Author Archives: Tim Hughes Living with CML

365 Day Photo Challenge 349/365 “‘Tis the Season but I’m Not Feeling it”

14 Monday Dec 2015

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I go through this every year.  It’s nearly Christmas and I’m just not in the mood for it.  It’s not that I’m depressed; it’s more of disappointment that I can’t afford to more for my kids.  The older they get the more expensive their needs or wants get and we can’t afford to get everything they ask for.

This year my wife and I discussed the fact that the girls will be going off to college next year so we’re going to make sure that we help them with things like laptops and other necessities for college.  With that said, that will be two of everything.  One of the things that we will be trying to get them within the next few months is a car.  This brings up another problem.  The girls haven’t decided on where they want to go to school.  Each one has stated that they want to go to separate schools and if they do go to different schools then we’re going to have a huge problem.  We can only afford one car.  I want the girls to make their own decision on where they want to go to school but in reality they will have to go to the same school or else one will be walking.

And of course I’m somewhat concerned about my CML levels going up the way they have.  I’ve been back to the oncologist and they’ve done more blood work to determine what the next step will be as far as the medications that I will be on, being that the ones that I’m on isn’t working anymore.  I’m hoping to hear back from him this week.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 348/365 “Spring Time in December”

13 Sunday Dec 2015

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Here it is the middle of December and the high today was 73 degrees.  By this time last year we already had snow on the ground that lasted several days.  So far this winter we’ve only had a couple of cold days with mostly mild temperatures.  There is a storm coming tonight with a small chance of severe weather. Mostly high winds with hopefully minimal damage.  The temperature is supposed to drop next week but be back in the 70’s again by Christmas.  Really mild winter so far.  I hope it continues.

365 Day Photo Challenge 347/365 “Confusion”

12 Saturday Dec 2015

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Several years ago I went with the high school band as a chaperone to Chicago.  At first, I hated the idea of going to such a large city.  As it turned out it was one of the best trips that I’ve ever been on.  Chicago has got to be one of the biggest cities that I’ve ever been too. I was able to spend a day in Paris some twenty five years ago and visited the Eiffel tower. That was exciting but to be in such a big city in my own country was awesome.  We got to go into the old Sears Tower, take a diner cruise, eat at a pizzeria and the band got to perform in front of the gates of an amusement park.

A funny thing happened while we were in Chicago.  We went to see the Blue Man group but got to the location about an hour early.  There was a sporting goods store within walking distance so the chaperones decided to take the fifty some odd kids to the store to walk around.  Bad move on our part.  We hadn’t been there ten minutes when the place was surrounded by Chicago’s finest.  I was in the back of the store when they came barging in guns in hand.  Someone had reported us as a flash mob and we were in there to do a smash and grab.  Luckily, the police that rushed in had calm heads and decided to listen to some of the adults.  After we explained why we were in there the manager of the store quickly apologized and gave us the run of the store.  A picture was taken with one of the officers with one of the kids in handcuffs just as a joke.  It was a fun trip.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 346/365 “The Weekend is Here!”

11 Friday Dec 2015

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And after a long week I’m really glad it’s here.  As expected, today was a long day but I got everything done.  Everything actually went according to plan for once.

Tomorrow’s plan is to spend as much time with the family as possible.  I’m not sure how I’m going to accomplish this as of yet but that’s my plan so far.  I still have to purchase a few gifts for the wife but I have plenty of time left to do that.  Relax, I won’t wait until the last minute.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 345/365 “Road Trip”

10 Thursday Dec 2015

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The good thing about being the only HVAC tech in a large company is that you get a chance to do a lot of road trips.  The bad thing about being the only HVAC tech in a large company is that you get a chance to do a lot of road trips.  During my thirty years I used to travel a lot doing preventive maintenance on equipment all over our state and even into Georgia.  Since we’ve gotten our new boss nearly two years ago my traveling came to a complete halt.  He wanted this hand picked team to go and I wasn’t included.  Didn’t hurt my feelings none because I’d rather go home in the evenings instead of being off somewhere away from the wife and kids. Now since we’ve been losing people left and right because of our boss’s attitude I’m the only one left and now I have no choice but to go on these road trips.  Tomorrow I leave again for another road trip.  It’s two hours away and I’ve got at least six hours of work there and then another two hours back.  Going to be a long day tomorrow.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 344/365 “Family Matters”

09 Wednesday Dec 2015

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My son is home for a few days for Christmas and I’m really excited.  He’s got to go back to school on the 28th of this month because the band is flying to Dallas for the football game.  He’s also got several days that he’ll be spending away from home for the basketball games the pep band is playing in.  So, although he’s home for Christmas, he’s going to be gone a lot of the time as well.

We’ve accepted the fact that he’s now a young man and will not be able to spend all his free time with the family.  So we will be treasuring every minute that we get to spend together as a family.  Who knows how many more times we’ll get to spend the holidays together as a family.  I hope many more.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 343/365 “Thank You! It Can Go a Long Way”

08 Tuesday Dec 2015

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My boss is an AH.  He doesn’t believe in telling people that they’ve done a good job or give anyone a compliment of any kind.  I’ve had the most unfortunate pleasure of working for him for the past two years and to be honest it’s been the worst two years of my thirty years of employment at this company.  During these two years we’ve lost two people because they couldn’t find it in their heart to continue working for such an idiot.  This has created a major shortfall of personnel in our department and the workload is piling up and my workload has increased substantially.

During these two years, not once has he complimented me on my work or thanked me for anything that I’ve done.  While the managers that we’ve had in the past not only gave us praise for what we’ve done and how we did it but they would always gave us small bonuses for doing a good job.  Not this guy.

We, the department, have had many a conversation with him telling him of his shortfall and he knows that he needs to do better.  I’ve sat down and told him that a simple thank you can go a long way.  He always ends the conversation saying the he will try to do better.

I had no sooner got to work when I got a call to go to one of our buildings to look at a furnace that wasn’t working.  The unit had a bad gas valve so I took the time to replace it. I spent several hours troubleshooting the unit and once I found the problem I fixed it. When I got back to the office my boss was waiting at the door for me.  He asked what was wrong with the unit and I told him what I did and that I went ahead and fixed the problem.  I nearly fell to my knees when I heard from his lips “Thank You for taking the time to fix the unit”.  Wow! Miracles do happen.

365 Day Photo Challenge 342/365 “Today’s Rant”

07 Monday Dec 2015

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It’s the holiday season.  I only say that because we are a diverse nation with many religious beliefs.  With that said, to me it’s the Christmas season.  Yes, I said the word Christmas.  I will not say happy holidays, I will wish you a Merry Christmas.  It’s my right to say that.  Our country has become too politically correct.  We have tried to please everyone and it’s done nothing but create more problems than it’s worth.  If you’re not Christian and you want to tell me happy whatever, then do it, it’s your right.  I promise, I won’t become offended.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 340/365 “Time to Venture Out”

05 Saturday Dec 2015

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After spending another day stuck inside this house I’ve decided that I’m going to venture out tomorrow for a couple of hours.  I think the change of scenery will do me good.  I’m still having coughing fits but other than that I’m starting to feel better.

For those that follow football, Alabama won the SEC Championship game against Florida tonight. If it weren’t for my son being in the Million Dollar Band I probably wouldn’t care who one.  This is his last year of being in the band and I would love it if the team won the national title.  Don’t know if they have a chance or not but at least they’re in the playoffs.

“Life Goes On!”