HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME...

Yes - today is my birthday and I am 39 years old... AGAIN!  Listen, it worked for Jack Benny so it should work for me, too!  Actually, I turned 57 years young today and am looking forward to quite a few more years to come.

It was pretty much a quiet day in the Kulwin/Kline household, as we spent most of the day looking at storage boxes for the pantry area. Earlier this month we were hit with a "moth" attack that rivaled something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie (THE BIRDS).  Several boxes of flour, grains, cereal and other edibles went into the trash... the exterminator came, sprayed and prayed... and now the moths have gone.  We are putting everything into air tight containers to ensure that all the little creatures of the world say the hell out of the kitchen and pantry!  Once they get a job and contribute to the house payment, we might consider other alternatives.  But, until that happens - I say... "get thee to a nunery" and "out damn'd..." moth!  

(My apologies to Wm. Shakespeare and all of England).

Birthday dinner at the Lobster Shack in Redwood City - a culinary delight beyond one's imagination.  (It was as if I had gone to Boston for dinner without having to stand in line for the airport TSA inspection or reschedule my American Airlines flight!)  Trying to be nutritionally conscious and heart happy - oh what the heck - it's my birthday - get a life!  So, I did and it came in the form of a wonderful potion of New England Clam "Chowdah" and a delectable plate of Full Belly Ipswich Clams that just melt in your mouth.  (One if by land, two if by sea... bring me more clams... pretty, pretty please!).

Gosh, do you think the hospital food will be this good? 

Anyway - I see my cardiologist on Tuesday and do the pre-op routine on Friday.  I am feeling emotionally solid at the moment (much to my surprise) and am very much at peace with the upcoming processes and surgery.  Only 11 days to go till the operation... let's see how stoic I remain as I get closer to THE day.

Physically, I can feel a noticeable difference in me.  I tire very easily, have recurring bouts of shortness of breath and some mild discomfort in the chest from time to time.  These are symptoms that I've been expecting - just didn't think they'd be here so soon.  I am convinced that now is the time to get the valve replaced.  As already noted - pay me now or pay me later. The bottom line is that you do have to pay... sometime...  and now is that time.

I have received numerous emails, phone calls and cards from family, friends and well wishers - and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart (that part's healthy) for your thoughts and well wishes for my speedy recovery.  I am sure that your energy will bolster the healing power within me to come through this with nary a hitch and a minimal stitch!  

You know what they say - when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping (which I did all day today).  My credo at the moment is to remember the charge up Surgery Hill.... VICODIN!

Till the next post...

LK