20 and a wake up - Part II - Swollen Flower Chili Sause Advise?

Honey, I hope that you are feeling better and that your feet and ankles are smaller and feeling better. I have worried about you so much today. Please take care of yourself. You don't want to come back home unhealthy. The kids and myself are depending on you. Honey, I wish that I could have talked to you today. I really needed some advise. Do you remember the kid from Asheville High that I have been tutoring that his mom kept him coming 2 times a week because his grades went up so much. Well he has been begging me to meet with him one more time before his final exam next week. I have been telling him that I can't because of the kids, and not having anyone to watch them. My mom said she would but for me to take them to Brevard and back and back and back again would use half of the money I made just in gas. So he called me again tonight and said his Mother wanted him to call and tell me that if I would just come in meet with him for an hour tomorrow after school, that I could bring the kids with me and she would play with them in the Lobby while I work with him. It put me on the spot. I didn't know what to say, and I couldn't ask you. The thing is if I do not, and she calls Judi and tells her that I didn't follow through until the end of the semester, it could cost us a lot of money in the future in lost tutoring opportunities for me. I had no choice but to say ok. I hope that given the same situation and I wasn't around that you would do the same. I had to make a judgment call on it, which I hate doing when you are not around. I had no choice but to say ok. It is only for one hour and I can keep checking on them. It is immediately after school tomorrow, so it will not be at night. I will take a little bag with some paper for them to draw on. I hope you will understand.

I have been watering your flowers every other day like you said. They are still alive and blooming, can't say the same for the grass. Your red flower looks a little sick though. Is there any medicine I should put on it. What if I crush up a nexium and mix it with the water..LOL. I fixed spaghetti for supper (RAGU). Kimmy hated it. Kevin loved it. Go figure. I was notified tonight by Kimberly that they hate me, and that I am mean, and selfish. LOL. I really wish I had the recipe for CHILI. I hope that when you write again, you will have more time to answer some of these questions.

Honey what is your favorite color car in the world. Not type, just color. I was curious. I love you with all my heart and soul, and I need you back so bad that I can't stand it sometimes. I sometimes wish we would have made a different decision. However, I know that is important for you and your future. That makes it important for us too. We are proud of you. I showed the kids on the map where you are. They thought it was very far away. It is isn't. I will await your response and your words that I wake up to read everyday. I know tomorrow will be busy for you but I hope that you are able to write back.

Love,

Chris

Hi Ally
I am writing to let you know that i cheked with the pharmacy and found out that if you can get either Lasix or Hydrochlorothiazide Both of these are perscription drugs if you cant get either one then try over the counter .. caffine pills uusually found in the diet section of a store. Hope you can get something and feel better soon We got the yard mowed . It was sure hot out there . Be careful love you much
Love Moma

Hope you Feel better

Hi Ally
We were so sorry to hear you are not feeling well I know what swollen feet and legs are like. I talked to our Doctor about it when Sissy had it so bad the other day He said to elevate your legs as high as possible as much as possible . Limit your fluid intake and watch your salt Not just table salt but and salty foods as well I sure hope this works for you . We are both fine I think we are mowing grass today and then praying it will rain soon . Please take care and be vey careful Write ag ain soon We love you very much
Love Moma

20 and a wake up - Part I - Worried

Honey, I was so happy to wake up and check the blog to see that you had posted. I check it when I wake up everyday. I am so sorry that your feet are swollen. You need to try to rest them. If possible you need to lay down and put them elevated on some pillows. Avoid foods that contain sodium, and DO NOT increase your fluid intake. If anything cut back on it as much as possible. If they are swollen from fluid, then eventually they will go down and you will have to go to the bathroom more often. If they are swollen for any other reason than resting them is the only option. If it is not fluid and they are over worked, then take some of the medicine that you took with you. I will be so worried about you until I hear from you that they are better (AND DON'T LIE ) You know I have connections in the intelligence community. I will have see if I can get them to send an agent out to spy on you...LOL. I miss you terribly. It sounds like you miss us too. I am glad that you do, but I don't want it to interfere with why you are there. You have to get your research done and make it worth your (our) trouble and pain. I hope you get to update me later today on how you feel.

Love,

Chris

Home sick and missing you all

Hello babies and honey
I am sooo home sick I cant stand it. I miss you all so much you have no idea. I also miss my bed, my home, the food and eveything that comprehends our lives together (the wonderful life we have) I am also feeling sick, my ankle have swallen out of proportion, so walking hurts like a mojo. We got to lesvos last night. The hotel room we're staying has no phone, so I dont think I will be able to call. I'm gonna try later today. I need to get my research done about Sappho, I was suppose to go with dr. Mills to Eressos where she was born, but my feet are in such a bad shape that we decided I would stay behind and she is going by herself. I will instead try to interview some of the local people. The place is beautiful, but i am in so much pain that i cannot really enjoy it.
I was wanting to call my sister for few minutes yesterday for her bday but no phone in the room made it difficult. We visited a ton of places yesterday, it was pretty cool. I wish you guys could be here with me so we could learn about this place together. I definately would like for all of us to have a little vacation in the future in Europe.
The bathroom showers are really small and they dont seem to use shower courtains, so showering last night was a learning experienced. I have to tell you all about it when i get home
I miss you guys so much, and I love you all. Please keep on posting, it makes me look foward to my return. I am definately counting the days 'til I go back to you guys.
Honey, take care of my babies and take care of yourself. I cant wait to see you all again soon. I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU
Mommy

21 and a wake-up - Part II - too sad to think of a funny title day

Hey Honey. I guess that you didn't get to write today. I was reading the itinerary (which I do everyday, as well as look at the websites for your hotels), and noticed that you were taking an evening ferry over to Lesbos. I guess that means that you got to your hotel late. I really hope to hear from you tomorrow. I know, at least for me, it is excruciating not knowing if you are ok, or if God forbid you forgot about us. At least I hope you didn't. Today was a difficult day for me. I debated all afternoon whether to even tell you or not. I don't want my desperation to be with you or see you to interfere with your trip. I know I owe you that much, if not more. I had no idea that it would be this hard. It is not that hard from the workload standpoint, or having to do everything for the kids. That is by far the easy part, it is the not seeing you or talking to you that is the hardest. I don't know if it has been the same for you. I imagine though that you have been really busy and seeing cool places that you have wanted to see. I miss you honey, more than you will ever know. I have loved you since September 28, 1993, but I can honestly say with all my heart that I don't know that I have ever, and I mean ever realized it as much as in this moment. It seems like you have been gone forever, yet it is has only been 1/4 of the time you will be gone. I have even counted the hours until you get back but I wont share that large number with you. I don't want to tire you with my sappy whining. I will give you the news of the day.
The kids are better from their colds. We called Carolina for her birthday. The kids sang happy birthday to her. She seemed happy that they called her. Her interview is this coming Monday. I tutored today for a few hours, but not as many as I had planned. I have tutoring tomorrow too. But not until 11:30 (6:30 pm your time). I got your PIN number in the mail today. Kevin has his field day Thursday,and Kimberly has hers Friday. She has a cookout on Thursday. She has to take a beach towel. Kristen has a field trip on Friday to the Montreat Park. I don't know where that is. No food news today because we ate leftovers from yesterday. Its ok, they ate it. Kristen is eating her salad but not without argument of course. I will go for now. I love you Honey, and will be awaiting word from you and how you are enjoying the island of Lesvos.

Love 4 ever

Chris

21 and a wake-up - Part I - A Problem

Hey Honey. It is 7:00 a.m. I am waiting here with Kristen until time to take her to school. Don't forget that I will be tutoring most of the day until time to get Kristen. We will call Carolina today for her Birthday. Honey I know you are thousands of miles away, but I need to feel like that I am close to you. My heart feels so empty. When I wake up in morning, I am filled with joy that it means it is one less day that I have to wake up when you are not here. That joy is quickly filled with a void. A feeling of emptiness. Of nothing. Kind of like a black hole of sorts. That is what space must feel like...emptiness. It's the uneasy feeling that something is wrong, but your not quite sure what it is. Then you realize that you know what it is, its your moving, breathing, seeing, thinking, yet your in a void of silence....a silence that is normally filled with one's own heartbeat....except it can't be filled because your heart is somewhere else. In my case my heart is with you, and the rest of me mindlessly tries to maintain an order to our lives. I long for the day that my heart can be reunited with the rest of me so that I may be whole again.

Love,

Chris