Nothing Lately*

It's been quite a while since I've posted.  There just hasn't been anything going on with me or anything I've come across that I felt like passing along here.  Mostly I have been doing nothing.  Just trying to take care of myself while my back recovers from surgery.  It's not easy to do nothing.  I can't exercise other than walking, and I haven't done enough of that, so I have felt my strength and stamina slip away.  My overall eating has decreased significantly, and I've also noticed that my body does not tolerate fast food at all anymore, it really puts me in a bad place.  I have two weeks before I return to work to try and get myself together a bit more.

My Mom came up for lunch yesterday.  It was a nice visit but would have been nicer if I was feeling a bit better.  When she left I slept for a couple hours then my wife and I went to a 'happy hour' get together at our friends Bridget and Zubin's new house.  It was nice, they have a very nice house, but again I was feeling weak and tired so I wasn't a whole lot of fun to hang with.

It has been a week and a half since I've posted and this is all I have to say.  Sorry, that's it.


*Edit:  I have also gotten some comments from people about my last post about work.  I want to make it clear that I don't resent any of my co-workers, most are very -and some very very- nice.  It's not a perfect world, it is pretty much every man for himself and take care of your own these days and I understand that.  Work is work, play is play, business is business and that's about it. 

Back To Work, Briefly

Yesterday I had my first follow up appointment, 2 weeks after back surgery.  This morning I took a note in to my place of work.  I walked through my area, only seeing one or two heads look up, to my supervisor's desk.  After chatting with him briefly I walked back through to leave.  It made me kind of sad.  I wanted to stop and talk to people but, when it comes right down to it, no one really cares.  There was a time and a (different) place where my workmates were some of my best buds.  Several of us would meet up outside of work and even vacation together.  Where I am now there are some very nice people but no one I trust completely or really even want to know better, anymore.  They all care about themselves mostly, and I can't blame them for that, I guess.  This is the third time I've been out for surgery in the last year so I have noticed this before, but it still makes me kind of sad and I know I will be a more closed, superficial person with them when I do go back to work.*

*Exceptions may be Cindy the guard and Keelan the receptionist, the two whom I've always talked with the most.

Hung Over

They say you shouldn't blog when drunk.  I did that early this morning and, well, I don't think it turned out too bad.  I was just enjoying one of my favorite bands.  We went out for dinner and drinks with friends last night.  I can't remember when I last had more than 3 drinks, but I may have tripled that last night.  I am one hurting son of a gun today.  Thanks, Jack.

Blackie Rules!

There are many reasons why I like Blackie Lawless and some of them are here in this video from Tuesday in Athens, Greece. Despite his 'reborn christianity' or whatever, (he won't perform his more controversial earlier songs) he is still a helluva showman and I still love his music. He's one of the few I will do everything I can to go see whenever I get a chance. I saw W.A.S.P. back in 1984 opening for KISS, then I finally was able to see him again last year. My Review and Follow-up (with video) from back then.

The Man Without A Facebook

I enjoyed this, for obvious reasons if you know me. Has anyone ever been able to successfully delete a facebook account? Not that I've ever heard. Why don't you try it?

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Every Argument Every Couple Ever Had

Every Argument Every Couple Ever Has EVER. from Casey Donahue on Vimeo.

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Bacon Cupcakes

I've been up to a whole lot of nothing lately.  I'm feeling better, I'm able to stagger around without the cane now, but I can't exercise yet and still take things very careful.  My day consists of staying out of my wife's way in the morning, showering, then watching TMOS (live podcast around 10:00am every day here).  After that it is mostly just a series of naps in the afternoon.

Jerome, eating his bacon cupcake!  Mmmm.

One thing that did happen over the weekend, Jerome and Lisa came over and grilled steaks on Saturday (and brought bacon cupcakes for dessert!). Because of all my medical stuff we haven't entertained this summer like we usually do, so it was nice to be social again even though I was drugged up and didn't move a lot. I've since mostly stopped taking the pain meds and muscle relaxers. I got tired of being foggy all the time. It sounds like we're going out to eat Saturday night and my Dad wants to see me for lunch on Thursday. I don't know what that is about yet, but there must be a reason. So, anyway, I am slowly trying to return to the land of the living. But until then it may continue to be slow around here. Bye for now.

Monday's Back Surgery

Last time I had back surgery, 11 years ago, I spent two nights in the hospital.  I had back surgery again on Monday and I was home on Monday night.  I had the option to stay overnight, but I was glad to get home.  I actually felt pretty good for the first 24 hours after surgery,until the swelling kicked in and the hospital drugs wore off.  I'm still really sore, but I am taking it easy and keeping myself medicated enough to get by.  I expect to be off work for another 3-5 weeks or so, minimum.  Thank you to everyone who kept me in their thoughts.  I'm still not up for a whole lot yet, but I hope to feel better soon.  This is it.  I've had it.  Three surgeries in less than a year for three unrelated problems.  Egad!

That's about all I have to say right now.  Rest and recuperation is all I have planned for the foreseeable future.  Then, hopefully, I can get back to work and back to my projects list with plenty of time before winter!

Hot Enough For Ya?

Pic Dump 32

Even though I've had nothing but time while I await surgery, I've mostly stayed away from mindlessly surfing the internet.  Thus, this pic dump seems to have been a long time in the making.  I may be a couple short of the usual 50 or so pics, but I won't be posting for a few days so I'm doing it today.  Same as always; click the pic for original size, some may be NSFW and more after the break!

I've been both of these lately.

 Many thanks to the fine sites on 'My Favorite Sites' list on the right!

Rise of the Apes

If you know me then you know that I generally don't watch - let alone go to - movies. That being said, this new 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' movie has me very interested. I was always a fan of 'The Planet of the Apes' movies. I remember going to a movie festival with my friends when I was around 10 years old and seeing all the movies on that big screen in the old Dixon Theater. Several years ago now my Mom gave us a DVD player and I think it came with the remake that was made several years ago, so I have seen that. This looks like it may be a prequel of sorts, explaining how they rose to power? I don't know for sure, but maybe I'll ask my wife to go out to a movie with me. I think it would be the first time we've gone to a theater since that flop Kiss movie, 'Detroit Rock City,' it was a terrible movie, too.  We went to that on opening night, that was on August 13, 1999! I just looked it up!  Wow, is that bad?

Biding Time 'Til Surgery

It has been a week since I posted.  It is still a week until I have surgery.  I have been off work, biding my time as comfortably as I can manage.  I can still get around the house with my cane, but I only do short trips and try to plan them well.  Our electric bill will be larger with me home all day with the air conditioning and computer on.  The cat has not taken to my company all day every day and spends much of the day under the bed, though I did almost walk in on her at her food dish in the kitchen this morning.  I quickly turned and left as not to disturb one of her few ventures out.  She is getting quite old now, old enough for my wife to be concerned about her, um, input and output.  I seem to have less pain and more numbness and tingling now which allowed me to stop taking percocet.  I had been on it every day since sometime in March, which couldn't be good, and I felt like hell for several days after stopping.  I had no appetite whatsoever, no energy, and found myself in quite a funk.  I feel better now, I still take 2 oxycontin each day, but I've only had those for about 2 weeks now.  When I was taking both I had more pain but it only helped so much so I stopped taking everything one day.  One thing I was disappointed with was that after 3 days of barely any food and I still weigh the same.  I almost look forward to getting back on the exercise bike.  I have been smoking clove cigars for a few weeks now.  I have felt stressed yet I do not want to become addicted to nicotine again so I found a 'cheat' that I must make sure is temporary.  I use it as an excuse to get outside and stare at our yard.  It breaks up the day.  Well, this is it for now.  No real 'proper' type of post, just ramblings and thoughts.  I'm bored, and facing yet another surgery really sucks.  That about sums it up.