............ Good News, Too ......................

It's been a busy week for me, with one thing leading to another.

Monday, I had my semi-annual visit to my cardiologist's. (The mid-year one is with a Nurse Practitioner.) I drove down very early and got a spot in the parking structure right next to the office. I had breakfast, read the paper, and was in the office 1/2 hour before my appointment. Everything is good and they scheduled me for a bone density test. I asked, again, about the "live virus" vaccination situation with my Granddaughter. Turns out I still can't go near her but a BBQ in the back yard or a meal in a restaurant would be OK. That saves Father's Day for me.

Tuesday was very rainy. I ran some errands and went right back home.

Wednesday, I drove into Edison and had breakfast at IHOP with my Daughter and Granddaughter. We had a nice conversation and the baby slept the whole time.

Yesterday, I drove into Metuchen for the bone density test. I've been to this place before for other tests. They're very efficient and I was in and out in less then 15 minutes.

Today, I had to pick up a prescription and there was something I wanted to check out in the Menlo Park Mall - something I thought would be cute to give to my Son-in-law for his first Father's Day.

I left my apartment a little before 8. I stopped at Shoprite and bought the paper and a package of 6 knishes that was on sale. (I've had these before. 2 minutes in the microwave and they're ready. Makes a nice side dish.) I went back home to put the knishes in the refrigerator then drove down Main Street towards WalMart - that's where my pharmacy is.

I made a left onto Ford's Avenue and saw this guy up ahead.

There was no one else around.

Point, press, Flash.

I parked in the WalMart lot and went inside. There was a line at the pharmacy counter so I wandered into the toy section thinking, maybe, to pick up something for my Granddaughter. There was a young guy stocking shelves and he asked if I needed help. I said that I was only browsing and she's only 11 weeks old. He suggested that I try the Infants section. I thanked him and walked over there.  I picked up a couple of small things that I'd give to my Son-in-law. I figured that I'd still go to Menlo anyway. I got my meds and left.

I stopped at the nearby Dunkin' Donuts and had breakfast. I drove back to Ford's and headed towards Route 1. I passed this guy sitting on the side of a 7-11.

I was too close to the front of the store. I drove on.

I parked in the enclosed lot at the mall. I still had about 15 minutes before the stores would open so I went inside with the paper and my iced tea. I figured to just relax for a while and found a chair by the fountain with a table that I could put my drink on. Friday's paper has an Entertainment Section so, after I read the news and checked my lottery ticket (I lost), I read the movie reviews. Looks like Pixar has another hit on it's hands.

Just as I started the crossword puzzle, my phone rang. This very rarely happens. It was my cardiologist's office. Now I was worried because there was no reason I could think of for them to call me. I answered it.

It was the nurse that I'd talked with originally about the "live virus" situation. The nurse who - having checked with the Transplant coordinator, the Transplant Pharmacist, and one of the new doctors on staff - told me that I couldn't go near my Granddaughter for 4 weeks. She'd just heard from the Infectious Disease Specialist that she'd reached out to when I first asked, and she had to call me right away.

The recent vaccination my Granddaughter had was for the Rota Virus. According to the Specialist, as long as I don't change any diapers for 4 weeks I'll be OK (which is what the Pediatrician told my daughter). When it comes time for the Chicken Pox shot, I'll be OK unless the baby develops lesions. There is no problem with the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) at all. This is completely different from what they told me - and, I presume, everyone else in a similar situation. I thanked her for the follow-up and texted my daughter right away.

I was too keyed up to just sit there. I stopped at the store to check out the one thing I was interested in but it wasn't worth the $20 it was priced at and, besides, I'd picked up those things at WalMart. I went back to my car. As I started the engine, I saw this guy.

I was in too good a mood and he was too far away. I drove out and turned on the radio.

This was a movie-perfect moment. The sun was shining. I had all 4 windows open and there was a nice breeze. Traffic was light. CBS-FM was on the radio (singers who are fathers is their weekend theme). I was feeling good.

At least until I came across this guy on New Dover Road.

I don't like bike riders (it's a personal thing). This guy decided to turn left into a side street when he was on the right side. I had to come to a complete stop while he did this.

At least it gave me the time to look around. It was him and I.

Point, press, Flash.

I continued on my drive home. I was still feeling great.

The old saying is that no news is good news. Well - sometimes - some news is good news, too.

Good News, Bad News ...............

I've come to realize that you only get so much good news before some bad news comes up and smacks you in the face.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last night was pretty hot and humid  so I decided to leave the window open along with using the fan. I don't usually since my bedroom window opens onto the front of the building and I'm on the first floor - and it was a Friday - and there's a bar across the street - but it turned out to be very quiet and I slept really well. That's the good news. The bad news was that I was up at 6:00 on a Saturday and couldn't get back to sleep.

You gotta make the best of things, so I finally got around to throwing out some cereal and snacks that I'd bought over the past year but never finished. Without even trying them, I figured they were all stale as hell. I also decided to swap out the water bottles I'd been refilling and carrying with me for a while now. I read somewhere that these tend to degrade over time so, you know, better to be safe then sorry.

That done, I had a few things I wanted to get done today so I headed up to Wegman's. I drink seltzer at home and, as I was running low, I needed to restock. (I'd already checked Shoprite and Pathmark but they had nothing on sale.) I took Main Street. Up ahead I saw this guy on my left.

It was still early and there was no one else around.

Point, press, Flash.

I pulled into the Wegman's lot. Bad news - their seltzer was not on sale. Good news - their sparkling water was. I picked up a 12-pack of Tangerine/Lime and drove back home. I put a couple of cans in the refrigerator and went back out.

I headed towards Dunkin' Donuts. I took Rahway  and turned left onto Freeman. As I approached the train track underpass I saw this woman.

Deja Vu. This was almost exactly like my first Event all those years ago except I was not on foot this time. And I was driving right past her.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had breakfast, picked up the paper, and headed to the Menlo Park Mall. (I call this my Saturday routine.) I got the chair to the right of the charger station, put my iced tea down, and opened the paper. I didn't win the Mega Millions. While I was reading the funnies, I was startled by a tap on the back.

"Hey, Grandpa, how're you doin'?"
"Shit! You scared the crap outa me, Doyle!"
"Oh .. sorry .... didn't realize you're so skittish."

We shook hands and he pulled over one of the other nearby chairs.

"It's not that .. it's just .. I wasn't expecting it. You took me by surprise. You haven't been around for a while, you know."
"Yeah ... well ... stuff's been happening. What with the problems with the TSA, the increase in our terrorist watch, and now the hacking of the federal computers, we've been jumping from place to place for months."

My turn to apologize.
"Sorry. I guess I should've been paying more attention to that stuff but I've been preoccupied lately."
"The granddaughter, right? How's she doin'?. I'm guessing you got pictures."

I showed him the ones I had stored in my phone while I told him about it.
"She's a real cutie, alright. She's starting to sleep better at night so she's awake more during the day, more alert. I got to babysit for her last Wednesday for a few hours and it was great."
"Sounds like you're enjoying it. I bet you're looking forward to Father's Day."

I paused and took a deep breathe.
"The babysitting on Wednesday was the good news. The bad news is that, on Thursday, she was at her Pediatrician's and he gave her a shot - a "live virus" shot."
"What's bad about that? You're not one of those anti-vaccers are you?"
"No. No. I'm not. But the week before, my daughter asked me to get the TDAP shot for Whooping Cough. To protect the baby, you know? So, I checked with my cardiologist. They OK'd the shot for me but told me that if the baby gets a "live virus" vaccine I can't go near her for a month. I can't even go into her house."

Doyle paused and sat back. Then he leaned forward.
"WOW. That sucks. But I don't understand. What does that mean, Denny? Why?"
"They tell me that after the shot she starts to shed the virus and that, since my immune system is compromised, I'm very susceptible."

We were both quiet for a few minutes. I broke it.

"Listen, Doyle, forget about it. We'll deal with it - it's just that it's happening now. Anyway, how's the .. ah .. search for Gordon?"
He looked relieved that I changed the subject. "Good news and bad news there, Denny. The good news is that he hasn't been active in months. Which is really good because we've cut back pretty hard on the staffing.  The bad news is that he's found a new way to taunt us. He's been unmasking his tracker signal for 5 or 10 minutes every couple of days or so, and he's been bouncing up and down the Mid-Atlantic area."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, one day we'll get a signal that puts him in Newark, Delaware then - 2 or 3 days later - a blip in Reading, Pennsylvania. Then outside D. C.. Then up near Blauvelt, New York...."
"Wait! You said Blauvelt, New York? .. When was that?"
He told me.
"We buried my aunt that day, up in Blauvelt."

Another pause as he took that in. He stood up.

"Seems he might still be interested in you after all, Denny. I have to get back to the office with this."

I stood, too. We shook hands. He put his other hand on my shoulder.

"Hang in there, Grandpa." He smiled.
"You too, Doyle." I smiled, too.

He walked away. I looked at my iced tea. The ice had melted. I looked at the paper but didn't feel like doing the crossword just now. There was still one more thing that I wanted to get done so I picked my stuff up and went back to the car.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I read a lot, and I pick up a lot of books at library sales to feed my habit. Once in a while, I get a bug about a particular book that I've read already so I go right to my "stacks" - the shelves in my living room. Well, I got the itch to reread 2 different books and was frustrated when I couldn't find them at home. (It took me 2 days to go through everything.) My last errand today was to check out the used book stores that I frequent. I headed toward Metuchen. I parked on Library Street and saw this woman heading towards me.

It was pretty quiet back here, but I had something to do. I got out and walked up Main Street to the book store. I started here because he only charges $1.50 for paperbacks.

Bad news. He was on vacation. He would be open tomorrow for the Street Fair. I've been to that Fair. The parking is horrendous and I don't like crowds. I can't come on Monday because I have a doctor's appointment in New Brunswick. That means that I couldn't get back here till Tuesday. Anyone whose ever obsessed about anything knows that I can't wait that long.

I went back to my car and headed to Colonia. The used book store up there charges a percentage of the cover price but I was willing to pay. I had the radio on and the windows open. It was a nice ride on a pretty day. I could see this guy heading towards me.

I was focused on something else.

I pulled into the Foodtown parking lot and walked over to the book store. When I went in, the woman greeted me and asked if she could help. Normally, I beg off but this time I told her what I was looking for. She went right to where they were and pulled them out for me. Since these were older books and older, paperback editions, I wound up paying $1.25 each. I saved money. Good news.

I headed home and came up behind this guy on his bicycle.

He was sort of weaving back and forth and was slowing me down. I looked around as I got closer. We were the only ones around.

Point, press, Flash.

I stopped at Subways for something to eat and went home. I ate my lunch with a Tangerine/Lime sparkling water.

It's not easy but I'm started to accept the fact the you have to deal with whatever news you're given, good or bad.

Feeling Better .................

Last Friday, I started to feel ill while out to lunch. I went right home, of course, and stayed there for the next two days.

Yesterday, I was feeling a little better and I dragged myself out. I had to drive down to New Brunswick for blood work. I had the windows open -down and back - and the fresh air felt good. I beat the rain home and was definitely feeling better.

This morning, I was up early. Even though it was overcast and threatening, I decided to drive up Rahway to the Motor Vehicle office. My car was due for inspection. As soon as I pulled up, they called me over. It took less then 10 minutes and I didn't even have to get out of the car, just move to the passenger side.

I headed back down Rahway towards Avenel. I saw this guy just up ahead.

I drove on by. I was feeling too good.

I drove up through Avenel towards the Dunkin' Donuts on St. George but got stuck behind a school bus picking up some kids at a corner. This time it didn't bother me and I waited patiently. When the bus pulled away I went to proceed but a mini-van that had been sitting at the cross street - at a Stop Sign - shot across the intersection. I had to slam on my brakes to keep from hitting it, but I got a good look at the two people inside. I took a few deep breathes and drove on.

When I got to Dunkin' Donuts I saw the mini-van parked it the lot. I parked on the other side.

I went inside and saw the two people who'd been in the van eating at one of the side tables. I took my order to go and went back to the lot, making sure to keep the van between us. I pointed at the engine.

Point, press, Flash.

I figured they won't be driving through any Stop Signs any time soon.

I was feeling better. Even though it still looked threatening I didn't think it would rain. I opened the windows and drove up into Colonia. I like driving through here. It's a nice residential area. I was on Wood Avenue when I saw this woman up ahead.

She had a purposeful stride to her and I left her to it. I figured that she was feeling good.

I could feel the humidity start to build. I turned down Grove and stopped at the North Edison Library. They don't usually have anything of interest to me but I was passing by. No surprise here.

I got back on Grove, Took a right on Oak Tree, and a left onto Plainfield. Up ahead, I saw this guy on one of those riding mowers.

I don't like these guys. They have no regard for anyone parked nearby and the mowers are loud, give off smoke, and throw grass clippings - and pollen - everywhere. As I passed ...

Point, press, Flash.

I noticed immediately that I couldn't hear the mower anymore. I looked in the side mirror and saw the operator slumped over the wheel. I figured that the pulse took them both out. That made me feel good.

I stayed on Plainfield, made a right onto Rte. 27, a left onto Main, and another left onto Amboy. I stopped at Wegman's and picked up a bag of pre-made salad and some diced ham. I was figuring on making a ham salad for supper.

I headed home, feeling better.