Catching Up

[K&GB]

Thanks for the concern and advice. We'll look into it.


I'm off to New Orleans this week for an Avionics Conference. Let's see, how many cool toys and gadgets can we squeeze into our USMC aircraft in the 2012 budget? Never been there, and really have no idea where the hotel is, so I'll just hang with the other AVOs. Someone told me it's a good time for crawfish, so who knows?


Gina has gone a full week without a seizure,so we went to The Olive Garden last night to celebrate. Her dad and stepmom have promised to take good care of her this week while I'm gone.


We spoke to the kids this weekend and instead of Vegas, we're now planning a wine tasting trip to Temecula, CA (just north of San Diego)after Christmas. They have a "wine bus" that takes you around to the wineries and back to your hotel so no one has to be the DD.

 

[gaudet]

Ken,

Make sure to get the char broiled oysters at this restaurant Dragos http://www.dragosrestaurant.com/. If you are here on convention, then you are probably meeting at the Morial Convention center and Dragos has a restaurant in the Hilton Riverside within walking distance of the convention center. The hotel is across from the Harrah's Casino. Crawfish are not yet in season, though you can find them. You can pm me for a phone # if you need some local advice.

Mike

 

[K&GB]

Gaudet, thanks for the tip, but I didn't see it til I got back. I did eat some char broiled oysters at a little place called Felix's Seafood, and they were good, along with the seafood gumbo and blackened alligator.

I tried crawfish etoufee three times while there, and was surprised to find that the hotel I was staying in served the best by far. Our conference was at the Weston, right across from Harrah's.

Of course, I had to visit Bourbon street, just for the novelty.

And look what I found there... a little corner bar that made me think of Waldo.

My friend, Gary, and I scoured the French Quarter almost every night in search of the best cajun food. Here's a nice place we stumbled onto Thursday afternoon in the rainy weather.

We found it completely empty except for the staff.

And there I discovered the best example of cajun food I'd ever had, Crawfish Pie. Rich and spicy. Yummy!

 

[NorthernWinos]

Thanks for the tour.....
Glad you had a nice break.
Take care of your lady now that your home....

 

[Wade E]

Wow that all sounds soooooooo good! Thanks for the pics. Waldo, why didnt you tell us?

 

[JWMINNESOTA]

Ahh, a tough week of work, but somebody has to do it!

Now if we can just figure out how to get that Cats Meow sign to Arkansas!

 

[PolishWineP]

JW! Don't encourage bad behavior!

 

[grapeman]

I think Waldo opened up a branch office.

 

[K&GB]

It's good to be home. Gina and her folks put out all the Christmas decorations while I was gone. My father-in-lawhad also started a number of outdoor projectswhile I was away, and we mostly finished them up this weekend. I also found time today to start a 3-gal batch of the VH blackberry.The 1-gal batch of blackberry I did previously is Gina's favorite wine to date.


It's been two weeks now since Gina's last seizure. Hooray!

Looks like the vitamin shots are finally working. She has a couple of key doctor visits this week to find out the results of her last MRI and see if they can figure out why she still has vertigo. She still suffers from a lot of head and neck pain, and her face is covered with bruises from several falls. (I'm considering getting her a helmet) But she's much more coherent. It looks like most of her mental deficits were side effects of the anti-seizure meds. She's almost completely weaned off of those now.


Our daughter, Karen, drove out from San Diego today and brought our grand-puppy, Rollie. Here's a pic of the three of them playing in the living room.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.As NW always says, Life is good.

Edited by: K&GB

 

[Scott]

Glad to hear things are better, must be a huge relief. Still thinking good thoughts for you both!

 

[grapeman]

Here's to her complete and speedy recovery. She's much too young and beautiful to have such serious problems. Take care of her and have a special and wonderful holiday season.

 

[Wade E]

Our prayers are always out there to those who need it! So glad she's on the climb up and hope it only gets better!

 

[NorthernWinos]

Glad things are going better....
Never doubt the power of prayer...
Life is indeed Good!!!!

 

[PolishWineP]

What a great early Christmas gift!

 

[JWMINNESOTA]

Lets hope this thing gets cured! Great to see good progress!

 

[uavwmn]

Ken & Gina, hang in there. Dr's and tests can be so frustrating as you two are finding out. Sounds like you are taking very good care of your other half.
I have you both in my prayers.

 

[K&GB]

Getting ready for the kid's Christmas visit. Both sets arrive Christmas Eve, hopefully. David (son) and Katie (daughter-in-law) are flying in from North Carolina with a stop in Pittsburgh. (Weather please be kind.) Karen (daughter) and Buckshot (son-in-law) will drive out from San Diego.


Karen's our oldest at 27. She's a GenrealManager of a Chipotle Mexican Grill, and her husband, Buckshot, works as a Massage Therapist while going to school full time getting his Master's in Sociology. Our son, David-26, is aCommunications Officer (First Lieutenant) in the Marines, and his wife, Katie, is a Nurse (Lieutenant Junior Grade) in the Navy.


Had to clear out the front bedroom, where we had a bunch of stuff stored, hang curtains,and set up a third bed. Moved all the junk out into the garage, which in turn forced me to clean up all my winemaking paraphernalia. But it was good to get organized. I plan to showcase my new hobby when the kids arrive and try to get them involved. (Gina's very supportive of my obsession, but I feel the need to expand my network of enablers.)

I'm planning to enlist their help instarting a batch of cranapple wine and maybe even bottling the Orange Blossom Muscat, if they're up for it.

Gina's dad and stepmother went back to Texhoma two weeks ago, and Gina's been doing pretty good on her own during the day while I'm at work. Unfortunately, her doctors are baffled by her continuing dizziness. They've referred her to an ENT, though they don't think it's her ears,and they're considering another hospitalization soon to run more tests. Meanwhile they seem completely unconcerned about her constant head, neck, and jointpain. They're reluctant to prescribe anything strong enough to actually help, and instead seem to be more interested in trying things like bio-feedback and accupuncture. I'm not knocking these treatments, but they haven't worked yet. I know after months of steadily increasing pain, she's ready for some relief. This whole ordeal just seems to drag on...slowly. But at least the seizures are gone.


This weekend while the kids are here we've planned a 2-day trip to Temecula, CA for wine tasting. We'll stay at a hotel and we've booked a limo to drive us around to several of the wineries. Gina and I celebrated several romantic occasions in Temecula while I was stationed in San Diego. I'm sure this trip with the kids will bring back some fond memories.

 

[NorthernWinos]

Except for the pain and uncertainty it sounds like everything is coming together.....Hope they figure out her health issues and that you have a wonderful Holiday Season with your family.....

Your wine making area is great.....Hope all get to enjoy and partake in your venture....

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[jobe05]

Sounds like some great and exciting holiday plans, good for you.

Don's not stationed at Cherry Point is he?

 

[Wade E]

Thats a god collection you have going there Ken!