Back in rainy, stupid Boston

Well, I'm back home after my nice long weekend in Chicago. The land of milk and honey if you like the Cubs and real pizza. Oh yeah, and sun. Cause we get nothing but rain out here this summer. It's like I'm living in Seattle! It was raining when I left, spent 4 days in sunny warm Chicago, only to come back here to more thunderstorms. I really hope Anna closed up some of the windows in our apt...
Dad's Status
Dad was finally out of the hospital as of tuesday night. The 2nd operation seems to have been successful at cleaning out the last of the infection. And they hooked him up with a PICC thing, so he can remain on IV antibiotics at home/work. Essentially he has 2 tubes sticking out of his arm on the under-side of his bicept. Both tubes have a little fitting that connects to a pump that he'll wear on his waist. He'll load in a new batch of penicilin in the morning and receive the programmed dose all day long. He's thrilled to be out of the hospital. But not so thrilled to have this thing running for the next 4-6 weeks.
And now we'll start working on camping trip try #2. Depending on how the infection dies down, we should be able to go in September like we normally do. But we're going to have to play this one by ear. We definately can't rush this and go if he's not 100% healed up. Had we been out in the woods when the infection flared up, it would have definately been a life or death situation. We would have been at least 2 days away from any medical care while the infection was spreading up his arm and heading for his heart. And 2 days assumes that the weather is favorably for traveling with only me paddling and we're able to find someone else to head back to the ranger for us so they can send in a float plane. So it could have been a few more days. Definately a scary situation and he honestly could have died up there. It's the downside to camping in such a remote and wonderful place. We should have a good idea in the next couple of weeks.
The Pizza Boycott: Worth it?
Yes, every bite. It was even longer than expected, as we went strait from the airport to the hospital. But that first slice of pizza and first bag of fries was worth every minute of waiting. So was slice/bag #2. Naturally it really only whetted my appetite for pizza, so I'm still dying for more. So I'll likely have to dial up some marginal east-coast style for dinner on friday. Or saturday. We'll see how the week plays out.
But you just can't match the joy of chicago style pizza. It was made for heartier individuals like myself. None of this floppy crust, thin layer of cheese crap they serve out here. Thick crust, loads of cheese. That's how it's supposed to be. As much cheese as the oven can melt.
Moving
My parents are finally moving out of their house into a new one. Brand new, as it turns out. So even though I wasn't camping I was still there over the weekend to pack up what's left of my stuff there. Not much, but things I clearly would like to keep. And as I was leaving I realized that if things go well it'll be the last time I'm in that house. They move in late August, and I see no reason why I would be there before then. If we go camping right after Labor Day, they'll be all moved into the new house. Kinda sad, but I've been moved out and in Boston for 5.5 years now. So I've been slowly cutting the mental ties to that house for a long time. My sister isn't taking it as well, but she never really got herself set up anywhere else. So that's still home to her. But she'll be fine. She's a big girl. Literally, too. She's like a giant. 6' tall. And able to kick the ass out of anyone who stands in her way.
The new house looks like it'll be very nice, too. They just started putting up the sheetrock inside, but you can still get a good idea. And from the details I've heard, it'll be really classy. Oak floors, granite counters, tall ceilings, the works. Working fireplace, too. And plenty of room on the first floor for having groups of people over. SuperBowl, cutglass organization, Christmas and T-Day, etc. Which was really what they were after. And a larger master suite.
It'll be tough to get back and forth to Pat's house when we're both home, but we'll get by. Nothing is going to stop us when it's time to get it on! We did lose our good football field, but we can just set up shop down at his parents' house in the future.
That's enough.
PEACE!!