New Fridge

We had our new refrigerator delivered this past Saturday. We love it! I especially love the water and ice on the door! Kyle & I have always wanted a fridge with water and ice on the door!

The past two weeks have been really rough. As most of you already know, my father died on 6/17/09. We were busy last week with his funeral & wake. My aunt Maureen flew in from Seattle and stayed with us. It was so great to see her although I wish it was for a better occasion. She got the chance to bond with Rosie and now they are best buds. Aunt Mo is coming back in less than a month b/c she is renting a house on the Cape. I plan to visit her a few times when she's there.

As if I wasn't struggling enough with the loss of my father, things got worse b/c I broke my leg on Saturday night! I had no idea it was broken until 3 days later since I don't have feeling in my legs. I wound up being hospitalized for 2 days b/c of my leg and a really bad UTI. I am feeling a lot better but am still very tired. I'm not sure if the fatigue comes from the leg, UTI or just my overall sadness as a result of all the crap going on! It is probably a combination of everything.

It has been constantly raining here and that makes me even more sad. I still can't believe my father is gone. Although we knew the end was near, there is just no way to prepare for such a loss.

I smiled today when I received a beautiful flower arrangement from some of my college friends. I'll try to post a pic later. Thanks for all the love and support you have all provided. All the cards and kind gestures mean so much. Thanks so much!

Anyway, that is about it from here. I'm really happy that Bernie Madoff got such a long sentence. I hope it really sends a strong message! Bye for now!

Updated obituary

There were a few changes to my father's obituary. We changed the service in Hingham from a memorial service to a wake.


REILLY, Robert E. 71 of Keene, NH died on June 17, 2009 following a brave and gritty battle with heart disease. Bob was born in Warren, RI on October 24, 1937. He was the son of the late James J. Reilly and Mary King Reilly. Mr. Reilly graduated from East Providence High School, class of 1954. He attended Providence College, class of 1959 and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Bob received an MBA in 1961. He also completed his doctorate (ABD) in business and insurance. He would marry Barbara Binet on December 27, 1986 in Southborough, MA at the Pilgrim Church. They were married for 22 years. Together they enjoyed homes in Northboro, Boylston and Quincy, MA, before retiring to Keene, NH. He is survived by his wife Barbara. His daughters; Deirdre Prescott of Cohasset, MA, Tracy Perrin of Chesterfield, NH, Amy McLaughlin of Worcester, MA, Megan Orleman of Norwell, MA, Maura Reilly of NY, NY, Caitlin Reilly of Braintree, MA, A son Robert J. Reilly of Hingham, MA, His sisters Clare LaVallee, Patricia Rock, Kathleen Connors, Mary Cahill, Angela Carson, Maureen Reilly, His brothers, the late Charles Reilly, James Reilly, Francis Reilly and his thirteen grandchildren. Calling hours will be held on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St., HINGHAM, MA. The Family has requested that donations , in lieu of flowers, be made in memory of Robert E. Reilly to the Reilly Family Scholarship Fund at Providence College, 1 Cunningham Sq., Providence, RI 02918. All services are under the direction of Cheshire Family Funeral Home. www.cheshirefamilyfh.com

My Father's Obituary

Robert E. Reilly
Robert E. Reilly, 71, of Keene, NH died on June 17, 2009, following a brave and gritty battle with heart disease.Bob was born in Warren, RI on October 24, 1937. He was the son of the late Lames J. Reilly and Mary King Reilly.Mr. Reilly graduated from East Providence High School, class of 1954. He attended Providence College, class of 1959 and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Bob received an MBA in 1961. He also completed his doctorate (ABD) in business and insurance.He would marry to Barbara Binet on December 27, 1986 in Southborough, MA at the Pilgrim Church. They were married for 22 years. Together they enjoyed homes in Northboro, Boylston and Quincy, MA before retiring to Keene, NH.He is survived by his wife Barbara; his daughters, Deirdre Prescott of Cohasset, MA., Tracy Perrin of Chesterfield, NH., Amy McLaughlin of Worcester, MA., Megan Orleman of Norwell, MA., Maura Reilly of NY, NY, Caitlin Reilly of Braintree, MA; a son, Robert J. Reilly of Hingham, MA; his sisters, Clare LaVallee, Patricia Rock, Kathleen Connors, Mary Cahill, Angela Carson, Maureen Reilly; his brothers, the late Charles Reilly, James Reilly, Francis Reilly; and his thirteen grandchildren.Services will be held on Saturday at the St. James Episcopal Ch. in Keene at 11am. A celebration of life service is also being held at St. Johns Episcopal Ch. in Hingham, MA on Monday at 11 a.m. The family has requested that donations be made in memory of Robert E. Reilly to the Reilly Family Scholarship Fund at Providence College, 1 Cunningham Sqr., Providence, RI. 02918. All services are under the direction of Cheshire Family Funeral Home.

The loss of my father

Hi All,

My father died this morning. We received a call yesterday that hospice felt he was nearing the end and that we should head to NH to be there for him. My sister Megan & I left Braintree around 4pm and arrived in NH around 7:30. My father looked much worse than the time I had seen him just a little over a week before. He was extremely fidgety and agitated. We stayed with him until after 10pm. My step-mom, Barbara requested a cot so that she could sleep right next to him. He died around 12:30 am. Barbara said he died peacefully in his sleep.

It was so upsetting to see him suffering last night and I feel at peace knowing he is no longer in pain. He fought a hard long fight.

We will be having a funeral for him in Keene, NH on Saturday and then a memorial mass on Monday in my hometown. I have not slept in over 32 hours and am physically and emotionally exhausted. We've known for a few years that my dad had a limited amount of time left, and we thought we could prepare ourselves but there is no way to prepare for this. I am very sad :(

For my fellow dog lovers

Just a Dog

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog" or "that's a lot of money for just a dog". They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog".

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog". Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog", but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog", then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend", "just a sunrise" or "just a promise".

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of "just a dog", I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog", but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man or woman".
So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog", just smile -- because they "just don't understand".