ellen_datlow

I've been on extremely sludgy dial up since Saturday but right now I'm in the "Clubhouse" while my mom watched a show and can use their free wifi (which will eventually be expanded --though not for free-throughout the whole community). So I'm taking advantage, have updated my laptop programs, and am zipping through everything else.

We've visited my dad at rehab daily and then gone out to eat. He's been doing more rehab lately and working harder (although he still gets tired, pissed off, yells that he doesn't want to do any more and goes off walking away in his wheelchair. Medicaire will only pay as long as he's making progress. We've been trying to get him accepted at a long term nursing facility nearby that the VA will pay for. We thought it was all settled that he'd be going to one of two places while my sister wast still here (before I arrived) but now all's up in the air because there are no spaces available.

My mom got prescriptions for anti-depressants and a sleeping pill but neither will arrive till after I'm gone.

Finished the Best Horror work (as mentioned) and currently going over final line edits for TEETH, a teenage vampire anthology Terri and I edited. I'm delighted rereading the stories we've bought. They really are interesting (not Twilight stuff). We're awaiting our last two promised stories which should be in over the next few weeks. I'll announce the TOC when it's done.

Weather is cool here (for Florida) but loverly for NY so I'm happy --sunny. We no longer stay with my dad 5 hours a day as when he was in the hospital so at least I see daylight now.

Home Friday.

We arrived at his room on the 3rd floor and he wasn't there--which was pretty scary, until we found out that he's been moved down to orthopedics, which means he's no longer being monitored specially for his heart.

He was sleeping when we arrived on the second floor and was told he hadn't eaten breakfast. He slept a lot today but I think that's a good thing, considering how active and relatively incoherent he was yesterday. When he was awake he spoke more clearly. He doesn't have the heard leads on his chest any more so we got him untied from the bed, which means he could drink  by himself, wipe his own face with a wet washcloth, and fold his arms across his stomach which is how he prefers to nap.  He had Occuptational therapy once and Physical therapy twice. He sat up on his bed and was able to keep upright by himself. Progress indeed.

Not as grumpy, although he was frustrated when we didn't comprehend his questions...we think he was asking about the mechanic for the second car (the battery died last week and had to be repaired. I'm sure he knows exactly what he's trying to make sure of but we can only get the bits and pieces of what he wants to check on.

He didn't eat much today and we had to leave before his dinner arrived because it was already dark (6:15) and my mom doesn't like driving in the dark. Hopefully he ate more at that meal.

I asked my mom if she was ok with me leaving Wednesday and she says she is. We were hoping to meet with caseworker today to discuss rehab options (we don't know how long my dad will remain in the hospital) but she didn't show up. We'll make sure we get hold of her tomorrow.

In other news (I've  been able to read on and off all day, every day and at night am reading too). I finished going over the galleys of both Darkness: Two Decades of Modern Horror and Tails of Wonder and Imagination. And continue to read and reread for The Best Horror of the Year, volume two. I've read two anthologies on my e-reader and I believe I can read some more tomorrow although the battery is low and will likely run down in the middle of the day. (good to learn how long it actually lasts without recharging--my playstation charger didn't arrive before I left for Florida).

I'm home from Florida, my parents are settling in nicely and hopefully things will go smoothly for them. My sister and I will likely visit them in Florida every couple of months. The flight back was tough--my dad, (never a patient man and now much worse in that respect) was insufferable while waiting for the cab to take us from the rehab center to White Plains airport. Then both my parents flipped out when no one from Air Trans miraculously and immediately appeared at the airport with wheelchair and support (I found said wheelchair, and eventually support). The flight itself was fine, and the man who picked us up arrived on time.

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I'll finish this up in a separate blog post.