Fort Worth, Texas, April 22, 2009, 8:28 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Howdy from the Lone Star State of Texas!  This is your friend, Tank Griswald, writing; hope this finds y'all in fine fettle.

I'm doing great; it's my girlfriend, Stephanie, who ain't worth a can of beans.  See, she fell last week while going to class, and she broke her hip.  Well, not exactly broke it, per se, but she did fracture it to where she can't walk for six-to-eight weeks.

She has to sit in a wheelchair for that period of time; it is killing her because she's one of those active, athletic types who always has to be doing something to keep fit.

I've had to take care of her, act as her legs.  It's been difficult; she's been in a lot of pain; she's been taking Vicadin and Tylenol with codeine; oh, it's helped with the pain, but all it does is knock her out; she has been sleeping a lot!

The only time she's up is when I take her to the bathroom; and then I have to physically lift her onto the porta-potty, then put her carefully back into her wheelchair or to bed.  I haven't slept much since this happened to her.

The weather has been stunning for the past week:  bright, wall-to-wall sunshine, warm temps in the seventies (or like today, in the lower to mid nineties!), and southerly breezes.  Alas, it's not to last:  supposed to rain by week's end, and cooling down to the eighties.

Still above normal for this time of year, but hey, I'd rather have warm than cold weather.  I don't do cold weather very well; I never have.  (Steffi doesn't mind it:  she was born in Canada; she's used to that.)

Besides taking care of Steffi, I have been going to class (as has she), doing homework, and studying for tests.  Nothing much.  I also have been going out with the guys every Saturday (or did, until Steffi injured her hip).  Now I will have to wait until she recovers; that will be a good two to two and a half months from now.

Well, I am going to run along; Steffi needs to go to the potty.  She can't do it, so I have to help her.  Take care and may God bless you; I'll write to you again another time!

~Tank Griswald.  :)