Decisions, decisions...more medical news.

Yesterday I met with my doctor for a post-op appointment. He said I'm healing well, but he wants to put me under again to do more work. I aksed if it was possible to get it done before the end of the year, for insurance purposes. It sounds like the only time they have availalbe is between Christmas and New Years.

So...is it worth giving up holiday time to save $3000-$4000?

I talked it over with my wife, and we decided it is; especially since we want to take an Alaskan cruise this summer and the extra hospital costs could very well inhibit that trip.

I'll at least be able to enjoy Christmas. I'm not sure about New Year's Day...it depends if they schedule me early in the week or later. If the doctor performs an additional procedure he's considering, I'll be required to stay in the hospital for 48 hours.


Happy Holidays!
-- C.

Webcomics

I've been reading a web comic called "Order of the Stick." If you've ever played and pencil & paper role playing games (especially D&D), you should check it out. Here's a few one-panel drawing's he's done: http://www.giantitp.com/Incentives.html


That's all for now.
-- C.

Two quick jokes

Q: Why was Tigger standing next to the toilet?

A: He was looking for Pooh.


Do you know how Canada got its name? They were just naming letters..."C, eh? N, eh? D, eh?"


-- C.

Differences between men and women

DISCLAIMER: This is a light-hearted post, pointing out differences between men and women. Qualifiers such as "always" and "never" should not be taken literally; I am well aware of the fact that not all women act alike and not all men act alike. Take a deep breath.

Men don't notice colors. I was out driving around with my wife and she kept pointing out cars with colors she liked. "That's a pretty color." That's not a phrase most men use very often, but I've actually found myself saying it. The worst part is I do it even when she isn't around. I see a nice car and I think, "Hmm, that's a pretty color." And then I think, "What the %$#@ did I just think?!" I never thought of car colors before she started pointing them out. Fortunately I've yet to say that around any of my male friends.

Another phrase that isn't in men's vocabulary, "That's a nice color on you." When's the last time any of you guys said that to another guy, let alone a woman? Yet I often hear my wife say that to other women. It's like a greeting. Among guys it'd be, "Did you see the [insert sport here] game last night?" or "Did you buy [newest video game] yet?" It isn't just colors either. Articles of clothing are often topics of converstaion between women. For example: socks. I have various brown socks for work and white socks for non-work. That's about as much thought as most men put into it. But women have colored socks, rainbow socks, individually-toed socks, snowmen socks, cat socks, fuzzy socks, and socks for any holiday you can think of. Sometimes they even have little balls and/or tassels on them! It boggles the male mind.

And women share clothing. I overheard a conversation between my wife and her best friend. Her best friend liked my wife's shoes. My wife asks, "Do you want to try them on?" And sure enough, just standing there, they try on each other's shoes. Men don't do that. It wouldn't even cross a guy's mind to ask to try on their friends' shoes.

Oh well. Women are weird.
Or is it just me?


-- C.
PS: You can exhale now.


EDIT: I originally wrote this on a message board, but thought I'd share it here, too. And I just have to add this one response:

"I call this the Windows 3.1 Syndrom...they only see in 16 colors. Colors like mauve, garnet, beige, fucia are all lost on men...well, unless it is the recognized jersey color of their favorite football team."


And my reply:

"Just off the top of my head, I came up with a list of common colors:
red, blue, green, yellow, orange,
white, black, brown, grey, gold, silver,
pink, purple, beige, maroon.

That's only 15. Everything else is a combination or sub-set of the above (light blue, dark green, bright red, off-white, bluish-green). Even the last few are a stretch; they're just combinations of the basics.

That's all ya need!"

"God's Debris"

The author of the Dilbert series wrote a book a couple years ago and is now offering it for free in .pdf form:

http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/godsdebris/

God's Debris is a "thought experiment." I read it a while ago and thought it was interesting. If any of you wanna-be philosophers are looking for something to read, check this one out. It is not meant to be funny and does not contain anything related to Dilbert. It does offer an "unconventional" view on God. In the introduction, Mr. Adams goes on to express that these are not his beliefs.

Enjoy!

-- C.

Katamari Damacy

No, I didn't just swear at you in a foreign language. That's the name of a funky game on Sony's Play Station 2 (PS2). I had heard good things about it, and when my wife bought me a PS2 for my birthday (yay wife!) I just had to try out this game. (I don't think my wife knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she bought a game system for me.)

In Katamari Damacy you play the role of the Prince. Your father, the King of All Cosmos, accidently destroyed all the stars in the sky. It's your job to collect things on Earth and make stars of them. You get this little ball (called a katamari) and you have to push it around. When you roll it over small items (like push-pins, erasers, and coins) they stick to the ball. Most items are too big to pick up...until you pick up enough smaller items to make your ball bigger. As you progress through the levels, you go from inside the house collecting brushes, game pieces, and shoes, to outside collecting cars, street signs, and trees. Eventually (on the later levels) you can pick up homes, elephants, office buildings, football stadiums, and even small islands. (I told you it was a funky game.) But that's only half the story. It also has one of the most unique soundtracks I've heard in a game. Or anywhere else for that matter.

With that introduction out of the way, let me get to my real point. My sister-in-law was over one day to pick up her three-year-old son. I showed her the game and she got hooked. She stopped by the store the next day and bought her own copy of it. Her son was very interested in it, because it has bright colors, funky music, and is easy to control. (Did I mention he is only three years old?) Instead of making him pronounce "Katamari Damacy", he simply calls it "The Sticky Ball Game."

He was over a couple weeks ago and I let him play around with it. I was surprised at how quickly he got the hang of it. Though he hasn't really won a level, he still had fun and managed to collect several items. He let me take a turn, which consisted of me setting up the next level, then it quickly became his turn again.

Anyway. He was over again last night and apparently he's been playing the heck out of this game at home. He asked to play "The Sticky Ball Game." After I started it up he said he wanted to play the level with the red ball. I had no idea what he was talking about. He took the controller, found the level he wanted, and started playing. Sure enough, you get a red ball on that level. I didn't even realize the balls were different colors on different levels! Later he wanted to play with the yellow ball and knew right where to go for it, too.

This boy was getting into places I didn't know existed, making advanced moves, getting into tight spaces and running over narrow bridges. I was very impressed! He still doesn't quite get the idea of the time limit (you're supposed to get the ball above a certain diameter before the time runs out), but he enjoys playing anyway.

Three. Years. Old.

I started messing with computers when I was around 10, in grade school. I stuck with them and ended up programming computers for a living. It will be fun watching him grow up, to see if he sticks with computers, and to see where he ends up.


-- C.

Moral support

I love my wife and my mother, but in some instances they are not the best ones to look to for moral support.

I was getting an IV inserted into the back of my hand, which is an uncomfortable process, but I was toughing it out. Not wanting to watch the nurse do her work, I glanced at my wife to keep my mind off the needle going into the thin, sensitive, skin. She had this look of fear and disgust on her face as she watched the nurse. I swear, she was actually a little pale.

That wasn't the distraction I was hoping for.

I was expecting a sweet smile, a little pat on the hand (the one not being assulted), and some reassurance; not a look of dread and nausea.

I should have known better. The same thing happened during the original procedure. The nurse was inserting the IV, but that time she had a bad needle and it didn't actually pierce the (thin, sensitive) skin (on the back of my hand). After a couple tries she gave up and got a different needle. So I look to my wife and mom for reassurance and a distraction. But they both looked like they were about to pass out as they stared, watching the whole process.

"What are you doing?" I confronted them, "That's not helping!"

They explained, "It looks painful."

"Well it *IS* painful. Stop watching if it bothers you so much."

Next time I'll remember and either make them leave or have them watch TV instead.


-- C.

Oh, and she just had to take a picture of me "in that cute little hat."

(Why does it look like I'm missing teeth?)

True test of marriage

I did have a little mishap at the hospital. When I got back to the recovery room, my wife and my mom were allowed in (mom was there to keep my wife company). I had a procedure earlier this year and didn't have any problems with the anesthesia (woohoo! spelled it right on the first try). But this time, I had a terrible headache whenever I moved too much. I kept feeling better, little by little, and finally had a small can of soda. I laid there for two hours and I still couldn't sit up all the way. I'm sure they were getting very impatient with me.

I leaned up a little too far and got a slightly dizzy. My stomache didn't feel well so I leaned back, but I knew the damage had been done. The two women were chatting away and I casually mentioned, "My stomache doesn't feel well." That got their attention. We hit the button for the nurse, and mom poked her head outside the curtain to look for one nearby. There were no buckets in the room, or even the stupid little "spit-up" trays (which seem entirely useless if you are in the process of forcing up the contents of your stomache). My quick-thinking wife pulled the plastic cover off a garbage can and held it over the bed rail just in time for me to not make a huge mess. She quietly stood there for a few minutes, holding the can for me, while I did my thing.

What a trooper!

After that I felt much, much better. I was able to get up and get dressed and they let me go home.

Thanks dear!


-- C.

Cerpicio, not Serpico

Serpico (sur-pa-coh) was a movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070666/). Cerpicio (sur-pee-see-oh) comes from philosophy (as mentioned in my first post). I've gotten questioned on this before, so I just wanted to point this out to clear things up.

Anyway, I'm home from the hospital and doing very well. I'm up and around and not in any pain or discomfort. I'm supposed to soak in the tub 3 to 4 times a day (sitz bath), which isn't too bad as far as doctor's orders go.

Oh, and I was informed that my wife hasn't even moved in half her books yet. I don't know where we'll put the rest.

Ok, back to the movie (Robots)...as soon as she gets off the phone.


-- C.

Magnesium citrate

I mentioned the surgery. Before I go to the hospital, I'm supposed to do some "prep work." On the way home from work I stopped by the pharmacy to pick up a few things. My wife said we needed toilet paper, so I offered to pick it up too. It wasn't till I got to the checkout line that I realized what all I had.

Magnesium citrate (oral laxative).
A product from the Fleet company (which gets applied to the wrong end of the digestive track).
And toilet paper.

The girl checking me out (er, ringing up my purchases) didn't even flinch. I bet they see all sorts of odd combinations of purchases at the pharmacy. But as I tuned to go, out of habit she said, "Have a good evening."

Yeah right.


-- C.

Outpatient

Tomorrow I'm scheduled for an outpatient procedure. I'm supposed to stop eating at midnight tonight, and not eat anything before the surgery tomorrow. But it isn't till 2 PM. Ack.

Hmm, not much more to day on that topic. I could go into more detail, but I don't think you really want to hear it.

I'll probably be laid up for a couple days at least, so I may have more time to write over the weekend. And read. And catch up on movies. Or maybe play some video games. But I should be working on my final project.


-- C.

Nursing homes

I hate nursing homes. God do I hate them. They are one of the saddest, most depressing places you can go.

But I'll tell you what. Do not *ever* refuse to go to one if someone you know is there, whether it's a grandparent, grandparent-in-law, or even your own parents. I don't care how uncomfortable it is for you to see them like that, or to see the other people that live there. Just imagine what it is like for them to live there. Then imagine what it's like for them to get visitors.

My grandfather was in a nursing home for a while, and I always dreaded going there. When I did go, I always went with my mother (it was her father). I don't think I could have handled going by myself. We never said much to each other (he was pretty deaf), but he always seemed happy to see us. And afterward, I was always glad I had gone.

I mention this because over the weekend we took my wife's grandmother to see her brother. He had just gotten out of the hospital and was moved into a nursing home. She (grandma) doesn't get around well, so I'm glad we could help her. Harlan (her brother) was pretty weak, and I could hardly hear him speak, but I swear I heard him say something about "the doctors put two pounds of brains in my head." There was a bit of stunned silence, then we just smiled and nodded.

If I had any guts I'd visit nursing homes on a regular basis, just to provide "the inmates" (as my grandfather called them) a little company.

Movie Review: Chicken Little - 3D! (and others)

We went to see "Chicken Little" on Friday, and made a special effort to see the 3D version (it's only playing at one theater in town). It's a fun movie and well worth watching. If you go see it, do yourself a favor and see it in 3D. Not only are the effects well done but you get those cool souvenir glasses as well!

Occasionally the 3D effects did get a little fuzzy, but that may have been a side affect of trying to wear the plastic glasses over my regular ones. And of course, stay for the credits; there is a little snippet after they are done that you'll want to see.

We also watched "Corpse Bride" a few weeks ago. If you liked "Nightmare Before Christmas" you'll probably like this one, too. I liked "Nightmare" better, but the more I watch it the more I like it. Maybe if I watch "Bride" a few more times I'll like it even more.

I'd like to see a scarey version of "Nightmare" and see Skeleton Jack in action for real.

Before that, we saw the Herbie remake. It was done well and very cute, but Lindey Lohan sure screams a lot in it.

Okay, those weren't much of a review...more like just my brief opinion of them. Oh well.

There are a lot of movies out there I want to watch, but we've been pretty busy with other things. We bought the latest Batman and also "Robots" on DVD but still haven't watched them. I also bought "Kung Fu Hustle" a while ago, but haven't see it yet, either.

I'll be glad when I'm done with this "business plan" project. It's due in December. Then I'll graduate and be done with it all.

More words of wisdom

More words of Wisdom from Robert Fulghum:
"I do not want to talk about what you understand about this world. I want to know what you will *do* about it. I do not want to know what you *hope*. I want to know what you will *work for*. I do not want your sympathy for the needs of humanity. I want your muscle."

Coming up on the To Read list:
Eats, Shoots, and Leaves
Pooh: On Management (okay, not the exact title, but I like this shortened version of it)
Runny Babbit
Run Rabbit, Run
(and many more)


-- C.
Coming soon:
My "to do" list.
A list of quotes and sayings I've collected.


EDIT: I just read the next seciton of "It was on Fire when I Lay Down on it." It was about Rosa Parks, who ironically, just passed away recently. I won't re-type the whole section (but I recommend you look it up), I'll just quote the last few lines:
"If there is indeed a heaven, then I've no doubt that Rosa Parks will go there. I imagine the moment when she signs in with the angel at the pearly gates. 'Ah, Rosa Parks, we've been expecting you. Make yourself at home -- take any seat in the house.'"

EMails

Some emails between my friends:
Marc: RibFest is this weekend. Anyone going?
Keith: It's usually hot, lots of flies, and very expensive. I think I'll pass.
Scott: Knew a girl like that once....

Did I say they were my friends?


-- C.