Two things that stick out in my mind when Dad was working- aside from hearing the garage door open at 6 or 6:30 every morning (described in a previous post) was the way he would answer the phone at work and showing up to coach little league baseball games in a suit and tie.
When I would call Dad at work, he would always answer the phone - not hello- but instead "GILMER". I thought this was pretty neat - makes one get to the point, fast. (This was before caller ID and voicemail.)
But my all time favorite was when he would come to coach a little game in a suit and tie (ala Connie Mack.) Guess I didn't realize it at the time, but he had no time to change. I think a person, even a 10 year old little leaguer, has to respect someone in a suit. (Wonder if we had a better record when the Manager would wear formals instead of the issued T-shirt?)
Dean
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Update Thursday October 28, 2010
Thanks to Dan R. for fixing our falling down register in the bedroom and is right now taking Neil for his first outside walk to see the operation of the Haunted Forest in Osprey Park. The chemo on Tuesday really bothered him yesterday but seems to be ok today. He has on his sunglasses and his golfing hat. We'll see how he does after sleeping all morning and two feedings. love, Kay
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Halloween with Dad
I would have to agree with Dean on this one! Dad has always loved Halloween and perhaps that is why God gave him his own little Halloween baby! I must say that having a Halloween birthday has been a wonderful birthday indeed! As a child my parents always made sure to make this holiday and my birthday a fun time! I remember it would always start a week or so earlier with dad starting the hype to go select our pumpkin to carve.
All 4 of us would usually go to a pumpkin patch to select the “perfect pumpkin.” But the excitement was in getting it home and dad would eagerly cut the top off so he could watch us “gut” the pumpkin. He would have a whole production set up near a sink so we could sit on the counter or pull up a chair to pull out the guts and seeds of the pumpkin. He would often be caught snickering and taunting us by asking us is it “slimy” and cold, as we would pull out big handfuls of stuff and sort through the seeds to carefully set those slippery little devils onto a cookie tray to later bake. Then dad would carefully carve the face of our pumpkin each year.
He would set this out on the front porch with a candle inside for Halloween night awaiting reactions to our masterpiece. Then the next phase of preparation was selecting our costumes for the big day. It was not like kids have today where you just go to a store and pick one out, we created our own back in our day! We would take something we had in our closet or mom would concoct a creative outfit for us. Then we would await the big night to dress up and go trick or treating.
Mom and Dad would allow me to have a Birthday party or slumber party on top of going out trick or treating. Each year mom would make her specialty chocolate cake with caramel icing, my favorite! So, finally Halloween would come (and each year it changes days) so it was always great when it fell on a weekend because that meant the celebration continued longer.
When I was younger we would also take some time to go to the Jaycee Haunted House which they were very much apart of. They would spend I think the whole month decorating and planning for that thing, so even though those would scare me to death we would go. I would get the sneak preview before they would begin all the “scary” stuff. Dad would take us kids through each room to show us all their work and creations and the “scare factor.” I can remember a few times when I got older I was brave enough to try it with all the effects in full bloom and let me tell you to this day I will never forget what I experienced one year. It was so scary with the floor under you moving, and spiders above you falling nearly colliding with your head, and arms reaching out to grab you, and disappearing images all around, and the screams that you heard in the room you were just about to enter. Dad would always say it wasn’t a good haunted house until someone fell to the floor in fear and “peed themselves.”
I don’t know about you but after seeing the movie Monsters Inc. and the “Scare Factor” idea
I thought now dad could have come up with that, after all I saw him as the One that was able
to scare even those people that seemed so tough, he could get them to jump and let out a scream. As the years rolled on and dad would take these haunted houses from town to town where we would live, being involved and usually the head guru in charge to create the ultimate scare factor centers. He also was the master of scaring others even when it wasn’t Halloween. Like Dean said he would often try to catch us off guard around corners, or doors or in closets, and even as a child when we played hide and seek, he had hiding places where we never did find him. I to this day am not sure how a man of his stature could hide from us kids!?
Dad loves to get a reaction from others whether it’s a scream or a laugh or just to make them laugh at themselves, he is a master at all of these! He is able to take someone’s vulnerabilities and turn them into something they can laugh at within themselves. For instance, one particular friend we have loves to shop and she usually likes more items than she can decide on, so dad points this out and makes it obvious that the best thing to do would be to buy two of everything! So, that resolves that, she does buy two of everything when the decision is just simply too hard to make, why not!?
His other favorite thing to do is to get those “women” especially who are “faint of heart” which he usually does by hiding his pet “motorized” rat
under a nearby table to make it’s appearance at just the exact moment to get the ultimate high pitched scream followed by his howl of glee and pleasure that once again his “little plan” worked to get the shrieking reaction he desired.
Now his latest haunted house experience was held in Orlando, Florida where yes, the “No sayers” told dad that the community just wouldn’t be interested in a haunted house, and indeed he proved them wrong for several years already. He had such a crowd the first year that I believe they had to extend the hours and dates to open up more time for all those who came to get a chance to go through the haunted house. The community rallied and many got involved in this production either by volunteering to help out in a “room” as each group was assigned a room to decorate and staff for the various nights it was open. They also had a haunted hayride around the Orista Bay community which was connected to the Park for a great way to tie the haunted house area to the haunted hay ride route.
The line to get into these events takes hours, but well worth the “scare factor” you get in return! One year dad had all of us involved along with neighbors and friends to help enjoy the fun! We all were decked out in costumes, masks, black outfits for the ability to hide better in the night. Dean and I would jump out and scream or I would use the blower on those passing by on the hay wagon while it made the sound of a chain saw, scaring them to death.
One year I even came up with a younger helper, who thought it would be so much fun to be involved! We drove 3 hours up to Orlando to be there in time for the 1st haunted hay wagon to makes it way past my folk’s house. She hid in a box with only her head poking out, and beat the sides yelling, “Let me out of here.” While I chased the hay wagon dragging a rake yelling, “I’m going to get you, my pretties” dressed as a witch. I would not allow any photos of me dressed this way to be taken, because I would only do this for my daddy!
Many special events have I organized and I owe that largely due to my dad’s encouragement and ideas! As Dean stated dad is a member of the Punxsutawney Phil Ground Hog Club. He encouraged me to offer a Ground Hog Day Celebration here where I work at a Recreation Center, so I did. I had a 5 foot by 5 foot tree stump made by our Parks Crew and found a stuffed ground hog puppet to make it’s grand appearance for all the pre-school age kids to witness!
And other great events sparked by my Dad!
Dr. Seuss Celebration - Breakfast with Santa
(pic missing) (pic missing)
Ellen
(Editors Note- Some pictures have yet to be loaded for this post- still working on that)
All 4 of us would usually go to a pumpkin patch to select the “perfect pumpkin.” But the excitement was in getting it home and dad would eagerly cut the top off so he could watch us “gut” the pumpkin. He would have a whole production set up near a sink so we could sit on the counter or pull up a chair to pull out the guts and seeds of the pumpkin. He would often be caught snickering and taunting us by asking us is it “slimy” and cold, as we would pull out big handfuls of stuff and sort through the seeds to carefully set those slippery little devils onto a cookie tray to later bake. Then dad would carefully carve the face of our pumpkin each year.
He would set this out on the front porch with a candle inside for Halloween night awaiting reactions to our masterpiece. Then the next phase of preparation was selecting our costumes for the big day. It was not like kids have today where you just go to a store and pick one out, we created our own back in our day! We would take something we had in our closet or mom would concoct a creative outfit for us. Then we would await the big night to dress up and go trick or treating.
Mom and Dad would allow me to have a Birthday party or slumber party on top of going out trick or treating. Each year mom would make her specialty chocolate cake with caramel icing, my favorite! So, finally Halloween would come (and each year it changes days) so it was always great when it fell on a weekend because that meant the celebration continued longer.
When I was younger we would also take some time to go to the Jaycee Haunted House which they were very much apart of. They would spend I think the whole month decorating and planning for that thing, so even though those would scare me to death we would go. I would get the sneak preview before they would begin all the “scary” stuff. Dad would take us kids through each room to show us all their work and creations and the “scare factor.” I can remember a few times when I got older I was brave enough to try it with all the effects in full bloom and let me tell you to this day I will never forget what I experienced one year. It was so scary with the floor under you moving, and spiders above you falling nearly colliding with your head, and arms reaching out to grab you, and disappearing images all around, and the screams that you heard in the room you were just about to enter. Dad would always say it wasn’t a good haunted house until someone fell to the floor in fear and “peed themselves.”
I don’t know about you but after seeing the movie Monsters Inc. and the “Scare Factor” idea
I thought now dad could have come up with that, after all I saw him as the One that was able
to scare even those people that seemed so tough, he could get them to jump and let out a scream. As the years rolled on and dad would take these haunted houses from town to town where we would live, being involved and usually the head guru in charge to create the ultimate scare factor centers. He also was the master of scaring others even when it wasn’t Halloween. Like Dean said he would often try to catch us off guard around corners, or doors or in closets, and even as a child when we played hide and seek, he had hiding places where we never did find him. I to this day am not sure how a man of his stature could hide from us kids!?
Dad loves to get a reaction from others whether it’s a scream or a laugh or just to make them laugh at themselves, he is a master at all of these! He is able to take someone’s vulnerabilities and turn them into something they can laugh at within themselves. For instance, one particular friend we have loves to shop and she usually likes more items than she can decide on, so dad points this out and makes it obvious that the best thing to do would be to buy two of everything! So, that resolves that, she does buy two of everything when the decision is just simply too hard to make, why not!?
His other favorite thing to do is to get those “women” especially who are “faint of heart” which he usually does by hiding his pet “motorized” rat
under a nearby table to make it’s appearance at just the exact moment to get the ultimate high pitched scream followed by his howl of glee and pleasure that once again his “little plan” worked to get the shrieking reaction he desired.
Now his latest haunted house experience was held in Orlando, Florida where yes, the “No sayers” told dad that the community just wouldn’t be interested in a haunted house, and indeed he proved them wrong for several years already. He had such a crowd the first year that I believe they had to extend the hours and dates to open up more time for all those who came to get a chance to go through the haunted house. The community rallied and many got involved in this production either by volunteering to help out in a “room” as each group was assigned a room to decorate and staff for the various nights it was open. They also had a haunted hayride around the Orista Bay community which was connected to the Park for a great way to tie the haunted house area to the haunted hay ride route.
The line to get into these events takes hours, but well worth the “scare factor” you get in return! One year dad had all of us involved along with neighbors and friends to help enjoy the fun! We all were decked out in costumes, masks, black outfits for the ability to hide better in the night. Dean and I would jump out and scream or I would use the blower on those passing by on the hay wagon while it made the sound of a chain saw, scaring them to death.
One year I even came up with a younger helper, who thought it would be so much fun to be involved! We drove 3 hours up to Orlando to be there in time for the 1st haunted hay wagon to makes it way past my folk’s house. She hid in a box with only her head poking out, and beat the sides yelling, “Let me out of here.” While I chased the hay wagon dragging a rake yelling, “I’m going to get you, my pretties” dressed as a witch. I would not allow any photos of me dressed this way to be taken, because I would only do this for my daddy!
Many special events have I organized and I owe that largely due to my dad’s encouragement and ideas! As Dean stated dad is a member of the Punxsutawney Phil Ground Hog Club. He encouraged me to offer a Ground Hog Day Celebration here where I work at a Recreation Center, so I did. I had a 5 foot by 5 foot tree stump made by our Parks Crew and found a stuffed ground hog puppet to make it’s grand appearance for all the pre-school age kids to witness!
And other great events sparked by my Dad!
Dr. Seuss Celebration - Breakfast with Santa
(pic missing) (pic missing)
Ellen
(Editors Note- Some pictures have yet to be loaded for this post- still working on that)
Monday, October 25, 2010
Update Monday October 25, 2010
The good news is that Neil does not have MRSA. He does, however, have an infection, weakness and a slight fever so we are monitoring him closely. If he is up to it he will have one day of chemo tomorrow.
Kay
Kay
Quiet "Boos"!
Dear Mr. Gilmer You Have a Blog:
Dear Neil,
MRSA is everywhere. It's not surprising that it may be detected after so many hospital visits. Actually, everyone who's visited you recently is probably fending off the MRSA germ. One of the most common means of MRSA spread is... Physicians neckties. While everyone uses anti-bacterial protection, the one item that doesn't get zapped is the doctor's clothing. Good to know, though, that it's bacterial, not a virus, and can be eliminated.
Good idea to keep visitors away for a while, though. Maybe all those little children won't wet their pants when they come to your door this year!
I'm keeping up the Gilmer tradition, though. Every year, the Greens Fork Community Center has a Halloween "Safety Trick 'n Treat" Headquarters. My role is to sit very, very still outside on a bale of straw as a Scare Crow... and when the little ones approach, I say: "BOOO!" Very quietly, just like my Big Brother.
Love,
Mary Anne
Dear Neil,
MRSA is everywhere. It's not surprising that it may be detected after so many hospital visits. Actually, everyone who's visited you recently is probably fending off the MRSA germ. One of the most common means of MRSA spread is... Physicians neckties. While everyone uses anti-bacterial protection, the one item that doesn't get zapped is the doctor's clothing. Good to know, though, that it's bacterial, not a virus, and can be eliminated.
Good idea to keep visitors away for a while, though. Maybe all those little children won't wet their pants when they come to your door this year!
I'm keeping up the Gilmer tradition, though. Every year, the Greens Fork Community Center has a Halloween "Safety Trick 'n Treat" Headquarters. My role is to sit very, very still outside on a bale of straw as a Scare Crow... and when the little ones approach, I say: "BOOO!" Very quietly, just like my Big Brother.
Love,
Mary Anne
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
No visitors for a few days
Neil is being tested for MRSA. No results yet, but as a precautionary there likely should be no visitors for a few days as we get the results and if positive a procedure for visitors.
Thanks, Dean
Note: directly above this post is a link to explain MRSA.
Thanks, Dean
Note: directly above this post is a link to explain MRSA.
BOO!
Well Halloween is almost here again. Dad loves every holiday. As of late he has even made a serious push to make Groundhog Day a MAJOR holiday. He is a card carrying member in the Puxatony Phil Club, but that's a story for another day. But, I think Halloween was made for Dad. Anyone that knows Dad knows he will pass up few chances to mess with you (or someone you know.) But a holiday where people pay you to mess with them. Are you kidding me? Dad was always there to collect the money and do a lot of the hard work- for forty years or more. It goes back to the JayCee days in Michigan- I don't know a whole lot of details about these haunted houses that he helped in putting together with a lot of other people- but I know it took a lot of time, and I have no doubt Dad was in on many of the details. He has told stories about the whites of people eyes and the people running out of there screaming for years. Recently he even helped with the first Haunted House in the Hunter's Creek neighborhood in Florida He loves to tell how people said a haunted house would never work in that area. There were big lines, of course, much to his delight. Seems being scared is not a cold weather thing after all.
Nor do you have to save scaring for one day in October. One of Dad's specialties would be to hide behind a door, any door, wait for someone to walk in (but only the person who would react most severely- usually Mom) and say boo! He would have a smile on his face for hours if the reaction was right. Dad lives to get a reaction out of you - and Halloween, well, it just doesn't get much better than people standing in a line with cash in hand and Dad hiding somewhere in that haunted house ready to say BOO!
Dean
Nor do you have to save scaring for one day in October. One of Dad's specialties would be to hide behind a door, any door, wait for someone to walk in (but only the person who would react most severely- usually Mom) and say boo! He would have a smile on his face for hours if the reaction was right. Dad lives to get a reaction out of you - and Halloween, well, it just doesn't get much better than people standing in a line with cash in hand and Dad hiding somewhere in that haunted house ready to say BOO!
Dean
Update Wednesday October 20, 2010
What a great day this is. Neil walked quite a bit with the PT and he seems to feel good with no pain. We don't know yet about the red spots but assume it's just a medicine reaction. Wish he could go outside on this beautiful day...maybe later.
Love to all, Kay
Love to all, Kay
Update Tuesday October 19, 2010
We saw the oncologist today and he started chemo...today, pouch to take home....off tomorrow...back on Thursday.
The trip wore Neil out so he's sound asleep to catch up.
Now he has some red spots that we'll have to find out about tomorrow. Love to all, Kay
The trip wore Neil out so he's sound asleep to catch up.
Now he has some red spots that we'll have to find out about tomorrow. Love to all, Kay
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Update Sunday October 17, 2010
Today was a relatively quiet day. John M. stopped in and of course our nurse Rose came. Because Carrie wants Sundays off Angena will come as she goes to church on Saturday. We're still trying to figure out times for the feeding bag as he isn't always hungry at 8-12-4 and 8. If you know me I like schedules and it 's hard to plan around his tummy.
People keep finding ways to help us. The Massis gave us a fall arrangement for the house and Kathy R. decorated our front porch. Did I mention the pizza card from the Krueckebergs, CD from the Canises and Costco specials from the Geaches. Carolyn Strack keeps telling me how fortunate we are to have so many people looking out for us.
It was nice to be able to go to church today. I had missed a few times since I didn't have a Sunday angel.
8:15 and I'm off to bed while my hubby watches football.
Love to all,
Kay
People keep finding ways to help us. The Massis gave us a fall arrangement for the house and Kathy R. decorated our front porch. Did I mention the pizza card from the Krueckebergs, CD from the Canises and Costco specials from the Geaches. Carolyn Strack keeps telling me how fortunate we are to have so many people looking out for us.
It was nice to be able to go to church today. I had missed a few times since I didn't have a Sunday angel.
8:15 and I'm off to bed while my hubby watches football.
Love to all,
Kay
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Update Saturday October 16, 2010
Another exciting night! Neil was being a good sport and going to sit in the chair for his feeding. That didn't happen! When he tried to get in the chair the chair rolled and he fell on the floor. Our angel Dan R. came to our rescue and helped him back in the bed. ...no broken bones thank goodness. Then the night was calm again.
Kay
Kay
Friday, October 15, 2010
Update Friday October 15, 2010
Last night the Fentanyl patch for pain caused Neil to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom. Imagine my surprise when I came in from the kitchen and found the empty bed since he hasn't been able to walk for awhile. So, at 11 p.m. or so I had to call John M, another angel and neighbor to help me put him back to bed. I called on the Visiting Angels to send me someone to watch him all night so I could get some sleep. She got lost but arrived by 1:30 a.m. so off to bed I went.
A few other complications arrived during the night but today he welcomed John M, the Goads from Bradenton, Jim G and our assistant pastor at Peace Jim B. Carice and I are trying to master the gravity feeding tube. What a lot I've learned.
With all of the prayers being generated for my hubby there has to be a miracle!
love to all of you. Kay
A few other complications arrived during the night but today he welcomed John M, the Goads from Bradenton, Jim G and our assistant pastor at Peace Jim B. Carice and I are trying to master the gravity feeding tube. What a lot I've learned.
With all of the prayers being generated for my hubby there has to be a miracle!
love to all of you. Kay
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Update Thursday October 14, 2010
Neil came home from the hospital today. He is still very weak and says funny things since he's again wearing the Fentenyl patch for pain. More angels came our way today...Carice, as always helping in so many ways. Then at discharge time Dan R showed up and helped us load the car.
Tonight our VNA nurse Rose came to show me how to do the hanging feeding tube. She has been a special angel for us through all of this. Then Carolyn arrived to have a prayer with us and stayed to help me disconnect the feeding tube. We are truly blessed to have so many friends and family.
Orista Bay, our neighborhood, had an annual meeting Tuesday night. They sent Neil a plaque thanking him for his volunteer service to hte Orista Bay and Hunters Creek neighborhoods.
Our love to all of you and thanks for your support and prayers.
Kay
Tonight our VNA nurse Rose came to show me how to do the hanging feeding tube. She has been a special angel for us through all of this. Then Carolyn arrived to have a prayer with us and stayed to help me disconnect the feeding tube. We are truly blessed to have so many friends and family.
Orista Bay, our neighborhood, had an annual meeting Tuesday night. They sent Neil a plaque thanking him for his volunteer service to hte Orista Bay and Hunters Creek neighborhoods.
Our love to all of you and thanks for your support and prayers.
Kay
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Update Wednesday October 13, 2010
Neil will probably come home on Thursday. His strength is built up somewhat. They are trying to find the right meds for his stomach and tailbone pain, They are also trying to determine the correct food for his g tube. He is in very good spirits and wants to get on with the chemo next week.
Blessings upon all of you as you continue to pray and have concern for us.
Kay
Blessings upon all of you as you continue to pray and have concern for us.
Kay
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Update October 12, 2010
Neil is in room 5112 at Dr. Phillips hospital..taken by ambulance on Monday. They are giving him potassium and magnesium. We might have fed him too much through the g tube which caused complications....so much to learn!!! Thank goodness Ellen was here with me when this problem arose.
Kay
Kay
Monday, October 11, 2010
Here we go again: October 11, 2010
Photo of Neil's ambulance headed back to the hospital out Ellen's front window. Appears to be a problem with recent procedure (GTube) or perhaps colostomy?
Dean
Friday, October 8, 2010
Update October 8, 2010
Hi Everyone,
Neil came home from the hospital today. He had a beautiful room in which to have his chemo. It was a big corner room
with lots of windows. We could even see the fireworks from Disney at nine every night. Today the nurse is coming to show us how to give him his food through the g tube and check him out.
Kay
Neil came home from the hospital today. He had a beautiful room in which to have his chemo. It was a big corner room
with lots of windows. We could even see the fireworks from Disney at nine every night. Today the nurse is coming to show us how to give him his food through the g tube and check him out.
Kay
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Update October 6, 2010
Neil is doing well today and is up for visitors. Kay's computer isn't working today, which is ok, as she is getting some much deserved rest this afternoon, after countless hours at the hospital.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Update October 5, 2010 Pt. II
Neil will likely be at Sand Lake for the next 2-4 days? He has received chemo today, and is very alert and in good spirits for this newest round of treatments. He is in room 5125, 5th floor, B tower.
Dean
Dean
Update October 5, 2010
Neil is doing well after the procedure from the other day. He is asking for chemotherapy (which is a great sign, of course) and will be receiving it in the hospital, likely today.
Dean
Dean
Monday, October 4, 2010
Get your colonoscopy today!
At the urging of you know who, I had my colonoscopy a few weeks ago. Anyone who may be reading this and putting it off, don't. I assume everyone over 50 that may be reading this has had one recently. But if you've not had one, or need another one, or know someone that needs one- do it today. It is the simplest procedure one can imagine. It only consisted of 64 oz of gatorade mixed with who knows what, to drink the night before. A 30 minute or less outpatient procedure (you are out for the whole thing- thankfully), with 15 minutes of recovery. They say you shouldn't drive home because of the anesthesia,, which may need more time to wear off. Clearly the risk/reward on this is simple - just read the previous 100 posts if you think the above procedure is inconvenient.
P.S. Neil had one 5 years prior to his diagnosis with Stage IV colon cancer. I know, I drove him home from that one. He loves to drive and hates being driven around, so it was memorable. So, every 5 years despite being a popular interval, seems quite inadequate.
Dean
P.S. Neil had one 5 years prior to his diagnosis with Stage IV colon cancer. I know, I drove him home from that one. He loves to drive and hates being driven around, so it was memorable. So, every 5 years despite being a popular interval, seems quite inadequate.
Dean
Update October 4, 2010
The G tube procedure has been completed. Dad was feeling great after the procedure and resting well. Hopefully this will help provide the nutrition he so needs and wants.
Dean
Dean
Saturday, October 2, 2010
A Name that will make Neil smile
I’ve been thinking about my many work experiences with Neil back in “the good old days” of our fledgling careers. We all know how competitive Neil is and he brought that quality directly into his career in sales. So he savored every contract win and followed each contract loss with a “strategic plan” to win the next battle with that competitor, and to win more than we lost. He and I agree on the old adage “don’t get mad, get even”. He had more than his share of wins to celebrate, most of which I’m sure are memorable to him. But we also had a lot of fun in our jobs in those early days, much of it related to the fun and interesting people we worked with at our customers. Now I can’t say for sure, but I’m sure one of Neil’s favorite customers of all time was Jim L., the geeky, bow tie wearing, absent minded professor at Chevrolet engineering. In retrospect, I think Jim was a lot like Neil. Super intelligent, competitive and loved to have fun. Well fun in those days was lunch with the customer, where the conversations ranged from immediate business issues to politics, religion, the state of the economy, etc. But with Jim it seemed they always started with a few new jokes that he had heard that set the tone for the lunch conversations. And by the time the lunch was over, all conversations seemed to take on a humorous light due to the amount of alcohol consumed with our meals. In fact, what I remember as the most notable accomplishment of Jim L. (and I believe Neil will too) was his invention of the numerical lunch rating system. It had nothing to do with the quality of the meal or the excellence of the service. It was solely focused on the amount of alcohol consumed. On his scale, a worthy lunch was a 32. Three drinks before lunch and two after. Needless to say, we tried to get the important business issues covered in the mornings! And how we did this and then made the long drive from the east side of Detroit to Battle Creek on a regular basis escapes me. I’m sure it had something to do with our relative youth at the time!
So here’s a toast to one of our all time favorite customers and one that I’m sure will make Neil smile. Especially when contrasting with the engineers at American Motors who would call Neil on a Friday morning and demand that we meet them for lunch in Detroit, to be followed by a short meeting, then the long drive back to Battle Creek in rush hour traffic. Obviously arranged because they didn’t have any suppliers arranged for lunch on that day. Those lunches were memorable, but for entirely different reasons!
All the best to Neil and family!
Chuck M.
So here’s a toast to one of our all time favorite customers and one that I’m sure will make Neil smile. Especially when contrasting with the engineers at American Motors who would call Neil on a Friday morning and demand that we meet them for lunch in Detroit, to be followed by a short meeting, then the long drive back to Battle Creek in rush hour traffic. Obviously arranged because they didn’t have any suppliers arranged for lunch on that day. Those lunches were memorable, but for entirely different reasons!
All the best to Neil and family!
Chuck M.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Update October 1, 2010
My how a day changes!! The hospital doctor was going to discharge Neil today. I told her I wanted the surgeon and a wound care nurse to look at him first. So the day progressed. The surgeon wanted him to have a PEG--tube in his stomach. So the gastro dr. came in. The open wound is in the same place where he would need to put the PEG. Thus, on Monday he will have a Gastrostomy or G tube. He will have an endoscopy to find the best place for it.
I have consulted several doctors, nurses, friends and of course our kids and Neil. Since he is unable to eat much or drink as much as needed he feels he would wither away if he doesn't take a chance with this.
Please pray for him especially on Monday and pray for strength for me as decisions have to be made. Hopefully this will build him up enough for his 6th chemo.
Sherry and John Ede...college friends of Neil's have been here this week to help us out and visit with Neil from time to time.
love to all, Kay
I have consulted several doctors, nurses, friends and of course our kids and Neil. Since he is unable to eat much or drink as much as needed he feels he would wither away if he doesn't take a chance with this.
Please pray for him especially on Monday and pray for strength for me as decisions have to be made. Hopefully this will build him up enough for his 6th chemo.
Sherry and John Ede...college friends of Neil's have been here this week to help us out and visit with Neil from time to time.
love to all, Kay
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