Today I went to Vancouver for business. I arrived late, probably about 10 pm local time.

Got back late last night, actually this morning, from Alabama. Last Wednesday (11/21) we had Alex’s Thanksgiving program at preschool, and after it was over we picked up Missy and took off for Birmingham (after getting new windshield wipers. It rained from home all the way to Tennessee.) We drove straight through, stopping a few times to eat and for potty breaks and gas and made it by about 1:00 am. It went OK until near the AL state line, where Alex woke up not feeling good, crying, with goopy eyes and snotty nose and saying his mouth (throat) hurt, and I was thinking it was a mistake to go because they’ve been sick. But Jim passed last Saturday and Judy wanted us all there for TG, and after getting the kids to bed they were fine in the morning. Thursday we stayed mostly at home with Judy, and Pam and Marve and Ted arrived Thursday evening. We had a nice TG dinner Friday. Saturday we did a little touring of the development where Judy lives, looking at some of the houses, watched some football (the Missouri-Kansas game...excellent). Sunday the others left early, and I think Judy didn’t want to be alone, so we went out for late breakfast at IHOP before we left. We got on the road by ~11:00 and seemed to make lousy time. It rained all the way home.

Alex had his eye surgery today. I took off work and we were in the hospital by ~7:00 am. Renee took Missy while we were gone. Alex was ok but antsy, and scared that Beth and I couldn’t go with him when he was being wheeled away. He was done by ~11:00 or so, and came out of anaesthesia badly, throwing punches. His eyes were really red (like a fire engine, not just bloodshot) and he said they hurt and he couldn’t open them, but otherwise he was fine. The doctor said it went really well.

Beth and I have both been sick. Me since yesterday; I took Thursday and today off work sick. Beth has been sick since she got home from the alumni concert. We think it’s inflammation from the Halloween costume allergic reaction making her sick.

I worked some more on the downstairs room today, mostly mudding and sanding the bulkhead, then we went to movie night to watch the undefeated Colts lose to the undefeated Patriots. Tomorrow is the Presby fall parade, so it’s a good thing we went to movie night because Stacy reminded us. Missy hadn’t colored her mask yet.

Today was a game day for Alex to play basketball at the Y. Later on Katie babysat, and Beth and I went to Goshen to get wings and play trivia (I rock at that on-screen multi-player trivia game) and watched Navy beat Notre Dame for the first time since 1962.