Monday, June 30, 2008

Don't Believe the Hype

I don't care what anybody says. Americans even with $4.00 and change for gas are still going on vacation, and they're still driving crazy. I went to take my daughter to the airport and OH MY GOD. I 'm here to tell you and anybody else, there are not even taking it easy on the gas or anything. With my cruise control set to 70 MPH on I-95, I practically got run over... and you can just bet what 278 was like...

People might talk about stretching a tank of gas, or more economical cars, but I see something completely different. I think the price point of $4.00 per gallon is nothing, if it were double I believe there would still be buffoons behind the wheel. I'm thankful or make that hopefully not going to travel this year... way too many idiots. Too many I tell you.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Airport

So my daughter went to the airport, and is now in Mississippi. But it wasn't without conflict. I showed my ass when it came right down to it. You see she was to fly out at 2:00, we got there at 1:00, come to find out that actually she's not flying until 4:40. Somebody has to take the blame, turns out that it my daughter's mother.

But of course she wasn't around, and I didn't know that until after going through security twice. In no uncertain terms the person at the actual gate is worth absolutely nothing, can't do anything, basically is a waste of space. I also watched all the government security. Maybe I need a job like that... talk about leeches.

So all the confusion over the tickets, and time, and everything else... my daughter arrived safe and sound. Now if only I could either get a cush job at the airport or at least have somebody slap the shit out of my ex. I guess that's asking too much huh?

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Squishy, Mushy, Yucky

I think I'll post squishy stuff like this on the weekends, I don't know. Mainly because I know virtually nobody reads this thing on the weekends, they like reading it while screwing off at work, thats fine, I do much the same. In fact with the time delay posting, sometimes I don't even look at my blog all weekend.

Anyway yes I know the mushy stuff is likely boring to you, but it has it's place. I think that it is a me that I couldn't show when I posted on the newspaper "blogs"... because it wasn't mine (anything posted there becomes their property) and you just never knew if they were going to do a full page spread on you. I like this better, complete control, or at least symbolically somehow.

Adding to the Pile

To add to the whole love the wife thing...

I went out with my wife and we decided to go down to Beaufort, eat at a little place called Plum's, and otherwise enjoy the river front. It was nice. Expensive, but so worth it. I mean it was everything that you thought it should be, and we spent time together, that was not sitting at the doctor's office, but it was still good. :o)

Take Two

So me and my wife took a double doctor's appointment. I know huh? Big fun indeed. But we did, because thats the kind of guy I am. Anyway there we were, having a woeful time when I said to her how much I really did love her.

It's crazy, but it's the little times like that, that really mean something. I know, I know not everybody would be ecstatic about going to the doctor, being pushed and prodded or worse stuck, but I can think of no better person to do it with that my best friend, my soul mate, my wife. We have a return visit in two weeks, and we'll get to do it all over again.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Classic Film Friday: An Affair to Remember

This classic hails all the way from 1957, and is a love story between Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. The premise is that two people are on a cruise, fall in love, but both have made promises to other people... They vow to meet each other in six months, thinking that if they can make it that long, to sort out their life and ditch the people they've made promises to, they can then get married to each other.

This movie had some lull points in it, but I think over all it's still a good one. My wife found herself wanting to scream at the TV a few times.




*SPOILER ALERT*



You see near the end of the movie, when everything is going fine and they are about to meet each other, right in front of the Empire State Building Deborah Kerr's character is hit by a car and made crippled. She doesn't want Nickie (Cary Grant) to find out which causes all kinds of problems. Eventually it all works out, they find each other and all is revealed. They kiss and live happily ever after. This may just be the grandma of all chic flicks, but I could be wrong. It certainly is mentioned in modern movies including Sleepless in Seattle. The movie comes with a 30 minute history of the film found in the extras.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Junk News


Something that's been bothering me lately. If you look on any of the popular websites, like msn for example (though you local papers are just as much at fault) and you see stuff that really isn't news it's just opinions... which means I could write it, or you, or basically anyone. You don't have to have any credentials, or go to any kind of school, or pretty much do anything.

I know that puts me in a precarious position, because anyone who reads this can say the same about me, but I think the readership of any blog knows what they are getting into, the news sites, well you expect the truth... not to get misled or bamboozled by somebody who you thought was better than average or at least more in the know.

Is it a sign of the times? Hell network TV is full of Master of Dance or Big Brother or American Idol type crap. Is this what we can expect? Maybe that's why I don't watch much TV. Or I should say don't watch TV the way anybody else does. I'll give the perfect example. Ghostbusters came on the other night. I thought thats a pretty good movie, let me see if it is on Netflix instant player, it was and suddenly I don't have to wait on some 45 minutes of commercials and I can see it, unedited. TV is a waste of time.

Anyway back to news, if they think spoon feeding me crap is going to work they're wrong. If it works on some people then good for them, but really I think the stories are the product of certain companies writing in such a way to make you visit their site. It really is just another way to make money. Oh boy. These websites are nothing more than SPAM instead of promising a bigger penis or sexual satisfaction they're peddling a better career or investment opportunity. Lovely world we live in isn't it?

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Beaufort County School District's Summer Institute

Sorry to interrupt the comic, but I have to say something that's getting to me.

My wife has been going to school this week, part of the Beaufort County School District's Summer Institute. It's a good thing, not that you'd know it if you look in the local paper (Bluffton Today) because what is Front Page to the Island Packet is just a minor by-line in the "daily wipe". Why is it like that? I think, and I can only guess because I'm not in the newspaper business, it's because one person didn't know or care or forgot that this was happening. In fact the one picture that says "Sizzlin' Summer Institute" isn't even correct. Shameful if you ask me, mislead, misdirect and misinform. God I hope nobody thinks they're reading actual news in that rag.

You can read about what they're doing here. It is pretty big, like 700 teachers, so you'd think that it might be important. It is in The State, which granted is a sister paper of the Island Packet, but still. The institute is going on all week at Bluffton High. Everyday they have a keynote speaker and after that person finishes speaking, they then break up into some 45 different groups, depending on what you want to learn about. It's kind of like a conference without all the travel, hotels, and drinking afterward.

Back to the comic... and here is another one for your trouble, aimed squarely at the people who bring you "news".

High Aspirations

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Rain Again

So what do I do when I see an oncoming storm? Why I get out the trimmer and trim the lawn up of course. And boy howdy was it a storm. It's the south, and it's practically July really there ain't gonna be a cooler time to do yard work than right before a storm.

There was some intense lightning preceding the storm. I finished while rain drops started falling. And then the bottom just fell out. So I got half the yard work done anyway. The storm kind of died down and then started again a few times over. There was that eerie light that comes as the sun is setting with clouds on one side... the sunset on the other.

All the thunder and there was lots, woke up, or rather kept up my 2-year-old. For some two hours. Finally there was just lightning, like hundreds of flash bulbs. Pretty to watch, but not much else. At least not to those trying to sleep.

Trying Times

So my youngest daughter is deep into her Terrible Twos. I don't think I've ever been this deep into it since I was 2. It's been pretty bad. And to make things worse, you never know how it's going to be from minute to minute. Take this morning for instance... she kissed me, but then as she and her mom (my wife) were leaving she turned to growling and screaming.

Oh man oh man, days like that make me wonder what the hell was I thinking?!?! Simple really, one day after a nap, and a day of "no" and "my mommy" she walks up to me and gives me a kiss and cuddles up next to me. That is why I love her. Eventually we'll get this all figured out and she'll be nice a lot more... before hating my guts as a teenager I hope. Meanwhile I'll enjoy the good times, because I know they'll be followed by bad. Ah yes, the joy of parenthood.

Monday, June 23, 2008

George Carlin

I think about the death of George Carlin, the first stand-up routine I ever saw was by him, and I can't help but think... We have definitely lost something. The man accomplished much, including getting arrested for the 7 words you can't say on TV.

Would he want us mourning for him is death? I think not, just watching some of his comedy routines on YouTube put a smile, a laugh or a down right knee slapper in me, I don't think a man that does that wants anything about him to be sad.





He said there was always a line and he wanted to make sure he crossed it. Goodbye George, you will be missed.

Rain, Rain

This weekend was one of basically rain. What do I do when it's raining? Sit around, read a book, play some sort of video game, or just simply veg out in front of the TV. We went to Savannah and did the mall thing and that was tolerable. I people watch there. And there were some doozies let me tell you. But it's all the usual stuff, the brother man, the snob, the over-protective mother, they were all there.

Sunday I actually fished in my backyard, and I managed to BBQ up some dinner. Other than that, nothing. And it's not like it's been raining all day, it just threatens, and who wants to go to the beach if there's a chance it might rain? Exactly.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Goodbye... Sort of

The time has come for me to say good bye to my oldest daughter... at least for the summer. She going to her mom's in Mississippi. It's bitter sweat really. She does a lot around the house but if me or my wife were to do it, well we could probably do it in less time and with less headaches for sure.

This is the first year that she will be traveling by plane, the first time she's even got on a plane. I want to do something special with her but haven't really come up with anything. I have 1 week.

It's hard to say what's going through that child's mind, I hope that maybe one day she'll break down and tell me.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

BlueGill

I've tried taking pictures, but it just doesn't work, at least not yet. Basically I've gone fishing in the back yard for the last few days. And believe it of not, I have caught a few. It's all pretty much bluegill which are pretty easy to catch, and a always throw them back but it's good, cheap fun, and it helps me take my mind off things for a little while.



My daughter (the older one) caught the biggest fish, and was resigned to let it die... because she wasn't going to touch that thing. I explained to her that if you are "man" enough to pull something out of the water, she had better be fully prepared for any and all circumstances. It didn't work (my speech) but we did eventually get the fish back in the water.


Friday, June 20, 2008

Classic Film Friday: Harvey

Here is a classic film from 1950 that promises screw-ball comedy. Jimmy Stewart is Elwood P. Dowd, an eccentric and friendly alcoholic that has a 6 foot rabbit "Harvey" for a friend. He buys him movie tickets, drinks, pretty much everything. People think he's crazy, but when they try to commit him to the sanitarium he's the only one that looks normal. You never really know if he's crazy or just accommodating. Harvey is certainly not one to miss.



*Watched with the Roku player*

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Life is...

My thoughts are still with my father, because I guess I can't really be close him (800-900 miles separate us) and I wouldn't even know what to say if I did live closer. I've been thinking about fathers in general, and of course the two that come to mind are my grandfathers though I never met them.

On my mom's side he's a business man, a navy warrant officer, and according to my mother her buddy. He died when my mom was 8. From a stroke. Yeah I know, I just had one of them but my mother claims it was a WWII injury that spawned it. He was an orphan... as was my grandmother they grew up in hard times. That's one thing that has never changed. Life is hard.

On my dad's side it was a completely different story. My grandfather was an alcoholic and a bit of an abuser. But he was still loved. He also died from a stroke. But it was from all the drinking. He passed when my dad was 19. Still young to lose a father.

So both my parents had a dad that they lost too soon, both died of a stroke (not related to me... hopefully) and most of all both were loved (both liked to fish too). I know it sounds cliché and I already said it once, but life is, really really really hard. Which of course raises the question... why are we even here? Some might like to rationalize or romanticize a person was put on this earth to accomplish a task or do something. It makes a good headline, but everybody can't be a headline. Maybe you can make something happen, but was that your destiny? I don't think so.

Now the only way to answer these sorts of questions is to die, not something I'm in a hurry to do. Or maybe we really should live vicariously though our kids. Nah, that's to much work. I suppose I will keep doing what I always do, love the people I love, try not to hate too many people... even if that guy in the SUV cut me off, and do my best, be it at work or home. I hope I don't lose my dad, but I know that sometime I will. Today is his birthday, and though he doesn't even know what a blog is, happy birthday dad!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Hmmmmm


Are you thinking what we're thinking???

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

A Moment in Time

Just when you think, okay, everything is settled down for the most part. You find out that it isn't. The weekend passed, my party, Father's Day, all went well... that is until I talked to my dad. See he had cancer about 4 or 5 years ago. He underwent chemo therapy/radiation treatment and eventually had surgery. I don't have to tell anyone who knows cancer what hell on earth it was, and I wasn't even the one with cancer. And for the most part everything went back to normal. He pretty much worked all his life in and around chemicals, and probably it is going to be what kills him. Be it utility companies or shipyards or big nuclear power houses, that is what the man did.

My father found another lump. In pretty much the same area that he found the first one, maybe it's just nothing, but I'm afraid it's something more. He goes to the doctor and has tests and such in the next couple of weeks. I don't know what to say or what to do. What do you say to someone who has found another lump? I just sat there and listened, I was powerless to do anything else. It never ceases to amaze me how just one moment in time can change your life.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Okay, I admit it...

Lately I've not really made any commentary on the news (i.e. Schools, politics, government etc.) and I really don't know why... other than the fact that I've had a stroke and trying to convince people that they might want to pull their heads out of their asses for 2 seconds, is just so not me anymore. I can only change what I can change, that doesn't include some idiot or otherwise across the internet or down the street. Besides what does it matter if I change his/her mind? I mean I want to do good, I have a couple of things on the back burner, but publicizing it right now isn't what I want to do.

I know some newspaper people will probably breathe a sigh of relief when/if they read this, but you just never know when the wild hair is going to invert and start to go up my ass. I know I've not really been around to keep them honest, but you just never know and sock-puppetry is alive and well. But that doesn't mean I've been doing it, because I haven't.

I wish I could care more, I really do, I simply can't. I'm still dealing with this whole stroke thing and in doing so that's one of the first things to go (the caring about stupid shit). I'm too busy trying to keep my family happy, my work satisfied, and mostly myself competent, aware, and in the loop. I won't say that the old me is completely dead, but unfortunately a big part of me is gone. I don't like some food I used to love, can't play games the way I used to, I don't even sleep the way I used to.

Part of the recovery is acknowledging the fact that you simply won't be the same person, you can be as close to the same as you want to be, but never the same. That's pretty hard to deal with, because whatever you used to mean to others won't quite be the same either. I was a partner to my wife, and still am but in a different way, now I've come to depend on her, a lot more. I used to do probably 95% of the cooking, now I'm lucky if I get 15%. So not only do you have to come to grips with saying goodbye to the old you, all your friends and family do too.

This recovery could take years...

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Selfishness

So the other night I was relaxing and enjoying my new hammock. It was amazing what you could hear and see from your backyard. Bees buzzing, crickets chirping, locusts making that noise that they do... it was nice just to kick back. Now I know I didn't need a hammock to do that, because I've done the same thing laying on the ground.

But I tell you what, there is something about a hammock that you can't just go lay in while in a bad mood... it helps too if you have something alcoholic to drink. The birds, bugs, heck even the neighbor's dog barking, or the trucks going down the road, or sirens wailing... I don't care because all of that rigmarole going on is not me. I know that sounds selfish, but you got to be, every now and then.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

There are moments in time that are clearly defined. One of those moments presented itself recently. My 2-year-old is amazing, and to emphasize this she gives me just a glimpse into her world. She now knows all the words to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", she actually knows quite a few songs, including her ABC's but anyway. She's good with words and enunciating them... so much that it's rare that we get anything funny out of her.

A model student, for sure. Her mother is very proud. But then she'll do something like fart or laugh because somebody fell down and make her just like a million other kids. But no two kids are the same and my two girls surely aren't. That makes me feel pretty good, because my 12-year-old is making me pull all my hair out. By the time my 2-year-old is in the 12-year-old's spot I hope that I'll be able to better adjust and lead her in the right direction.

But what if I don't? What you can't control will worry you to death... if you let it. What if I have a dummy, or what if she contracts some rare disease or gets one that you have? The worry of every parent all around the world I'm sure. Still it's the treasures you remember and my little girl singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" while we're laying out on the hammock is with me now and forever.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Classic Film Friday: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

You know who I share my birthday with? Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and a bunch of other lesser knowns. So I could say that I am the greatest person to ever come out on the 13th of June, born on a Friday at that.

Today's movie is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It star Jack Nicholson as R.P. McMurphy a convict that is put in the mental asylum. Louise Fletcher plays Nurse Mildred Ratched, and the two go round and round again and again. This movie has a few other stars including Danny DeVito.

It's a movie about being crazy but really there's a bit of crazy in all of us. It also was the top movie of the time, which is also the year I was born, so here's to me and the movie!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Gas

So all this talk about higher gas prices has me wondering. I'll own my car outright... as in I'm still making payments on it (at a near 0% interest rate) in another 2 years. Now I drive a small/mid size SUV and it gets anywhere from 25 (if I drive nice) to 22 miles per gallon. I put right about 100 miles a week on the car. What does this all mean? Well I think it means a bunch of nothing.

Sure I've tried to talk the wife into a convertible... to increase gas mileage... but really that's hard to justify in times like these. Even if I went with a small "bean can car" it would be hard to rationalize. It simply cost too much, plus my car with the amount of usage it sees really aint all the bad.

Now if I were driving something more gas guzzling... maybe, but still I don't, so we'll be onto something else by the time I am looking for a new car. Maybe hydrogen, or nuclear or who know really.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The Checkup

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Randoms

So I did manage to do more with my weekend than cookout, swim or attend parties. And man was it ever hot. I woke up about 6:45 Sunday, the sleep the night before was probably the best I've had in recent memory, anyway, about 7:30 I decided to cut the grass, and I should have did it even sooner. The air was thick, it just gets like that here. It took me about an hour to cut the grass... with my ghetto-redneck bungee corded lawn mower.

My wife gave me an early present in that she saw a cheap hammock at the World Market, and I put it together. It is nice, and not made in China, so it already has me stoked. We also bought some wine, because honestly they do have a pretty big selection. Later we took the kids to Kung Fu Panda and now it's pretty much all my 2-year-old can talk about. Panda this and Panda that. The movie was pretty good, I still hold that Iron Man is better... but we still have a long way to go this summer.

Monday, June 9, 2008

The Grill

I went out and got me a cheap charcoal grill. The $30 model at Wal-Mart. What I really want is a $150-250 cooker... but we're dealing with a recession right now... plus this one is portable. In fact we inaugurated our first cookout on it by loading up the car and traveling to our community pool (a whole 3 blocks away). Anyway we packed it, and tried it out and though it was like 300 degrees outside and we had minor nuances we are going to use it again and again and again. You just can't get the same flavor from propane (and almost every thing taste bad to me... so that's saying something).

We swam, about 4 or 5 hours altogether and BBQ'ed and basically relaxed. It was a good day, Very strange that people would buy a book, take it to the pool and be all enthralled in it... enough that you turn the pages, while your in the pool... and there's say 10-20 kids all around you. Me I don't get it, but it takes all kinds.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Block Party

So we had a "block party" to attend recently, in the past they've been these fun kind of meetings just to get to know you type of things, but now I wonder. I'm not friends with any of these people. They're either too young, too old, too single, or the worst too Jesusy. And that's what this has become, though I don't mind it really... but I think others might and thus we have an attendance problem. I saw more people getting into their car and going elsewhere than I saw at the party. So I live in a neighborhood full of people I just can't really relate to. A shame, because when I first moved here, I thought this was different...now it's just the same.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Roku Netflix Movie Player

I still don't have a movie for you, but I did just get what I think, is the best thing ever. It's the Roku Netflix movie player. Basically it takes a movie I would have watched on my computer and makes it available on my TV. So literally I now have instant access to hundreds if not thousands of movies. Now it does not have the most recent movies, and there is a difference in the video quality, but those are a small price to pay. Would I want to watch a Star Wars or Lord of the Rings on it? No, but classics, TV episodes, and anything else that tickles my fancy? You bet.

I have a 47 inch, projection tv, about 5 years old, and I only watched the beginning of Strange Brew and Steel Magnolias and I can say that my wife didn't notice at all and I could just barely notice it looking kind of blocked up in certain parts. Oh yeah, the price is just $99.99. It can look a little blocky for that. This isn't made for the high definition, audio/videophiles of the world. At least not yet. This really is just a stepping stone to a new way of viewing TV. Pretty soon I can see us using cable for the kids and that's pretty much it. But even then, what if my kid is screaming for the Wiggles or My Little Pony? When I make a movie review post, you can go and watch it right now. I really think this is the way we're moving. Instant Gratification. Don't you love it?

Friday, June 6, 2008

Classic Film Friday... Not

Sorry, no movie to review... that is unless something comes in today. I've been taking advantage of the "date posted" feature in blogger, so many times what I write about is already days old, but anyway it's helped me post everyday, and that's not a bad thing. But I have neglected my Netflix cue, and I won't be able to get a movie until some time next week. That could change though, stay tuned.

I watched "Too Bad She's Bad" on TMC last night (Wednesday). It was kind of funny, but I think if I knew Italian it would be even better. It seems stereotypical. Lots of "hand talking". It stars Sophia Loren, and she is not just something to look at, she has a mind (in the movie anyway) that makes you fall in love with her. Too bad she's a criminal (again in the movie). Anyhow, I'd recommend the movie, but I don't know if it is available.

In other news, me, my wife, and the kids had one last gift certificate left from my stroke. Friends, family, co-workers had given us so much, including meals out to eat. So anyway it was for Hudson's on the Island... probably why we didn't use it sooner. It was only for $25, so we knew it wasn't going to cover much, but we went to dinner and really had a nice meal... at a price.

On to the next day (Thursday) our morning got all jacked up. My wife had my keys in her purse, not sure how, but there they were. I called her and she came back home to give me my keys, which made us both late for work. As I pull out from my neighborhood I see blue lights and what do you know the cops pulled my wife over. Now I feel bad because it was my keys that made the whole thing happen. Plus my wife claims that is her first ticket ever. I could make a crack about her being a criminal too, just like Sophia Loren, but I like life, living. So now what? Hopefully nothing.

:o)

Thursday, June 5, 2008

The Garden

I think it's time for a garden update, it's certainly hot enough. The tomatoes are going gangbusters really that's all we planted, I mean yes we've got a bell pepper and a few green peppers and we have cucumbers on the way, but tomatoes are what's big.



Which is somewhat ironic, in that I hurt my back getting this thing started, and I think of all the things my taste buds are effected by tomatoes are my new enemy. Now I used to love them, but now the smell of them is to much to bear (the same can be said for onions, olives, and zucchini). So I may just wind up with a bunch of rotting tomatoes or at least giving them to friends.

And that weren't enough, I got a tomato plant, that I didn't plant coming out of the ground. I guess it was a part of last year's crop, but I thought that the seeds from them would not germinate. I don't know but when it bears the fruit, we'll know at least what kind it is... I'm betting it's a cherry tomato.



Finally we have some black berries, this isn't a planned thing, it's just there are out in the woods next to my house. I am reminded of my grandmother whenever black berries are available, she made the most fantastic jelly with them.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Pardon the Interruption

I have to interrupt today's funniness to wish my partner in crime, my soul-mate, my wife a happy anniversary. It doesn't seem like it's been three years, but when you look back... the stroke, the birth of our daughter, the wedding... well at least I can say it's rarely a boring time.

I know saying so here really doesn't mean much, but it it means something to me.

Happy Anniversary Baby!


Ok now go back to the usual funniness.

Location! Location! Location!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Wreck


Can you say Holy Shit!?!? Almost makes the wreck that happened here a few weeks back look like child's play.

Birf-day

Alright, I'm kind of reflective right now (looking at the way I've been posting I say I've been that way for awhile now). In eleven days it will be my birthday. Normally I'd just scoff, but this year, I'm feeling a little differently. You really don't know how many you got (birthdays) and you really should make the most of each one.

We'll have a BBQ, some beer and other drinks, games for both the young and old, and generally just a feeling of friends/family. I'm not even sure how many people are coming, it could be that I'm sitting alone or that I have no place to sit down... funny how those things work out. I'd prefer that it were the latter of course but my wife has promised me a good time regardless.

Invitations are going out today, let me know if you haven't got one, or want one and I'll send one to you.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Weekend is Kaput

So Saturday morning I was begging for it to be an "off day" and holy shit... it was! And then Sunday morning I was up from about 3:45am on. Why so different one day to the next? Jeez I don't know. I do know that my blood sugars are all out of whack. I used to keep between 60-100 now it's more like 130-180. I seem to do this about every 3 or 4 months but I can't for the life of me figure out why. Neither can expensive doctors, so I'm SOL.

This weekend has pretty much been a total bust, except for me getting a totally useless eye exam (20/20 vision) of course all the doctors keep telling me I need to get one... and the driver's license people too, so I got one. And we took my youngest daughter to the doctor, because the weekend is the only time she gets sick. So yeah, some doctors and lack of sleep, and I got out and cut the grass and you've pretty much summed up my weekend. They can't all be good I suppose.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

6 months

And so June is upon us, I think about the last six months, what I'm able to do now versus what I couldn't do, and what have I accomplished? On one hand I'm a stroke survivor and I've come back to work months ahead of time, but on the other there's still some lingering things that really have no answer.

My writing in this blog has definitely took a hit, just look back at the entries in September or October. They were posts that were cutting, yet honest. I still feel that way, but can no longer put the thoughts in line to convey the message like I used to. I care less, I just don't have time to waste on much of anything anymore. Maybe it will come back, but I don't know.

My hand writing is atrocious, I mean really, and it used to be pretty good, now even for something as mundane as signing the bill if/when we go out to eat... I simply pass it to my wife. I probably could improve that with practice, but I don't, because 95% of my job is done on computer.

My right hand is still weak, and I could probably fix that too, but don't because I get along pretty well already. I'm not like Quasimodo or anything. It would be and is considered a minor inconvenience by most. My face also just slightly droops, there is nothing I can do about that, except love my wife for putting up with me and facial hair is a good thing. lol

I can't really talk to someone and tell them much of anything, what I mean the common conversation, "how are you, how's the kids, what are you doing this weekend", I can pretty much pass on, but if a problem takes place, it takes me a lot longer to tell somebody... so I usually refer to someone else. Otherwise I'll forget something, or blame the wrong thing/person. I don't think anybody can fix that.

I've lost about 35 pounds, and I probably could stand to lose more, but I didn't mean to and basically the only reason I haven't lost even more was because I still like the sweet stuff. So maybe I don't eat any dinner, but I'll eat M&M's or cookies or Key Lime Pie.


Still I've come a long way, I'm not exactly as good as I thought I would be but still. It kind of feels strange now, saying I've had a stroke. I wish it never happened, but I'm sure everyone does. So now I contemplate my birthday and the next 6 months.