My Uncle Chris had a heart valve replaced yesterday. Prior to his surgery, he had instructed that during his short stay in the ICU he only wanted my cousin Laura and me to visit him. After our initial visit soon after he returned from the successful surgery, we provided the nurse with a list of our uncle's approved names. The following is a true conversation between a volunteer in the waiting room, Laura and me.
Vo: Hi, can I help you.
Me: We're here to see our uncle.
Vo: What's his name?
Me: Chris Katis (The volunteer dials the number to the ICU desk)
Vo: There are people here to see Chris Katis. Oh OK. What's your name?
Me: Chris Katis
Vo: No, your name.
Me: Chris Katis
Vo: Not the patient, your name
Me: Christopher Katis
Vo: Not the patient's name
La: He's also Chris Katis
Shaking her head the Volunteer hands me the phone still confused.
We really need to get a few more names in our family.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
And Then There Were Two
Not to be outdone by his big brother, last week while I was at a meeting, Niko (and Kelly) came home with this.
I suggested it be named Megara, who was Herakles' wife. But Niko gave him Houdini, since he kept escaping from the box at the store.
Let's hope that's Houdini's only disappearing act!
Let's hope that's Houdini's only disappearing act!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
A Day At Red Butte
After a week of monsoon rains (bet ya didn't know we got monsoons in Utah), the sun finally shone on Sunday. So the boys and I gathered up my sister for lunch at our favorite pizza joint, Setto Bello (and gelato next door), and then headed up to the University of Utah's Red Butte Gardens and Arboretum. Here are some photos of our great day in the beautiful gardens.
And lest we forget...
Monday, August 4, 2014
Welcome Herakles
Greek mythology is filled with Zeus carousing with various women, and Hera, his wife, seeking vengence for being wronged. Take the story of Herakles, son of Zeus and a mortal woman. When Hera found out about the would-be hero, she sent a baby gift of two snakes to kill him. Joke was on her, Herakles killed the serpents in his crib.
I'm sure you all remember Gus's snake, Zeus, who disappeared from his habitat more than a year ago, and is presumed to have met a final fate similar to his mythological brothers.
Well, today his habitat is once again occupied. Hoping for a happier future for his newest pet, Gus has named this little corn snake Herakles.
If you're wondering why he's not called Hercules, well, in this Greek household, we believe in preserving mythology in its pure, original form and not some Roman bastardization!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
26 Reasons
On July 31, 1988, I vowed my love and commitment to Kelly, held his hand, and we jumped over a make-shift broom together. I don't remember exactly what I said to him that day, but I can still give you plenty of reasons why I love him. Here are 26 of them - one for ever year.
1. He makes me laugh.
2. He hogs the blankets.
3. He apologizes for it in the morning.
4. He is an amazing dad.
5. He snores so loud he can wake the dead...in Papua New Guinea.
6. He loves animals.
7. He is really sentimental...but seldom shows it.
8. He is incredibly loyal.
9. He is very tolerant of bearded priests kissing him.
10. He was incredibly loving, patient and kind with my Theia Matina.
11. He understands that to marry the Greek is to marry the Greek family.
12. He is a gifted photographer.
13. He loves to be in nature.
14. He got over his anxiety about flying to go to Greece with me.
15. He got kissed by many, many strangers there.
16. He always sees the glass as more than half full.
17. He is always my designated driver.
18. He vacuums.
19. He loves Christmas songs.
20. He brings crap home from work because he knows the boys will like it.
21. He is way better at technology than I am.
22. He loves to hike.
23. He thinks I'm smart.
24. He has no self control when it comes to sweets.
25. He drives like a bat out of hell.
26. He loves me back.
1. He makes me laugh.
2. He hogs the blankets.
3. He apologizes for it in the morning.
4. He is an amazing dad.
5. He snores so loud he can wake the dead...in Papua New Guinea.
6. He loves animals.
7. He is really sentimental...but seldom shows it.
8. He is incredibly loyal.
9. He is very tolerant of bearded priests kissing him.
10. He was incredibly loving, patient and kind with my Theia Matina.
11. He understands that to marry the Greek is to marry the Greek family.
12. He is a gifted photographer.
13. He loves to be in nature.
14. He got over his anxiety about flying to go to Greece with me.
15. He got kissed by many, many strangers there.
16. He always sees the glass as more than half full.
17. He is always my designated driver.
18. He vacuums.
19. He loves Christmas songs.
20. He brings crap home from work because he knows the boys will like it.
21. He is way better at technology than I am.
22. He loves to hike.
23. He thinks I'm smart.
24. He has no self control when it comes to sweets.
25. He drives like a bat out of hell.
26. He loves me back.
Monday, July 28, 2014
All Grown Up
There comes a day in every father's life when his young 'uns grow up. Well, over the past couple of weeks, our four little girls have started laying.
As we expected, their green are eggs.
If you're thinking they look a little small, well, you're absolutely right. Like their older sisters, these girls are starting out small.
But that's OK. Little eggs are better than a rooster any day of the week!
If you're thinking they look a little small, well, you're absolutely right. Like their older sisters, these girls are starting out small.
Your humble author and his favorite hen, the lovable Thalia.
(Yeah, yeah, choking the chicken...I get it.)
Friday, July 25, 2014
A Quiet House
Recently, I posted on my Facebook page how early in our discussions about becoming fathers, Kelly had mentioned how he wanted to be the house where all the kids hang out. It was definitely not a goal of mine. It's safe to say I lost that battle - there's always some kid or another running through my house...or even spending the night.
Well on Wednesday, Kelly's brother, David, came to take the boys to his place in the mountains. And with their departure a calm, a quiet has descended upon our house. I was so busy that day with other tasks that I hardly noticed they were gone. But by the evening, I had settled in to the new reality. It was nice. I ate something, I read a book, I cleaned up...
And then around midnight I got the call: a tearful Niko begging me to come and pick him up. It was heartbreaking to tell him that there was no way, that he'd just have to deal with it. Gus ingeniously suggested that a morning and evening FaceTime call on the iPhone may help - and it has. Since that night Niko has been all smiles during our chats.
Now on the third day of their absence, my ability to cook dinner without complaints, run errands uninterrupted, or to work without having to remind someone to keep it way down, have proven far less powerful arguments for not having the boys here with me than I might have expected.
This morning as we FaceTimed, Niko decided that he wants to come home on Sunday, rather than stay for two weeks as had been considered. I told him, "That's only 3 days away!" Maybe, just maybe, I was reminding myself as well.
Well on Wednesday, Kelly's brother, David, came to take the boys to his place in the mountains. And with their departure a calm, a quiet has descended upon our house. I was so busy that day with other tasks that I hardly noticed they were gone. But by the evening, I had settled in to the new reality. It was nice. I ate something, I read a book, I cleaned up...
And then around midnight I got the call: a tearful Niko begging me to come and pick him up. It was heartbreaking to tell him that there was no way, that he'd just have to deal with it. Gus ingeniously suggested that a morning and evening FaceTime call on the iPhone may help - and it has. Since that night Niko has been all smiles during our chats.
Now on the third day of their absence, my ability to cook dinner without complaints, run errands uninterrupted, or to work without having to remind someone to keep it way down, have proven far less powerful arguments for not having the boys here with me than I might have expected.
This morning as we FaceTimed, Niko decided that he wants to come home on Sunday, rather than stay for two weeks as had been considered. I told him, "That's only 3 days away!" Maybe, just maybe, I was reminding myself as well.
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