It's complicated

He survived the surgery!!! The surgery was more complicated than planned, he had lots of calcification inside his aorta and they had to clean that out first, then attach a replacement valve, and they also had to replace one of his prior bypasses. This meant he had to have a vein removed in his right leg. This is one thing no one wanted to have happen, because since he's diabetic and already lost part of his left leg last year to this disease, his right leg's circulation isn't that great to begin with and now with a big vein gone it's going to be even worse.

But so far so good. I love my Daddy. He's so awesome.

It's all about the heart

I'm in Carmel this weekend and all next week. My dad's having major heart surgery tomorrow morning. His aortic valve has all but failed and his surgery is necessary for him to live. I hadn't seen him since late September and when I arrived yesterday I was very surprised at how weak he looked and how hard it is for him to breathe. He looked pale and weary.

Today we took him to the hospital to get checked in for his surgery tomorrow morning. They're getting him up at 4:00 AM to prepare him - shaving, bathing with antibacterial soap, IVs, ECGs, all that stuff.

Strictly Californian

My farm sold, finally. 10 months on the market. That's why I found myself standing in line inside the infamous California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) last week. Attempting to get my California driver's license reinstated. $28, 18 questions, one photo, one thumbprint and one hour later, success was mine.

Selling the farm came down to the wire. In another month I was going to start short sale proceedings with my lender. Given the current climate of short sales and foreclosures, I wasn't looking forward to having to go that route, but at some point you just have to stop the bleeding. Fortune smiled on me in late September by bringing a buyer, actually, a young couple with a baby looking for a piece of land and a future for their growing family. Both sides bargained hard, and in the end everyone was satisfied.

I took off 3 days from work, and, coupled with a weekend, and the help of Sam and Ari and Adrienne and my brother, managed to fly to Portland, rent a truck, pack the house and load it onto the truck and drive it back down to Roseville. I must face the fact that I am getting too old to continue doing these majorly physical things. It wore me out. It was also an emotional roller coaster ride, and that always sucks the life out of you.

But, now I can say, BEEN THERE DONE THAT. My Oregon dream is over. I'm awake and back in California. What's next for me? Who the hell knows.