Sad News

I got some sad news last week - my PopPop died. :( He had emphysema and underwent a surgical procedure to try and improve his condition. Apparently the surgery was a success but he ended up in ICU for about 2 weeks and died last Tuesday. I hadn't seen PopPop in a while, so I had no idea how bad off he was... and I felt terrible that it'd be so long since I last saw him and now he's gone. :(

Alex and I went to the funeral in Pottsville this past weekend. We drove down on Thursday and stayed at the Quality Inn in downtown. Alex kept calling it the "non-quality inn", but it wasn't that bad. A little outdated and a little rough around the edges, but certainly not the worst I've ever seen. And they had free wireless, so that was a bonus - it was nice to be able to google directions etc.

The funeral was Friday morning at St Joe's. Father Connelly did a very fire and brimstone homily. Very much "be Catholic or be prepared to suffer the consequences." After the service we went to the cemetery and there was a short service there as well. We went to Christy Joy's catering for a reception afterwards. We had something called City Chicken there which apparently is not made of chicken... Alex was quite disturbed. I think it's pork and veal that's on a stick and breaded. It wasn't too bad - but it's weird that you'd have "mock chicken". I guess it's a Pottsville thing.

We hung out with my family Friday and came home on Saturday. It was really great to see everyone again - my Nana, my Aunts and Uncles, my cousins, and my Mom and RJ - but it was a shame that it had to be for such a shitty reason. :(