Well, I know I haven't posted here in a while, but here's a brief update: busy with work, stupidity reigns, get a few days off for Christmas, daughter home for Christmas (BIG YAY), send daughter back to Alaska, back to work, more stupidity, looking forward to drinking beer tomorrow night.
I hope you all had a great Christmas and that the new year will be AWESOME!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
"Mom, my head hurts ..."
Boy Survives After 16-Inch Arrow Is Shot Through Head
Thursday , December 11, 2008
A Chinese schoolboy narrowly escaped death after being accidentally shot through the head with a 16-inch arrow.
The arrow pierced Liu Cheong's eye socket, traveled through his head and lodged in the back of his skull.
The 11-year-old only survived because the arrow missed his brain.
"If the arrow had been shot with just a bit more force, it would have come out the back of his head," said medics at Jida Hospital in Changchun, eastern China.
Surgeons chipped away at parts of the boy's skull for more than four hours to remove the arrow, which had sunk more than four inches into his head.
"It is a miracle he survived the accident," said one medic.
Doctors have warned his parents he still faces a risk of infection and even further operations.
Teachers at Liu's school believe the accident happened when the young archers were practicing on their own.
Thursday , December 11, 2008
A Chinese schoolboy narrowly escaped death after being accidentally shot through the head with a 16-inch arrow.
The arrow pierced Liu Cheong's eye socket, traveled through his head and lodged in the back of his skull.
The 11-year-old only survived because the arrow missed his brain.
"If the arrow had been shot with just a bit more force, it would have come out the back of his head," said medics at Jida Hospital in Changchun, eastern China.
Surgeons chipped away at parts of the boy's skull for more than four hours to remove the arrow, which had sunk more than four inches into his head.
"It is a miracle he survived the accident," said one medic.
Doctors have warned his parents he still faces a risk of infection and even further operations.
Teachers at Liu's school believe the accident happened when the young archers were practicing on their own.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
#$%@!!@^#!~!
Nothing can make me curse more bitterly then when my damned dog does something stupid!
Luckily, she's ok, but I have to put up new fences now.
Stupid dog.
Luckily, she's ok, but I have to put up new fences now.
Stupid dog.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
You have no personality. You are military.
"You have no personality. You are military."
From my civilian supervisor, I get this. You are military. You have no personality.
Nice. Using that logic, since I am no longer authorized to exhibit my personailty, I must no longer perform my duties with any sort of passion. My passion is a part of my personailty. But no longer will I apply that particular passion to my work. I will simply come in, punch the clock, do my time and leave, and to hell with the people who I swore to protect and defend because that very OATH was based in a passion I contain, a zeal, a love for my nation and the willingness to sacrifice my time, my family, my very freedom for some jackass who tells me I am not authorized to have a personality.
No longer. I won't use my personality, because if I DID use my personality, then I would have to give a shit. And I will tell you right now, the soul-crushing attitude of a supervisor who tells an overworked, underpaid non-commissioned officer that he is not authorized to have a personality is the kind of person our enemies NEED.
No wonder we have such a rampant problem with PTSD soldiers coming back from the war - they're not allowed personalities, and yet, because they are human, they HAVE personalities, and it's the soul-wrenching schism between their own humanity and the system's adamant denial of said humanity which has broken their spirits and their minds.
No personality.
Fine. See if I bust my ass to make you look good for NO reward of any kind anymore. From here on out, you get the bare minimum. I'll waste my PERSONALITY on my family and my home life. Fuck you, fuck this place and fuck the service. If you don't care for the well-being of your personnel, America, then your personnel, your servicemembers, YOUR SOLDIERS, will turn their backs on YOU.
THEN where will you be?
From my civilian supervisor, I get this. You are military. You have no personality.
Nice. Using that logic, since I am no longer authorized to exhibit my personailty, I must no longer perform my duties with any sort of passion. My passion is a part of my personailty. But no longer will I apply that particular passion to my work. I will simply come in, punch the clock, do my time and leave, and to hell with the people who I swore to protect and defend because that very OATH was based in a passion I contain, a zeal, a love for my nation and the willingness to sacrifice my time, my family, my very freedom for some jackass who tells me I am not authorized to have a personality.
No longer. I won't use my personality, because if I DID use my personality, then I would have to give a shit. And I will tell you right now, the soul-crushing attitude of a supervisor who tells an overworked, underpaid non-commissioned officer that he is not authorized to have a personality is the kind of person our enemies NEED.
No wonder we have such a rampant problem with PTSD soldiers coming back from the war - they're not allowed personalities, and yet, because they are human, they HAVE personalities, and it's the soul-wrenching schism between their own humanity and the system's adamant denial of said humanity which has broken their spirits and their minds.
No personality.
Fine. See if I bust my ass to make you look good for NO reward of any kind anymore. From here on out, you get the bare minimum. I'll waste my PERSONALITY on my family and my home life. Fuck you, fuck this place and fuck the service. If you don't care for the well-being of your personnel, America, then your personnel, your servicemembers, YOUR SOLDIERS, will turn their backs on YOU.
THEN where will you be?
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Foreshock, Southern California, 0917 hrs. Magnitude 3.6
It began at nearly six in the morning, as far as Evan could figure. Ralph, his 197-lb Mastiff shot up from his customary spot at the foot of the bed and howled. Keened was more like it, thought Evan. He had never heard the gentle brute make that sound and he'd owned - or been owned by - the gargantuan dog for the 12 years of his life. Something in the sound of Ralphie's howl struck a chord deep in Evan's spine. A primal place, a terror place, a place most people no longer remember their bodies even have.
Once he'd calmed Ralph down, Evan set about beginning his day. As he opened the back door to let the lumbering beast out for his morning constitutional, he felt there was something odd, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what. He shook his head as he admonished his brindle buddy not to dig in the yard and went into the kitchen to make his morning coffee. Not that I need it, he thought to himself, I'm as jittery as if I'd had a whole pot already. That chord was still jangling up and down his spine like the sound a high-tension wire makes when struck with something like the boom of a high-lift.
It wasn't until almost nine, as he parked his truck and set off across what seemed like fourteen acres of parking lots that he realized part of what had him so very edgy: there were no birds. No bird songs, not silhouettes of gulls criss-crossing the brilliant blue sky, shrieking their hunger across the landscape below, no sandpipers, no pelicans, nothing. Not a single humming bird, even, to be seen. Weird, he thought, then tried to focus on the mind-numbing boredom of the day ahead.
Evan Farms, a sturdy, 30-something outdoors-type with sandy hair and eyes almost habitually wrung up in a squint because he refused to wear a hat or sunglasses, was an accomplished bio-chemist and researcher. Although he lived an unassuming life, Doctor Farms was the group lead on reasearch into life-prolonging agents funded by the government. Although focused more on battlefield survivability, Evan had discovered some disturbing side-effects in some of his virus-based research - he'd been able to keep a lab rat, fatally injured in a bizarre fight in its communal cage, alive using one of his viral compunds - C-313e. The only problem was, he couldn't figure out why the rat was still animated and why, if it was able still to move, breath and eat, it hadn't yet begun to heal.
And what it ate ... well, Evan had an endless supply of insects to feed the creature, especially since it would not even go near the processed pellets normally fed the laboratorie's population.
Evan began his day, passing through layer upon layer of protective measures designed to keep the sub-microscopic critters he worked with inside, to the lab to begin observations of test subjects when the first actual temblor occurred, shaking dust from the vents overhead and rattling the huge triple-thick plate glass panes which separated different areas of the lab.
Great, Evan thought as he looked around to make sure his assistants were not harmed. An earthquake. What a way to start the morning.
The first foreshock was at 0917. A little less than two hours before armageddon, as far as Evan and his lab would be concerned ...
Once he'd calmed Ralph down, Evan set about beginning his day. As he opened the back door to let the lumbering beast out for his morning constitutional, he felt there was something odd, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what. He shook his head as he admonished his brindle buddy not to dig in the yard and went into the kitchen to make his morning coffee. Not that I need it, he thought to himself, I'm as jittery as if I'd had a whole pot already. That chord was still jangling up and down his spine like the sound a high-tension wire makes when struck with something like the boom of a high-lift.
It wasn't until almost nine, as he parked his truck and set off across what seemed like fourteen acres of parking lots that he realized part of what had him so very edgy: there were no birds. No bird songs, not silhouettes of gulls criss-crossing the brilliant blue sky, shrieking their hunger across the landscape below, no sandpipers, no pelicans, nothing. Not a single humming bird, even, to be seen. Weird, he thought, then tried to focus on the mind-numbing boredom of the day ahead.
Evan Farms, a sturdy, 30-something outdoors-type with sandy hair and eyes almost habitually wrung up in a squint because he refused to wear a hat or sunglasses, was an accomplished bio-chemist and researcher. Although he lived an unassuming life, Doctor Farms was the group lead on reasearch into life-prolonging agents funded by the government. Although focused more on battlefield survivability, Evan had discovered some disturbing side-effects in some of his virus-based research - he'd been able to keep a lab rat, fatally injured in a bizarre fight in its communal cage, alive using one of his viral compunds - C-313e. The only problem was, he couldn't figure out why the rat was still animated and why, if it was able still to move, breath and eat, it hadn't yet begun to heal.
And what it ate ... well, Evan had an endless supply of insects to feed the creature, especially since it would not even go near the processed pellets normally fed the laboratorie's population.
Evan began his day, passing through layer upon layer of protective measures designed to keep the sub-microscopic critters he worked with inside, to the lab to begin observations of test subjects when the first actual temblor occurred, shaking dust from the vents overhead and rattling the huge triple-thick plate glass panes which separated different areas of the lab.
Great, Evan thought as he looked around to make sure his assistants were not harmed. An earthquake. What a way to start the morning.
The first foreshock was at 0917. A little less than two hours before armageddon, as far as Evan and his lab would be concerned ...
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
This is a patriot!
JOHN MCCAIN: Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening.
(APPLAUSE)
My friends, we have -- we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly.
A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him.
(BOOING)
Please.
To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.
In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.
This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.
I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too.
But we both recognize that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.
A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters.
America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States.
Let there be no reason now...
(APPLAUSE)
Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.
(APPLAUSE)
Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.
Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain.
These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.
I urge all Americans...
(APPLAUSE)
I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.
Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.
(APPLAUSE)
It is natural. It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (OFF-MIKE)
We fought -- we fought as hard as we could. And though we feel short, the failure is mine, not yours.
AUDIENCE: No!
MCCAIN: I am so...
AUDIENCE: (CHANTING)
MCCAIN: I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honor of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We do, too (OFF-MIKE)
MCCAIN: The road was a difficult one from the outset, but your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you.
I'm especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother...
(APPLAUSE)
... My dear mother and all my family, and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign.
I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me.
You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate's family than on the candidate, and that's been true in this campaign.
All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude and the promise of more peaceful years ahead.
I am also -- I am also, of course, very thankful to Governor Sarah Palin, one of the best campaigners I've ever seen...
(APPLAUSE)
... One of the best campaigners I have ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength...
(APPLAUSE)
... Her husband Todd and their five beautiful children...
(APPLAUSE)
... for their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign.
We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country.
(APPLAUSE)
To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly, month after month, in what at times seemed to be the most challenged campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship.
I don't know -- I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I'll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I'm sure I made my share of them. But I won't spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been.
This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life, and my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Senator Obama and my old friend Senator Joe Biden should have the honor of leading us for the next four years.
(BOOING)
Please. Please.
I would not -- I would not be an American worthy of the name should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century.
Half a century.
Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone, and I thank the people of Arizona for it.
(APPLAUSE)
AUDIENCE: USA. USA. USA. USA.
Tonight -- tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama -- whether they supported me or Senator Obama.
I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.
Americans never quit. We never surrender.
(APPLAUSE)
We never hide from history. We make history.
Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all very much.
(APPLAUSE)
My friends, we have -- we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly.
A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him.
(BOOING)
Please.
To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.
In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.
This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.
I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too.
But we both recognize that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.
A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters.
America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States.
Let there be no reason now...
(APPLAUSE)
Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.
(APPLAUSE)
Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.
Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain.
These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.
I urge all Americans...
(APPLAUSE)
I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.
Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.
(APPLAUSE)
It is natural. It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (OFF-MIKE)
We fought -- we fought as hard as we could. And though we feel short, the failure is mine, not yours.
AUDIENCE: No!
MCCAIN: I am so...
AUDIENCE: (CHANTING)
MCCAIN: I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honor of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We do, too (OFF-MIKE)
MCCAIN: The road was a difficult one from the outset, but your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you.
I'm especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother...
(APPLAUSE)
... My dear mother and all my family, and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign.
I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me.
You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate's family than on the candidate, and that's been true in this campaign.
All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude and the promise of more peaceful years ahead.
I am also -- I am also, of course, very thankful to Governor Sarah Palin, one of the best campaigners I've ever seen...
(APPLAUSE)
... One of the best campaigners I have ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength...
(APPLAUSE)
... Her husband Todd and their five beautiful children...
(APPLAUSE)
... for their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign.
We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country.
(APPLAUSE)
To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly, month after month, in what at times seemed to be the most challenged campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship.
I don't know -- I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I'll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I'm sure I made my share of them. But I won't spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been.
This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life, and my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Senator Obama and my old friend Senator Joe Biden should have the honor of leading us for the next four years.
(BOOING)
Please. Please.
I would not -- I would not be an American worthy of the name should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century.
Half a century.
Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone, and I thank the people of Arizona for it.
(APPLAUSE)
AUDIENCE: USA. USA. USA. USA.
Tonight -- tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama -- whether they supported me or Senator Obama.
I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.
Americans never quit. We never surrender.
(APPLAUSE)
We never hide from history. We make history.
Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all very much.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Election eve predictions
OK, I have striven to remain SOMEWHAT apolitical in this blog and, actually, this post is not biased in any way - it is my prediction of the outcome of the 2008 presidential election, but not quite what you think it is.
First, a small bit of background: I work at U.S. Northern Command, which is charged with two primary missions: Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authority.
My first election prediction: You will hear MUCH more about USNORTHCOM within the next six months. Here's why:
If McCain wins, there will be riots, riots akin to the Watts Riots in L.A. during the last century. USNORTHCOM will come in to the news when local and state governments request federal assistance in quelling said riots.
If Obama wins, after the repeal of the Patriot Act, the hands of government agencies charged with assuring that terrorists never again attack on U.S. soil as they did on 9/11 will be completely tied. All the interagency cooperation which has gone in to ensuring that another large-scale attack, or another attack, period, not occur will be thrown out the window. USNORTHCOM will be called upon in its DSCA role to respond to another major terrorist attack.
No matter who wins, I will be busy. Either way, I'd rather NOT be busy, because, quite frankly, if you hear about USNORTHCOM in the news, other than that we're conducting a training exercise, in my opinion, we're not doing our job right.
First, a small bit of background: I work at U.S. Northern Command, which is charged with two primary missions: Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authority.
My first election prediction: You will hear MUCH more about USNORTHCOM within the next six months. Here's why:
If McCain wins, there will be riots, riots akin to the Watts Riots in L.A. during the last century. USNORTHCOM will come in to the news when local and state governments request federal assistance in quelling said riots.
If Obama wins, after the repeal of the Patriot Act, the hands of government agencies charged with assuring that terrorists never again attack on U.S. soil as they did on 9/11 will be completely tied. All the interagency cooperation which has gone in to ensuring that another large-scale attack, or another attack, period, not occur will be thrown out the window. USNORTHCOM will be called upon in its DSCA role to respond to another major terrorist attack.
No matter who wins, I will be busy. Either way, I'd rather NOT be busy, because, quite frankly, if you hear about USNORTHCOM in the news, other than that we're conducting a training exercise, in my opinion, we're not doing our job right.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Update
Things are hellish around here right now. For those of you who know me, I am going through a divorce and things are not going well. I will be pretty inocuous here - you all don't need to hear my woes. I hope to be free to live life a little more freely soon - but it will be a few months. Bear with me and know that I miss you crazy fun people.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Brakes - holy shit
So I called C-4 and asked if she wanted to play cars yesterday. I had been having some difficulties with my brakes - in fast, there was this horrible grinding noise that sounded like certain death was imminent, so we started tearing in to the truck, pulled the wheels off, opened the hubs, pulled out the bearing in front and installed new rotors ...
We got to the back and I discovered the REAL culprit, though ...
Here's what the piston looked like:
Not good. Here's what it did to the back side of the rear right rotor:
And here's the culprit; a little metal plate that rests on the back side of the brake shoe and must have shaken itself loose to wreak pure havoc on my brakes!
Big ups to my ninja C-4 for letting me invade her garage and helping out with the grease-monkeying!!!
We got to the back and I discovered the REAL culprit, though ...
Here's what the piston looked like:
Not good. Here's what it did to the back side of the rear right rotor:
And here's the culprit; a little metal plate that rests on the back side of the brake shoe and must have shaken itself loose to wreak pure havoc on my brakes!
Big ups to my ninja C-4 for letting me invade her garage and helping out with the grease-monkeying!!!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Friday, September 05, 2008
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Yesterday's run and why the HELL did I wake up at 4 AM?
So, I hadn't gone on a real run for about 2 months when I hit the trail yesterday. My lungs tried to crawl up out of my throat almost immediately. Ugh.
So I worked through warming up by doing some really, really slow wind sprints. I'm talking more like wind crawls here, but hey - I was getting exercise, right?
After about a mile and a half working my way up the paved trail on Sand Creek, my lungs realized I wasn't going to quit any time soon and that they might as well start feeding my poor body some oxygen. I was able to settle into a pace then, albeit a slow one.
All in all, alternating run and walk, I made about six miles and scouted what could be a hellacious DIM-type trail. Gonna see how the running progresses before I commit to haring one of those, though.
Shoulder felt pretty good, but I iced it when I got home anyway, just to help make sure things stay hunky dory in there. I'm going to spend some time exploring Palmer Park today - should be a good day for it.
So I worked through warming up by doing some really, really slow wind sprints. I'm talking more like wind crawls here, but hey - I was getting exercise, right?
After about a mile and a half working my way up the paved trail on Sand Creek, my lungs realized I wasn't going to quit any time soon and that they might as well start feeding my poor body some oxygen. I was able to settle into a pace then, albeit a slow one.
All in all, alternating run and walk, I made about six miles and scouted what could be a hellacious DIM-type trail. Gonna see how the running progresses before I commit to haring one of those, though.
Shoulder felt pretty good, but I iced it when I got home anyway, just to help make sure things stay hunky dory in there. I'm going to spend some time exploring Palmer Park today - should be a good day for it.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter, Monday morning
OK. So the shoulder is doing pretty damned good, although I have one hell of a deep tissue bruise from the dislocation. I start my new exercises (strength) on Wednesday, and the next phase of my recovery officially begins at that time.
I am going to attempt to run today - probably not much, as I don't know how my shoulder will respond, but I put a compression shirt on to help with the impact and I have a safe, level, paved trail to run on, so I won't be risking another fantastic wonderful shoulder-dislocating mud-ballet.
Yesterday, the boy and I took a walk along my trail looking for some decorative slate someone had dumped over their fence. Someone beat us to it, but I have this idea now - Nappy Headed WHORE!!! is giving me the Kimchi bar (yes, the infamous BFE bar) and I was thinking of refinishing it in slate with a marble top (Net's idea) and putting it in my Man Cave. SO we wanted to snag that slate, because it would have been perfect. Alas, all we got out of it was a 10-mile walk - which was pretty sweet in its own way.
I am thinking on getting my fishing license soon - and working my cast back up to shape. We'll have to see what the PT says ...
Poop.
P.S. Sunrise Earth is the Great Barrier Reef today. But no flying sharks. *yawn*
I am going to attempt to run today - probably not much, as I don't know how my shoulder will respond, but I put a compression shirt on to help with the impact and I have a safe, level, paved trail to run on, so I won't be risking another fantastic wonderful shoulder-dislocating mud-ballet.
Yesterday, the boy and I took a walk along my trail looking for some decorative slate someone had dumped over their fence. Someone beat us to it, but I have this idea now - Nappy Headed WHORE!!! is giving me the Kimchi bar (yes, the infamous BFE bar) and I was thinking of refinishing it in slate with a marble top (Net's idea) and putting it in my Man Cave. SO we wanted to snag that slate, because it would have been perfect. Alas, all we got out of it was a 10-mile walk - which was pretty sweet in its own way.
I am thinking on getting my fishing license soon - and working my cast back up to shape. We'll have to see what the PT says ...
Poop.
P.S. Sunrise Earth is the Great Barrier Reef today. But no flying sharks. *yawn*
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Day 20
OK. Physical therapy will not work with me until I do my follow up with my surgeon tomorrow morning.
That is fine. I am going to sit down with the surgeon, tell him what happened, show him that I seem to have full mobility and strength, even after the dislocation and ask if we need to proceed as normal or do another MRI and determine if I damaged myself further.
Bottom line is that I want this to heal right, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure things come together correctly - including walking on the treadmill at the gym rather than enjoying the GLORIOUS Colorado outdoors.
Um ... maybe I can get a special walker that catches me when I slip in the mud.
This fucking sucks you know?
That is fine. I am going to sit down with the surgeon, tell him what happened, show him that I seem to have full mobility and strength, even after the dislocation and ask if we need to proceed as normal or do another MRI and determine if I damaged myself further.
Bottom line is that I want this to heal right, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure things come together correctly - including walking on the treadmill at the gym rather than enjoying the GLORIOUS Colorado outdoors.
Um ... maybe I can get a special walker that catches me when I slip in the mud.
This fucking sucks you know?
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Major setback
I was out for my walk yesterday along Hancock Parkway. I was walking along a slight slope on the side of the road, on what looked like dry ground. As a matter of fact, it was not - there was about 1/4 inch of mud on top of hard-packed ground. My feet went out from under me, more like shot out, and my entire body weight slammed down directly on my bad shoulder, dislocating it.
I spent the rest of my morning and a good part of my afternoon in the emergency room, waiting to get my shoulder put back into the joint.
I have a follow-up appointment with my orthopedic surgeon today.
Needless to say, I will be walking on a treadmill in the gym for a while. Outdoors presents a danger and I am not sure how much of a danger, but we'll find out what the damage is today.
I spent the rest of my morning and a good part of my afternoon in the emergency room, waiting to get my shoulder put back into the joint.
I have a follow-up appointment with my orthopedic surgeon today.
Needless to say, I will be walking on a treadmill in the gym for a while. Outdoors presents a danger and I am not sure how much of a danger, but we'll find out what the damage is today.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Day 18
Good PT. Good coffee. Sunrise International was Machu Picchu this morning. Very cool.
I need a good long walk today, I think. Gotta get a haircut, too. I am really getting bored. But there aren't a lot of projects I can do because of the shoulder.
Hopefully, the weather starts to settle down for real, as I can do some limited gardening.
I need a good long walk today, I think. Gotta get a haircut, too. I am really getting bored. But there aren't a lot of projects I can do because of the shoulder.
Hopefully, the weather starts to settle down for real, as I can do some limited gardening.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Happy St. Patty's Day 17
After a rough afternoon yesterday (the boy knocked something off of my lap, I reacted naturally and tried to grab it - ouch!), physical therapy this morning loosened me back up nicely.
Sunrise this morning is in the rain forests of Peru, and I can't wait to send the boy to school (2 hour delay) so I can head out to Garden of the Gods, get my walk in and take pictures off all this snow!
Sunrise this morning is in the rain forests of Peru, and I can't wait to send the boy to school (2 hour delay) so I can head out to Garden of the Gods, get my walk in and take pictures off all this snow!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Day 16
OK. This weather is bizarre. Gorgeous yesterday for the Green Dress Run, freaking blizzard today?
Tweaked my shoulder this afternoon - not good. Had something knocked off my lap by an inattentive child and I jerked my right arm to try to reach it. Ouch. Ice is my friend.
Tweaked my shoulder this afternoon - not good. Had something knocked off my lap by an inattentive child and I jerked my right arm to try to reach it. Ouch. Ice is my friend.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Brilliant!!
I don't know who this guy is, but he is THE MAN! I think he should be running the United Nations.
Oh, and physical therapy exercises went well this morning. Looking forward to walking the Hash - I got about three miles in yesterday, too.
Oh, and physical therapy exercises went well this morning. Looking forward to walking the Hash - I got about three miles in yesterday, too.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Two weeks since surgery!
OK. Physical therapy this morning: NO ISSUES. Feels great, the shoulder moves well, everything is good.
If any of you want to mail my sister get-well cards, that's what she wants. A bunch of get well cards. She is in Portland, OR to finish her tattoo apprenticeship, so tat themed cards would be appropriate. How cool if she gets a bunch f cards from absolute strangers 1/2 way across the country?
Bring them to the Hash tomorrow, or e-mail me and I can give you her address.
I hope there will be some wankers at Arctic tonight. Just sayin'.
C-4, WTF is with this weather? It was freaking 65 yesterday and I took an hour-long walk in the SUN! Today? 'S ok. I am planning to stroll the Garden of the Gods with my camera. See if we can't get some great shots of the beauty that is Colorado Springs.
Sunrise International was a beach full of baby seals in Argentina this morning. I don't know. I kinda feel like, if I want to wake up to a huge pile of corpusculent, snoring and farting mammals, I'll just go to another party at Brownie's.
Does anyone have a wheel-barrow I can buy or have?
If any of you want to mail my sister get-well cards, that's what she wants. A bunch of get well cards. She is in Portland, OR to finish her tattoo apprenticeship, so tat themed cards would be appropriate. How cool if she gets a bunch f cards from absolute strangers 1/2 way across the country?
Bring them to the Hash tomorrow, or e-mail me and I can give you her address.
I hope there will be some wankers at Arctic tonight. Just sayin'.
C-4, WTF is with this weather? It was freaking 65 yesterday and I took an hour-long walk in the SUN! Today? 'S ok. I am planning to stroll the Garden of the Gods with my camera. See if we can't get some great shots of the beauty that is Colorado Springs.
Sunrise International was a beach full of baby seals in Argentina this morning. I don't know. I kinda feel like, if I want to wake up to a huge pile of corpusculent, snoring and farting mammals, I'll just go to another party at Brownie's.
Does anyone have a wheel-barrow I can buy or have?
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Day 14 (DUH. This was day 13, I need a beer)
Um, ok. So, Sunrise International is in Greenland. A Geyser. Kinda cool, really.
PT went very, very well this morning, but I also realized that, due to another appointment, I had scheduled my PT appointment for YESTERDAY afternoon. So I forgot, blew off the appointment and feel like an idiot. I have to call and beg to reschedule for tomorrow. Ugh.
Still freaked out about my sister. Not sure what, but my brain is cooking some kind of idea of how to deal with that.
Let's just say this: We really need to make sure we look out for each other, Kimchi. Let's not let this happen to one of us.
PT went very, very well this morning, but I also realized that, due to another appointment, I had scheduled my PT appointment for YESTERDAY afternoon. So I forgot, blew off the appointment and feel like an idiot. I have to call and beg to reschedule for tomorrow. Ugh.
Still freaked out about my sister. Not sure what, but my brain is cooking some kind of idea of how to deal with that.
Let's just say this: We really need to make sure we look out for each other, Kimchi. Let's not let this happen to one of us.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Day 12
We're at a fishing village in Turkey this morning for sunrise, and with the exceptions of a few small twinges, my PT exercises were pretty damn smooth this morning. I am debating whether to request a push, and move to the next phase or keep steady and slow and let things take their time. Last thing I want is a frozen shoulder, or to tear or re-injure something.
I am hesitant about the weather today, but I would really like to hit Red Rocks for an hour-long hike. Guess I'll just bundle up and go - a little wind and rain/snow can't hurt me.
I am hesitant about the weather today, but I would really like to hit Red Rocks for an hour-long hike. Guess I'll just bundle up and go - a little wind and rain/snow can't hurt me.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Day 11 (thanks C-4!!!!)
This morning, I woke up at 5, looked at my alarm with one eyeball, cursed it for it's damned efficiency and went back to sleep, only to re-awaking at 7, completely ready to begin my day.
I don't even know why I set my alarm. I just did. Weird.
Sunrise International was Stonehenge this morning. Eerie. I think maybe I saw a druid in the first minutes of the video.
Physical therapy went very, very well this morning. I still have a slight twinge in my shoulder when I pull my arm straight up while laying on my back, but the physical therapist did explain that, as this was the spot where they had separated some muscle in order to shave bone and arthritis off of my clavicle, this would be the last thing to heal. It's healing though!
C-4, seriously, if you want to spend a little time pulling the dash apart to design the stereo housing, just let me know. I bet there's even some Fat Tire in the fridge, isn't there?
I don't even know why I set my alarm. I just did. Weird.
Sunrise International was Stonehenge this morning. Eerie. I think maybe I saw a druid in the first minutes of the video.
Physical therapy went very, very well this morning. I still have a slight twinge in my shoulder when I pull my arm straight up while laying on my back, but the physical therapist did explain that, as this was the spot where they had separated some muscle in order to shave bone and arthritis off of my clavicle, this would be the last thing to heal. It's healing though!
C-4, seriously, if you want to spend a little time pulling the dash apart to design the stereo housing, just let me know. I bet there's even some Fat Tire in the fridge, isn't there?
Monday, March 10, 2008
I'm not even sure what day I'm at now
But it's Monday, Sunrise International was in a little village in Turkey and my PT exercises went very well.
We went to the movies and saw 10,000 BC yesterday. I think I lost my wallet at the theater. That would really, really suck. The suckitude goes beyond words. There are credit cards in there - and bank cards. If I don't find it at the house by noon, I am going to be in some serious trouble.
Oddly enough, my military ID was still in my pocket. Weird.
I need to dig out my fly-tying gear today, I think, and start building this summer's arsenal. Going to the fishing show really motivated me.
Besides, I need to do something other than sharpen my X-Box skills.
We went to the movies and saw 10,000 BC yesterday. I think I lost my wallet at the theater. That would really, really suck. The suckitude goes beyond words. There are credit cards in there - and bank cards. If I don't find it at the house by noon, I am going to be in some serious trouble.
Oddly enough, my military ID was still in my pocket. Weird.
I need to dig out my fly-tying gear today, I think, and start building this summer's arsenal. Going to the fishing show really motivated me.
Besides, I need to do something other than sharpen my X-Box skills.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Days 8 & morning of 9
Well, I spent Saturday, day 8, first with my physical therapy, and then, after dropping the boy at the bowling alley, with a six-mile long walk. It was good to get out, get some sun, walk, sweat and enjoy the Colorado outdoors, which is insane. On the way out, sunny, warm. On the way back, clouds, wind and cold. This freaking state can't make up its mind.
Then, I got to go to the anniversary sale and show at my favorite fly-fishing shop out on 24. They had a huge sale, 20% off of Fishpond fishing vests. I got one of these and one of these for an insanely little amount of money. And I got to see some killer fly-tying, sign a petition to protect Colorado's streams and meet some great fishermen.
You have no idea how deeply it sucks to know it's going to be at least another month and a half or two before I can cast a fly-line.
But I think I need to break out my tying gear and start building my arsenal for this summer's trout season.
Then, I got to go to the anniversary sale and show at my favorite fly-fishing shop out on 24. They had a huge sale, 20% off of Fishpond fishing vests. I got one of these and one of these for an insanely little amount of money. And I got to see some killer fly-tying, sign a petition to protect Colorado's streams and meet some great fishermen.
You have no idea how deeply it sucks to know it's going to be at least another month and a half or two before I can cast a fly-line.
But I think I need to break out my tying gear and start building my arsenal for this summer's trout season.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Day 7
First follow up with my doc, who says things look amazing.
Went to a retirement ceremony.
Had Thai food for dinner.
Missed Sunrise International, though. I kinda miss it. Maybe I should set my DVR to record it.
Went to a retirement ceremony.
Had Thai food for dinner.
Missed Sunrise International, though. I kinda miss it. Maybe I should set my DVR to record it.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Day 5
This is not a good day. I am having some kind of adverse reaction to the percocet - it makes my whole body itch and instead of knocking me out, it makes me edgy. I called the nurse at the hospital. They need to put me on something that will kill the pain, but not turn me into a freaking tweaker.
And Sunrise International is at a Bhuddist school in Cambodia this morning, so I guess maybe China is not the only place they film.
Hopefully I can get some real painkillers today that will work. Right now, I just want to squeeze something until it pops and guts squirt all over the place. Good thing I don't own a hamster.
And Sunrise International is at a Bhuddist school in Cambodia this morning, so I guess maybe China is not the only place they film.
Hopefully I can get some real painkillers today that will work. Right now, I just want to squeeze something until it pops and guts squirt all over the place. Good thing I don't own a hamster.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Day 4
OK. This Sunrise International seems to focus on China being the "International".
This time its rice patties. Beautiful, yes, but worth a full hour of HD broadcast?
Anyway, I did my physical therapy exercises this morning. They suck. Seriously. But I won't be able to lift a beer properly unless I do them. Wouldn't want to disappoint at my first Circle back from surgery.
This convalescent leave stuff? It's all right, I guess. I can paint the nail holes in my trim with my left hand - and I do have enough use of my right hand to do so as well. I can re-design and publish a new Kimchi web site. Oh, and I can make fun of Net's Mom.
This time its rice patties. Beautiful, yes, but worth a full hour of HD broadcast?
Anyway, I did my physical therapy exercises this morning. They suck. Seriously. But I won't be able to lift a beer properly unless I do them. Wouldn't want to disappoint at my first Circle back from surgery.
This convalescent leave stuff? It's all right, I guess. I can paint the nail holes in my trim with my left hand - and I do have enough use of my right hand to do so as well. I can re-design and publish a new Kimchi web site. Oh, and I can make fun of Net's Mom.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Physical Therapy
Um ... Let's just say that the physical therapist must have apprenticed with Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition.
But I'm going to do what they tell me to. I want to get this shoulder in shape for those 12-oz curls, not to mention all the beer-pong rehab I have to do in order to get back into playing shape. Ugh.
So, you should see the pretty designs the doc carved into my shoulder. We should play "connect the scars" during circle some time and see if it looks like a beer label. My guess? PBR
But I'm going to do what they tell me to. I want to get this shoulder in shape for those 12-oz curls, not to mention all the beer-pong rehab I have to do in order to get back into playing shape. Ugh.
So, you should see the pretty designs the doc carved into my shoulder. We should play "connect the scars" during circle some time and see if it looks like a beer label. My guess? PBR
Day 3 of convalescent leave
And I'm watching "Sunrise Earth International".
This morning, it's the Li River in XingPing, China, where fisherman have trained cormorants (one of my favorite birds) to fish for them. They tie a string around the bird's throat at the base, so that the bird can not swallow the fish whole the way it would naturally. Then they kick it off of their little bamboo raft into the water, the birds catch two or three fish, they pick the bird up by having it stand on the pole they use to propel the boat and they make it "drop" (read: barf) the fish into a little basket.
This is almost as much fun as watching paint dry.
I need a hobby.
By the way, surgery went well. Looking at the pics from the orthoscope, which I really don't have a clue what they are, it looked like things were pretty fucked up in my shoulder. But they gave me this cool thing called "Game Ready". You load the box with ice and water and put on this bladder contraption over the appendage in question (my SHOULDER you perverts!). Then you set it and it pumps icy water through the bladder, and can also add compression. Makes for much less swelling, hence, much less pain. Apparently, this is the pro athlete's alternative to sitting in an ice bath. Sign me up.
Damn, I really do need a hobby, don't I?
This morning, it's the Li River in XingPing, China, where fisherman have trained cormorants (one of my favorite birds) to fish for them. They tie a string around the bird's throat at the base, so that the bird can not swallow the fish whole the way it would naturally. Then they kick it off of their little bamboo raft into the water, the birds catch two or three fish, they pick the bird up by having it stand on the pole they use to propel the boat and they make it "drop" (read: barf) the fish into a little basket.
This is almost as much fun as watching paint dry.
I need a hobby.
By the way, surgery went well. Looking at the pics from the orthoscope, which I really don't have a clue what they are, it looked like things were pretty fucked up in my shoulder. But they gave me this cool thing called "Game Ready". You load the box with ice and water and put on this bladder contraption over the appendage in question (my SHOULDER you perverts!). Then you set it and it pumps icy water through the bladder, and can also add compression. Makes for much less swelling, hence, much less pain. Apparently, this is the pro athlete's alternative to sitting in an ice bath. Sign me up.
Damn, I really do need a hobby, don't I?
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