal with fresh apples. I made enough to share with the pups too. I had to pull out a real coat to walk the dogs this evening. I think it was in the teens. I took this photo at the end of the street on our evening walk.
January 13, 2024 - Saturday - Today was another great day. I got out to see Dad this morning and then went to meet a friend and her boys for lunch. We ran into another old coworker at the place we went to for lunch. It was a cool coincidence. I went back to see Dad after and hung out with him for a long while.
January 12, 2024 - Friday - Today was a great day. Riley and her fiancee came out to see Dad this evening. He was dozing off when I got there and was completely asleep they showed up. She left a sweet note for him and then we went out to dinner. I got to hear all about the night of the proposal and their initial thoughts on when and where.
January 11, 2024 - Thursday - Dad’s room is in the original part of the huge VA complex. His room is a bit tiny but at least he has some windows so he gets lots of natural light. It’s not necessarily the nicest view but at least it some view of the sky.
January 10, 2024 - Wednesday - So I’ve been going to see Dad for a while in the morning. Come home and work for half the day and then go back to see him again in the evening. They’ve been okay with me coming in after visiting hours too. I saw this car with three Dalmatians at some point during all the driving I’ve been doing today.
January 9, 2024 - Tuesday - I had to bring Dad to the ER yesterday. He didn’t get a room until kinda late last night. The care dad is getting here is definitely at another level. With that in mind we don’t have to stay with Dad 24/7. I came back this morning to visit with dad so he could see a familiar face. I have no idea what I did to my hand to get a bruise like this.
January 8, 2024 - Monday - Dad had an appointment today at the VA in Dallas. That place is quite large. In the middle of the building is a really large atrium. This giant flag is hanging in there. After his appointment we went to the lab to get some bloodwork done. We were home for maybe an hour when we got the call to come back.
January 7, 2024 - Sunday - Dad is still moving a bit slow so we took it easy all day. When he wasn’t doing well he didn’t care one bit about football or westerns. That’s how you know he’s not himself. Fortunately he doing a bit better than that. We watched the Cowboys close out the season beating up on Washington.
January 6, 2024 - Saturday - My nephew and his family came over to visit dad earlier. He called me a bit later to ask if he left the key to his new truck here. I found it under our couch. I told him he might wake up and his truck and I would no longer be in the state. He’s got a big new pretty truck.
January 5, 2024 - Friday - Dad was released from rehab yesterday. It was a hectic day not to mention I was really tired and I missed my second day of the year. Today dad was being restless so we went out for a drive. We ended up going to get pho in Mansfield. I got this on our drive back home.
January 4, 2024 - Thursday - No Photo
January 3, 2024 - Wednesday - My sister that was in town from NYC had to go back home for work. So I’m staying with dad and my other sister here in the rehab facility with Dad. It’s been a bit hectic and I missed my first photo of the day the second day of the year! Fortunately Dad’s room as an extra bed. It’s not super comfy but it’s a bed.
January 2, 2024 - Tuesday - No Photo
January 1, 2024 - Monday - I spent the night at my friend’s house last night to avoid driving all the way home with all the intoxicated people. I didn’t have to rush home this morning. My nephew and his wife agreed to help out with the pups this morning. We hung out for a while on the couch. Yogi kept me company for a while too.