January 24th, 2010
by wormdude
in
Dr.s, meds, pain |
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The lattter part of last year was all wahhhhh my shoulder hurts. Waaaahhhhh I might need surgery. Waaaahhhh it is going to hurt. Lets try physical therapy. Waaahhhh physical therapy hurts. Waaaahhhh it makes me tired, and takes up too much of my time. Waaaahhhh I don’t want surgery. Lets try a cortisone shot. Waaaahhhh it is going to hurt. Waaaaahhhh I know that it is going to hurt and I am still going to have to have surgery and that is going to hurt. Waaaa…….hey. It didn’t hurt. It feels good. Almost like new. Cool.
Then….Waaaahhhh my foot hurts. Waaaahhh I can’t walk on it. Waaaahhhh I don’t know what is going on. Waaaahhh the pain has moved to the bottom of my foot. Waaahhh I still can’t walk. Waaahhh when is this going to end? Waaahhhh now my leg hurts. Waaaahhhh no one is taking my pain seriously other than me. Wahh…….I would cry but I can’t breathe.
Hello Dr? I can’t walk from the parking lot to my store without sitting down for 10 minutes. Yes I know that I am overweight, but I have never had this happen before. And then there is this pain that I have been having since this morning in the upper lobe of my right lung. Do you think that I could be seen today? Immediately? Ok. See you as soon as I can.
What do you mean I am going to the hospital? Just what does “Extensive Pulmonary Embulisms” mean? Two? More than two? Just walk in? i don’t have to wait? Cool.
I spent the next 2 and 1/2 days in Harrisburg Hospital being taken care of by the nicest, most professional staff that I could have hoped for. Even when I got up in the middle of the first night and decided that I wanted to brush my teeth and freaked my nurse out because that caused my heart monitor to go ballistic. Sheila was very nice about me scaring the bejeesus out of her.
Now I am home, injecting myself with an anticoagulant twice a day. Rather, MLW is injecting me. She is being a trouper in that aspect. Hopefully we won’t have to do that anymore after this coming Monday when I find out what my coumadin levels are.
I did learn a couple of important things in the hospital. Your blood pressure can get above 200 without your head popping off. Mine got up to 210 over 102 one night. That got a few folks excited. And I also learned that you can find “Lost” fans everywhere. One of my PA’s and I talked about the upcoming season the first night I was there and couldn’t sleep. I have nothing but good things to say about Harrisburg Hospital and their staff. I certainly hope that I don’t have to go back, but if I do I know that I will be in very capable hands.
L8R.
January 23rd, 2010
by wormdude
in
Dr.s, Insanity, friends, meds, sickness, whining |
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I have been whining for the past couple of months about my health. My shoulder had been hurting me since before the summer, and I was doing physical therapy for it. That ended when I got a cortisone shot in it just before Christmas. Then the week after Christmas I got this weird on the top of my left foot that turned into cellulitis.
That turned into a whining session on my part of the highest order. Partly because it really hurt, and partly because….well…I can be a whiner when I am in pain. Went to the Dr. about that one, thinking that I had been to the Dr. in the past couple of months more that I had been in the last freaking year. The pain with the foot traveled from the top to the bottom and kept me out of work for the week between Christmas and New Years. Looking back on this, I think that this is where I started with the blood clots.
Yes, blood clots. I was at a friends house helping him brew his first couple of batches of beer when I noticed I was really out of breath. Just talking was making me gasp, and I was sitting down more than I usually do. Went to work the next day and just walking from the parking lot into the store I had to sit down and catch my breath before putting my coat away. That wasn’t a good thing.
I called my Dr., and after listening to my whining again I was sent for a Cat Scan. Imagine my embarrassment when I found out that they really didn’t want to scan my cats, that it was the name of a procedure. Hopefully the cats will forgive me at some time.
Anyway, after the scan I talked to my Dr. who told me to go home and pack a bag because I was going to the hospital. So that is what I did, and that is also where it gets weird. Because I went home, tossed some clothes in the washer, made a sandwich, grabbed a bottle of water and relaxed. After transferring my clothes from the washer to the dryer I was walking by my cell phone and saw that I had a couple of calls on it. Picked the phone up, and it rang. It was my Dr. wanting to know where I was. And not in a friendly voice. She yelled at me. Asked me what I was doing. Told her I was doing what she told me, I was getting some things together for the hospital. She didn’t think that that was funny. So I went to the hospital.
It seems that both of my lungs had “extensive pulmonary embollisms”. Basically, a whole bunch of blood clots. If she hadn’t have told me to go home and pack a bag, I would have been at the hospital a lot earlier. It really wasn’t my fault. Just a small mis-understanding. And that is my story.
I will talk about the hospital stay tomorrow. Right now, I am bushed.
Thank you guys very much for being so concerned. It touches my cold, black heart to know that there are so many folks out there who care. MLW is also very appreciative of the words of support. You guys certainly do rock.
January 9th, 2010
by wormdude
in
brewing, farm show, food, holidays, pennsylvania |
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Life around our household has been interesting to say the least. I managed to conract an infection in my foot making it impossible to put on a shoe and be mobile. And seeing as
my job requires me to be a ble to walk around the store so that I know what is going on, not being able to walk was a hinderance so I spent the week between Christmas and New Years with my foot elevated. sounds a lot more fun than it actually was. Believe me. Because being home at that time meant that I was home with MLW and The Princess. That never ends well. Too much time together and we start to get on one anothers nerves. Really bad. And I am the one who starts it because I am not as nice as MLW is.
That being said, I also spent some time learning how to make soy candles, something that I had done years ago but had gotten away from. Actually, I didn’t make soy candles we made parrafin candles and had a great time with it, but this time around I am planning on making some soy candles. I also made another batch of my famed Out Cider hard cider for some friends. Said friends keep hounding me as to when this batch of cider is going to be ready for consumption, and if they keep it up it will never be ready for them. I unfortunately have not brewed the latest batch of Imperial Red Ale because, hello! Have you noticed how freaking cold it has been outside? I am not a cold loving kind of guy. And even though I do enjoy brewing some good beer, standing outside in the cold during the process is not my cup of tea. Sorry. I am not a cold lover.
This week we have the Pennsylvania Farm Show in town. This event happens every year in January as an excuse for all of us who have gained 50 lbs over the holidays to pack on just a couple more. something to make feel that much worse about ourselves before we get into the rest of the winter. The best part of the Farm Show is the food. Potato donuts, french fries, baked potatoes with real melted butter on top. Deep fried vegetables fried cheese, fried mushrooms, fried everything. They have really good milk shakes, and honey ice cream, and warm apple dumplings with ice cream, and oh my god pretty much anything else you might want to eat. Really good fried tilapia, pulled pork sandwiches, beef BBQ, meatball sandwiches, blooming onions, onion rings. I am salivating just thinking about all of that really good fried food that is waiting to clog up my arteries somemore. If you have never been to the Farm Show and are going to be around the Harrisburg area this week you have got to stop by and check it out.
And don’t forget to look at that animals, cause there are about a billion 4-H kids around who have been raising all of the cows, and horses, and chickens, and such who like to show their animals offf. We can’t forget about the kids. It wouldn’t be right if we did. But once you have gotten that out of the way you can head for the food court. I will see you there.
January 1st, 2010
by wormdude
in
holidays, pennsylvania |
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The LSU Tigers are playing the PSU Lions in the Capital One Bowl as we speak. And it doesn’t look like that much fun. The rain has been coming down all week in Florida, and the field is a complete mess. For those of us who are my age and have never played on artificial turf, it sucks playing on a wet, cold field. Mud is no fun to play one.
No score as of yet, both teams had a 3 and out on both of their opening drives. LSU just was called for pass interference. Penn State first and 10 on the 35. The last time these teams met was in 1974.
Paterno is going for his 24th bowl victory. Penn State just can’t hold on to any passes. The football is wet and it is hard as a greased pig to hold on to. Another 3 and out.
This is going to be a low scoring, nasty football game.
With 1:54 to go in the first quarter, Penn State scores with a 37 yard pass. Penn State 7, LSU 0.
Penn State kicks a field goal at 5:22 left in the second quarter. Penn State now leads 10, LSU 3.
Penn State intercepts a LSU pass at 3:46 in the second quarter. On their first down they take it inside the 9 yd line.
And with only 8 seconds left on the clock Penn State hits a field goal to go ahead of LSU 13 to 3.
December 13th, 2009
by wormdude
in
brewing, friends |
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Well, we had the first run with The Out Cider the other night. I absolutely love my homebrewed cider. Some friends got together for a holiday party and I took it along. Everyone liked it. Me included. Though I am going to change the recipe the next time that I make it. And I will be making it pretty soon as there are some friends who want some for the spring. The only draw back to it is the amount of time that it has to condition before it is just right for drinking. This batch I let sit for 4 weeks. the next batch I do will sit for close to 6 before it is drank.
Or drunk. which is what you are going to be if you drink a whole lot of this stuff. It is really good.
December 3rd, 2009
by wormdude
in
hemp, marijuana, pennsylvania |
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Some pretty cool is happening here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A House panel held a public hearing yesterday to discuss a bill that would allow the residents of The Commonwealth to use medical marijuana. And that is very cool. Of course there were protestors on both sides. The Pros talking about the relief that marijuana can give to patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, HIV or other physically painful diseases. Along with the Cons talking about marijuana addiction. A few years back this would never have happend.
This is a historic day in The Commonwealth.
November 16th, 2009
by wormdude
in
Family, cigars, days off, kids |
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I sat on the deck this afternoon with a good cigar, and a good brew and just listened.
We have a school that is about 50 yards from our yard. When we bought this house back in 1996 it was one of the selling points. That along with the fact that we were buying it from family and getting a great deal. Back then the school house k-5, and that is were The Princess went to 1-4. When she got into 5th grade the school was closed and she went to another one that is a couple of blocks in the opposite direction.
Sitting here listening to the leaves, I can also hear the kids coming in from last recess. I can hear the buzzer, and the buses pulling up getting ready to take them home. The parents are queing up in the same place that I used to when I picked The Princess up. The sound of little peoples voices is like a balm. I love listening to them as they are chattering to one another. When this was our school, it had a huge family feel to it. We all knew one another, saw one another at all the functions, and watched out for one anothers kids. If someone was late, the parents would hang around and let our kids play on the playground until the late parent arrived. Now that we are years beyond that, I find how much I miss those days.
I missed those days with my eldest daughter, and even though I had some of that time with my boys, I basically missed those days with my own kids. I lived them vicariously through The Princess. I am a flawed Father.
Anyway. Live life now. Don’t look back on it and regret. Life is to be lived now.
Namaste.
November 16th, 2009
by wormdude
in
coffee, work |
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So now after a carafe of coffee, and a large cup from Mc’s, I think that it is time to sit down and talk about what a typical day is like in retail.
A typical day in retail begins for me with a walk through my store. I say hello to all of my associates, checking in with them, and letting them know that I am there if they need anything. With the way our work schedules are, I am not in the store on the same days every week, they change in relation to what the business dictates. I also check with my Department Managers to see if they are having any concerns with associates, orders, or deliveries.
After this quick “survival walk”, I head to my office, grab a legal pad and start walking each department making notes of items that need specific attention. These items might be as simple as wiping down a scale, or as involved as breaking down a rack, or display unit and cleaning it due to how it looks. Appearance is everything in food retail, and you don’t want nice fruit or vegetables sitting on a dirty counter. During these walks I am also answering phone calls from customers and associates. Saturday I received a call that took the cake in my 30 years in this business.
I get this call from a Deli associate. She tells me that she is in the parking lot, ready to come to work, when the person who she was riding with got pulled over by the police. And let’s be clear, she told me that she was with her “baby daddy.” Which makes me crazy as the label just means this is the person I decided to have unprotected sex with, without any concern of the consequences. She informs me that the “baby daddy” might have some warrants. I ask if she has someone who can come get her child, as the ‘baby daddy” will be going to jail if he has warrants. She assures me that that won’t happen.
Riiiiiight.
I go to the upstairs conference room and watch the scene unfold. First the “baby daddy” is pulled from the car, frisked, and handcuffed. Mind you, there are 3 officers dealing with him. While two are handcuffing him, the other pulls leg shackles out of his trunk. So, the warrants had to be just a bit more serious than what my associate led me to believe. Since being cuffed, he was then stuffed into the back seat of one of the cruisers, and my associate got into his car and drove her and her daughter home. Yeah, I forgot to mention that her child watched her father cuffed and taken away by the police. That is a nice tape to have running in your head isn’t it?
And that is just part of a typical day in retail.
November 12th, 2009
by wormdude
in
days off, home, indian summer, leaf nazi, neighbors |
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Today I bottled a batch of beer that should have turned out like an American Amber, but actually turned out quite a bit differently than what was expected. Hit the highlighted areas and you can read about it. I won’t waste your time now talking about it.
Though I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome, this could be another beer in our growing catalog. Depending, of course, on how it tastes after conditioning in the bottle over the next couple of weeks.
Anyhooooo. I have talked before about my neighbor the “Leaf Nazi“, and how one of our trees had it out for her. Well today said tree gave it up and dropped its leaves. And I, being the good homeowner I am, went out with my trusty leaf blower to get the leaves out to the curb.
And it worked wonderfully up until right after I finished with the leaves, and was putting the blower away. This huge gust of wind came along and blew pretty much all of the leaves back into the yard.
Stupid wind. Now I have to do it all over again.
Maybe.
L8R
November 7th, 2009
by wormdude
in
Dr.s, Family, Insanity, dreams, meds, pain |
2 Comments →
So I went to the Dr. yesterday for my now regularly scheduled 4-6 week visits to certify that I am still bat-shit crazy.
He asks how Iam doing, I say fine. I am still having the vivid dreams, but they are still on the pretty cool side of crazy, so I am not that concerned about them. They bad ones haven’t happened yet, but I know that they are out there and still coming. You know the ones I am talking about, the dreams where you wake up screaming, with your heart pounding out of your chest, and you being absolutely certain that the world is ending.
But so far, so good with not having any of those dreams.
We got around to talking about my shoulder that has been bothering me since this summer. I can lift laterally to the front, but not to the back, or to the side without pain. A lot of pain. So the Dr. takes hold of my arm and does the classic “does this hurt” stuff, and of course it does. A LOT!!!! He asks if I have ever had a cortisone shot, to which I answer not now, and not ever. He laughs and says, “Yeah they hurt like hell.”
I like a Dr. who isn’t going to tell you bullshit.
Anyhoooooooo. I am going for physical therapy on my arm now. All of those words above to tell you that. And The Princess tells me that she can do my PT for me as she had to do similar exercises for a waterpolo injury.
Helpful people abound.
L8R
