wordsworth

David:

Ellen and I went to see Dr. Saffron this afternoon to have a recheck of her ear pre-flight. The following is a synopsis of our visit.

• The perforation is still there – no change in size

• The area is still clean and healthy looking

• Flying will not be a problem (we do have 2 pairs of Flight Mate – pressure reducing ear plugs. Ellen will wear one in her right ear only…I’ll try them out in both of mine).

• Afrin – over-the-counter nose spray to keep nasal passages clear…can become addictive so we are going to pass on it.

• Hearing test showed improvement of hearing – compared to hearing test from first visit when perforation did not show due to inflammation of inner ear tissue

• Surgery – is an option; however there is no time clock ticking. I suggest we revisit this option in the fall when we can all go to an appointment with Dr. Saffran to hear the same thing and ask questions

• Surgery Outcome/Success Rate – 60-70% due to the location of Ellen’s perforation. (80% otherwise). Hearing loss is also a possibility.

• Do people live with perforations forever? Yes. Water becomes an issue…keeping the ear dry. The surgery option is worth considering for this reason.

Well it’s late. I’ll write about our trip plans in the morning.

Jen

Well, I’m guessing you two are near ready for your trip. I haven’t heard anything about it – where you’ll be watching fireworks, if you’re planning to walk Central Park, whether or not you’ll see a show. But I thought I’d mention Broome St., and Foley Square. I’d love a photo of Ellen, in particular, standing by the street sign at Foley Square – every attorney, I mean, Foley should have a photo taken there in Legal, I mean, Foley Square. And Broome Street, I mean, I don’t know, no big deal. But I did work there once. Not a living thing like the places Oscar and Michael may want to show you. 

Anyway, here’s a photo of the chicks. Not like either of you need to see another chick photo. But I’m happy they’re alive still. They’re twice the size now they are in this photo. And I think they may grow faster with less food and less frequent feeding. Or, maybe its my imagination. Quien sabe?

Michael – here tonight with Rachel –  does a great “hungry chick” imitation.

Come to think of it, I bet my mom would make a hilarious “hungry chick”. Can’t you just see that?!

Well, back to my computer project – I’m trying to figure out how to get FileMaker and iCal to communicate with each other.

Ellen: Does Mattie ever say to you, “OK, Ellen, there are a couple of things we need to discuss?” Maybe that can be a thing just you and I do. Anyway, there are a couple things on my mind. So, if you will, I’ll monologue and see what happens.

Had one happy thought yesterday. I was pulling in to the Publix on 17-92 just south of Fairbanks, and watching the cars carefully to be sure there’d be no loud and surprising CRUNCH of collision, when drifting east out of the parking lot rose a single balloon. My mind turned to you immediately. I don’t know why. But I knew you were home alone. And home was east. And that balloon was heading in your direction.

“I could do that!” I told myself. “There’re balloons at Publix. I could get one. Let it go. And call Ellen.” Then I realized, “I can’t call Ellen. But I could post it to the blog.” Then I realized, “She may not see the post before the balloon reaches outer space.” Then I realized, “Even if she sees it, the court could declare a ‘balloon signal’ impermissible contact.”  Then I realized, “I can pretend.”

And, so, I did. I pretended that everything was going my way. I pretended I was buying a balloon. I pretended it was exactly the balloon you would want. I pretended it was big enough to see for miles and miles. I pretended that when I released it into the wind some woman in the parking lot smiled at me. Then, I imagined it all over again – this time I pretended that when I released the balloon a large crowd gathered to applaud and right up front was Judge Blackwell in her judicial gown clapping louder than anyone. I pretended that I smiled all the way home composing my announcement to you on the blog. I pretended you got my message just in time. I pretended you ran outside, clapped your hands together right below your chin, held your elbows to your chest, wriggled left and right, hopped up and down and squealed “Ooooouuueeeh! My balloon! My balloon!”, just like you were a teenager pretending to be three years old again, just as I’ve seen you do time after time.

It was a happy thought.

OK. Next item of business. Guido wants a blog. So, I’ve told him I’d set up a public blog if he would name it. So, do you want your own private blog?

Next item. More is better. Blog me.

Dad