Merry Christmas Soldiers

When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get. A Great Idea!!!

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
C/O Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

If you approve of the idea, please pass it on to your e-mail list, thanks and Merry Christmas!

Please Tune In

I will be hosting the launch of LOV Engineering's first live broadcast via the Internet! This Saturday, Dec. 1st at 1PM (PST). Just log in to www.onac.com -then click the LOV Engineering logo to see me in action. The show will be 30 - 50 minutes; however, it will be rerun during the week. Please, family and friends: check it out: www.onac.com

Jesus says: ¡Orale!

Good for Siggy

My friend, Siggy just called me to inform me that he has met the love of his life. He actually said that he is considering the "M" word" - which means marriage. He has secretly been dating her six months (who knew?).

I'm happy for him, but that means that I am down to two good "single" (meaning divorced friends) that I can still hang out with.

I do not hang out with my married friends, it is just not feasible. Except for family reunions, but, those generally are not my train ride.

Besides, right now Jesus, my POP is numero uno in my book. Today, he took his dog for a walk. This is good; the MonaVie might be working.

NOTE: Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (John 8:51)

Feedback is Good

I really appreciate all of the feedback that I have been receiving via both blog comments and e-mail (r.gomez.roji@gmail.com) regarding: The Trouble with Jesus.

This blog is becoming my outlet to vent; a self therapy of sorts. I have an important meeting next Monday with a representative from the Alzheimer's Association (see link on the top far right column) and apparently she is going to educate me on the many options that I have available.

I look forward to that meeting, also, to confirm if I am heading in the right direction in regards to pop.

Junky Junk Mail from Non-Profits Piss Me Off!

What is it with an endless array of non-profit organizations that continuously solicit donations from senior citizens on fixed incomes? Some of these organizations are worse and more persistent than the homeless beggars one finds on city streets.

My father receives solicitations from these groups on a daily basis. Some weeks we receive literally more than a dozen requests for donations daily. And these folks are smart, they give you personalized address labels, yearly calendars, certificates of appreciation and more. You receive these gifts BEFORE you have made a donation. My father always feels obligated to give something in return for the nice gifts. Why don't these organizations limit the gifts only to actual contributors and use the money saved for their respective non-profit efforts?

Or some solicitors use envelopes or packaging on their mailings that resemble official government documents. I have to explain to my pop on a daily basis that he is under no obligation to donate anything whatsoever.

Nevertheless, my father has a long history of donating to several veteran's groups, to which he has given a priority in the past. Yet, some of these same groups use a sort of guilt-factor against the very seniors that have given so much to this country in past. Isn't it time to have a "DO NOT MAIL TO SENIORS LIST" to leave our seniors alone and in Peace?

Any time that my dad cannot finish the food on his plate, he informs me: "Enough is enough." In this way he informs me that he has finished eating. I say it is time for some sort of federal regulation saying leave our senior citizens alone with the gimmickry solicitations for funds. Tacky thieves apparently have no scruples when it comes to stealing from seniors. I say: "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"

The Porn of it ALL!

Well, if you must know I make some extra cash by writing or translating for certain companies or enterprises. By 10:00 a.m. tomorrow I have to have an English translation of a "DISCLAIMER" for a porn web site. No joke! Oh well, these are the things I do to make a living and be able to take care of my DAD.

In any case the real funny thing about tonight is that after I put my DAD to bed and I was kind of lost in an HBO movie, my pop woke up asking me for an Alka Seltzer. Obviously, he had some tummy problems. Well, I missed out on calculating our inventory of Alka Seltzer and I had none to be found. Fortunately, I remembered what my MOM did in similar circumstances. CARBONATO, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda!!! Yes! One teaspoon of the magic powder, dissolved in a glass of lukewarm water did the trick! After three consecutive burps; my DAD was like new and back in bed. He was happier than ever; so was I. Anyway, I had a piece of leftover Thanksgiving apple pie and I am like new. I may actually sleep tonight.

Coming soon: MonaVie - MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW.

Thanksgiving Weekend Comes to an End

This was the first Thanksgiving holiday/reunion without my mom and we missed her dearly. My family came to the rescue with the brunt of the cooking responsibility falling to Aunt Hortensia. The dinner was still held at my parent's house to keep with family tradition; moreover, I cooked my first turkey. I used a Jalapeño-garlic butter rub and apparently, it turned out just fine because there was hardly any left at the end of the night. My dad, Jesus seemed very happy with all of the commotion, he certainly enjoyed the company. Surfer cousin Danny and his girlfriend Meagan brought wine and delicious cheese trays. Uncle Lou and Aunt Elsa came almost straight from the airport having spent the last couple of weeks with their daughter (my cuz) and her husband Jon and son Louis in Virginia.

After dinner we all headed outside to hear cousin Javier play some outstanding tunes on his guitar, everything from Flamenco to the Beatles to more. Of course, we all joined in; as best as possible. You can check out Javier's band at www.thebajabugs.com. Friend Enrique came down from the OC and friend Joey called from Boston (unable to join us this year).

Most importantly, I swear I could feel my mom's presence, truly she was around. Enough therapy, more funky posts to follow...

Blowing in the Wind

I don't get it. My dad is well mannered, very considerate to others beyond normal expectations. Yet, he has this habit of blowing his nose at the dinner table. I don't mean a gentle quiet blowing of the nose, but rather a louder-than-a-trumpet (Al Hirt style) blowing of the nose. I don't see others do this often, but when I do it usually is someone around my father's age or above. It must have been socially acceptable in the forties, fifties and so forth to blow your nose at the table. I must make a note to myself to research this further; because it certainly does get on my nerves. Other than that his table manners are impeccable.

Ham & Eggs

My plans for this morning have been altered; my father awoke with a strong craving for ham and eggs plus a strawberry crepe. I could handle preparing the main dish at home, but, I am not too sure about the crepe. In reality, my dad wants to go to the Aunt Emma's Pancake House for breakfast, so we shall. So our visit to the Social Security office (to submit some paper-work) will be delayed, because as our routine should have it; every time we go to Aunt Emma's, we always head out to the 99 Cents Only Store where pop enjoys going on a twenty dollar shopping spree!

My Mother, My Father, Myself

As I stated in an earlier post, my mother, Blanca passed away earlier this year. And there is not a day that goes by that my father and I do not think about her. After spending three months between hospitals, specialized clinics and finally the San Diego Hospice, 2007 has been a year of loss in many regards.

I've lost my mother, the ability to communicate (as I used to) with my father, my friends in Palm Desert, my dog (he ran away) and to a certain degree, I've lost my freedom. My day begins early, after the coffee is made and I do my rounds of opening windows, checking on the dogs, picking up the newspaper from the front yard, I check on my pop. By that time he is up making his bed (in his own special way). He insists on making his own bed which I consider his a.m. therapy. After he brushes his teeth and does his business he starts his day in the living room with a banana and a glass of grape juice while at the same time switching TV channels between Univision and the KTLA morning show. Afterwards, he does his low impact aerobics (which still makes me crack-up on a daily basis). I will be sure to give a full description of his workout at a later date.

After two cups of freshly brewed coffee, and a shave, we settle down for a light breakfast (of course the term light is not known among most of us of Mexican descent). I usually prepare breakfast; and I try to make his favorites. I do have a housekeeper who comes in three times a week; and usually she will prepare meals on those days.

Outside of this morning routine, the rest of the day has no set routine. Every day is an adventure. The trouble with Jesus is a work in progress, and we are still in the development process.

(Pictured left to right: Mama Blanca, son Ricardo and Papa Jesus on 9-17-06 at the J-Street Marina in Chula Vista, CA)

Brain-Drain

There is so much to tell about the dreaded Alzheimer's Disease; it is an evil, evil illness that slowly drains its victim's brains from the ability to recognize family members and the ability to remember important events from their past. Even if that "past" was just a few weeks, days or even minutes ago.

I will leave the truly clinical observations of the disease to the experts, but I will probably set up some useful links at a future date.

Where Shall I Begin?

My father Jesus is a 79-year-old Korean vet who was born in Santa Monica, California on February 3rd in 1928. He has had some symptoms of Dementia and/or Alzheimer's Disease for last couple of years. Tragically, after a lengthy bout with breast cancer my mother, Blanca passed away this past August 6th (2007).

I think that my mother's passing has accelerated the progression of my father's own disease. I quit my job in Palm Desert and moved back to San Diego to take care of my pop. It has been a major transition for the two of us.

Just imagine after sharing your bed with your wife of 55-years, you must now sleep alone. Your breakfast chats with the love of your life, have been replaced with normal talks with your 52-year old son. Your entire routine has been changed. The rug has quite literally been pulled right under your feet.

At first, this was what my father apparently felt like, but as time has passed - we have both slowly begun to adjust to a new routine. We still have our frustrations, but I am happy to say that we share more laughs than tears. My mom's death was a shock to the two of us; it is still very difficult in many, many regards.

Nevertheless, we shall both continue this journey and with the grace of GOD have more good times than bad. More details of this journey to follow.