Monday, April 14, 2014
Cake Day!
Navel gazing, cake waiting, random thoughts on launch from the momma day. Three years into a remission I was told not to expect and loving the hell out of that. I have now lived longer than any of my grandparents and my dad ( he died a few months short of 48) Sort of new territory in O'Malley land. I have great love and luck with Mary and the daughters three, best life I could think to stumble into. Any time I get judged by my friends, the company I keep, etc. I always come out looking good. I am lucky for the quality of fine weirdos who inhabit my world. Deep thanks and love to all who share the ride with Mary and me, life is good.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Fits, Starts and Stops, Oh My!
I really wanted to start a regular blog back in fall 2010. I was right about my football predictions, learned a few cooking tricks, and felt even more secure in my belief that Rubber Soul may be the greatest thing going (most days).
It is hard to keep the blog thing rolling because I am lazy as a writer, easily distracted, look bubbles, very busy as house husbandcookercleanerdadguy, and just plain tired of typing with Parkinson.
Today is one of those days where I can't get past the idea of having two things that do not have a cure. My body hurts and my mind is tired of keeping up the play nice approach to life. I am an ass for this of course, many many folks (some near and dear) deal with much worse and with a better smile than mine. So i will bitch and moan and try to do better tomorrow. Short version of blog post in my mind...
Good: Daughters, Cooking, Music, Football, Politics, Old Movies
Bad: I fucking hate Parkinsons. Seriously, lets take a guy with zero athletic ability to begin with and then give him a no cure disease that makes him even more awkward. HA!
Sure this is a bitchy pity dealie, but dinner has been made, the kitchen cleaned , and the laundry done...my free time, and this is what the heck i did with it. Double HA!
It is hard to keep the blog thing rolling because I am lazy as a writer, easily distracted, look bubbles, very busy as house husbandcookercleanerdadguy, and just plain tired of typing with Parkinson.
Today is one of those days where I can't get past the idea of having two things that do not have a cure. My body hurts and my mind is tired of keeping up the play nice approach to life. I am an ass for this of course, many many folks (some near and dear) deal with much worse and with a better smile than mine. So i will bitch and moan and try to do better tomorrow. Short version of blog post in my mind...
Good: Daughters, Cooking, Music, Football, Politics, Old Movies
Bad: I fucking hate Parkinsons. Seriously, lets take a guy with zero athletic ability to begin with and then give him a no cure disease that makes him even more awkward. HA!
Sure this is a bitchy pity dealie, but dinner has been made, the kitchen cleaned , and the laundry done...my free time, and this is what the heck i did with it. Double HA!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
trials
Tried this a year ago, ok start, spectacular fail after only three posts...... Should be trying a bit more. we'll see.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Days of Brats and Cheese
For those who must know right away
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/
Some thoughts on all things Green Bay.......
Like the Grateful Dead and Star Wars folks (i am one of each) The Green Bay Packer Fans are dedicated, loyal, fanatic and full of very unique traditions.
Green Bay has only 102,000 residents, but the Packers Ticket Waiting List has over 75,000 names on it. Mary and I are at about 45,000 and slowly moving up. The girls are closer to 70,000 and holding. I know most of you are Bear fans and not expecting math to be a part of todays discussion.
Big cheese for a small town. the Packers were born in 1919, the idea of local journalists, meat packers, and an athletic dandy named E.L. Curly Lambeau. The Packers claim 12 NFL championships, the first in 1929, the most recent in 1996. They won the first 2 super bowls in blowouts. They beat the Dallas Cowboys in the "Ice Bowl", regarded as one of the greatest games in NFL history. Local streets are named after former coaches and the people of Wisconsin are Shareholders in the team, there is no majority owner. And yes, Mary and i are among those who own one share of the team. We elect a board of directors each year and they run the day to day of the team. If you ever doubt the packer place in NFL history, the Super Bowl Trophy is named after Vince Lombardi, Packer coach from 1959- 1968. The Packers are
the "Chuck Berry" of football, it begins and ends at the corner of Oneida street and Lombardi Ave.
We are still getting over the "divorce" with Favre. He proved to Green bay management that he can still play very good football and the Packers proved that Aaron Rodgers is the best Non-Favre that we can get. We all thought it would be a one year rebound love with the Jets and then retire, but Brett keeps crying, retiring and coming back. Enough already. He was great in Minnesota last year, but he also was the losing QB of the 2007 and 2009 NFC Title games, throwing game ending interceptions both times. Maybe he should go home and play with his tractor.
The 2010 packers are looking very good in pre season. The offense is booming and the defense is hoping to improve upon last years dominant season. Ahhh, theres the catch. Al Harris and Charles Woodson are the best DB tandem in the NFC, but they are a year younger than god and the young backups are not ready. Williams, Underwood, Bush, and Prepah are an awful bunch of young Defensive Backs and may as well be playing ball for an Appleton high school. We need young DB's of the future, not guys who provide an escort service to opposing wide receivers. The offensive line is holding together, but Tauscher and Clifton are held together by duck tape.
The pack has had trouble getting younger players on the offensive line and defensive backfield to mature and step up, stay tuned.
Grace has been to Green bay 4 times so far, and she's nuts for it. Brats are her favorite meat so far, and all three daughters love the Cheese Curds.
Grab your lucky Packer Shirt, grill some Brats, eat some cheddar, and pour a pint. As brother Barry always tells me this time of year, "Life returns to Normal"
During my first year of bad health 2007 - 08, my good friends Drew and LadyK worked with the Favre Web Site. Upon hearing of a Chicago Cheesehead being ill, Favre, Leroy Butler, Frank Winters, and Gilbert Brown all sent me nicely framed autographed pictures from the mid 1990's super bowl team.
Classy move for pro jocks and very damm kind, classy move by my friend Drew. I plan to DJ that boys wedding sometime soon.
Go Packers.
Jim
Next time....... Music and that Great Gretsch Sound
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/
Some thoughts on all things Green Bay.......
Like the Grateful Dead and Star Wars folks (i am one of each) The Green Bay Packer Fans are dedicated, loyal, fanatic and full of very unique traditions.
Green Bay has only 102,000 residents, but the Packers Ticket Waiting List has over 75,000 names on it. Mary and I are at about 45,000 and slowly moving up. The girls are closer to 70,000 and holding. I know most of you are Bear fans and not expecting math to be a part of todays discussion.
Big cheese for a small town. the Packers were born in 1919, the idea of local journalists, meat packers, and an athletic dandy named E.L. Curly Lambeau. The Packers claim 12 NFL championships, the first in 1929, the most recent in 1996. They won the first 2 super bowls in blowouts. They beat the Dallas Cowboys in the "Ice Bowl", regarded as one of the greatest games in NFL history. Local streets are named after former coaches and the people of Wisconsin are Shareholders in the team, there is no majority owner. And yes, Mary and i are among those who own one share of the team. We elect a board of directors each year and they run the day to day of the team. If you ever doubt the packer place in NFL history, the Super Bowl Trophy is named after Vince Lombardi, Packer coach from 1959- 1968. The Packers are
the "Chuck Berry" of football, it begins and ends at the corner of Oneida street and Lombardi Ave.
We are still getting over the "divorce" with Favre. He proved to Green bay management that he can still play very good football and the Packers proved that Aaron Rodgers is the best Non-Favre that we can get. We all thought it would be a one year rebound love with the Jets and then retire, but Brett keeps crying, retiring and coming back. Enough already. He was great in Minnesota last year, but he also was the losing QB of the 2007 and 2009 NFC Title games, throwing game ending interceptions both times. Maybe he should go home and play with his tractor.
The 2010 packers are looking very good in pre season. The offense is booming and the defense is hoping to improve upon last years dominant season. Ahhh, theres the catch. Al Harris and Charles Woodson are the best DB tandem in the NFC, but they are a year younger than god and the young backups are not ready. Williams, Underwood, Bush, and Prepah are an awful bunch of young Defensive Backs and may as well be playing ball for an Appleton high school. We need young DB's of the future, not guys who provide an escort service to opposing wide receivers. The offensive line is holding together, but Tauscher and Clifton are held together by duck tape.
The pack has had trouble getting younger players on the offensive line and defensive backfield to mature and step up, stay tuned.
Grace has been to Green bay 4 times so far, and she's nuts for it. Brats are her favorite meat so far, and all three daughters love the Cheese Curds.
Grab your lucky Packer Shirt, grill some Brats, eat some cheddar, and pour a pint. As brother Barry always tells me this time of year, "Life returns to Normal"
During my first year of bad health 2007 - 08, my good friends Drew and LadyK worked with the Favre Web Site. Upon hearing of a Chicago Cheesehead being ill, Favre, Leroy Butler, Frank Winters, and Gilbert Brown all sent me nicely framed autographed pictures from the mid 1990's super bowl team.
Classy move for pro jocks and very damm kind, classy move by my friend Drew. I plan to DJ that boys wedding sometime soon.
Go Packers.
Jim
Next time....... Music and that Great Gretsch Sound
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Boxing with myself
Let's get the obvious out of the way... Cancer Sucks.
Wow Jim, you started a blog for that, geeze, way to be brilliant :)
Summer 2007, Mary is 5 months preggers with Grace, Buck and Lucy are soon making the switch to high school, and I have the nerve to get diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer at age 41. Sitting alone in the little room and hearing the news is beyond me, even three years later. Mad, sad, alone, bitter, the black goo of unhappiness just starts flowing and like a river, it moves your insides around to serve its own course. I have been thru seed radiation, lasers, and enough tubes, needles, etc to make Dr. Frankenstein blush. I have become a science project at the same hospital where my father died in 1975. Venting does not begin to help.
it's hard to be the face of sickness in a home where a new baby is the focus. Life and the beauty of a new life was a harsh contradiction to my case. I wanted to wallow in my own troubles, but there is still a house to care for, meals to cook, and a pregnant wife that i want to be a help to. Mary was sharing the creation of new life with me and i was being attacked from the inside of my own body. A conflict of emotions and spirit that I do not yet fully understand. I went thru treatments while mary was on maternity leave and in jan. of 2008, I took over care for Grace while Mary was working 45 - 50 hours a week at her newspaper. Wee snapper Grace in her little pink car seat and me, hauling off to doctor visits, grocery runs, and anything else I had to get done. As 2008 went on, I was told the cancer had spread to the Ureters in both my kidneys, the kidneys would fail, and I should not expect more than 2 years of life. Damm dark bullshit for a family to take while celebrating new life and the joys of cloth diapers.
I managed to care full time for Grace thru all of 2008. I don't know how i did it, but when Mary got home from work Grace was safe and dinner was cooking. I needed and still need to handle the house, cook, clean, shop, etc. I want the burden on Mary to be less. She would be up early getting the kids ready for school and being late for work on my weaker mornings. But once she left for wok, i wanted to be able to take over and have her come home to as little fuss as possible, she works hard at her job, no sense having her come home to more.
Lets take a pause and admire the Irish gift for run on sentences. look at em go.....
In dec. 2008, I was getting to sick too care for Grace every day. She began day care 3 to 4 days a week and i was spared taking a 14 month old baby to more doctor visits. Grace is still in care 3 days a week, i do 2 weekdays, and the local daycare has been good for Grace.
A big jump ahead to summer 2009....... The cancer is letting go of my right side kidney , but I am developing serious back and mobiltiy problems. It is discovered that I have Spinal Stenosis, a narrowing of the spine. Nerves and Discs are getting damaged in the process. I start to lose 3 or 4 days at a time, stuck in bed. I have had my fun despite the illness, but i have missed so many family dinners and birthdays for my nephews and nieces. mary's family has been fantastic to me ever since 1983, they have been my help and support. It sucks being well enough to keep the house clean, but too ill for travel and family parties. Because of all the young kids and a few older folks, I was not allowed much family contact during radiation. My skin still heats up and itches for no apparent reason.
Summer 2010, the cancer is out of the right side ureter and kidney. the cancer in my prostate is mostly slow and boring. As I win that battle, the spinal troubles increase to limit my walking and moving. I have not been on my bike for 2 years and long car rides, once a habit of mine, are vanishing.
I tend to be a defensive type anyway, but being attacked from the inside of one's own body is hell. I fight myself? How fucked up is that. But i fight. Sometimes I get weak and fight those who care for me, and I am sorry for those times. Vision gets blurred and one forgets that not everything is against you. I still try to learn a good way to fight an internal enemy. I can feel my spine burn some days and i don't know how to even live those days, but when you have no real say in the matter, you stagger forward and hope for the best.
I am lucky for my family and friends, they take my faults and help me to keep going. Thanks.
I really want some time off for Mary and I. We took the girls to Ireland in April 2009, it was one of the great times of my life. Went to Philly and Chicago for three grovvy ass Dead shows in May 2009. Since then , not much fun. Had to be sent home from visits up to see family in Ontario due to poor health. Susie and David are lovely to put my sick ass on a plane home, but i miss the ability to really road trip at my desire.
The world of 2010 for me is pretty small, jewel, target, doctor, repeat. Like all of us, i want more of a break.
Welcome to Jim's blog, complaints from the obvious that most of us share......
hey, thats the beauty of it. For all the pissy complaints, we all desire the same basic things... home, love, safety, and a bit of fun when we finish our chores.
It is a small world and we are all more the same than different. Lets end on the warm and fuzzy of humanity's shared desires and go have some coffee.
And while it's currently a drag, the journey is the reward, and the troubles are worth the joys.
Jim
next entry will be Football / Packers
Wow Jim, you started a blog for that, geeze, way to be brilliant :)
Summer 2007, Mary is 5 months preggers with Grace, Buck and Lucy are soon making the switch to high school, and I have the nerve to get diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer at age 41. Sitting alone in the little room and hearing the news is beyond me, even three years later. Mad, sad, alone, bitter, the black goo of unhappiness just starts flowing and like a river, it moves your insides around to serve its own course. I have been thru seed radiation, lasers, and enough tubes, needles, etc to make Dr. Frankenstein blush. I have become a science project at the same hospital where my father died in 1975. Venting does not begin to help.
it's hard to be the face of sickness in a home where a new baby is the focus. Life and the beauty of a new life was a harsh contradiction to my case. I wanted to wallow in my own troubles, but there is still a house to care for, meals to cook, and a pregnant wife that i want to be a help to. Mary was sharing the creation of new life with me and i was being attacked from the inside of my own body. A conflict of emotions and spirit that I do not yet fully understand. I went thru treatments while mary was on maternity leave and in jan. of 2008, I took over care for Grace while Mary was working 45 - 50 hours a week at her newspaper. Wee snapper Grace in her little pink car seat and me, hauling off to doctor visits, grocery runs, and anything else I had to get done. As 2008 went on, I was told the cancer had spread to the Ureters in both my kidneys, the kidneys would fail, and I should not expect more than 2 years of life. Damm dark bullshit for a family to take while celebrating new life and the joys of cloth diapers.
I managed to care full time for Grace thru all of 2008. I don't know how i did it, but when Mary got home from work Grace was safe and dinner was cooking. I needed and still need to handle the house, cook, clean, shop, etc. I want the burden on Mary to be less. She would be up early getting the kids ready for school and being late for work on my weaker mornings. But once she left for wok, i wanted to be able to take over and have her come home to as little fuss as possible, she works hard at her job, no sense having her come home to more.
Lets take a pause and admire the Irish gift for run on sentences. look at em go.....
In dec. 2008, I was getting to sick too care for Grace every day. She began day care 3 to 4 days a week and i was spared taking a 14 month old baby to more doctor visits. Grace is still in care 3 days a week, i do 2 weekdays, and the local daycare has been good for Grace.
A big jump ahead to summer 2009....... The cancer is letting go of my right side kidney , but I am developing serious back and mobiltiy problems. It is discovered that I have Spinal Stenosis, a narrowing of the spine. Nerves and Discs are getting damaged in the process. I start to lose 3 or 4 days at a time, stuck in bed. I have had my fun despite the illness, but i have missed so many family dinners and birthdays for my nephews and nieces. mary's family has been fantastic to me ever since 1983, they have been my help and support. It sucks being well enough to keep the house clean, but too ill for travel and family parties. Because of all the young kids and a few older folks, I was not allowed much family contact during radiation. My skin still heats up and itches for no apparent reason.
Summer 2010, the cancer is out of the right side ureter and kidney. the cancer in my prostate is mostly slow and boring. As I win that battle, the spinal troubles increase to limit my walking and moving. I have not been on my bike for 2 years and long car rides, once a habit of mine, are vanishing.
I tend to be a defensive type anyway, but being attacked from the inside of one's own body is hell. I fight myself? How fucked up is that. But i fight. Sometimes I get weak and fight those who care for me, and I am sorry for those times. Vision gets blurred and one forgets that not everything is against you. I still try to learn a good way to fight an internal enemy. I can feel my spine burn some days and i don't know how to even live those days, but when you have no real say in the matter, you stagger forward and hope for the best.
I am lucky for my family and friends, they take my faults and help me to keep going. Thanks.
I really want some time off for Mary and I. We took the girls to Ireland in April 2009, it was one of the great times of my life. Went to Philly and Chicago for three grovvy ass Dead shows in May 2009. Since then , not much fun. Had to be sent home from visits up to see family in Ontario due to poor health. Susie and David are lovely to put my sick ass on a plane home, but i miss the ability to really road trip at my desire.
The world of 2010 for me is pretty small, jewel, target, doctor, repeat. Like all of us, i want more of a break.
Welcome to Jim's blog, complaints from the obvious that most of us share......
hey, thats the beauty of it. For all the pissy complaints, we all desire the same basic things... home, love, safety, and a bit of fun when we finish our chores.
It is a small world and we are all more the same than different. Lets end on the warm and fuzzy of humanity's shared desires and go have some coffee.
And while it's currently a drag, the journey is the reward, and the troubles are worth the joys.
Jim
next entry will be Football / Packers
Monday, August 23, 2010
Into the Great Write Open
Hello and Welcome
Blog one, day one. Should have done this before the coffee wore off. I have decided to jump into blog land and see how it goes. Topics will include Cooking, Music, Film, Football, Politics, Cancer, and life as an at home dad / husband.
I will also take questions and have a few trivia question / raffle items as well.
As we are starting football season, here is a quick tip. Soak the Bratwurst in Guinness Stout or your favorite beer several hours before cooking. Grilled or in a pan, it greatly improves the Brat eating experience. For those of you who truly appreciate great football, here's what you will be doing for the next few months, http://www.packers.com/gameday/schedule.html
A few quick thoughts on politics.... Obama was born on American soil, so no more of that please. He has been too soft on BP and dealing with the oil spill. I think he should have been spending more time down there when it first happened. Democrat Senator Harry Reid is not a good leader and seems to be losing any influence he may have once had. Illinois Republicans are hoping for a huge comeback this fall as Blagojevich and the critter who lives on top of his head keep some local Democrats on the defensive.
Music tip for the day..... you need both Rubber Soul and Revolver in your home. Life is not complete with just one.
Lame excuse for trivia question...How much more black could it be?
Thats the trial run, thanks, be well, see ya.
Jim
Blog one, day one. Should have done this before the coffee wore off. I have decided to jump into blog land and see how it goes. Topics will include Cooking, Music, Film, Football, Politics, Cancer, and life as an at home dad / husband.
I will also take questions and have a few trivia question / raffle items as well.
As we are starting football season, here is a quick tip. Soak the Bratwurst in Guinness Stout or your favorite beer several hours before cooking. Grilled or in a pan, it greatly improves the Brat eating experience. For those of you who truly appreciate great football, here's what you will be doing for the next few months, http://www.packers.com/gameday/schedule.html
A few quick thoughts on politics.... Obama was born on American soil, so no more of that please. He has been too soft on BP and dealing with the oil spill. I think he should have been spending more time down there when it first happened. Democrat Senator Harry Reid is not a good leader and seems to be losing any influence he may have once had. Illinois Republicans are hoping for a huge comeback this fall as Blagojevich and the critter who lives on top of his head keep some local Democrats on the defensive.
Music tip for the day..... you need both Rubber Soul and Revolver in your home. Life is not complete with just one.
Lame excuse for trivia question...How much more black could it be?
Thats the trial run, thanks, be well, see ya.
Jim
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