StumpTown Blog

I know many people are going to disagree with me on today’s primary topic. I understand and appreciate that reasonable people can approach the same topic in good faith and with all sincerity, without ill-motive and making an equal effort to form a well-reasoned opinion and still disagree. I believe people’s differences should be respected and appreciated and then corrected if they disagree with me. In that spirit of tender, loving, compassionate self-righteousness, let’s continue. First, some preliminary issues. 1. Way back when, near the beginning of this blog, I wrote some things about delis and sandwiches (nature’s perfect food), and they need some updating. First, I’m happy to report that the deli on the first floor of my building, the “Spicy Pickle” has seen fit to add a blackboard to their menu display. As you may recall, delis that have at least some of their menu written on a Blackboard are 97.4% more likely to be a place that makes a good sandwich than delis with no ...

Greetings. I think I’m actually close to being a full-fledged blogger again. I’ve missed being able to visit or comment on many of your blogs just as much as I’ve missed my rantings here. But I’m coming back. Here’s a few things that are going on: 1. My parents’ kitchen is finished an beautiful and greatly appreciated. Thank you to all who helped with time, labor, tools and money. It was a great project. If Blogger will let me, I will post a picture of the finished project, though it doesn’t do it justice, especially without seeing the before picture. If there is no picture, email me if you would like to see some. 2. My Dad is home from the hospital and getting better. He’s still tired and the recovery will be long and certainly slower than he would like. He sent me a note and suggested I post it here as he knows that many of you have been praying: To my Dear Family and Friends... This note will have to be short and cannot possibly convey my love and thanksgiving for...

My Dad appears set to come home tomorrow. The eating is going well and that was the last issue keeping him in the hospita. The doctors told him that he will be able to go home tomorrow which will allow him to see his dog again, get some fresh air, eat his favorite foods, sleep in his bed and all those little things that we all take for granted every day. Ok, well we don't all see his dog and sleep in his bed, but you get the idea. Anyway, that's the latest. We're all very excited.

I actually think my Dad is finally close to going home. Hallelujah!!! Today he ate something other than clear liquids for the first time in 2 weeks. Milkshake, pudding, soup, all the good stuff. At last report this evening, everything was going well. The stomach tube should come out tomorrow and then he can eat actual real food. To be honest, I think he is more nervous about that prospect than excited. After the nightmare of the tube and the longer than expected recovery and the horrible fluid build up, he is naturally anxious about removing the tube that was so painful to put in and test out a GI tract that hasn't exactly been cooperative lately. That said, the doctors think he's ready and like what they've seen the last couple days, so tomorrow should be the day. If everything goes well, he could be coming home by Wednesday or maybe even Tuesday, though I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. I have been happy to dedicate this blog to being a place where people wh...

Sorry for the lack of information. Here's just a few quick bits about my Dad's status. Everyone is now reasonably certain that my Dad will not have to have additional surgery. Praise God. The CT scan did not show a blockage and the build up in fluid was apparently simply due to the body not waking up as quickly as they thought it might after surgery to allow things to get flowing again. They spent the day today running a test where they clamp off the tube that is down his throat sucking out his stomach contents, for 4 hours and then run the tube for a while to see how much is staying in the stomach and not passing on. I did not hear the full day's results, but early returns were looking very positive. My understanding is that if these tests keep going well, they may remove the tube tomorrow which would be a tremendous blessing. Removing the tube means he could ease back into eating. I imagine that means liquids for a day or so and then soft solid foods. If that goes we...