DOLLARS, CENTS, AND SENSE

The following is a list of all of the charges for the trip.

$389.00 was the air and agent fees, and the rest is what I spent.

$410.38 Days Inn at Surprise, AZ

$190.69 Fox Car Rental

He gave me $1,200.00, and this about covered it


4/18/2011 AMERICAN CHAMPAIGN IL $362.80
04/18/2011 SUZIDAVIS CHAMPAIGN IL $25.00
04/14/2011 WALGREENS SPRINGFIELD IL $6.05

05/04/2011 CLICK-TO-PAY PAYMENT, THANK YOU -$389.00

05/03/2011 DAYS INNS SURPRISE SURPRISE AZ $410.38
05/02/2011 QT 494 05004940 SURPRISE AZ $9.00 (gas)
05/01/2011 SAFEWAY STORE00002360 SUN CITY AZ $20.92
04/29/2011 ALBERTSONS #0971 PEORIA AZ $27.91 (beer and food)
04/29/2011 ULTRA STAR CINEMAS SURPRISE AZ $6.00 (THE CONSPIRATOR)
04/28/2011 BURGER KING #5915 Q07 SURPRISE AZ $12.34
04/27/2011 CIRCLE K 09155 PEORIA AZ $20.00 (gas)
04/27/2011 CHEVRON 0099954 Q61 SURPRISE AZ $2.68 (snacks)
04/27/2011 CHEVRON 0099954 Q61 SURPRISE AZ $15.32 (beer)

04/27/2011 FOX RENT A CAR PHOENIX PHOENIX AZ $190.69

The Wrap Up

The following are notes which I made before boarding the plane to Springfield from The Dallas Fort Worth Airport about 1pm, Wed 5/3/11.

We 5/3/11 THE RETURN FLIGHT

Awoke at 310am without the aid of the alarm. HOUSEWIVES played all night. Turned on WMAY via the computer , took a shower, and exited The Days Inn in Surprise just about 410am.

The directions that the front desk printed for me last night were invaluable. I drove directly to the Fox Returns, and had not a single moment of indecision. Light traffic and everyone was moving right along, however, I could not figure out how to use the 'mileage gauge'. How odd, it kept telling me how much mileage I was getting, but not how many miles that I had traveled. It seems that this feature was working earlier in the week.

On the airport shuttle to the airport just about 515am under a beautiful pre-dawn sky. And, I went through the securtiy check about 515am. As usual, there was quite a line. I put the laptop in the bottom of the container, but apparently this needs to be run through by itself. How could they not know what it is if they are looking at the stuff with a god-damn X-ray?? Nitwits.

The weather has been clear, and slightly cooler than normal-50's and 60's.

710am began the take-off, and in the air by 715am

"1093"to Dallas, Two Hour Flight Time

Touch Down 11am Local Time, and out the dooor by 1125am. I was sitting in almost the last seat in the plane.

I had to ride the Sky Link twice because they gave the wrong gate for my departure. They did this on the way out as well. I will have to remember to check 'the board' before I make any treks.

Found the correct gate, and then had two large Bud drafts for ten bucks. Then, walked down the coverse and found a McD's, and got a cheeseburge and fries. The prices are so outraegeous that McD's is the only logical choice.

Sitting at Gat 13, and writing this document. There is no Wi Fi in the airport. So, no internet connection. Oh well.

Boarded the flight back to Springfield right on time (110pm), but instead of departing at 140pm, we didn't hit the sky until just about 2pm. Nice flying weather, and touched down in Springfield at 345pm (about 20 minutes late).

I drove directly to the credit union and deposited my reimbursement check in the account. $1,200.00. I didn't make anything on him, and my first social security check for the month of April would have more than covered the trip.

I pulled into my slot at the condo,and I spoke with Craig. He told me that his medical emergency was a ruptured vein in his liver. Apparently, he bled significant amounts of blood internally.

Janny arrived just a few minutes later, bonded with Buddy, and we talked for several minutes, but I think that Joe was waiting in the car.

Fired up my Internet connection, and all of the computers are up and running. Five discs from Netflix were on the kitchen table,and tonight a film written by Elmore Leonard and directed by Abel Ferrara'

It's like I never left!!

Last Day

This is a copy of the email which I sent Janny after the 'Monday Evening Instant Message Session', and I got back to The Days Inn about 630pm, Monday, May 2nd:



When I met 'The Boys' at LA Fitness this morning, Abbie told me that he had set up a meeting between 2pm and 3pm over at Pineaire, and I would get an opportunity to meet, 'The Boss'.

Another wonderful person....The Community of Helping Angels is 'Aces' in my book. Lannie seems to be quite competent on the medical side, and she has the patience of a kindergarten teacher. We had another nice meal at the buffet (I feel like a regular), and Lannie came back to his house to show me the setup for his medications. He has several boxes, and the pills are in order by 'Day'/AM-PM. The blood thinner medication is dependent on his diet, so this is why he has to go in several times a month to be checked.

I think that you and I might get into the habit of checking in with Abbie on a weekly basis. He will try to notify us of areas in which we can accentuate during our chats. As you know, 'Our Father' is extremely territorial, and is very leery of surrendering his privacy. I was still not allowed into his bedroom (I can't remember ever being in that room), and I did want to see if I could get him to confront all of his 'new' clothes, and find out why he doesn't want to wear them. However, this was not going to happen without a toxic confrontation, so I let it ride. As Lannie so perceptively said, "You have to learn to pick your battles", and as long as Abbie is with him, he won't be picked up as a homeless person.

My only regret is that I neglected to take a picture of Abbie. The pair of them are really quite a striking couple. 'Our Father' is out in front, walking very stooped, and very slow, and following right behind is this very large African man usually texting and making sure that they are headed in the right direction.

Workout Details:
50" On Treadmill at about a 4.5 pace
40"Matrix
I had just got on a stationary recliner bike, and they arrived, so I went downstairs, and Abbie told me of the meeting with Lannie later in the afternoon.
30"Bike
30"Matrix
30"Bike
30"Old Style Cross

The Matrix is a cross trainer which has a much better range of motion, and I wish my fitness club would invest in some of these machines. Much easier on the knees!

20"In the Steam Room and Pool. No Whirlpool.

I left LA Fitness at 115pm, and took Union Hills, and got to Pineaire about 150pm. He was aware that Lannie was coming between 2pm and 3pm, yet he insisted on calling her at 230pm. She didn't answer, but called around 245pm. She got there about 3pm.


I can't wait to get back, and I hope that tomorrow is smooth sailing, and, Sunday sounds good, and we'll workout the details when I return......seeya kw

Day Five

Up at 630am, and I used the alarm clock to make sure that it works. I will need it so that I can get up around 345am Tuesday morning to make the "Red Eye" back to Springfield. I would not be surprised if I hit a snag returning the car to Fox since the 'pickup' was such a snafu.

Another clear, dry, and breezy day with temps in the upper 70's by late afternoon, but this morning it was low 60's. The weather has been so perfect it is quite surreal.

I had four cups of coffee, and scoured the Internet, and left for LA Fitness at 730am, and I was in the locker room before 8am.

45"Treadmill at a 4.5 pace (Adrian Belew). 30" Matrix. 30"Bike(Judas Kiss). I was supposed to meet "The Boys" about 930am, however, they strolled in about 10am. I went downstairs and spoke to Abbie, and he said that they filled up his golf cart with gas. Odd that this was not mentioned yesterday, but quite in keeping with the way that things happen in The Sun City Universe.

I spoke with Abbie on the landing in the workout area for almost a half hour. We agreed to have the director of 'The Helping Angels' to stop over to Pineaire Dr. tomorrow afternoon. I would like to have her see if we could have him visit a barber, breakout some new clothes from his closet, schedule a dentist appointment, and see if we can make some changes in his diet. Also, the repetition of some of the grocery items. "Cookies, Cookies, Cookies'...He has the taste of a five year old.

I continued with another 30" Matrix, and 5"Bike. It was 1130am, and I said that we would meet at 1145am, so I hit the steam room for ten minutes, and then jumped in the pool. The Korean couple who seem to know him were in the pool, and I attempted to talk with the man, however, pretty much, "No English!", however, he seemed to know who I was, and I tried to make it known that, 'the older gentleman' was my father.

Around noon we left LA Fitness, and Abbie drove his van, and I followed to Fry's at 91st and Union Hills. Abbie and I talked while he bought bananas, broccoli, crackers, and cookies, and cookies. He pushes the cart, shouts commands, and is ignored. We dodged the cookie isle on the first run-thru, and Abbie seemed to believe that the fact that I was there prevented him from getting his 'sugar fix'. However, just as we were leaving he insisted that we go back to the 'cookie isle'.

I met them back at the house, and Abbie was carrying the groceries into the house, but he is very much, "stand there, and don't touch that". I showed him all of the cookies that were on the counter, but it was like, "so what"? Abbie tried to remove a couple of garbage bags for him, but he said, "put that down"!

He gave me the check for 'his compensation', and both Abbie and I were dismissed. The van was in the driveway, and I asked Abbie if he pulled it into the garage, but he said that he insists that he do this. The garage looks like a fully stocked Home Depot.

I left, and hit a Safeway heading West on the way to Surprise for a big bag of salad, and a twelve pack of Tecate Beer (Mexican)-quite light for my jaded taste.

The motel staff are handing me washcloths, and HBO schedules, hoping I'll tip them. Get Out Of My Face, the 'Do Not Disturb Sign' is now on the door.


515pm.....I have had several Tecates, and 'boiled' in the hot-tub, and splashed in the pool several times. I Am Feeling No Pain. Cable TV for tonight, and soon, for the salads.