Weekend Babies

September 30, 2008October 2, 2008 Tim May

It all started with an airport arrival last Thursday. FD flew into town for a long weekend of class reunion, a high school football game, share a few cocktails with some old friends, therapy with/for her folks, to see “Beeba” and Tam, drink wine, eat stuff, hug on her Mom, laugh with her Dad, yada yada yada. FD, as I once wrote in Favorites, has many names. This weekend she was my “Baby Girl”. It’s always good to have her home as she brings energy and enthusiasm to the house.

We were greeted Saturday morning (well I wasn’t – I had a meeting in Dallas that allowed everyone else to burn daylight by sleeping in) with the FS and STBFDIL. This weekend he has my “Baby Boy” (not really Tyler – don’t mean to get too sappy here – you were and still are my “FS”). They drove up from Austin Friday night and partied with friends…only to land on our overnight accommodations (beds) about 4 a.m. And guess who they brought home with them…the FD. Nothing like partying with siblings to bring a family together. My guess is they drove home together to keep each other awake (I know they wouldn’t drink and drive).

The kids have gotten into a let’s-do-something-different habit the last couple times they’ve come home. This trip – Saturday afternoon – the favorites bought us all a wine

tasting class on the Square in Denton. We had fun. STBFDIL and I got a bit silly with the seven or so fine Argentina wines tasted within an hour. Brittany (I think) was our host. She obviously knows her wines and thus explains her ownership of Wine2 (actually it’s “wine squared” but I couldn’t make the “2” itty bitty and raised up off the line). duh.

OK there’s something about 12 people, 1 instructor, and 1 employee sitting in plastic bistro-style patio furniture (don’t get me wrong, it’s a neat place) trying to swirl wine and stick one’s nose into the business end of the glass and then guess what the liquid smells like, that’s just fun(ny). To me, I think all wine smells like wine and it needs to be drank…rather quickly…so I can have another thank you very much. Now STBFDIL and I got to smelling our wine, listening to the other class attendees express and showcase their knowledge of wine, and guessing our own smells within the wine. We could not smell the “good dirt – not bad dirt”, nor could we detect the slight overtones Continue reading “Weekend Babies”

Family, Health1 Comment

Eli on the mend

September 28, 2008October 2, 2008 Tim May

Check out Eli’s progress. Don’t anyone tell him he had surgery 15 days ago that had his chest and heart wide open. How ’bout those surgery wounds quickly going away. Thanks Grandma Sue for sending the pictures…not sure who to thank for photography – perhaps everyone. I think I’m gonna starting calling Eli “TK” for “tough kid”.

Continue reading “Eli on the mend”

Photography, Travel2 Comments

Full of Balloony and Full of Hot Air

September 20, 2008September 22, 2008 Tim May

About 9:30 last night I finally got caught up with the DMN weekend “Guide” and discovered the Plano Balloon Festival was underway. This morning I ventured to Plano to catch a sunrise launch of countless Hot Air Balloons. As STBFDIL Tammy said in a reply text message (I sent her and several others a cell phone picture around 8:30), I did my own solo photowalk today.

Balloons aside, I don’t remember the last time I saw so many cameras – of all sizes, shapes, and styles – in one place. There was just a whole lot of photo walking, sitting, standing, and gawking go on. I could have learned a whole bunch about cameras and photo-taking had the guys with the lens as long as my arm stood still long enough for me to converse with them. Continue reading “Full of Balloony and Full of Hot Air”

Family, Health, Life11 Comments

Eli, our little trooper

September 13, 2008October 2, 2008 Tim May

NOTE: Eli’s condition is being updated through the “comments” portion of this blog posting. Click “read more” and then scroll to the bottom of the page, OR click the”# comments” at the bottom of the post – it will jump you straight to the comments. Feel free to leave your comments. FYI new commenters to this blog will be screened initially (by me) then after that first time, subsequent comments will be instantly posted.

Eli Ross May was the trooper of the day yesterday.

At Denver’s Children Hospital, Eli’s Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD) and a cleft of his Mitral Valve was repaired after about 5 hours of surgery on Friday. Everything went according to plan.

I’m sure Eli is really sore and they obviously have kept him sedated. All is well with everyone (except for a bit of exhaustion on the part of family) according to the two updates from OFB TR.

What great news. Thanks everyone for thoughts and prayers – keep them coming over the next several weeks.

Pictures from OFNi Tara Continue reading “Eli, our little trooper”

HumorLeave a comment

Try this at Home?

September 9, 2008September 9, 2008 Tim May

On a bit ligther note…a joke from OFSIL Bec. And I will speak for all those that share my last name, these are grand ideas: AMAZING SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES If you’re choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly remove itself. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop. Avoid arguments with the females about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink. For high blood pressure sufferers ~ simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure … Continue reading Try this at Home?

politics, Religion4 Comments

Religiously speaking

September 9, 2008September 9, 2008 Tim May

I, for one, am not well versed in the Bible’s scriptures. However, a good scripture discussion and interpretation is welcomed as long as I have my study Bible to reference. Perhaps that explains why I’ve had a Bible study class or two through my church over the last few years. As my old pastor told me many times – while sitting in a church pew, one-on-one over breakfast, and even in the passenger seat of a golf cart – religion and the Bible can really mess with your head. Perhaps Brother Bill’s point is the Bible is for all of us to take what we need from it, depending on the circumstance. I know many times I reference the Book for consolation, assurance, and inspiration. It has helped me countless times when in need, but it is used solely for my personal journey of faith and not to spread fear and condemnation. I know the Bible tells us to seek discipleship and congregate as a family in the house of the Lord. I try to do that through encouragement, patience, and as a living example – I think I am still ok in the Eyes from above. Continue reading “Religiously speaking”

Family, Health, Life5 Comments

Eli, our little man

September 4, 2008September 14, 2008 Tim May

An important event is about to transpire next week, one that concerns all the May’s and Dreiling’s as our little boy Eli is about to brave a life trial at a much too young age. All of 9 months old, Eli is scheduled for open heart surgery in Denver next Friday, September 12th. Eli Ross was born November 23, 2007 to my nephew Trevor and his wife Kristie with a serious heart defect. He is a special kid to his entire family that got a tough start to life. This kiddo has a disposition such that you would not suspect that he’s simply not feeling very good. Unfortunately his body is behaving differently from his playful, cheery personality. As my brother (Eli’s grandpa) tells it, in his short life he’s never known what it’s like to feel healthy.

Eli’s condition is called Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD). In layman’s terms, Eli does not have a tissue wall in the upper heart chambers that normally would separate his oxygenated blood from de-oxygenated blood. The heart and lungs are unduly and severely stressed, and several physical childhood (infant) developmental progressions are effected. Eli’s condition, best I can ascertain at this time (thanks to literature sent by his Grandma Sue), is textbook. He has experienced over the past several months little to no weight gain, fatigue, bluish complexion, appetite and nourishment concerns, and pulmonary illnesses. Other health complications have developed as a result of his AVSD condition. Continue reading “Eli, our little man”

Eatery, Family, Travel2 Comments

Labor Day, Apple Pie, and Kansas in both Windshields

September 2, 2008October 3, 2008 Tim May

This year’s Labor Day weekend was spent with our parents in Kansas. It’s always grand to visit our parents – we’re trying to do that as often as we can. We came away with yet another new found perspective however. Hurricanes occupy as much TV time in land-locked Kansas as it does in the coastal states. I’m glad CFB has started. Listening to Big 12 North friendly media rant and rave about a successful Week 1 for my Wildcats (and yes I had to tolerate the Jayhawks as well) is quite refreshing, perhaps even a bit rejunivenating.

Deb’s dad had an orchard full of apples this weekend. So we grabbed buckets and sacks and trekked up the hill to do some old fashion picking. Others did the picking, I photographed (Hey Emily, you should have been with me on that Photowalk). Deb’s mom, nephew Jacob, my dad, and Gus the Dog came out and joined in on the fun. When it was all said and done, we had a bushel of apples, some already sampled by birds…others home to constant diners that dwell and relish the sweet taste and fruit firmness (aka worms). Within minutes the five of them had a load and we then kind of looked at each other and said “now what”. “Now what”, at least in part, resulted in apple pealing/coring the old fashion way (with a pairing knife) and had Deb making my dad two pies that evening. Now I like pies and apple is usually down my favorites list quite a ways, however Deb’s pies were particularly good and quite tasty. So much so, Dad and I enjoyed a breakfast of champions by having a slice of homemade apple pie and a scope of vanilla bean ice cream for breakfast the next morning. Continue reading “Labor Day, Apple Pie, and Kansas in both Windshields”

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Month: September 2008