Update on Carlos

Doesn't he look Great!

Well, we learned that Carlos' cancer has spread to his lymph nodes. He had surgery about two weeks ago to remove his pancreas, and most of his stomach. He is on a feeding tube. He ended up having complications with the feeding tube and having surgery again last week. They wanted him to go from the hospital to a convalescent home for a week before going home, but Denise wouldn't have that at all. As you may recall in my previous post, Denise has been taking care of her dying friend for a very long time and has experience in taking care of critically ill people. So, Carlos is home now! He is doing well and will be starting chemo and radiation shortly. His spirits are good, which is a blessing to all those around him. He has a long road ahead of him, but with great faith - theirs, their loved ones, and all of you who have been praying for him and his family - he will succeed in his trial. Thanks for remembering him in your prayers!

Dirty Dishes

Dirty dishes in the sink
Just wash yourself
Because
If you think
I enjoy your lounging ways
I'll "go-paper"
In a wink

Get to the cupboard
Get there, alas!
Stay there, stay there
Until at last
I need your help
To break my fast.

~Micalanne

Eating Poetry

by Mark Strand

Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.
There is no happiness like mine.
I have been eating poetry.

The librarian does not believe what she sees.
Her eyes are sad and she walks with her hands
in her dress.

The poems are gone.
The light is dim.
The dogs are on the basement stairs and
are coming up.

Their eyeballs roll,
Their blond legs burn like brush.
The poor librarian begins to stamp her feet and
weep.

She does not understand.
When I get on my knees and lick her hand,
She screams.

I am a new man.
I snarl at her and bark.
I romp with joy in the bookish dark.

More Good Ol' Days of Conference

I know it's hard to believe; but the fact still remains that I was a Young Adult in the year 1985. That is the year I graduated from High School, then moved to Downey, California to Nanny for my friends, The Rapier's.



Uncle Mickey and his family lived in Downey at this same time. Cousin Cari and I would get together often to have ourselves some Good Times! One of the fun things we did is Hit the Road for the October General Conference. We went with a friend...





...and David Cummings; in his little - very, very little - Honda. We stayed in Springville at our friends family's house. Another group of friends met up with us there.



We did not have tickets to actually get into Conference. We didn't mind though. A quick glance through the doors of the Tabernacle gave us a view of the General Authorities and President Spencer W. Kimball; and that made us happy. (I know...it boggles the mind trying to imagine Me & Cari old enough to be at a Conference before the Conference Center was built!)



We decided to walk around Temple Square to get our fill of the Spirit, enjoy the scenery...



...and take pictures of each other.





Then...

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted...H.I.M! He was so Beautiful in his Green Suit!



I followed H.I.M. I had to! Fate said we were going to Get Married and have 8 children as beautiful as he was! There were a lot of people on Temple Grounds; but, I knew how to maneuver my way through that Mormon Mob. Yet, even with all my Skills, I lost sight of H.I.M. I panicked and Begged Cari and David to help me. Cari spotted H.I.M. and exclaimed, "Micalanne! H.E.'s gone that-a-way!".



I was off! I ran through Temple Square, jumping over the highest of walls to get to H.I.M. because Eternity was waiting!!!



I Landed my Last Leap and there H.E. was....

...with his Gorgeous Blonde Girlfriend! Arrrrrrgh!


All hopes for 8 Beautiful Children and Eternity were dashed. What else could I do but...



With Fate slipping from my grasp, Cari took me to a Happy Place, and as we viewed the Backside of Water, my perspective changed. I knew I could keep on Keepin'-On.



It is because of Cari that, although I still have some lasting damage, the ill-effects are minimal.





I Loves Me My Cari-Girl! That's not Hard to Believe!

Good Ol' Days of Conference

We've always loved to "watch" General Conference!

Of course, the term "watch" has to be used liberally because of the childrens' consistent need to burn energy; especially in the "Back Then" days.
(October 1996-Listening to President Hinckley)

To keep them occupied, but listening, I would pull different items out of the cupboards for them. Crayons, paper, scissors, glue, little balls, baby dolls, etc. could be found strewn across the carpet as we "watched" the Prophet speak.

Today, the desire to watch conference was no different than in the past. We all curled up in our jammies and blankets to listened to MoTab's "The Spoken Word" as we waited for conference to begin.

Our experience of watching conference was similar to the past; except for the very minimal activity of the children during each session. They lounged on the couch, listening, rarely getting up, or even moving.

I believe they are growing up...

(I didn't take any pictures of them during conference. There would be Grand Mutiny if I did that!)