One of the hidden treasures in suburban Chicagoland is an unassuming, somewhat rundown set of greenhouses that makes up Orchids by Hausermann. Set in a gritty and unattractive industrial park area in Addison, IL, Orchids by Hausermann is the largest grower of orchids in the Midwest. I’ve been there a few times in [...]

After spending Monday night and most of Tuesday in a clinic for a sleep study, the results are in: I have a moderately severe case of sleep apnea. My wife, Michele, isn’t surprised at all; she’s told me this for years. In fact, she recently told me that I had to go [...]

The weekend thus far has been a very quiet one. Although, truthfully, it is never quiet in our house with three little (and one big) rugrats. Yesterday I woke up with another bad headache that lasted all day. Michele had a bad pain in her neck. So we did nothing, all [...]

On my way to work this morning, I thought about things to be thankful for. Here are some that came to mind (not in any order):

warm clothes, e.g. scarves, Gore-Tex gloves, down jackets, long underwear
train conductors
bus drivers
public transportation
good health
a job
instant messaging (so I can keep in touch with my wife throughout the day)
email anywhere, [...]

In the past few months, there have been a number of deaths among extended family or friends. While in most cases it was expected, the death of someone you love is hard. Michele’s Uncle Donny died while only in his 50s, of cancer. My Uncle John came really close to death but thankfully is recovering. [...]

Several friends and family have kindly asked for an update on Michele. There isn’t much to report. We are once again waiting for test results and for word from the doctor about next steps. We hope to hear when Michele’s 48 hr. EEG test will be scheduled. I have no idea [...]

Last weekend Michele and I went with the kids to some nearby garden centers to look for hanging baskets for the front porch. We found a place called Ritchie’s Greenhouse near Muncie that had fantastic plant stock, some of the nicest I have ever seen. And, just about everything was on sale. [...]

We spent part of this weekend travelling to a wedding in Green Bay, Wisconsin. On our way there we stopped at my in-law’s in Illinois. We shopped briefly at a local Target to get some things for the trip, and Brinley fell against the edge of the shopping cart and split open her [...]