Well, today has been a semi-profitable day. I accomplished a little bit, but received no remuneration, so far. I awoke this morning and ate breakfast, took a shower and dressed. I thought I was together. I drove to the office and sat in my chair, reading the mail and the emails and other assorted communications. At lunch, I grabbed my coat and put it on and drove to the grocery for a few supplies. As I drove, I looked down at my coat and my pants and realized that they were two completely different shades of green. One was a blue green, the other more of a brown green. So, when I reached the grocery store parking lot, I took off my coat and entered the grocery sans jacket.
I finally made it home and ate lunch with the crew. After several communiques from wife and in laws I headed for Barnesville. In the clerk's office in Barnesville, Bill Lindsey and Norman Smith were busy searching titles. I opined that that was the most lawyers in the Lamar County Clerk's Office, at one time, in at least four months. The other lawyers agreed. I completed my work, told a story to Bill Lindsey, and drove back to the Griffin. A pleasant little interlude.
I stopped by the house to pick up a receipt from Cindy. I inquired of supper. I was told we would have pasta. I made further inquiries of possible deliveries from Becky Lane, and was told she would come tomorrow evening. I was then questioned as to whether I was looking for other alternatives. "No", I said, "I was just wondering."
I returned to the office and the uncle of someone accused of a crime in Griffin called and promised me that he would bring me a check for my services. Much can happen between promise and delivery. Apparently, his nephew is innocent and the victim of over-zealous police activities. Not so surprising actually. However, a common story. The uncle was concerned that I not have a relationship with the police. I said, no, no more than any attorney who has to deal with them from time to time, in a town such as Griffin.
I made a call to a borrower on a closing for this afternoon. I informed him that I would not be there by 4:00 as originally promised, due to the fact that I don't have the closing package yet. He said that was fine. I asked him how late I could come by. He said he was to be there all evening. I told him I would call when I received the package. He said that was fine. We then received a call from the company who employed us, the person saying that I had told him that I couldn't close the loan because I didn't have the package. Patti and I both informed the person that, no, I hadn't said that. Instead, I told the borrower that I would close it when I had the package, and that I would call him when I received the package. There was a subtle difference between those two statements which apparently was lost on the lender. The more I do this stuff, the more I realize that the people who work in this industry were seldom educated in communication skills or English. I also find that anything I say can be turned around and given a negative connotation which wasn't originally intended when I uttered the statement originally. And levied at me in an accusation which places me on the defensive unnecessarily. I think Hamlet's soliquoy contains some words on what can be done to avoid these types of situations. Where, oh, where, is my bare bodkin?
I am now awaiting the loan package for the closing in Monticello. We have been promised same soon. I will leave my writing for a few moments and drive to Verizon to inquire about Cindy's phone. I hope that when I return there will be a closing package awaiting me.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Convergence and travel
As I stated previously, yesterday was the convergence of Foreclosure Day, Super Tuesday and Fat Tuesday. While the citizens of New Orleans, Rio, Mobile and other places were having a last blow out before the 'lean times' of Lent, I was driving around South Georgia, trying to find courthouses and the appropriate courthouse steps from which to cry out foreclosure sales. By the time I got to Columbus at the end of the day, I was worn out. Driving down the interstate toward Florida is not that bad, particularly as you are dreaming about going to the beach and eating seafood, but when you are forced to veer off the interstate, drive through the country, follow pickup trucks, farming equipment and other assorted slow drivers, then veer back, up and down and back to where you started so you can get to the next set of counties, it does wear on you.
In my case, I started driving to Coffee County, then Ben Hill County, and then back south and west through Tifton to Albany and then on to Columbus. By the time I completed that circuit, I had basically run a slash through South Georgia, from near the coast to the Alabama border. Then, of course, I got to come back home through Harris County. Other than seeing a lot of farmland and places where they process agricultural products, I finally got to stop at Three Little Pigs Barbecue in Pine Mountain and pick up a couple of pounds for the freezer back home.
In the meantime, Patti and Scott were trying to make a circuit from Griffin up to the northwestern corner of Georgia and back and Lisa was running a crescent from Butts County up through Walton County and on up to Hall and Dawson Counties. That left her a few minutes to get to class. We all were getting back rather late in the afternoon.
There was not much Fat Tuesday for me, unless you want to count the fried fish I had for lunch. I stopped for lunch and, as you would expect, the person at the drive through gave me my lunch, but left out utensils and napkins. I don't know what these people think we are doing. In case anyone who works in a fast food restaurant is reading, I do not carry around eating utensils in my car. As far as I know, no one else does. I did have napkins in the glove box though.
But eating cole slaw with your fingers is not the easiest thing to do. I have experience in that regard, though. When I was in camp up in the Northeast Georgia mountains as a young teenager, one night the dining hall people gave us food for a cookout. We headed out and ate hamburgers and hotdogs. At the end of the meal, our cabin counseler informed us that they had sent an aluminum foil sheet of cole slaw for the campers. Unfortunately, they didn't send any eating utensils. Our counselor offered the cole slaw to anybody and I was the only taker. So there I sat at the end of our meal, eating cole slaw with my fingers.
So once again, I drove through South Georgia, eating cole slaw with my fingers. Fortunately, I had enough napkins to clean up the mess after it was all over.
Boy, I hope Cindy doesn't read this blog. I can see her rolling her eyes now.
Tomorrow Cindy's parents leave and head back to East Tennessee. It has been fun having them here. I'm sure that we will be able to maneuver without them when they leave. Cindy seems to be picking up pretty well at this point.
In my case, I started driving to Coffee County, then Ben Hill County, and then back south and west through Tifton to Albany and then on to Columbus. By the time I completed that circuit, I had basically run a slash through South Georgia, from near the coast to the Alabama border. Then, of course, I got to come back home through Harris County. Other than seeing a lot of farmland and places where they process agricultural products, I finally got to stop at Three Little Pigs Barbecue in Pine Mountain and pick up a couple of pounds for the freezer back home.
In the meantime, Patti and Scott were trying to make a circuit from Griffin up to the northwestern corner of Georgia and back and Lisa was running a crescent from Butts County up through Walton County and on up to Hall and Dawson Counties. That left her a few minutes to get to class. We all were getting back rather late in the afternoon.
There was not much Fat Tuesday for me, unless you want to count the fried fish I had for lunch. I stopped for lunch and, as you would expect, the person at the drive through gave me my lunch, but left out utensils and napkins. I don't know what these people think we are doing. In case anyone who works in a fast food restaurant is reading, I do not carry around eating utensils in my car. As far as I know, no one else does. I did have napkins in the glove box though.
But eating cole slaw with your fingers is not the easiest thing to do. I have experience in that regard, though. When I was in camp up in the Northeast Georgia mountains as a young teenager, one night the dining hall people gave us food for a cookout. We headed out and ate hamburgers and hotdogs. At the end of the meal, our cabin counseler informed us that they had sent an aluminum foil sheet of cole slaw for the campers. Unfortunately, they didn't send any eating utensils. Our counselor offered the cole slaw to anybody and I was the only taker. So there I sat at the end of our meal, eating cole slaw with my fingers.
So once again, I drove through South Georgia, eating cole slaw with my fingers. Fortunately, I had enough napkins to clean up the mess after it was all over.
Boy, I hope Cindy doesn't read this blog. I can see her rolling her eyes now.
Tomorrow Cindy's parents leave and head back to East Tennessee. It has been fun having them here. I'm sure that we will be able to maneuver without them when they leave. Cindy seems to be picking up pretty well at this point.
Monday, February 4, 2008
A word to the wise
Kate, who falls for a lot of handsome celebrities from time to time, like George Clooney, Jimmy Buffett, Andy Samborg (?), etc., told me last night that she has a 'thing' for Eli Manning. Well, stand in line, little, girl, I read this afternoon that he is engaged to his college sweetheart.
Of course, I had a thing, at one time or another, for Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Ross, Linda Rondstadt, and others I can't remember off hand.
Fortunately, Kate's mother came and sat down in front of me in 10th grade World History. The rest has, in fact, been history. Sometimes you get lucky.
I often wonder what came first, the idol or the girlfriend. Did my thing for Cindy arise from my other thing for those dark haired actresses and singers? I know I idolized Elizabeth Taylor and Katherine Ross long before I met Cindy. But the Linda Ronstadt thing was about the same time. What's the connection?
By the wawy, we're hopeful that Cindy will regain the full use of her voice after her surgery, so maybe my little songbird will join me in the choir soon.
I wonder what causes someone to fall for someone. I also wonder how it seems that there are certain types we are drawn to. What causes that connection?
Of course, I had a thing, at one time or another, for Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Ross, Linda Rondstadt, and others I can't remember off hand.
Fortunately, Kate's mother came and sat down in front of me in 10th grade World History. The rest has, in fact, been history. Sometimes you get lucky.
I often wonder what came first, the idol or the girlfriend. Did my thing for Cindy arise from my other thing for those dark haired actresses and singers? I know I idolized Elizabeth Taylor and Katherine Ross long before I met Cindy. But the Linda Ronstadt thing was about the same time. What's the connection?
By the wawy, we're hopeful that Cindy will regain the full use of her voice after her surgery, so maybe my little songbird will join me in the choir soon.
I wonder what causes someone to fall for someone. I also wonder how it seems that there are certain types we are drawn to. What causes that connection?
Super Bowl
Was that not the best Super Bowl in a very long time? I was pulling for the Giants and didn't have much faith in their ability to beat the Patriots. I like the Patriots, but they are like pulling for the Yankees. They really don't need your help. But that game was superlative. Cissie and Cindy and Mom S. and Dad S. and I watched the game and ate chicken and dumplings and cheered for the Giants and the game was quite special. I don't worry much about pro football, since the Falcons seem to shoot themselves in the foot so often, but that was excellent.
It was also fun to sit with all of those people who really don't care that much about football, and particularly pro football, and get everyone excited about a good ball game. And Kate returned my call, finally, and let me know that she really likes Eli Manning. Good luck, little girl. I think a lot of things have to happen before you start dating the MVP of the Super Bowl.
Well, that was a good Sunday evening of football. Now the high days of sports are over and we have nothing but March Madness and the beginning of baseball to await. Unless you like hockey. But hockey lasts forever. Truly.
By the by, we learned of the minor hazards of having satellite television with dvr yesterday evening. Cindy had set the television to record and I called my dad to discuss the game. I was talking to him about the game and watching the delayed feed off of our television. I was saying that it seemed like the Giants could score and win this game. He replied, "Well, they just did."
Meanwhile I was watching the recorded game feed and the Patriots have the ball and they are being stopped on third down. The Giants don't have the ball on my screen, "Really?"
"Yep, they just did."
The Patriots are punting, "Well, that's interesting. Look Dad, I'll talk to you more later."
"Ok, see ya."
So, I turned to the others and they looked at me and one of them said, "Did somebody score?"
"Do you want me to tell you?"
They all said, "Go ahead."
"Well, the Giants just scored to go ahead."
So we sat down and stared at the past playing of the football game which had happened about five minutes before and, lo and behold, the Giants did score. Thusly, we found the hazards of watching a sporting event on dvr, while the rest of the world watched it live.
The game was still a very good game. And didn't get overwhelmed by the commercials or the hype.
It was also fun to sit with all of those people who really don't care that much about football, and particularly pro football, and get everyone excited about a good ball game. And Kate returned my call, finally, and let me know that she really likes Eli Manning. Good luck, little girl. I think a lot of things have to happen before you start dating the MVP of the Super Bowl.
Well, that was a good Sunday evening of football. Now the high days of sports are over and we have nothing but March Madness and the beginning of baseball to await. Unless you like hockey. But hockey lasts forever. Truly.
By the by, we learned of the minor hazards of having satellite television with dvr yesterday evening. Cindy had set the television to record and I called my dad to discuss the game. I was talking to him about the game and watching the delayed feed off of our television. I was saying that it seemed like the Giants could score and win this game. He replied, "Well, they just did."
Meanwhile I was watching the recorded game feed and the Patriots have the ball and they are being stopped on third down. The Giants don't have the ball on my screen, "Really?"
"Yep, they just did."
The Patriots are punting, "Well, that's interesting. Look Dad, I'll talk to you more later."
"Ok, see ya."
So, I turned to the others and they looked at me and one of them said, "Did somebody score?"
"Do you want me to tell you?"
They all said, "Go ahead."
"Well, the Giants just scored to go ahead."
So we sat down and stared at the past playing of the football game which had happened about five minutes before and, lo and behold, the Giants did score. Thusly, we found the hazards of watching a sporting event on dvr, while the rest of the world watched it live.
The game was still a very good game. And didn't get overwhelmed by the commercials or the hype.
An appreciation
I would like to end the hospitalization of Cindy ordeal with this. Cissie was very helpful. She drove with us to Dunwoody and accompanied us to the doctor and to the hospital. She is a great friend. She helped with meals and cleaning the house and other things which had to be done, even though we were not in a position to take care of them ourselves.
Mom and Dad were also very helpful and available. Despite the fact that it often seemed like everyone in the family, from Becca to Cindy to Mom and Dad, themselves, were involved with medical and hospital needs, Mom and Dad provided their home and their food and everything else we needed in order to make sure that Cindy and I were really taken care of. I appreciate that.
Our friends in Griffin were concerned and Roi Bugg called Cindy on our way up to Dunwoody on Wednesday. That perked Cindy up, then she came and brought soup and cornbread and a dessert on Saturday. That gave Cindy some time when she could talk to one of her friends and provided a great meal for Saturday evening. We appreciate that.
Pastor Tim came by and visited with Cindy on Wednesday and I know she appreciated that. In the midst of the false start on Tuesday and the ultimate surgery on Thursday, it was nice to have a visit from Tim during the day to gain some comfort. Cindy Stansberry also communicated her prayers for us, which is also a comfort.
Brother Frank called and left a message on my cell phone, which was nice. Sometimes we lose touch with Frank and his family because they are down in South Florida and we are up here in Middle Georgia, but I really couldn't have a better brother than Frank and Cindy acknowledged to me that she really did appreciate Frank as her brother in law.
Sister Susan was all tied up with poor little Becca who has viral menengitis. We didn't have much communication with her but know she was thinking about us when she wasn't thinking about Becca and Katie Scott and Kevin and Sprint and everything else my sister has to pray over. We appreciate her a lot.
Cindy's Mom and Dad have come down and are being with Cindy, cooking, cleaning, running errands, buying groceries. It is really nice just to have them here. Cindy and I both feel fortunate to have the in-laws we have. Not everyone is so lucky. They have taken a lot of pressure off me and we enjoy having them around.
A good number of the clients and attorneys that I have been dealing with recently were very compassionate and offered their concern and adjusted their schedules in order to assist our schedule. That was nice. Most people don't realize how nice attorneys can be to each other when a situation like this arrives.
The doctors, nurses and support personnel at St. Joe's were really nice. That hospital seems to place a premium on the personal touch, and I really appreciate it. I know Cindy does to.
There will be some time before Cindy is back at 100%, but she is moving faster than she expected, I think. I think her recovery is moving along well. She goes back to the doctor for follow-up on Friday and to see an ear specialist for her dizziness.
She has got to be tons lighter, with the removal of a softball size goiter from her neck. Its amazing she could eat, drink and talk.
Anyway, thank you to everybody. I hope we can be as good to you when you have needs in the future.
Mom and Dad were also very helpful and available. Despite the fact that it often seemed like everyone in the family, from Becca to Cindy to Mom and Dad, themselves, were involved with medical and hospital needs, Mom and Dad provided their home and their food and everything else we needed in order to make sure that Cindy and I were really taken care of. I appreciate that.
Our friends in Griffin were concerned and Roi Bugg called Cindy on our way up to Dunwoody on Wednesday. That perked Cindy up, then she came and brought soup and cornbread and a dessert on Saturday. That gave Cindy some time when she could talk to one of her friends and provided a great meal for Saturday evening. We appreciate that.
Pastor Tim came by and visited with Cindy on Wednesday and I know she appreciated that. In the midst of the false start on Tuesday and the ultimate surgery on Thursday, it was nice to have a visit from Tim during the day to gain some comfort. Cindy Stansberry also communicated her prayers for us, which is also a comfort.
Brother Frank called and left a message on my cell phone, which was nice. Sometimes we lose touch with Frank and his family because they are down in South Florida and we are up here in Middle Georgia, but I really couldn't have a better brother than Frank and Cindy acknowledged to me that she really did appreciate Frank as her brother in law.
Sister Susan was all tied up with poor little Becca who has viral menengitis. We didn't have much communication with her but know she was thinking about us when she wasn't thinking about Becca and Katie Scott and Kevin and Sprint and everything else my sister has to pray over. We appreciate her a lot.
Cindy's Mom and Dad have come down and are being with Cindy, cooking, cleaning, running errands, buying groceries. It is really nice just to have them here. Cindy and I both feel fortunate to have the in-laws we have. Not everyone is so lucky. They have taken a lot of pressure off me and we enjoy having them around.
A good number of the clients and attorneys that I have been dealing with recently were very compassionate and offered their concern and adjusted their schedules in order to assist our schedule. That was nice. Most people don't realize how nice attorneys can be to each other when a situation like this arrives.
The doctors, nurses and support personnel at St. Joe's were really nice. That hospital seems to place a premium on the personal touch, and I really appreciate it. I know Cindy does to.
There will be some time before Cindy is back at 100%, but she is moving faster than she expected, I think. I think her recovery is moving along well. She goes back to the doctor for follow-up on Friday and to see an ear specialist for her dizziness.
She has got to be tons lighter, with the removal of a softball size goiter from her neck. Its amazing she could eat, drink and talk.
Anyway, thank you to everybody. I hope we can be as good to you when you have needs in the future.
Friday, February 1, 2008
The real story
This has been quite an ordeal. In coming into the hospitalization, I was basically preparing and cooking meals for Cindy and myself, I was washing clothes, cleaning and straightening the house. I was handling any matters that had to be handled. I was going to work and trying to bring in some money. Meanwhile, Cindy's condition was getting worse and worse. The lump on her neck was getting bigger. She was getting dizzy constantly.
Fortunately, when Cindy saw the endocrinologist and the ent, she was told that her condition with the goiter has no effect on her dizziness. As a matter of fact, the dizzyness is apparently caused by some problem with her hearing. Interesting, no?
Anyway, Cissie Perry was a big help. Mom and dad have been a help with putting us up when we needed to be at St. Joe's. Now Cindy's mom and dad are here and will be helping with caring for Cindy.
Last night, after everyone left and Cindy and I were eating our respective meals, I realized that I was not going to get much sleep. I was considering the reclining chair in the room. We watched television for awhile, then the lights were turned off and we tried to settle. Unfortunately, the staff at night was quite boisterous and loud. Cindy and I got several blocks of sleep.
Then morning broke and Cindy's breakfast was brought in. Meanwhile, I took a shower in her shower/toilet. I dressed for the day. Some of my clothes were clean. Others were brought out for day two. I felt like I was back at that all male college I attended.
Then we waited for the doctor to pray over the mess and release us. After about two hours or so, we finally got Doris, the Teutonic nurse, who was very pleasant and told us all about her early life in Berlin, when she saw JFK speaking to the crowd. She told us another story of when she was a little older and RFK was visiting and she got lost from her father and RFK picked her up and placed her on his shoulders so she could find her father. Quite a memory.
Doris took over removing all of the pieces of equipment which had been attached to Cindy for her surgery.
Finally, around 10:30 I left the hall and went and put our stuff in the car and drove over to the front of the main entrance to the hospital. Finally, Cindy and I were on our way back to Mom and Dad's house.
Now, after being fed, if I can get a long nap, I will be back to normal. By the way the Lenscrafter's at Perimeter Mall clearly doesn't want my business. So tomorrow I will travel to Peachtree City and get my contacts from someone who wants my business. I went to the Lenscrafters at Perimeter and the first time, everyone passed me off to another, so I left. The second time, I was passed over to the doctor's office of whom I told her that I already had a prescription with the store in Peachtree City, but that I needed contact lens. The person told me that I would need to call the store in Peachtree City and get them to fax my prescription to the Perimeter store. I decided that that was something the store should do for me, the customer, so I left and decided to travel to PTC tomorrow. Seems like a plan.
Fortunately, when Cindy saw the endocrinologist and the ent, she was told that her condition with the goiter has no effect on her dizziness. As a matter of fact, the dizzyness is apparently caused by some problem with her hearing. Interesting, no?
Anyway, Cissie Perry was a big help. Mom and dad have been a help with putting us up when we needed to be at St. Joe's. Now Cindy's mom and dad are here and will be helping with caring for Cindy.
Last night, after everyone left and Cindy and I were eating our respective meals, I realized that I was not going to get much sleep. I was considering the reclining chair in the room. We watched television for awhile, then the lights were turned off and we tried to settle. Unfortunately, the staff at night was quite boisterous and loud. Cindy and I got several blocks of sleep.
Then morning broke and Cindy's breakfast was brought in. Meanwhile, I took a shower in her shower/toilet. I dressed for the day. Some of my clothes were clean. Others were brought out for day two. I felt like I was back at that all male college I attended.
Then we waited for the doctor to pray over the mess and release us. After about two hours or so, we finally got Doris, the Teutonic nurse, who was very pleasant and told us all about her early life in Berlin, when she saw JFK speaking to the crowd. She told us another story of when she was a little older and RFK was visiting and she got lost from her father and RFK picked her up and placed her on his shoulders so she could find her father. Quite a memory.
Doris took over removing all of the pieces of equipment which had been attached to Cindy for her surgery.
Finally, around 10:30 I left the hall and went and put our stuff in the car and drove over to the front of the main entrance to the hospital. Finally, Cindy and I were on our way back to Mom and Dad's house.
Now, after being fed, if I can get a long nap, I will be back to normal. By the way the Lenscrafter's at Perimeter Mall clearly doesn't want my business. So tomorrow I will travel to Peachtree City and get my contacts from someone who wants my business. I went to the Lenscrafters at Perimeter and the first time, everyone passed me off to another, so I left. The second time, I was passed over to the doctor's office of whom I told her that I already had a prescription with the store in Peachtree City, but that I needed contact lens. The person told me that I would need to call the store in Peachtree City and get them to fax my prescription to the Perimeter store. I decided that that was something the store should do for me, the customer, so I left and decided to travel to PTC tomorrow. Seems like a plan.
Operation Cutthroat Part Zwei [Thats two, auf Deutsch]
Operation is completed. Repeat: Operation is completed
The First in command entered the battlefield at 8000 hours and was engaged around 1115. She was out of commission until around 1600 hours, when the technical operative came off the battlefield and communicated with the communications section. At this point, communications sent messages to anyone indicated on the initial command.
First in command was relocated off the battlefield to MASH unit 411. Immediately, she was talking and taking sustenance. By the time the quartermaster was brought up, she immediately gave orders to second in command, an indication of good condition, no doubt. Second in command left the MASH unit and returned to staging area, where parental units were preparing sustenance for the commander. Upon return to MASH 411, commander ate and drank and second wave left for return to staging unit.
Little rest during recovery for either first in command or second. Morning broke early. Mash nurses Sherry and Doris were available and helpful in removing all technical equipment from commander. Commander cleaned up and dressed and left the MASH 411 at 1100 hours. Parties are at initial staging area, awaiting primary parental units/reinforcements from 1st Tennessee.
All is well. Troops will return to base in afternoon hours, no later than 2000 hours. Commander returns to MASH next Friday for followup action and final debriefing.
The First in command entered the battlefield at 8000 hours and was engaged around 1115. She was out of commission until around 1600 hours, when the technical operative came off the battlefield and communicated with the communications section. At this point, communications sent messages to anyone indicated on the initial command.
First in command was relocated off the battlefield to MASH unit 411. Immediately, she was talking and taking sustenance. By the time the quartermaster was brought up, she immediately gave orders to second in command, an indication of good condition, no doubt. Second in command left the MASH unit and returned to staging area, where parental units were preparing sustenance for the commander. Upon return to MASH 411, commander ate and drank and second wave left for return to staging unit.
Little rest during recovery for either first in command or second. Morning broke early. Mash nurses Sherry and Doris were available and helpful in removing all technical equipment from commander. Commander cleaned up and dressed and left the MASH 411 at 1100 hours. Parties are at initial staging area, awaiting primary parental units/reinforcements from 1st Tennessee.
All is well. Troops will return to base in afternoon hours, no later than 2000 hours. Commander returns to MASH next Friday for followup action and final debriefing.
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