Rachel, Rebecca and Ramin

So...you all remember when my lovely sister, Becca, came to visit me in NYC right? Well she had the brilliant idea to hit up Les Mis again, since we've only seen it 100 times each. It turns out that this little idea of hers, was in fact, quite brilliant after all.

Because of this man....

After the first act, Becca and I started frantically searching the playbills. We looked at each other wondering what each of us was so desperately searching for?? Until we found his name. The name of the actor that was currently playing Jean Valjean. Ramin Karimloo. Hmmmmmmppf. I wonder how you pronounce that.

I, of course, pronounced it like any other redneck hill-billy would. The same way you pronounce Ramen noodles.

Becca looked at me like I was a freak and said it was obviously "Rameeeeen." Being the speech language pathologist-extraordinaire that she is, of course she was right. So the second act carried on and at the conclusion of this remarkable performance by this unknown star we both were a little dizzy, dazed and confused. Where did he come from? How is he so incredibly talented? Is that voice real? Is this real life? We sat there in a daze until we were graciously escorted from the theatre by an angry and sweaty usher. We went back to the hotel that night and did what any rational, sober, clear-minded young ladies would do in this situation. We googled/facebooked and twittered the crap out of him until we knew more about him than his own mother.

HI, SON

In an unfortunate turn of events it turns out he's Canadian. And that is where the story ends, folks. Haha, just kidding. Anyway, he was born in Iran and moved to Canada with his family at a young age. He's mostly known for his performance as the "phatom" in the Phatom of the Opera in London.

OH MY GOD

Becca and I were actually some of the first people to see Ramin as Jean Valjean because we went during the show's few weeks in previews. The buzz about his phenomenal rendition as prisoner 24601 was just starting.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/theater/ramin-karimloo-brings-brawn-to-broadways-les-miserables.html?_r=0

After a fun-filled week in NYC Becca left for home and I got back on with life. Although we carried on about Ramen Noodles for a good month and a half to anyone who would listen about how they NEEDED to go see Les Mis and this amazing talent who played Valjean. And then last Sunday something spectacular happened.




This.

I walked into a restaurant in the theatre district and saw RAMEEEEEEEN. He was sitting in a booth by the door and I walked right past him and then turned and looked again and realized who it was. When I sat down at our table I immediately grabbed my phone.

And this conversation ensued.

Oh man, I was sooooo nervous to approach him. But I knew I had to do it. I made sure Michaela had her phone in hand to take some action shots. And I walked right up to his booth. My heart was pounding so hard and I realized at that moment that I must not have been breathing because there was no breath in my lungs when I opened my mouth to talk. I have no actual memory of what I said. Something like: ooooble doooooshow sooooow sAHHHHHHmazing shoooooo ahhhhhmazzzzing cobbledooo. yep. At one point I think turned and pointed to my friends behind me but I'm not real sure. But this is when he stood up and Michaela grabbed a quick pic. And then I said something like: ohhhh mai sooooo shoooorry for entrooooping. Thaaaaaank youuuuuu. bye bye. And then bolted.

One of the most popular and beautiful songs to come out of Les Mis, and sung by Valjean, is  "bring him home." Naturally, when I called my mother later that night she needed to know "did I 'bring him home'"?


-----------------------------
***ADDENDUM****

I have to make a quick update to this post.

This last week my company's entire executive team and shareholders were in New York for the board meeting. On Monday night we had a town hall meeting and dinner with everyone from the New York office. As I was chatting with some of the people from out of town, I asked if anyone was doing anything fun while they were in the City. The global head of HR said she came in early with her daughter and they went shopping and saw some shows. Naturally, I asked "WHICH SHOWS DID YOU SEE"?? In a way too overly-excited tone.

Her eyes brightened and she got this huge grin on her face and said, "Oh man, we saw the best performance of Les Mis the other night!"

No. Way.

No way, no way, no way, no way, no way. I hurriedly rushed over to her. Clearly by the look on my face she could tell this was major news. As I could tell by the look on hers that she was in desperate need of telling me why the musical was so fabulous. I'm about 100% certain we now had the attention of the entire executive team and all the shareholders in the room. Not because we were jumping up and down. But because we were shrieking "Ramin, Ramin, Ramin, Ramin." They all probably wanted to know why we were so excited about ramen noodles, and wondering if this joint was really serving that for dinner tonight.

And then I remembered. The. Freaking. Picture.

I said "wait. OHMYGODYOURGONNADIE" and then left to go retrieve my phone. I found the picture and said "this is what happened last Sunday." The look on her face was priceless. She kept looking at the phone and then back at me and then at the phone. And said - um, can you please text me that picture? My daughter is going to die.

Pretty sure all of our colleagues now think we're crazy. The next morning I get an email from her saying "so fun visiting with you last night. Can you send me the picture again? I didn't go through"

LOL.

Updates from home: "Tucker plays hide and seek"

With himself

And the ball

My failings as a diarist

Hi Fam-damnily,

As you all know, my intention of starting this blog was to keep friends/family informed of Grandpa's condition during that "little" health scare last year and then turning it into a diary/blog of my life in New York and other fun events. Yes, making "light" of major things is a coping mechanism that I inherited from this family.

I warned you starting out that I was no good at keeping diaries. As a young diarist I typically lost the key to those pink plastic ballet covered journals, threw them in a closet and forgot about them for a decade. In this case, I forgot my password to blogger. Same thing, I guess.

So let's quickly get everyone up to speed on the events of the last year.

1) Grandpa is doing grrrrreeeeeeeeat!
2) G's kidney has also miraculously recovered - which is pretty astonishing when you think about it
2b) He has been getting neupogen shots twice a week since last year which have kept him healthier than the general population. http://www.rxlist.com/neupogen-drug.htm
3) Grandma is doing gooooooooood! Her knees and back continue to bother her as well as a new issue; planter faciitis http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/plantar-fasciitis-topic-overview. She's hanging in there and is every bit the social butterfly as usual. When you don't get answer on the house phone, you can safely assume she's on the other line.
4) Matthew got engaged this last summer! Hawaii will never be the same after this clan visits in May...
5) Maddock ALL SCHOOL REUNION! The Rudek girls were quite the hit with all their high school bfs
6) Jasmyne had a baby! (September)
7) So did Becca!
8) Hahahaha. Just kidding. Becca did not have a baby. Ahahah. I'm sorry. I can't stop laughing.
9) Alyssa got married! (October)
10) The yanks invaded the South again for another epic Cajun wedding
11) Grandpa walked Alyssa down the aisle :)
12) Jack Lawrence met his name-sake, and was given a very special gift by critically acclaimed author, Lawrence Rudek
13) Auntie Val surrendered to the yankee invasion and hosted an amazing week filled with fun, family, food and SWAMP POP (potentially an Abita or two)
14) Keagyn Lynn opened the doors to the bobby-pin shop once again. This time it had an attached ballet studio. Pretty sweet, man.
15) Graham likes to garden naked.
16) Becca started her first year of grad school in speech and language pathology. G g g go go gooooooood j j j j j jo jo jo jo job, Becca!
17) I moved apartments in nyc, from the upper east side to NoLita (Mott/Houston area). No, we don't live in the apartment that sold Phillip-Seymor Hoffman his drugs. I'm now living with two crazy Greek sisters (one of my good friends from high school). As Becca says - it's never a dull moment with us. Immediately after moving in I gained a puppy-brother. His name is Eddie. He is the devil. And also very cute.
18) Pat and Eric re-modeled their kitchen. Let's just say things didn't go well. NOT. AT. ALL. Considering that Pat made the president and owner of the company cry like an infant with an ear infection at the conclusion of the project, I would say things ended well. note: the tears began before she even began talking.
19) Becs and Rach went to vegas with Dad over NYE (never again) and were able to drive up to visit Auntie Pam, Dean, Eric, Erica, Cash, Cole and Chase! Chase is a large dog that likes to sit on laps.
20) Vick and Mike went to Mexico...this story is unrelated to the capture & arrest of drug cartel king pin, El Chapo, in a Mexican 5-star resort. Although some sources have linked the parties.
21) I  may or may not have gone to Miami in March. I have no recollection of this event but several photos documenting it. In all seriousness, it was one of the best girls vacations ever. I highly recommend it.
22) Becca visited NYC over her spring break and we did NOT get arrested! The week was filled with ice skating at Rockefeller center, Les Mis, 911 memorial, some major shopping, and some great food and fun! Becca managed only once to get hit by a food-delivery bicyclist. Or nearly hit, I guess. Still scared the piss out of us.
23) Auntie Margaret celebrated her 97th birthday with a party in Little Falls on April 2nd. Grandpa, Grandma, Mom and Vic decided to crash it and gave her the "best surprise of the day."
24) Rachel played an epic april fools prank on her family and friends. The next day she locked herself out on her balcony and fell through an open window while trying to re-enter the apartment. Karma.
25) G&G are pretty cool people. I like them a lot.

There you go, the last year in a series of highlights. See ya again next year! Haha, kidding. I'll try to update this once in a while. Especially around the Hawaii festiv-it-tas.

On another G&G note, I'm going to start putting together a photo/memory book for both of them. I was able to copy some cool pictures and interesting Navy stuff from Grandpa while I was home over the holidays. I will share the link and make the pictures available to you all once it's organized.

Love ya,

Rach

Nice to meet you, Mr. Jack Lawrence

Somewhere in Miami?

Eddie

Birthday party surprise!

Bffs

Peace out

Get on outta here

Somebody broke out of Sanford hospital earlier this week.

The escapee was described as a little guy with grey hair. All reports indicate that he had a likeable demeanor and was well-mannered. The nursing staff was actually quite fond of him and are now being investigated as possible accomplices.

The man has now been identified as Lawrence Rudek from Dilwoth Minnesota. The hospital discharge papers have also been found and all pending charges have been dropped.

Meh meh meh

Grandpa is now residing at the Sanford rehab facility on South university drive. His room is spacious and lovely, and his special team of interior designers have really spruced it up again quite nicely. I'm also back in the area after a quick trip back to NY so please expect more regular blog updates. Tune in next update for a special episode of "Mystery Diagnosis"

In other news....

Lovie

Grandpa's best medicine

Sorry!!

Sorry guys! Were you thinking that I reached my journal limits like I did with my 6 year old pink ballerina journal and you had reached the end!??? Nope nope. Just a couple of busy days. When Grandpa is feeling better, boy there sure is a lot of stuff to do!!! Fix his sheets, comb his hair, take some pictures for the journal, talk to him about the toll bridge and listen to his argument about how the city should just buy the toll bridge so people don't have to pay every time they cross the bridge from Moorhead to Fargo. Tell him that maybe the nice man delivering communion doesn't really want to talk about the toll bridge and how the city should buy it so people don't have to pay every time they cross the bridge from Moorhead to Fargo. Srsly. Although the nice man did entertain the conversation for a bit.

Here are some Grandpa pics from today. He's got such an attentive bunch of ladies to tend to him (everyone always comments about all the ladies around grandpa and that beautiful picture in his room)

 Hair dresser Pammy-Jean

 Masseuse Patty-Rae

Eat yo food Grandpa

 Taking a stroll

Major news of the week.....Yesterday Grandpa was moved off of the intensive care unit!!!!!! WhooooHooooooo!! What this means, however, is that Grandpa's nursing care isn't as top of the line. Jodi kindasucksalot (no, that's not her last name, but it could be). On the ICU floor every nurse gets one patient (usually, at least. I think there are times that a nurse can share two). So grandpa's nurses were basically in his room 24/7. I've probably said this already, but it was amazing to see how much they genuinely cared about people. It was inspiring just being around them. And they sure got to enjoy his company. Bri, Grandpa's blonde nurse who took care of him the first couple of days when he was brought into the ICU and was incredibly sick requested him on one of his last days there. She was so impressed with how well he was doing, but she was kind of sad he would be leaving :( She said they all enjoyed him so much. We all made pretty good friends with the nursing staff in the ICU, I think it took us 45 minutes to actually leave the floor the other day because we were saying goodbye to the nurses and chatting with them on how well Grandpa was doing. We took a picture today of Grandpa holding a thank you balloon and tomorrow the sisters have ordered cookies for the floor which will be accompanied with that photo of gramps, it's pretty cute.

Even the nurses who weren't directly assigned to Grandpa miss him. Jamie one of the ICU nurses who helped Grandpa down for surgery saw me walking up to check on Grandpa in the dialysis unit today and stopped me to see what was up. I said he was SOOOOO much better so he came up with me to say hello to Grandpa. They are such great people.

So now....the nursing care leaves a little to be desired. He still gets some amazing nurses but there are a few that just kind of suck. You can tell right off the bat when that genuine human compassion element is lacking. It also makes Pammy-Jean's job a little more labor-intensive. Every time Jodi Kindasucksalot does something that we don't like we send nurse administrator pammy-jean in to set her straight. Meh meh meh.

All of Grandpa's blood work and tests are looking great. He's still doing the dialysis to help out his kidney function and also pull some of that extra fluid off of him. The only downside about dialysis is that it makes him cough for about an hour after the procedure, it's weird, we don't know why. Tomorrow we'll start thinking/talking about transferring Grandpa to a transitional rehab facility until he is good enough to go home. Below is a picture I brought in for Grandpa, I put in a caption: "I'll just wait here til you get better."

Miss Keagyn Lynn is also on the Grandpa-get-better cheering squad. She's doing a pretty good job. Too bad the little squirt isn't here herself so we could here that squeaky southern accent of hers! She'd also probably do a pretty good job of boss'n grandpa back to health.

Get better Grandpa, we lob you!

Marvelous Monday

Welp, Grandpa is back to himself. Besides the fact that he's in a hospital bed and still hooked up to a lot of tubes and other junk you wouldn't be able to tell he was ever sick. He's been joking with the nurses and chatting with family and resting every once in a while.

They got him out of bed again today and this time they put him in a chair to eat lunch, so he was upright for a good chunk of time. Bri, one of Grandpa's nurses who took care of him when he originally came in is back with him again today. She actually requested him :) The hospital staff really likes the guy; not hard to understand why. But Bri said they tend to hang on to patients they like longer, so I told Grandpa he can start being mean to them. I don't think that will happen.

He's been taken off the Levithen and Dubutomine (sorry i'm sure I'm getting the spelling horribly wrong -but whatevs), which were the two medications he was put on immediately to increase BP and help his heart pump more efficiently. It's excellent news that he no longer needs either of those two meds. His body is regulating pretty much everything on his own now. He's still on the continuous dialysis machine, but they think he'll even come off of that tonight or tomorrow at latest.

Once he's off this machine we'll get an idea on how his kidneys are functioning. He will be put on the normal dialysis, which only runs for 3-4 hours rather than continuously. There has also been a theory on the cause of all of this which was thrown out by the ICU doc but not agreed to by all of Grandpa's attending physicians.

The ICU doc thinks it may be Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy. I can't really explain this diagnosis because I wasn't in the room when the ICU doc was discussing this, but you can google it to get a better understanding. Usually it's caused by a major-stressor (which we can't really pinpoint in Gpa's case) but this causes the left ventricle of the heart to balloon, which results in several organs being impacted - in his case, most severely, the kidney. The onset of this condition is very acute and the patient also recovers pretty rapidly, with most of them having full recoveries.

However, the cardiologist who visited Grandpa this afternoon isn't as positive that Takotsubo is to blame. She doesn't really think the heart is the primary culprit because we didn't directly treat the heart and it resolved on it's own. Usually, if the heart is the reason for the underlying illness you would have to directly treat it to see a reversal and they didn't in this case. I'm not fully onboard with her logic but as long as Grandpa is getting better that is really all I care about.

I sat in his room for a while this afternoon as he slept. When he woke up he was pretty chatty and I had a fun conversation with him about pretty much everything. Later in the day as people were entering and leaving his room I overheard him explain to one of the nurses who everyone on the "wall of pictures" was. It was pretty cool to see. He's so proud of all of his peeps, just as proud as we are of him and his beautiful heart.