The sky overhead is actually a deep blue this morning. Yet, I ask myself, "How long is that gonna last?"
Then I remembered that my friends Cecil & Kathy are somewhere up on the Oregon... or maybe even in Washington by now... Coast. So they may not have even seen the Sun for awhile? I wonder if Cecil took his telescope with him and if he did has he been able to use it?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Oh goodness!!!
I forgot to say that we made it home... two days ago.
It's still smoky here, but not nearly as bad as last week when we left.
We had an enjoyable, even relaxing time at Long Beach. We saw some old friends and made some new ones. We ate very well. There wasn't a bad meal during the entire trip.
It's still smoky here, but not nearly as bad as last week when we left.
We had an enjoyable, even relaxing time at Long Beach. We saw some old friends and made some new ones. We ate very well. There wasn't a bad meal during the entire trip.
Monday, July 28, 2008
what's to say?
I don't have much time. We're still on the road home from SoCal.
We have a must attend dinner tonight, so we have to get moving.
We have a must attend dinner tonight, so we have to get moving.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Uh, er.... I don't even know who this guy is.
Somebody sent me this once. Then somebody else sent it.
Neither of my sisters need comment... or my nieces, either!!!
Neither of my sisters need comment... or my nieces, either!!!
Long Beach or Bust!!!
We are off to the southland for the weekend... with a stopover... to visit some Lion friends who are having a little to do. She is the new District Governor and the District Officer Installation is this Saturday night. The best part is that the dress code is casual and all we have to do is watch.
Another benefit is that we will get away from our smoke and have an opportunity to compare it to the air down there.
I may have an opportunity to post. We'll see.
Another benefit is that we will get away from our smoke and have an opportunity to compare it to the air down there.
I may have an opportunity to post. We'll see.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
This Just In:
A mature (over 40) lady gets pulled over for speeding...
Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer : Ma'am, you were speeding.
Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer : Can I see your license please?
Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.
Officer : Don't have one?
Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Officer : I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.
Woman: I can't do that.
Officer : Why not?
Woman: I stole this car.
Officer : Stole it?
Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer : You what?
Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see .
The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please!
The woman steps out of her vehicle.
woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
Woman: Murdered the owner?
Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
The officer is quite stunned.
Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driver’s license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse with her license in it; and hands it to the officer.
The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.
Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.
Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer : Ma'am, you were speeding.
Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer : Can I see your license please?
Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.
Officer : Don't have one?
Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Officer : I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.
Woman: I can't do that.
Officer : Why not?
Woman: I stole this car.
Officer : Stole it?
Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer : You what?
Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see .
The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please!
The woman steps out of her vehicle.
woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
Woman: Murdered the owner?
Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
The officer is quite stunned.
Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driver’s license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse with her license in it; and hands it to the officer.
The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.
Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.
I was thinking,
which, when left to my own devices, is a dangerous thing to do, about changing the message on the answering machine.
I'm not even sure what it is currently, but it certainly isn't too effective. About two-thirds of the calls are hang-ups. That is really irritating because they do take up space on the memory chip. So what I was thinking about changing the message to is, "Look, if you don't have anything to say, just hang up now, before you hear the beep!"
Yes, that's about as blue as my language gets any more. Anyway, the ever practical and extremely nice Sharon interrupted my thought... probably because I was saying it out loud... and convinced me otherwise. It's probably just as well. I have been turning the machine off when we're at home and then forgetting to turn it on when we leave.
I'm not even sure what it is currently, but it certainly isn't too effective. About two-thirds of the calls are hang-ups. That is really irritating because they do take up space on the memory chip. So what I was thinking about changing the message to is, "Look, if you don't have anything to say, just hang up now, before you hear the beep!"
Yes, that's about as blue as my language gets any more. Anyway, the ever practical and extremely nice Sharon interrupted my thought... probably because I was saying it out loud... and convinced me otherwise. It's probably just as well. I have been turning the machine off when we're at home and then forgetting to turn it on when we leave.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Just when you think...
...it's safe to go out again, the winds (such as they are) change and skies become gray. Oh, but I'm sure that it's much better somewhere else. Just as I am certain that some other aren't having any celebratory picnics.
Things are finally beginning to return to what qualifies as normal here. The flood damage has been repaired and the heavy lifting is done. My year as Lions District Governor has been completed, so the dining room table should be cleared by the end of September or mid-October. [grins] In another week or so, the horse collar (one of the more benign names for this thing around my neck) comes off and some of the physical restrictions should be lifted. I'm kind of hoping "Take it easy" isn't one of them.
For the first time in what seems like a month... Oh, wait! It has been a month... the local rag had a headline above the fold that had nothing to do with fires. They report that home sales were down in June. Then I noticed a spelling error in the headline of another column and didn't even bother to read the main article.
Over on the lower left are some links. Most are other blogs, one is just a link to an Albert Einstein web site that kind of struck me funny, another is "Uncle Eddie's Theory Corner." No he's not related and it's just there on a whim. The others are folks I actually know. Check out the prose of the Brighton Pensioner. He is not exactly keeping it a secret, but according to him, nobody else knows about it... YET!!!
Things are finally beginning to return to what qualifies as normal here. The flood damage has been repaired and the heavy lifting is done. My year as Lions District Governor has been completed, so the dining room table should be cleared by the end of September or mid-October. [grins] In another week or so, the horse collar (one of the more benign names for this thing around my neck) comes off and some of the physical restrictions should be lifted. I'm kind of hoping "Take it easy" isn't one of them.
For the first time in what seems like a month... Oh, wait! It has been a month... the local rag had a headline above the fold that had nothing to do with fires. They report that home sales were down in June. Then I noticed a spelling error in the headline of another column and didn't even bother to read the main article.
Over on the lower left are some links. Most are other blogs, one is just a link to an Albert Einstein web site that kind of struck me funny, another is "Uncle Eddie's Theory Corner." No he's not related and it's just there on a whim. The others are folks I actually know. Check out the prose of the Brighton Pensioner. He is not exactly keeping it a secret, but according to him, nobody else knows about it... YET!!!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Rumination
The sky looks even better today.
Wrong!!! There is barely any sign of smoke this morning. I will actually have to step outside an look in the direction of where fires are still burning to see any smoke.
A look at the satellite map shows fewer fires today than it did yesterday. That's because there has been a further chance to investigate and it has been found that not every lightning strike on June 20-21 actually caused a fire. Of course that's of little solace to the folks who have had to evacuate or, worse, were burned out.
What really amazes me are some of the reactions from people who live in other parts of the country. Most of them would rather concern themselves with the so-called earthquake threat.
Sometimes it seems almost like a game of "What's the worst thing that can happen in my neighborhood?"
Well folks, don't dwell on it. Because whatever it is. It probably hasn't occurred yet. Besides there are enough "other" not quite as bad things that can happen. The point is that no matter how awful things seem, someone else probably has it worse. As long as we know we are not alone, we're way ahead in this game of life.
Wrong!!! There is barely any sign of smoke this morning. I will actually have to step outside an look in the direction of where fires are still burning to see any smoke.
A look at the satellite map shows fewer fires today than it did yesterday. That's because there has been a further chance to investigate and it has been found that not every lightning strike on June 20-21 actually caused a fire. Of course that's of little solace to the folks who have had to evacuate or, worse, were burned out.
What really amazes me are some of the reactions from people who live in other parts of the country. Most of them would rather concern themselves with the so-called earthquake threat.
Sometimes it seems almost like a game of "What's the worst thing that can happen in my neighborhood?"
Well folks, don't dwell on it. Because whatever it is. It probably hasn't occurred yet. Besides there are enough "other" not quite as bad things that can happen. The point is that no matter how awful things seem, someone else probably has it worse. As long as we know we are not alone, we're way ahead in this game of life.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Smoke...
...over at Weaverville was horrendous. Well, actually it was awful from the time we left the house on Friday until this morning. Visibility was at best about 1/4 mile once we started into the hills.... not much better before that.
However, this morning we could actually make out more than just the shadows of the hill surrounding the town and there was even a sense of some blue sky.
Of course, now we are home again and as I look out I can actually see that there some clouds and that the sky actually is blue. On the downside, a breeze has come up and that could possibly stoke up some of the fires again.
However, this morning we could actually make out more than just the shadows of the hill surrounding the town and there was even a sense of some blue sky.
Of course, now we are home again and as I look out I can actually see that there some clouds and that the sky actually is blue. On the downside, a breeze has come up and that could possibly stoke up some of the fires again.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Gone 'til Sunday night
We're headed for Weaverville - where all of the smoke is - to a Lions District meeting.
See y'all when we return.
See y'all when we return.
"Good things" I've read???
How about books I've enjoyed reading?
Continuing:
- The first one I remember is Wind in the Willows - that was long before anyone made a movie.
- The Sand Pebbles - again before the movie
- Catch 22 - again before the movie
Continuing:
- the Harry Potter series
- the Hobbit and the Ring trilogy
- almost anything by Tom Clancy before he went commercial
- Kite Runner
- Love in the time of Cholera
- Shadow Divers
- the Perfect Storm
- Constantine's Sword
I was hoping to...
...post a link to a column in the local rag that I found almost hilarious. Maybe it will be up by next week when we return from Weaverville.
They also had a headline on page A5 that reads:
BTW - G. Bush was here yesterday and said to say. "Hi!"
They also had a headline on page A5 that reads:
FDA Allows People To Eat Tomatoes
BTW - G. Bush was here yesterday and said to say. "Hi!"
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Fires
For those who may be interested... and have a fast enough connection, you can see the extent of what happening here in the North State.
Oh, and nobody asked my opinion, but I think George should take his board to Guadalajara just so everyone else will have something to take pictures of and talk about.
Oh, and nobody asked my opinion, but I think George should take his board to Guadalajara just so everyone else will have something to take pictures of and talk about.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Addendum
What I was going to say is now we can't find everything because we had way too much help moving stuff out of the rooms.
Did anyone notice?
Yesterday was Bastille Day.
The only reason I mention it is because it also happens that it was exactly 31 days after Friday the 13th, which was slightly more significant around our house.
I wonder. Did Noah say, "Oh Sh*t!!!" when it rained and the flood started?
The day started out innocently enough. Heck, as retirees days and dates mean almost absolutely nothing to Sharon and me. We wandered out to the kitchen sometime around 6:30am, made the coffee, retrieved the newspaper and leisurely started our day. Yes, I said 6:30am. Neither of us is much into sleeping in. One of us goes to bed at sunset and the other has a hard time sleeping much more that seven hours.
The paper must have had an unusual number of items of interest because it was almost a full hour before I ventured back to the rear of the house. As I approached the master bedroom though the hallway I encountered one of the last things... other than termites... that a homeowner ever wants in his living quarters.
WATER!!!
That's not what I said.
The carpet in the hall was soaked. On the plus side it was preventing the water from migrating further across the back of the house. It seems that the supply to the toilet in the master bath had picked that morning to give way. The bedroom and both bathrooms (they share a common wall) were about an inch deep in water. Thank heaven it was a supply line and not 'the other kind.'
Anyway, 31 days -- Friday the 13th to Bastille Day -- is how long it has taken to finally move back into our own bedroom and regain the full use of all of the facilities. Over that time we've discovered that the hide-a-bed in the family room isn't all that uncomfortable and that the bed in the "guest" room ain't too shabby either, but neither of them has the proper groove worn into the places where we're most comfortable.
Somebody told us that the true lifespan of a mattress is something like three years. I'll leave that alone for now.
The only reason I mention it is because it also happens that it was exactly 31 days after Friday the 13th, which was slightly more significant around our house.
I wonder. Did Noah say, "Oh Sh*t!!!" when it rained and the flood started?
The day started out innocently enough. Heck, as retirees days and dates mean almost absolutely nothing to Sharon and me. We wandered out to the kitchen sometime around 6:30am, made the coffee, retrieved the newspaper and leisurely started our day. Yes, I said 6:30am. Neither of us is much into sleeping in. One of us goes to bed at sunset and the other has a hard time sleeping much more that seven hours.
The paper must have had an unusual number of items of interest because it was almost a full hour before I ventured back to the rear of the house. As I approached the master bedroom though the hallway I encountered one of the last things... other than termites... that a homeowner ever wants in his living quarters.
WATER!!!
That's not what I said.
The carpet in the hall was soaked. On the plus side it was preventing the water from migrating further across the back of the house. It seems that the supply to the toilet in the master bath had picked that morning to give way. The bedroom and both bathrooms (they share a common wall) were about an inch deep in water. Thank heaven it was a supply line and not 'the other kind.'
Anyway, 31 days -- Friday the 13th to Bastille Day -- is how long it has taken to finally move back into our own bedroom and regain the full use of all of the facilities. Over that time we've discovered that the hide-a-bed in the family room isn't all that uncomfortable and that the bed in the "guest" room ain't too shabby either, but neither of them has the proper groove worn into the places where we're most comfortable.
Somebody told us that the true lifespan of a mattress is something like three years. I'll leave that alone for now.
Monday, July 14, 2008
THREE SOUTHERN BOYS
Did anyone miss me?
I didn't think so!
Somebody... actually two somebodies... sent the following to me. I don't have the heart to email it and I'm too stupid to let it die in my in box.
I really think that the title does a disservice to Southerners because we all know that there are individuals like this everywhere.
Bubba died in a fire, and his body was burned pretty badly.
The morgue needed someone to identify the body, so they sent for his two best friends, Cooter and Gomer. The three men had always done everything together. Like they were inseparable.
Cooter arrived first; and, when the mortician pulled back the sheet, Cooter said, 'Yup,his face is burned up pretty bad. You better roll him over.'
The mortician rolled him over, and Cooter said, 'Nope -- ain't Bubba.'
The mortician thought this was rather strange, so he brought Gomer in to confirm.
'Yup, he's pretty well burnt up. Roll him over.'
The mortician rolled him over, and Gomer said, 'No, it ain't Bubba.'
The mortician asked, 'How can you tell?'
'Well, Bubba had two assholes.'
'What?... He had two assholes?' asked the mortician.
'Yup, we never seen 'em, but everybody used to say, 'There's Bubba with them two assholes.
I didn't think so!
Somebody... actually two somebodies... sent the following to me. I don't have the heart to email it and I'm too stupid to let it die in my in box.
I really think that the title does a disservice to Southerners because we all know that there are individuals like this everywhere.
Bubba died in a fire, and his body was burned pretty badly.
The morgue needed someone to identify the body, so they sent for his two best friends, Cooter and Gomer. The three men had always done everything together. Like they were inseparable.
Cooter arrived first; and, when the mortician pulled back the sheet, Cooter said, 'Yup,his face is burned up pretty bad. You better roll him over.'
The mortician rolled him over, and Cooter said, 'Nope -- ain't Bubba.'
The mortician thought this was rather strange, so he brought Gomer in to confirm.
'Yup, he's pretty well burnt up. Roll him over.'
The mortician rolled him over, and Gomer said, 'No, it ain't Bubba.'
The mortician asked, 'How can you tell?'
'Well, Bubba had two assholes.'
'What?... He had two assholes?' asked the mortician.
'Yup, we never seen 'em, but everybody used to say, 'There's Bubba with them two assholes.
Friday, July 11, 2008
The end is near.
[Oops, I almost capitalized the title and that just might have sent the wrong message.]
Nothing much happened from the beginning of May until the end of June. Oh, the feeling in the last two fingers of the left hand improved, but my typing hasn't. The only symptom that I am even vaguely aware of is the insidious lack of sensation in the left thumb, which, now that I've had the surgery, may or may not go away.
Anyway, June 25 Sharon and I went to the Dr. office for pre-op consult. Yes, we're into doing this on the following Monday. Yes, we'll go up to the hospital on Friday for all of the pre-admission stuff (blood draw, x-ray, EKG, the same questions asked over and over, etc.) and we will.... WHAT?!!
"You're going to quit smoking, right?" He says in his quaint accented English.
Well, you coulda heard a pin drop.
I mean, yeah I've had this urge to quit for a coupla years [like ever since I started again about 25 years ago], but the urge to light up trumps the urge to quit every time. I have been able to go long periods without my nicotine fix, which usually only requires one drag on the non-filtered Camels anyway. But now, quit, cold-turkey, without any warning. Aaaaagh!
Oh and the alternative: "if you won't quit, I don't do the surgery." And this has been laid on both Sharon and myself. Seems that smoking interferes with the bone graft. And second-hand smoke is just as bad. So she, who has never quit before, and I who have quit numerous times [the last time was 25+ years ago and I stopped for six years... don't ask!!!!] are suddenly faced with a serious dilemma. What do we do with the 6-pack of lighters we just bought?
Of course we agreed to quit. It isn't even lip sersvice either. but the suddenness was just a little bit too much. We finished up at the Dr. office got in the car and I at least waited until it was back on the street before I had my next cigarette. I didn't enjoy it any more than hundreds of previous cigarettes. Cold turkey my a**, I'm gonna wait until tomorrow. So I mad it through the rest of Wednesday... evn cut back a little, bought some patches and stocked up on Gummi-worms.
Meanwhile Sharon altered her routine. She cut way back, hides, so I don't observe her smoking, Heck, she's hidden her cigarettes, or at least they're not in plain sight. Not that it make any difference to me. I'd have to be pretty darn desperate before I'll break the filter off and smoke one of hers. I really appreciate that any of the smokers I know are going out of their way to avoid smoking around me.
So Thursday morning I slap on a patch. Left arm, right arm, decisions, decisions... smoking was easier. Now the immediate question is what about all of the other things besides nicotine that signal me to light a smoke? Well, I guess I've handled that because it's been over two weeks. The patches only lated about four days because I didn't put one on the day I went to the hospital or the next day. By that time I figured that if I can go two days without them, I don't need them either. Besides I was running out of places to put them.
So, that's the story of how I quit smoking and I'm sticking to it.
Seriously:
The surgery went fine, if a little longer than anticipated. I've managed so far to avoid the use of any pain medication right from the get-go. I believe I mentioned before the discomfort from the lack of solid food for what like seemed forever after the operation. Oh, and the the throat discomfort from the tracheal tube the anesthesiologist used. But everything the first team did seems to be just dandy.
I go back for the follow-up post-op in a month. By that time I should be out of this horse collar.
Now wait until you hear about the flood!!!
Nothing much happened from the beginning of May until the end of June. Oh, the feeling in the last two fingers of the left hand improved, but my typing hasn't. The only symptom that I am even vaguely aware of is the insidious lack of sensation in the left thumb, which, now that I've had the surgery, may or may not go away.
Anyway, June 25 Sharon and I went to the Dr. office for pre-op consult. Yes, we're into doing this on the following Monday. Yes, we'll go up to the hospital on Friday for all of the pre-admission stuff (blood draw, x-ray, EKG, the same questions asked over and over, etc.) and we will.... WHAT?!!
"You're going to quit smoking, right?" He says in his quaint accented English.
Well, you coulda heard a pin drop.
I mean, yeah I've had this urge to quit for a coupla years [like ever since I started again about 25 years ago], but the urge to light up trumps the urge to quit every time. I have been able to go long periods without my nicotine fix, which usually only requires one drag on the non-filtered Camels anyway. But now, quit, cold-turkey, without any warning. Aaaaagh!
Oh and the alternative: "if you won't quit, I don't do the surgery." And this has been laid on both Sharon and myself. Seems that smoking interferes with the bone graft. And second-hand smoke is just as bad. So she, who has never quit before, and I who have quit numerous times [the last time was 25+ years ago and I stopped for six years... don't ask!!!!] are suddenly faced with a serious dilemma. What do we do with the 6-pack of lighters we just bought?
Of course we agreed to quit. It isn't even lip sersvice either. but the suddenness was just a little bit too much. We finished up at the Dr. office got in the car and I at least waited until it was back on the street before I had my next cigarette. I didn't enjoy it any more than hundreds of previous cigarettes. Cold turkey my a**, I'm gonna wait until tomorrow. So I mad it through the rest of Wednesday... evn cut back a little, bought some patches and stocked up on Gummi-worms.
Meanwhile Sharon altered her routine. She cut way back, hides, so I don't observe her smoking, Heck, she's hidden her cigarettes, or at least they're not in plain sight. Not that it make any difference to me. I'd have to be pretty darn desperate before I'll break the filter off and smoke one of hers. I really appreciate that any of the smokers I know are going out of their way to avoid smoking around me.
So Thursday morning I slap on a patch. Left arm, right arm, decisions, decisions... smoking was easier. Now the immediate question is what about all of the other things besides nicotine that signal me to light a smoke? Well, I guess I've handled that because it's been over two weeks. The patches only lated about four days because I didn't put one on the day I went to the hospital or the next day. By that time I figured that if I can go two days without them, I don't need them either. Besides I was running out of places to put them.
So, that's the story of how I quit smoking and I'm sticking to it.
Seriously:
The surgery went fine, if a little longer than anticipated. I've managed so far to avoid the use of any pain medication right from the get-go. I believe I mentioned before the discomfort from the lack of solid food for what like seemed forever after the operation. Oh, and the the throat discomfort from the tracheal tube the anesthesiologist used. But everything the first team did seems to be just dandy.
I go back for the follow-up post-op in a month. By that time I should be out of this horse collar.
Now wait until you hear about the flood!!!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Triggers
I would like to find out just what it is that triggers us to do certain things.
Specifically what makes smokers light up ?
I came up with a few of my own. I've already forgotten a bunch of them, but I'm sure I'll remember them soon enough.
The first one to come to mind has to do with sitting down on the toilet. I mean what else are you gonna do while you take care of that business?
Please, feel free to add your two-cents worth.
Specifically what makes smokers light up ?
I came up with a few of my own. I've already forgotten a bunch of them, but I'm sure I'll remember them soon enough.
The first one to come to mind has to do with sitting down on the toilet. I mean what else are you gonna do while you take care of that business?
Please, feel free to add your two-cents worth.
Back to the subject at hand (er... neck?)
Okay, let's see... where were we?
When we left yesterday the horse pills had made the discomfort go away. But hen that was ten years ago. This year there's no pain... in fact in some instance there's no feeling and three people have agreed that it's not a good sign. [I will leave it to you to determine who the three are]
Anyhow, two of those three are now in favor of surgery. This would be more surgery in another part of my body. You can tell I'm entirely thrilled with this idea. Also I am pretty well reconciled to it. I just hate the idea of my summer vacation being screwed up. Oh! wait... I'm retired. I don't get a summer vacation. Life isn't fair and then the toilet backs up, or whatever.
So now it is up to me to determine just how soon I will have this procedure. I can do it now (meaning the first part of May) before the Doc (surgeon) goes on vacation for a month. Of course that will screw up a million other things that are already scheduled. Or, I have this small window of opportunity at the end of June (Monday, June 30 to be exact) when it can be done so as not to interfere with anyone else's plans.
Why? You ask. Is it so important to do this in June? Insurance is the simple answer. The carrier for my health policy changes as of July 1 because of... oh heck let's not even go there or we'll never finish this tale. So since my appointment book is filled through June 28 and the surgeon has been away and only cuts on Mondays, it leaves the last day possible as June 30 or we'd probably have to start all over, meaning that it will take up most, if not all, of the month of July to get this done... if we can even get the same doctors? Then, if it isn't completed in July, guess what? Look and see when my birthday is. That's right, folks, I turn 65 in August and Medicare becomes an issue. So June 30 looks real good. [it's probably a good thing nobody mentioned quitting smoking around all of this]
Oh, did I mention that had purposely not specifically committed to the Doc (surgeon)? Well, I'd finally said okay. He wasn't too happy that I wanted to wait until the end of June, but understood that Sharon and I had other commitments that we had to fulfill. It was also understood that the actual date couldn't be confirmed until the end of June. So things were just a little iffy from the first week in May until the last week in June.
I have learned a great lesson in relativity here:
When we left yesterday the horse pills had made the discomfort go away. But hen that was ten years ago. This year there's no pain... in fact in some instance there's no feeling and three people have agreed that it's not a good sign. [I will leave it to you to determine who the three are]
Anyhow, two of those three are now in favor of surgery. This would be more surgery in another part of my body. You can tell I'm entirely thrilled with this idea. Also I am pretty well reconciled to it. I just hate the idea of my summer vacation being screwed up. Oh! wait... I'm retired. I don't get a summer vacation. Life isn't fair and then the toilet backs up, or whatever.
So now it is up to me to determine just how soon I will have this procedure. I can do it now (meaning the first part of May) before the Doc (surgeon) goes on vacation for a month. Of course that will screw up a million other things that are already scheduled. Or, I have this small window of opportunity at the end of June (Monday, June 30 to be exact) when it can be done so as not to interfere with anyone else's plans.
Why? You ask. Is it so important to do this in June? Insurance is the simple answer. The carrier for my health policy changes as of July 1 because of... oh heck let's not even go there or we'll never finish this tale. So since my appointment book is filled through June 28 and the surgeon has been away and only cuts on Mondays, it leaves the last day possible as June 30 or we'd probably have to start all over, meaning that it will take up most, if not all, of the month of July to get this done... if we can even get the same doctors? Then, if it isn't completed in July, guess what? Look and see when my birthday is. That's right, folks, I turn 65 in August and Medicare becomes an issue. So June 30 looks real good. [it's probably a good thing nobody mentioned quitting smoking around all of this]
Oh, did I mention that had purposely not specifically committed to the Doc (surgeon)? Well, I'd finally said okay. He wasn't too happy that I wanted to wait until the end of June, but understood that Sharon and I had other commitments that we had to fulfill. It was also understood that the actual date couldn't be confirmed until the end of June. So things were just a little iffy from the first week in May until the last week in June.
I have learned a great lesson in relativity here:
- when something has yet to happen and you're anticipating it, it takes forever.
- once it's done, you wonder where the time went.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Where were we?
Oh, yeah!!!
As I said, there were no ill effects from the elbow surgery. Of course, it wasn't exactly totally back to normal either. At least I can open things like pickle jars again [now if I could only type!!!].It has turned out, however, that it wasn't exactly an ulnar nerve decompression that was performed... more like a nerve disentanglement. Evidently, over the years, the nerve had gotten itself mixed up with scar tissue and adhesions which caused it to malfunction. The downside to that is that disentangling the nerve risks severing it, which is not a good thing. Besides, it's my left hand and I don't like to button the top button on my shirts anyway.
How the time arises for the follow-up visit to the neurologist.You know the guy who poked me with the electric needles and then sent me to the "cutter."
So I showed him my scar and demonstrated that massive strength i have in my hands from wielding huge amounts of pizza dough in my younger days. He was suitably impressed, considering that he has numerous degrees from a whole lot of Universities that I have actually heard of. Then he raises dogs which are so well behaved that he must threaten them with the electric needle treatment.
So, then I told him about the MRI and what the neurosurgeon wanted to do. If he hadn't been a well-refined individual and learned a better vocabulary in school, he'd have probably said something like, "Oh, Holy Sh*t!!! Let's not be too hasty." Instead he couched in much more reasonable and politically correct terms. [only a longshoreman would have needed a translation] Of course, he reached into his little bag of trick, booted up his laptop, accessed the database of the local MRI mill and after a rather long download of a big file, was able to see exactly what the other doctor had seen and he almost immediately revise his response, saying that he agreed surgery was the best response.
Before I present any more details, as much fun as they are, I should mention that I have been aware of this condition in my spine for a number of years. There was an issue with it about ten years ago, but it was not considerd serious enough to do more than treat it with anti inflammatory medicines. Except for the fact that the pills were only slightly smaller than a Greyhound Bus, they worked good and I forgot about it when those symptoms (shoulder and arm pain) went away.
Well my attention span grows short and I want to keep everyone on the hook.... so more, later.
As I said, there were no ill effects from the elbow surgery. Of course, it wasn't exactly totally back to normal either. At least I can open things like pickle jars again [now if I could only type!!!].It has turned out, however, that it wasn't exactly an ulnar nerve decompression that was performed... more like a nerve disentanglement. Evidently, over the years, the nerve had gotten itself mixed up with scar tissue and adhesions which caused it to malfunction. The downside to that is that disentangling the nerve risks severing it, which is not a good thing. Besides, it's my left hand and I don't like to button the top button on my shirts anyway.
How the time arises for the follow-up visit to the neurologist.You know the guy who poked me with the electric needles and then sent me to the "cutter."
So I showed him my scar and demonstrated that massive strength i have in my hands from wielding huge amounts of pizza dough in my younger days. He was suitably impressed, considering that he has numerous degrees from a whole lot of Universities that I have actually heard of. Then he raises dogs which are so well behaved that he must threaten them with the electric needle treatment.
So, then I told him about the MRI and what the neurosurgeon wanted to do. If he hadn't been a well-refined individual and learned a better vocabulary in school, he'd have probably said something like, "Oh, Holy Sh*t!!! Let's not be too hasty." Instead he couched in much more reasonable and politically correct terms. [only a longshoreman would have needed a translation] Of course, he reached into his little bag of trick, booted up his laptop, accessed the database of the local MRI mill and after a rather long download of a big file, was able to see exactly what the other doctor had seen and he almost immediately revise his response, saying that he agreed surgery was the best response.
Before I present any more details, as much fun as they are, I should mention that I have been aware of this condition in my spine for a number of years. There was an issue with it about ten years ago, but it was not considerd serious enough to do more than treat it with anti inflammatory medicines. Except for the fact that the pills were only slightly smaller than a Greyhound Bus, they worked good and I forgot about it when those symptoms (shoulder and arm pain) went away.
Well my attention span grows short and I want to keep everyone on the hook.... so more, later.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Episode II (cont'd)
When we last heard from our hero, he was about to snag an MRI.
It has already been determined that someone, probably a properly trained professional, is going to slice open his elbow and untangle some nerves so he can go about buttoning buttons properly.
Now, the story gets interesting.
The neurosurgeon takes a gander (not exactly a technical term) at the MRI and says something like, "Holy cow!"
In other words he is just a little concerned because he's found a narrowing in the spinal column, also known as cervical spinal stenosis [yeah, that's what they called it] at C3-C4 and C4-C5 [think neck]. So, the Doc really has his panties in a twist and I'm thinking,"first things first. Let's deal with what we came for in the first place." He sort of agrees with me but insists that I think seriously about the neck thing. Monday morning (march 31) rolls around and it's up to Mercy Hospital at 6:00am for a 7:00am surgery. We'd done all of the preliminary stuff (paperwork, x-rays, ekg, etc. on Friday). I am visited beforehand by virtually everyone who will participate in the procedure. The last one is the Doc. "Have you thought about what we talked about?" He says.
"Yeah, I'm still thinking." Says me.
"Good!" You gotta meet this guy he has such a way with words.
So everything goes well and I'm outta the O/R and recovery in time for lunch. I don't know if it's surgery or the anesthesia that make me hungry. On my left elbow is a bandage that is only slightly larger than what we put on a kid's owy. Boy! I'm not going to get much sympathy. It ends up I get none because nobody notices until June 4, when my sister, Janet says, "When did you have your elbow operated on?"
But I digress...
I suffered no ill effects from the surgery and went back to the Doc the following morning (April Fools Day) for the post-op visit. Of course he asks again and I sandbag some more. A week later, we do the same thing. I don't bother to tell that I'm fairly much in agreement that something needs to be done, because by this time I've done just a little research. I'm just not in as big a hurry as he is because I have a really full schedule on my calendar until the end of June. [that's a whole 'nother story that I could have been blogging about for the last two years.]
this looks like a pretty good place to start from next time... later
It has already been determined that someone, probably a properly trained professional, is going to slice open his elbow and untangle some nerves so he can go about buttoning buttons properly.
Now, the story gets interesting.
The neurosurgeon takes a gander (not exactly a technical term) at the MRI and says something like, "Holy cow!"
In other words he is just a little concerned because he's found a narrowing in the spinal column, also known as cervical spinal stenosis [yeah, that's what they called it] at C3-C4 and C4-C5 [think neck]. So, the Doc really has his panties in a twist and I'm thinking,"first things first. Let's deal with what we came for in the first place." He sort of agrees with me but insists that I think seriously about the neck thing. Monday morning (march 31) rolls around and it's up to Mercy Hospital at 6:00am for a 7:00am surgery. We'd done all of the preliminary stuff (paperwork, x-rays, ekg, etc. on Friday). I am visited beforehand by virtually everyone who will participate in the procedure. The last one is the Doc. "Have you thought about what we talked about?" He says.
"Yeah, I'm still thinking." Says me.
"Good!" You gotta meet this guy he has such a way with words.
So everything goes well and I'm outta the O/R and recovery in time for lunch. I don't know if it's surgery or the anesthesia that make me hungry. On my left elbow is a bandage that is only slightly larger than what we put on a kid's owy. Boy! I'm not going to get much sympathy. It ends up I get none because nobody notices until June 4, when my sister, Janet says, "When did you have your elbow operated on?"
But I digress...
I suffered no ill effects from the surgery and went back to the Doc the following morning (April Fools Day) for the post-op visit. Of course he asks again and I sandbag some more. A week later, we do the same thing. I don't bother to tell that I'm fairly much in agreement that something needs to be done, because by this time I've done just a little research. I'm just not in as big a hurry as he is because I have a really full schedule on my calendar until the end of June. [that's a whole 'nother story that I could have been blogging about for the last two years.]
this looks like a pretty good place to start from next time... later
Monday, July 7, 2008
comments on "comments"
The best part of any blog is the banter that goes on between the blogger and the folks who actually read it.
I feel most fortunate in that I have a built in audience because many family members have preceded me and they seem to be avidly following my adventures [sic].
Periodically, some of you may note typos. My claim is that they are due to neurological damage.
Anyway, post comments, I may even respond. Oh, and if we all bug Sharon enough she might even post a comment... but don't hold your breath.
I feel most fortunate in that I have a built in audience because many family members have preceded me and they seem to be avidly following my adventures [sic].
Periodically, some of you may note typos. My claim is that they are due to neurological damage.
Anyway, post comments, I may even respond. Oh, and if we all bug Sharon enough she might even post a comment... but don't hold your breath.
Episode II (does it need a title, too?)
The specialist, a neurologist, took a lot of time at the first consultation., mostly asking questions and doing some minor testing for reflexes. He as really thorough and then scheduled some more thorough tests specifically for my left hand. When I say more thorough, I should also add less pleasant. Who knew that neurologist get their kick sticking electric probes in folk's arms [or wherever] and then asking "did you feel that?"
Okay, okay, that's an exaggeration but you get the idea.
Anyway, these tests were not quite as definitive as the specialist would have liked, since he was unable to determine the source of my thumb problem. He did, however, determine that there was problem with my ulnar nerve. It was explained to me that there is a channel through the elbow that the nerve passes through. Sometimes the channel compresses the nerve, which creates the necessity for an operation called an Ulnar nerve decompression. It sounds serious until it is translated into plain English - "they're gonna operate on your funny bone."
The next step in the process, of course, is finding a surgeon to do the operation. In this day of PPOs that's not always as simple as it should seem.
The pool of surgeons available is quite high. Orthopedists or neurosurgeons can both perfom this type of surgery. Somewhere along the line personalities get involved and then there's that PPO issue. If it has been an emergency, then it wouldn't have mattered.
Finally, I was referred to a neurosurgeon who we actually know and have had some experience with. I'm fairly certain he even has a sense of humor.
We went to his office for a consultation... "when do you want to do this surgery Mr. O'Brien. I operate on Mondays." He scheduled a pre-op consult for the Thursday preceding the surgery, which took place on March 31. He also, ordered an MRI, with instructions that I bring it with me to the pre-op consult.
Now you probably can see where this is leading... Continued next week
Okay, okay, that's an exaggeration but you get the idea.
Anyway, these tests were not quite as definitive as the specialist would have liked, since he was unable to determine the source of my thumb problem. He did, however, determine that there was problem with my ulnar nerve. It was explained to me that there is a channel through the elbow that the nerve passes through. Sometimes the channel compresses the nerve, which creates the necessity for an operation called an Ulnar nerve decompression. It sounds serious until it is translated into plain English - "they're gonna operate on your funny bone."
The next step in the process, of course, is finding a surgeon to do the operation. In this day of PPOs that's not always as simple as it should seem.
The pool of surgeons available is quite high. Orthopedists or neurosurgeons can both perfom this type of surgery. Somewhere along the line personalities get involved and then there's that PPO issue. If it has been an emergency, then it wouldn't have mattered.
Finally, I was referred to a neurosurgeon who we actually know and have had some experience with. I'm fairly certain he even has a sense of humor.
We went to his office for a consultation... "when do you want to do this surgery Mr. O'Brien. I operate on Mondays." He scheduled a pre-op consult for the Thursday preceding the surgery, which took place on March 31. He also, ordered an MRI, with instructions that I bring it with me to the pre-op consult.
Now you probably can see where this is leading... Continued next week
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Day eleven
NO! not of the blog... but of that "other" thing I started...er, quit.
Anyway, has anyone ever actually taken the time to figure out just how many triggers there are for lighting up? Trust me, the nicotine addiction is pretty bad and then throw in all of the little indicators that it's time for a smoke and the process is almost overwhelming.
Before anyone thinks I'm about to start again, don't worry. I haven't even had a desire since day one... er, four... oh whatever!!!
So I guess I should begin to explain where and when this whole thing started. I mean if it hadn't been for the surgery, I'd probably never have started this journal.
Now this is a long, convoluted story so it might take a number of sessions and you're going to have to pay close attention because I don't.
Sometime last winter, like maybe in December, I noticed that I didn't have any feeling in my left thumb. Being that I am a typical guy, I figured that I must have whacked it and eventually it would return to normal [whatever normal is]. I was concerned, but not enough to tell anyone.
Then, along about the end of January, the feeling in the last two finger of the left hand went away, worse, I was losing strength in the hand. Do you know how hard it is to button the top button on a dress shirt when you don't feel the button?
I screwed around through the month of February... partly because I was busy, partly because I got the flu [or the crud?] and partly because Sharon got the flu or whatever it was.
Finally, about the middle of February, I visited the doctor at the local Walk-In Clinic. He prescribed some stuff, and anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxant, and arranged for a referral to a neurologist. Of course, the first neurologist wasn't on the insurance company's PPO list so it took some time to get an appointment for a "consultation" and on March 3 I finally was advised by a specialist that I might have some nerve damage.
We'll pick up on this later when I have more time...or, as they used to say at the Saturday matinée, "Continued next week."
Anyway, has anyone ever actually taken the time to figure out just how many triggers there are for lighting up? Trust me, the nicotine addiction is pretty bad and then throw in all of the little indicators that it's time for a smoke and the process is almost overwhelming.
Before anyone thinks I'm about to start again, don't worry. I haven't even had a desire since day one... er, four... oh whatever!!!
So I guess I should begin to explain where and when this whole thing started. I mean if it hadn't been for the surgery, I'd probably never have started this journal.
Now this is a long, convoluted story so it might take a number of sessions and you're going to have to pay close attention because I don't.
Sometime last winter, like maybe in December, I noticed that I didn't have any feeling in my left thumb. Being that I am a typical guy, I figured that I must have whacked it and eventually it would return to normal [whatever normal is]. I was concerned, but not enough to tell anyone.
Then, along about the end of January, the feeling in the last two finger of the left hand went away, worse, I was losing strength in the hand. Do you know how hard it is to button the top button on a dress shirt when you don't feel the button?
I screwed around through the month of February... partly because I was busy, partly because I got the flu [or the crud?] and partly because Sharon got the flu or whatever it was.
Finally, about the middle of February, I visited the doctor at the local Walk-In Clinic. He prescribed some stuff, and anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxant, and arranged for a referral to a neurologist. Of course, the first neurologist wasn't on the insurance company's PPO list so it took some time to get an appointment for a "consultation" and on March 3 I finally was advised by a specialist that I might have some nerve damage.
We'll pick up on this later when I have more time...or, as they used to say at the Saturday matinée, "Continued next week."
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Wild 'n Crazy
So my 'twin' cousin, his wife, RuthiE, Sharon and I got a wild hair and decided to celebrate our shared birthday together for the first time in 60 years.
Now that may not seem like such a big deal until you realize that they live near Tucson and we don't live near anything except a factory outlet mall and a Wal-mart.
Now we've been talking about this joint birthday for years... even did some research on occasion. It turns out spontaneous is better because this year it's finally happening.
It'll be just the four of us. We can do this because we're "retired" and can take days off during the week.
There might be more about this later.
For those who just have to know... I'm older by about 10 hours.
Oh, yeah! RuthiE gets credit for puling this off. She told Bob and me that if it was going to happen, we had to make the plans.
Now that may not seem like such a big deal until you realize that they live near Tucson and we don't live near anything except a factory outlet mall and a Wal-mart.
Now we've been talking about this joint birthday for years... even did some research on occasion. It turns out spontaneous is better because this year it's finally happening.
It'll be just the four of us. We can do this because we're "retired" and can take days off during the week.
There might be more about this later.
For those who just have to know... I'm older by about 10 hours.
Oh, yeah! RuthiE gets credit for puling this off. She told Bob and me that if it was going to happen, we had to make the plans.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Day Seven
If you've been paying attention, you will realize that I have totally lost count.
Guess what? It doesn't matter as long as I don't smoke another cigarette.
For anyone out there who smokes and wants to quit, here' s some free advice:
Guess what? It doesn't matter as long as I don't smoke another cigarette.
For anyone out there who smokes and wants to quit, here' s some free advice:
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Don't smoke between breathes!
I said it was free!!!
Breathe out.
Don't smoke between breathes!
I said it was free!!!
Generally speaking, all is well. I mean I have managed to amuse a few folk over the past few days. That's my goal in life... to amuse others. That, and keep my weight under 190 lbs.
Oh, I'd like to shoot my age on the golf course, too. I don't believe anyone since Methuselah has lived that long.
Oh, I'd like to shoot my age on the golf course, too. I don't believe anyone since Methuselah has lived that long.
Cell phones
To my niece, the TimidVenus:
One time I missed a message on my phone and now you're going to hang that over my head forever. Well, I am certain that we could probably come up with a Roller Derby nickname from that?
One time I missed a message on my phone and now you're going to hang that over my head forever. Well, I am certain that we could probably come up with a Roller Derby nickname from that?
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Better...
Well, I still don't much feel like sitting at the keyboard. I can only handle so much ESPN, History Channel, Discovery and the crap on the networks, well.... It's a good think I like to read. No, I love to read. I'll read almost anything, sometimes more than once. Of course if something I've read doesn't meet certain standards, I'll just tell you not to waste your time.
So far the only pain that bothers me is from the tube that was inserted by the anesthesiologist. That only happens when I swallow or cough. I honestly feel really fortunate that nothing else is bothering me.
I am going to try, at some point in the future, to explain what all led up to the surgery... just not today.
So far the only pain that bothers me is from the tube that was inserted by the anesthesiologist. That only happens when I swallow or cough. I honestly feel really fortunate that nothing else is bothering me.
I am going to try, at some point in the future, to explain what all led up to the surgery... just not today.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
I tried
We got home from the hospital about 4pm yesterday... and just imagine, I didn't much feel like sitting in front of the keyboard. I did manage, however, to call my sisters to let them know that things went well.
So anyway I'm sitting here with a "soft" cervical collar and remembering a line from somewhere That goes something like, "I feel like sh*t and I'm full of Anacin."
That's not the case in my situation, though I have felt better
So anyway I'm sitting here with a "soft" cervical collar and remembering a line from somewhere That goes something like, "I feel like sh*t and I'm full of Anacin."
That's not the case in my situation, though I have felt better
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