More logistics minutae arranged

I finally heard from the social worker today that can get me into the cancer convalescence residence. It is called Hope's Door, in New York City. It is run by the American Cancer Society. It will be my home for about 8 to 10 days while they monitor me in case I spring a leak or in case any other unexpected things happen. That is a great relief.

I have promised myself that I will procure for them some items for their patients. They have a wish list of things and ten irons is on there. I will now spend some of my ample free time trying to find quality stuff at low prices and get it all shipped to them. Shouldn't be too tough, I have already set it pretty much in place.

Our airfares to New York are a horrible mess but I finally just got actual tickets to fly out on February 21. That leaves some money tied up in standby tickets but we can deal with that. Janice is also working another angle but the snowstorms across the country have made getting people on the phone kind of iffy.

Having actual tickets and reservations also makes it possible for me to attend the annual camp out in the rain, the mud and the beer that is celebrating approximately its twentieth anniversary this year. No one really knows when it started because these guys are all fifty years plus and they have a poor memory, blotted to some extent by beer, time and other major events in their lives. So we will call this 20 and celebrate in the familiar fashion. We expect it will be raining, we expect it will be cold and muddy, and we expect they will all drink more beer or alcohol than is humanly possible. I will remain sober as the surgery will be four days later and I can't afford any detriment to my health. The highlight of the camp out is the Saturday night fire that consumes an impressive amount of wood and produces some wonder among the uninitiated and even among some veterans. The fire ring is expected to once again glow cherry read for most of the night, and we will be melting beer bottles in the fire. Inside every man is a young boy struggling through life. This camp out lets that little boy in all of us run rampant for a day or two. Sunday morning we will all return to society relaxed and recharged, our inner little boy securely tucked away for another year.