Some Things Never Change

Today the doctor called and said that Alis' was OK and that there was nothing there. Thank God. It had us pretty worried.

Today is Halloween. I was the only one to give out candy. We ended up having approximately 25-30 kids. It was real fun to give candy out to them. There doesn't seem to be as many kids as there once was. When we fist moved to the Hawthorne apartments, there was kids everywhere. My kids would go out with a pillow case and return just long enough to dump the candy on the floor and then would head out again. Those was really fun years.

The weather today is really nice. It got up in the mid 60's. It is supposed to be nice the rest of the week. I guess this is what they call an Indian Summer. Hope it continual.

Andrew got up this morning with a bad cough. He has been getting over a cold and a fever. He went ahead to school and started to feel better. He then came home and played football. Now as I write this, I can hear him coughing downstairs. Hope he gets to feeling better.

Today Alis watched a movie with me. I told her this morning that I wanted a date with her and that she had better not break it. She said OK and that we could watch this really good movie together. It is called "Crash". It's a great movie. I watched it last night but thought that Alis would enjoy watching it also. I was not supprised when she said that it was a good movie.

I really like spending time with her and Andres. It seems like now that they are getting older, that they don't have time to spend with their old parents. They always have something to do with their friends. I guess that it part of growing up though and that it has always been like that and always will. Somethings never change.

Beautiful Day at RCSP

This morning--after setting the clocks back-- I went up to RCSP to run. I first stopped at McDonalds to get a small cup of coffee because even though it was supposed to get up in the mid 60's, it was still cold in the morning.

I parked at Mineral Springs and ran in a clockwise direction. It was very nice and I had most of the trail to myself. I didn't see anyone until I was about 3 miles up the Heritage Trail from the trailhead. It was then that I ran into this guy in his twenties, with a pale face, a dress jacket, and a water bottle hanging from his belt loop. A very strange charter indeed.

After crossing the road on the Heritage Trail I ran into John and his son Eric. They are both training for the JFK 50 miler. I hope to see them down there at the finished line. Other then that it was uneventful. I'm just glad that I went. It might be the last really nice weekend that we have left. Being in the woods running on those trails is really peaceful. I really like it when I don't see anyone. It seems like it is just me and the creatures of the Forrest. I think that I may go back next weekend as well.

Winding Down Training & SAW II

Today I finished the 26 mile long run. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I started around 0730 at mile six on the Montour Trail. I had planned to run up to mile 19 and back again, however, I just didn't feel like running all the way up there. It seems like once I get passed mile 13 it is a different place. Home for me in between miles 6-13.

I ended up running from mile 6 to mile 13 and then from mile 13 to mile 0, and then back to mile 6. All of this ended up making the 26 miles. Althought I was dreading it, it ended up being a great motivator. I felt really good and could have gone another 4 miles or so with little problem. I really enjoyed going down to mile 0. I had forgotten how pretty it was down that way. The only problem is that it is a little crowded.

When I got back home Gil, Andrew, Aaron, and I went to the movies. We saw SAW II. It was Ok, but not as good as the first one.

Waiting

Today we waited on the results of Alis' CAT scan. The doctor said she would call today but never did. Gil called and talked to the Nurse who said that the people at the hospital said that everything looked normale and that the doctor would call on Monday. I'm very relieved but still kind of scared to get my hopes up.

Tomorrow I have to run 26 miles to keep up on my training schedule. I'm really not looking forward to it. These training runs are the worst. They are long and now since I'm up to five hours--really boring. Another reason they suck, is that it doesn't start to get daylight until around 0715 or 0730. By the time I get home, the day is almost half way done. Can't wait to set the clocks back.

CT Scan

This morning I got up real early so that I could come in to work and finish my slides.  I have a presentation this morning and need to finalize the slides.  I finished them and did a presentation to all the AGR 79V about the WO, Direct Commissioned, and 79R missions. 

Afterwards I had a meeting with all of my WOANCO's about the upcoming fiscal year.  I'm not that worried about making the WO mission or the DC mission; however, the same can not be said for the 79R mission.  Sixty packets are going to be tough.

Gullu called me around 1300 to tell me that Alis' doctor was trying to get her an appointment at either Allegheny General, or MPC hospital.  TRICARE will pay for a CT scan at Mercy, but the doctor doesn't think that they do as good a job.

At 1500 Gullu called me back to say that TRICARE would only pay for Mercy Hospital and that an appointment had been set up.  I left work early and we went downtown for Alis' CT Scan.  They would only let one of us go in with her and that was me.  I held her hand will they put the IV in.  I thought that she would break all the bones in my hand.  She actually started shaking.  After  they put the IV in, she said that it wasn't as bad as she thought.  They did the CT Scan and said that the doctor would call us tomorrow.

Andrew was sick today and stayed out of school.  He had a sore throat and a high fever.  His rash seems to be getting better.  The doctor said that it was a virus that he has.  The rash spread from his chest up to his face.  It looks like it is going away.

Good News?

Today we went to Alis' doctor appointment. It was downtown across from Mercy Hospital. I was a little worried because of how fast they gave us the appointment. I was hoping that it was a bad sign that the doctor wanted to see her right away.

We went in to see the doctor. Again, she is very nice and is the one who is treating Gullu's migraine headaches. There were two nurses in the room with us. Again, it looked like a bad sign to me. She sit Alis down and pulled out her MRI results. She asked Alis about her headaches and some other questions. She said that Alis' MRI was very good and she was reasonably sure that she didn't have an aneurysm but that she wanted Alis to have a CAT Scan done just to make sure. She believes that her headaches are migraines. I really hope so. I told Alis now that she's not sick, we can take her clothes back.

Today when I got home I found out that Andrew is sick. He has a sore throat and a fever. He mostly slept the rest of the evening. He didn't even eat. When Andrew doesn't eat, then you can be sure that he isn't feeling well.

Aneurysm

Today we all received a big scare. I was called by Alis' doctor that her MRI showed that she may have a small aneurysm in her brain. I can't tell you how it felt to hear those words. The nurse gave me the name of a neurosurgeon to call.

For a couple of hours I repeatedly tried to call the doctor but could only get voice mail. I left two messages for the doctor to call back. I also tried to call Gullu, both on her cell and the home phone but could not get anyone to answer. The LTC told me to leave so that I could take care of things at home. I finally got through to Gullu and told her the news. She made the call to the doctor only to find out that they could not see her until January. She then called her doctor - a very nice female doctor from Russia- and got an appointment for tomorrow morning at 0800.

After I arrived at home, we took Alis out shopping. She didn't show that she was overly concerned. She was just worried about having her hair shaved if she has to have surgery. Alis, Gullu, and I went to the mall at Robinson. She bought some cloths from American Eagle. She got a brown hoody and some other things.

We also stopped at a little stand in the mall run by some Turkish boys. They sell gold colored dog-tags and some other knick-knacks. Alis got hers with ALIS down the front and TUCE down the back. The "C" was replaced with the Turkish crescent and star. It looked very nice. It was Alis' idea. She's very creative. The Turkish boy gave her another one for free. It had ALIS down the front with a "Baby Phat" emblem next to her name.

I really hope she had a good time. I'm pretty worried about her. It is pretty scary to have one of your kids with something serious like this.

This morning at work we has an APFT for all of the RTO AGR's. We did the push-ups and sit-ups in the drill hall and then proceeded to Moon High School track for the two mile run. I'm glad I did mine yesterday. Today was very cold and rainy which turned to sleet before we left.

APFT Slacker

Today I did something that I can't ever remember doing....I didn't push myself on an APFT. For the first time as long that I can remember, I didn't score more then 290 points on the test. Today I just did 40 push-ups, 40 sit-ups and ran in 15:27. It really was too easy.

The reason that I did this was because I'm afraid that I might hurt myself before the upcoming race. I've worked too hard with those long hours of running to hurt myself and not be able to run. I didn't want to push myself on the run, because I had just ran 20 miles the day before and 20 more the day before that. I had to take it easy.

On the run I ran with SSG Durden. When we started he took off like he was shot out of a cannon. I think he did the first quarter mile in less the 1:25. I let him go, but he slowed way down by the end of the second lap, which is where I caught him. I then ran with him and paced him the rest of the race. He ended up doing 15:27. I enjoyed the run and felt as if I could have broken 14 minutes; I just felt guilty for not going all out.

RCSP and Meatloaf

Today I went running at RCSP. I really enjoy running up there. I ran the loop; however, this time I started the loop at at Mineral Springs. I felt really good even though I had ran 20 miles yesterday. The trail was a little muddy and the temperature was cool--43 degrees--starting out. On the Appaloosa trail I meet my first trail runner on that trail. Until today I thought I was the only one. I said, "Good Morning" and he replied in kind. I meet him again at the end of the Forest Trail by the lake. I stopped and spoke with him a little. His name is John and he is also training for the JFK 50 Miler. The only other event worth noting is that I almost busted my ass. I was running on some west 2 x 6's and slid about 1 foot. Scared the crap out of me. I felt like a surfer.

The natural beauty of the fall colors never ceases to amaze me. So many times on my run I wished that I had a camera. I'm thinking of going back and getting some photos. I hope the Ritz Camera guy can fix my 35mm. I can't wait to get out this winter and get some scenery shots.

The only thing about these long runs is that I feel guilty about being away from home. No matter how much fun I'm having, I can't wait to get home. This time Gullu had her special meatloaf with tomatoes and peppers on it. Everything she cooks is good, but this stuff is excellent. I really think we could make a fortune if we opened a restaurant.

Signing Soccer Balls

Today I ran on the Montour Trail. I ran from mile 6 to mile 16 and back. It was cool and raining. I tried to take it slow, but as I was coming back the rain got heavier. The harder it rain the harder I ran. I hope I didn't wear myself out because tomorrow I'm going run the RCSP loop. I hope it's not raining then. It really sucks there when everything is wet. The weeks and grass conspire to soak your legs and shoes, and the mud gets thick.

I called Gullu when I was about one hour out. I knew she was going to Ross Park mall, but I wanted her to wait for me. I hate shopping but I usually have a good time when I go with her. It's just that if I stay too long I get antsy.

The best thing about going to Ross Park Mall is stopping at the Half Price Bookstore. I found several books that I wanted, but ended up not buying any. They'll still be there when I go back. I'll get them then. I also like the Outdoor store at the mall. It's just that everything is a little expensive.

Today I picked up Andrew at Dean's house where they are having a Halloween party. He had to go to the Pizza place in the shopping center next to the Imperial Gym. The WA soccer team was signing soccerballs for the Senior players. I tried to get Andrew to write big and to write a little personnal note. He ended up just printing his name real small. Just like Andrew