Yesterday, DH & I went furniture shopping. I like lots of splashy color. He likes neutrals. He got the slate couch and I got a new bookshelf in lieu of the set I really wanted. I think it’s a fair trade-off.

So, I’ve been rearranging books. This morning, I pulled one book off an old shelf entitled, Standing the Gaff. It’s been in my family forever. Published in 1935, by umpire Harry “Steamboat” Johnson. I’ve never read it. I’ve kept it for sentimental reasons. My uncle Kyle played minor league baseball for a few years, and might’ve made it to the big league if he hadn’t been a mean drunk. By the time I was born, he was pretty much a washed-out has been who lived off my grandparents. He played the harmonica with a natural ability I’ve rarely seen, built model airplanes with perfection, taught me how to roll a cigarette, and died at an early age. Oh, there are plenty of stories there, but back to the book.

Apparently, my dad either bought or inherited the book, and he’s written all through it. Sometimes his name, sometimes baseball stats by inning (probably watching my uncle’s games), the birth years for everyone in my father’s immediately, family and sometimes it looks like he’s just practicing his penmanship. (It didn’t help.)

Between the pages of the book, I found what looks like my grandmother’s recipe for chocolate pie, a free offer cutout from the newspaper for salad dressing which was never sent in, another cutout of an advertisement, and another cutout, my birth announcement. I sat down, handling that small scrap of newspaper with the utmost care and read about the other births at the same hospital, two girls and two boys, and thought about how far we’ve come as the announcements started, Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Doe announce of the birth of… No mention of the mother’s name whatsoever.

This ratty book which I’ve kept for years because of my uncle Kyle, held a treasure trove of bits of my family’s history. What a nice Sunday surprise.

Jessie

First, some catch up. Congratulations to the World Champion Indianapolis Colts!!! And to Tony Dungy and MVP, Peyton Manning, along with Joseph Addai, Dominic Rhodes, Adam Vinatieri, and all the rest. Gentlemen, thanks for the great, exciting season.

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes. I had a great night with my hubby. He took me to my favorite Mexican restaurant.

Work has gotten a little crazy. I’m now the only support staff in the office, and it looks like the 9-10 hour days aren’t going to end any time soon.

Dad completed his radiation treatments and starts the chemo in a little over a week. Me and my family appreciate all your kind words, thoughts, and prayers, and ask that you continue to keep us in them.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Valentine’s Day! Remember, the day is to celebrate love, so be sure to let the ones you love know it.

I’m going to spend the evening with the ones I love and who are important to me - my family. I’ll stop by the bakery and pick up something sweet, a cake probably, and then grab my parents some dinner.

The evening will be wonderful. Bittersweet in a way, due to my Dad’s cancer, but I know every moment spent with him, with my family, is precious.

My son and his family were going to try to come by Sunday, but didn’t make it. So, in true Valentine fashion, I went ahead and opened the candy I’d bought for them and ate most of it. Of course, I’m going to replace it, probably with something better than what I first bought. It wasn’t that great. Really, they should thank me. Maybe I’ll give him a call and see if I can’t guilt him into coming over tonight.

Jessie

Dad’s doing much better. After some extensive testing, the doctors have determined that it is a tumor in his brain, but without brain surgery, there’s no way to determine what type of tumor it is. He’s taking radiation treatment, steroids, and anti-convulsants. He’s taking a few steps on his own, but he’s still wobbly. It’s going to be a long, hard road ahead for him. He knows it, and still has a great attitude toward the whole thing.

After the past week and a half, spending equal amounts of time at work and my parents, I took Friday off and slept. And slept. And slept. I knew I was tired, but didn’t realize exactly how exhausted I’d been. Speaking of work, it looks like things will ramp up there as I’m going to be the only support staff for a while. Thank goodness my DH is laid off, otherwise nothing would get done in my house.

Go Colts!!!!!
Jessie

Well, I felt sorta *Blah* all day Saturday, even during the games. But, I’m still riding high on the Colts’ win. I enjoyed the Seahawks’ win, too.

Sunday, I had just settled down at my computer, the game was on, I had my Fury open and ready, and the doorbell rang. My son and his family stopped by for a visit, and we had an absolutely fantastic Sunday afternoon, and we finished the day with a trip to my favorite Mexican restaurant. Even the little ones enjoyed the food.

All in all, I think I got about 30 words written, but that’s okay, because no words can outweigh those memories.

Happy Monday!
Jessie