April 1: U. S. Poet Laureate

I just received a phone call from a Ms. Julienne Vivox, who is the undersecretary to the Secretary for Cultural Affairs for President Barack Obama.  It seems that I've been nominated to replace Natasha Trethewey as United States Poet Laureate.  It seems Ms. Trethewey has to step down due to health reasons, and she recommended me to serve out the remaining year of her term.  I don't know how she came across my name or my work, but she's a big fan, according the Undersecretary Vivox.

The announcement is not going to be made official until after April 1 in order avoid the suspicion that the White House is playing some kind of April Fool's Day joke on the press corps.  In the mean time, I need to get on Travelocity and book a cheap ticket to Washington D. C.

U. S. Poet Laureate Saint Marty.  Has a nice ring to it.

Natasha's a big fan...

April 1: ER Visit, Pulmonary Embolism, No Cartoon

Where's George Clooney when you need him?

Last night, at around 10:30 p.m., my wife started having chest pain and shortness of breath.  Since she suffered a pulmonary embolism a month after she had a C-section three years ago, I didn't want to just "wait and see" what happened.  I called my sister-in-law, and she came to watch our kids.  I drove my wife to the ER.

We weren't in the waiting room even a minute before a nurse was escorting us into an examination room.  Wires.  Blood work.  X-rays.  Beeps.  Nurses.  Doctors.  It was a long two hours.

At 12:45 a.m., we had the verdict.  No PE.  No heart attack.  Pleurisy.  The doctor diagnosed her with pleurisy.  By the time we got home, it was 1:15 a.m.  I think I fell asleep around 2:30 a.m.

I got up at 6:30 a.m. to get ready for church.  My ass has been dragging all day long.  We put together Stations of the Cross after the worship service.  My wife was exhausted.  She didn't sleep at all last night.  My son, on the other hand, had no interest in sleep.  He climbed out of his crib.  He kicked and slapped and screamed.  My daughter didn't want to practice for her piano lesson, but I made her do it.  She cried and whined.

It is now 9 p.m. on April Fool's Day.  I'm tired, and I have little to show for my efforts today.  I have no addition to Project Memoir.  I forgot to upload my new cartoon, so I have no new cartoon.  I am a total blogging loser tonight, and I'm sorry.

But, I have to count my biggest blessing:  my wife is here, watching The Celebrity Apprentice with me right now.

Saint Marty gives thanks for good health at the end of this very long day.