Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 10:37PM I’m up early with anticipation. The big day is finally here. Blake is getting his new ;)
power wheelchair today! It’s almost too hard to believe. I thought this day would never come!
I check on Blake around 11am – he’s still in a deep slumber. It warms my heart to see him lying there so peaceful and safe.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 11:18AM I know I'm speaking for Blake when I say this, but our first official day in LA was a blast! Take a look at the pictures and see for yourself! (photo gallery) ;)
• We hung out by the pool!
• Went to a taping of The Tonight Show and Blake met Jay Leno!
• Blake had his first LOBSTER dinner and loved it! Although the filet mignon might have won out in the end.
• Took a walk down Hollywood Boulevard to see the sites and have some fun!
Lots in store for today! Blake has a radio interview this morning then he gets his new POWER wheelchair tonight and meets Bill Goldberg! Big Day! Big Day!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 01:00AM I could feel my heart beating in my throat as we approached the ticketing agent. They have to let Blake on this plane.;)
We've worked too hard. We've come to far. We're not turning around. Blake has been practicing his "crying" skills, but we didn't want to go there (unless vitally necessary). The gate agent was all smiles as I handed her Blake's documents. She nodded in agreement as I explained that the office of homeland security verbally approved his foster care "state" ID as valid since they are run by the state. Unfortunately,
Friday, June 18, 2010 at 10:00AM With Lulu strapped to my back and a venti coffee from Starbucks, I headed over to the DMV office (reason #1 to drink). I wanted to see if it was possible to get Blake a state ID. I'm certainly not going to drag him there unless I know it can be done!! It's bad enough for me to go there! I waited in line, for what seemed like an eternity, only to be told absolutely nothing can be done without a social security card. WTF. Completely broken, he then sends me over to his supervisor. At this point I'm doing everything in my power to keep from crying.
Friday, June 18, 2010 at 12:33AM I talked to Delta... apparently, Blake is over 18 so he HAS to show up to the airport with a state issued photo ID. That means the photo ID the foster care provides, although they're his legal guardians, is NOT enough. Please Calgon, take me away. Harlem Dowling Foster Care just obtained a certified copy of his birth certificate (phew) they are also providing a Harlem Dowling Foster Care ID (phew). I will also have a copy of his HS transcript and a letter from Beth Abe nursing home stating he is a resident. I PRAY all of the pieces of the puzzle are gathered together for me EARLY tomorrow, so that I can pick them up and take Blake to DMV to get a state ID (and hopefully documentation is enough for a state ID?! WTF). If it's not, then I'm just going to start hyperventilating and crying uncontrollably until they give it to him. I may then end up incarcerated or in a straight jacket, so someone might have to step in to help. I wish I was kidding. Please check in on my blog. If you don't see any updates, it means I'm probably in jail and I could use some bail. :o!!!!!!!
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 11:54PM I was walking by the Engine 74 Firehouse the other day when John, one of the delicious firemen, noticed the mat strapped to my back and asked where I do yoga. We then proceeded to chat about yoga for quite some time. He said he wanted to go, but probably not until the fall when he has more time. That's when a lightbulb went on! I could kill two birds with one stone (never thought about it but that's actually a pretty awful saying!). Anyway, I can "date" and do my "yoga" at the same time! John would be my first test case. Yoga with one of NY's Bravest. Love it! Just need to convince him to go. ;)
Here's my new pickup line...
Hey handsome (or insert your own flattering adjective here), would you like to do yoga with me? It's for "research". Blahahahaha. Little does he know what kind of research! Seriously, I crack myself up.
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 12:07PM I received an incredibly kind email from a friend today. The kind of email that makes you pause and smile (I LOVE those emails). I'm not going to copy and paste all of it, but here's the cool part about Canada...
From Mr. GM: "You will be close to one of my favorite places in the world. Lake O'Hara in the Yoho National Park, just over the Alberta line in British Columbia and near Banff--can't be more than a day's drive from Yellowstone. It's a limited access, high mountain retreat (reservations were sold out before the end of last season), but you can still get on a 8:30 am bus arranged by Parks Canada, ride up an eight-mile dirt road and the spend the day hiking into the back country of the high Canadian Rockies. Tea at the lodge around 4pm is a great way to end the day...not exactly 100 percent rustic, but civilized and the trails into the Opabin Plateau, or Lake MacArthure are otherworldly. If you do it, say hi to Bruce and Allison Miller. The bears might not take to lulu so be careful."
Love it! How amazing does this place sound! Thanks for the recommendation. Hope I get a spot on the bus!! :)
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 11:28AM Today's forecast: Partial clearing! (just found out that I CAN travel with Blake's medication! I was originally told that I needed to take him immediately to a doctor once landing in LA so then they can write a California script. Of course I would have figured out a way to do it (I think) but THANK GOODNESS I don't have to!! Gimme a woo hoo)
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 10:17AM During my first week in NYC 5 years ago, I met a neurosurgery resident, Dr. Rick Komatar through another great friend, Dr. J Mocco. Rick began telling me about a softball game he arranged the year prior with a few other medical institutions in the area. I thought wow, that's pretty cool, and that's when my wheels started spinning. My head was spinning too, but that was from the beer. Anyway, neurosurgeons playing softball? That must be a sight. You don't see that everyday! Marry this event with charity, and this could be big! By night's end we had the blueprint in place for what would turn out to be (6 events later) an incredible, nationally recognized softball charity tournament (24 teams of neurosurgeons from all over US & Canada) to benefit pediatric brain tumor research. ColumbiaKidsNeuro.org
Our first (official) organized event took place June 5, 2005, six weeks after I moved to NYC and six weeks after meeting Rick. We had SO much work to do to pull off this off – sleep was not an option.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 04:00PM What new nuggets of stress will today hold. No doubt it will be another rollercoaster of a day (anyone who knows me knows how much I HATE rollercoasters! ugh) Every time I turn around there seems to be one more hurdle to get Blake to LA. Access-a-Ride, the only folks that have a photo ID for Blake dropped the ball completely and did not send out is new ID. Why can't people just follow through? I don't understand. At this point, Blake and I are showing up to the airport with NO PHOTO ID for Blake. That should really go over well with Delta security!? Oy Really need to capture this on video! Gonna be a doozie. Learning access-a-ride sucks was definitely a down moment; however, then I actually got some positive news!! Looks like I CAN travel to LA with Blake's medication after all. This is a tremendous plus. You have no idea. Now onto more down news (hence the rollercoaster reference!) Looks like the state is requiring we have a full time live in aid AND a nurse. Really. OK, breathe. Whatever they want they're gonna get. No sense stressing. Blake will have all the care he needs.
As you can tell, I definitely needed my yoga today. It's either that or a shot of whiskey. Unfortunately the whiskey buzz would only be temporary, so I'll go with yoga... :)
Location: Laughing Lotus (outside in the park 10th Ave. Btw 14th & 15th) Main studio is located at 59 West 19th Street
Cost: FREE (I like FREE and they give you a FREE pass for a class at their main studio
Venue: Outside overlooking the westside highway!
