Ellen is dying

I'm incredibly bummed out. Tonight, I talked with Ellen's hospice care giver. She told me that Ellen is expected to live another 30 days. That's it. One month. Think about that. What would you do if you had only one month to live? How would you spend your days?

I'm still immortal. Some day, I'll realize that I'm not. How will I handle that?

Enough whining. I'm going to go outside, start a fire, and get really, really drunk.

Lighting Cleveland's Bridges

I've spent the last few weeks cleaning and repairing the lights that illuminate Cleveland's bridges. It's an enjoyable job, and I get to see Cleveland from vantage points that few others do.


This is the Willow Avenue bridge seen from the sheavehouse at the top of the western tower of Conrail Bridge No.1


This is the Center St. swing bridge, below the Veteran's Memorial (Detroit-Carnegie) bridge. This picture was taken from up on the Bascule No. 2, next to the Plain Dealer Pavilion.

The Center Street Bridge, the only swing bridge in the area, and the oldest extant swing bridge, lies at approximately the spot where Moses Cleaveland landed in 1796. - taken from this website about Cleveland's bridges.


I was lucky enough to see an ore boat steam by while I was working.

This is Bascule No.1 (Bridge No. 3) taken from atop the connecting span of the Conrail Bridge.


Here I am on the catwalk of the connecting span.

This is a picture of the W. 3rd bridge, sans span, taken while working for Clear Channel Outdoor on the LED billboards.


I've developed an interest in these bridges. Here is another good online reference.

Ellen is back home

Today, Ellen returned home from hospice care. She's still ill, and will have a nurse's aid visit daily, but she's much happier at home, and of course, she missed Katie. I was getting used to sleeping with that little dog. It'll be weird tonight to be able to roll over without squishing her.

Pattie the biker broad

My neighbor, Pattie hasn't been on a motorcycle since she was 18. She's a year or two over 40 now, and she finally decided to try it again. We went on a slow, casual ride through the metroparks, and she had a great time. You see the first time she went, the guy went zipping up and down Liberty Blvd, and she ended up biting his shoulder in fear. I don't see the enjoyment in that, so we took it easy, enjoyed the sights and sounds, and smells, and maybe she'll want to go again sometime.

I can't believe that's my gut! I'd better go on a diet, or stop drinking beer. OTOH, Pattie has something soft and squishy to hold on to, so for safety reasons, you know, for the well-being of my passengers, I probably shouldn't stop drinking beer.

Like I was really going to stop drinking beer anyway .

Katie's moved in.

Ellen went into the hospital on Sunday. She's expected to stay for 7 days, then come home. That gives Katie a week to test-drive me. She likes sitting on top of my couch, looking out the window.