Life update 30 Sep 2004

Well, the laundry is put away (except for the basket of shirts/socks/undies in the trunk of the car...oops.

I did the dishes, cleaned and mopped the kitchen, vacuumed the apartment, signed the lease (Sean is signing this weekend).

I got ahold of my contact at Spherion. She's trying to get me into a part-time position and I'll know by tomorrow if I'm placed in it. It starts Monday so there will be an abrupt change for me but for the better.

At first, I was kinda irked by part time, but part-time will let me manage doctor's appointments without having to miss time from work. It's not ideal, but it's work and it pays decently. 20 hours a week at $12/hr is about $200 take home per week...which is $800/mo. It definately would help out household finances...

All in all, I have more confidence in life today than I have in the last few weeks...I think things are finally turning around and heading the right direction.

***** SPAM ***** teen anus can destroy your life

Oh, I don't know what more can be said about that hitting my inbox...

I found it vaguely amusing..kinda like the one I got a couple of years ago...

"You could be driving a shiny new pussy!"

Interesting...but I think I'll pass on that offer...

It's 3am....

Hmmm...I have to wonder if the downtown bars don't mostly close at 2am...as around 3am....we get the screaming domestics in the parking lot...

Tonight's installment included such memorable exchanges as:

"Get the fuck out and stay the fuck outta my house you stupid slut!"

"Yeah, yer kicking me out?"

"Yeah, you were fucking some guy on my couch!"

"Yeah, what's that matter?"

At that point, he was sober/smart/something enough to realize that a screaming match in the middle of the parking lot wasn't the best idea and I could hear him...but...a few moments later you could *clearly* make out her screaming "I was only sucking his dick you fucking jackass!"

You can't ask for anything more white trash...

*laugh* Gotta love it...

And on a better note...

Sean's off playing Garou in the Big City (laugh, he's down in Greektown at Fight Club)

I'm gonna jump in the shower, clean up...then settle in for a nice relaxing bath...then do some long neglected rituals that I've not done in *four months*

It'll help calm me down and help me to relax.

*scream*

Okay, it's official. I now associate my neurologist with needles.

He's ordered blood drawn three times. He's done the EMG/NCV test (acupuncture with electricity) and today, it was more blood...and a lumbar puncture.

The first two times...he didn't quite get the right spot. (yes, twice)...

The third time he did it and got it where it needed to be...and then when too deep and grazed the nerve root that goes from my hip to my right food. I involuntarily spasmed...moving the needle and pushing it back out of where it needed to be. Slight adjustment (his words, not the ones I'd have chosen)...

45 minutes later...it's all done...and I get to lay around and "recover" for 45 minutes.

I *still* hurt from where he did it. I have the typical headache/nausea/dizziness that are the typical after effects.

Nothing strenuous for 24 hours...lotsa fluids...and up the caffiene consumption?! I like that part....regular Dt. Dr Pepper for a couple of days...none of that caffiene free diet stuff ;)

Other than that, I have to call work tomorrow and let them know I'm free to return so that hopefully I'll be back to work in a week or two. I sincerely hope so.

Other than that...I'm alive...and doing okay...


But on a lighter note...a joke from my neurologist...

A young girl enters a convent and takes a vow of silence as part of her vows to become a nun. She is allowed to speak once per year. The only member of the convent allowed to speak freely is the Mother Superior.

At the end of the first year, she approaches the Mother Superior and says "Collar too tight!". She's fitted with a new collar and goes on through the next year....

At the end of the second year, she approaches the Mother Superior again and says "Need Shoes". Her shoes are falling apart and are barely holding together. Her shoes are replaced and she goes on through her third year.

At the end of the third year, she approaches the Mother Superior again and says "I QUIT!"

The Mother Superior looks at her and says, "I'm not surprised, all you've done since you got here was complain!"

I found it funny while I was having a 3.5" needle shoved into my spine...

The odd list...

Things I want to pick up when I have a lil extra money...

1. Headphones (much easier to listen to music)
   
2. CD-RWs (RWs because it's easier to download the newest version of the OS and just overwrite the old)
   
3. Meat Thermometer
   
4. Scrubby sponges (for doing dishes)
   
5. Green Scratchies (see #4)
   
6. Utensil holder for the stovetop
   
7. Spoon holder for the stovetop
   
8. Better flatware holder for the drawer
   
9. a set of Pyrex bowls for serving/mixing/prep
   

Aside from 1 & 2, it's all for the kitchen.

Never mind my desire to have a nice set of Calphalon pans and a nice set of kitchen knives.

Whoa....

160mph *over the limit*

St. Paul Pioneer Press article...the highlights...

(clip)

The State Patrol officer arrested the faster rider, 20-year-old Stillwater resident Samuel Armstrong Tilley, for reckless driving, driving without a motorcycle license — and driving 140 miles per hour over the posted speed limit of 65 mph.

(/clip)

I mean really...just how fucking stupid do you have to be to figure that one out...

205mph... hallo...clue phone...it's for you...

Sha-na-na-na...Hey Hey...Goodbye

Statement from the St. Louis Blues:

Commissioner Bettman has advised the St. Louis Blues and all teams that they are free to release building dates up to 30 days into the future beginning on September 15 and continuing each day until further notification. At this time our scheduled exhibition games, including home preseason games September 24, September 28 and October 2, and the regular season opener on October 15, will be canceled. Games will continue to be canceled on a similar basis until the League's labor dispute with the NHLPA has been resolved, at which time the League will address the potential rescheduling of games.

Well, so much for NHL hockey this year. There are still no talks scheduled....and both sides are very far apart.

Don't the players realize that the teams can't afford the astronomical salaries? Tickets are already out of reach for most of the "average Joe" fans...

Apparently, we the fans, don't really matter in this. Is this were the AHL and ECHL get to shine? Will I be rooting for the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and the Peoria Rivermen (ECHL) instead of St. Louis? I guess I should look forward to seeing the Wolves on TV instead of the Blackhawks.

But what will happen to the AHL? They are the developmental/farm league for the NHL. If the NHLPA is locked out/on-strike, will there be AHL hockey? Will there be players or will this be when ECHL/CHL/USHL players all move up one level and play until the NHL and NHLPA pull their collective heads out of their collective bargaining asses...

*jumps off the soapbox*

SIlly meme...but it could be fun

Just who are you...

1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Where on earth do you live:
4. What makes you happy:
5. What have you been listening to lately:
6. Do you enjoy reading my LJ:
7. If so, why:
8. Interesting fact about you:
9. Are you in love at the moment:
10. Favorite destination:
11. Favorite quote:
12. Will you post this in your LJ:

Now, recommend...

1. A movie:
2. A book:
3. A band, song or album:

PLUS:

Post a picture of yourself:

That time of the week...

Well, the MRI was my brain was normal. They didn't find anything abnormal. I'm waiting to hear back from his office on when they want to schedule the lumbar puncture.

Beyond that, I talked to Spherion today...and my old position is being hired for s'more...so I could most likely return to work in a weeks.

It'll be nice to be working again...and actually have some money and not feel like a freeloading jack-ass.

But all in all...it was a very good day.

Fascinating...

I'm listening to a BBC report about immigration and it's focusing on the Hmong immigrants in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

It's a typically normal BBC report showing the good and bad things that are happening with the Hmong...and it's also explained the history of how the Hmong were treated but the U.S. government and how they made their way to the U.S.

It's fascinating as I lived in the Twin Cities for six years and St. Cloud for two years.

Though it's odd hearing the Twin Cities referred to constantly as St. Paul/Minneapolis.

I do appreciate having the access to information and viewpoints from all over the world, but it is somewhat disturbing that I learned more of that history, not while living there...but while listening to a report from a broadcaster who is 10,000 miles away getting a report from another broadcaster who is 7,000 miles away from them...and 7,000 miles from the Twin Cities...all while I'm 500 miles away.

Globalization is an odd thing...

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!

Well, apparently some club wants to buy out Stocky Jock. Not the domain, just all the content and code.

Apparently they want to do a site with a similar layout to Stocky Jock and feel it would be easier to buy out my site as opposed to doing some work and doing it themselves. I'm vaguely tempted by the $$ aspect, but as much as I gripe and complain about Stocky Jock, he's six years old next month...and I just rebuilt the entire site and I actually have some *pride* in it again...

(Side Note: I /am/ eligible for T-Mobile upgrade pricing. I'm looking at the Samsung R225m as change to the S105 that I have now...as this is the *7th* handset exchange in the last year...four of which were actually defective. Two dead screens, one dead speaker...and one that couldn't hold signal to save its own life. $84.99 for the R225m isn't bad. I'm going to look around and see what else I can scare up on the GSM phones dept)

Otherwise, life is good. I should have my MRI results back tomorrow. I have to schedule my lumbar puncture tomorrow as well.

I'm tired and still somewhat on edge from the 45 minutes and three panic attacks during the MRI yesterday.

I've run my errands for the day, so I'm gonna lay down and take a nap I think. I'm still a bit frazzled around the edges.

Update on life in general...

Okay, so I didn't do this last night...beat me ;)

Other than the medical front...life is going okay.

I have to call Spherion Monday about getting a new assignment (woo...paychecks are good things)

I found some really nice storefront in Mt. Prospect that would be really really cool for my Pagan/Occult bookstore that I want to open.

Sean and I are doing well...we've settled into a fairly normal routine and I can honestly say that although Sean gets under my skin and does irritate the daylights outta me at times, I don't stay angry with him and I can't recall being this happy in a long time.

Stocky Jock is getting one more major overhaul...and if it works, I'll be quite happy. It'll be a multi-part search...that is you could search for people from Minnesota who are 25-29 and who have the word hockey in their profile. (i.e. you can search on multiple things...not just one thing)

I'll be playing with the code for that tonight and tomorrow and hopefully I'll have it working by Monday morning.

All in all...life is good.

Long time... no entries...

Well, the blood work from earlier this week ruled out HTLV-I, Lyme Disease, HIV, and B-Vitamin deficiency.

The Electromyogram (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) tests showed no signs of nerve damage in my legs and everything was normal in those tests as well.

I have an MRI of the brain at noon on Sunday ... with and without contrast...which just makes it longer. I'm rather claustrophobic..and they want me in the middle of a large donut for how long? An hour or so, you say. Valium I say! You have to have an IV in my hand for the contrast dye...just gimme some horse tranquilizers at the onset.

Next week, I have to have a lumbar puncture done. Lumbar puncture...sounds so much less disturbing than what it really is...a SPINAL TAP. Why do they feel the need to couch nasty things in nice words? It's nasty...it's painful...so let's call it something warm and fuzzy...that'll make it all better.

Ha!

Oh well...overall I'm doing well. I should have answers by the end of next week.

I'll post later tonight with a non-medical update on life...

Stocky Jock back on-line...

The new layout is on-line.

There aren't many "feature" changes other than the new layout.

Much of what was done, was fixing problems and messy code behind the scenes. If you find any problems with the new layout or the code, let me know.

Profile pictures are now limited to 100kb. It's to save space and transfer on the server.

Any feedback on the site is welcomed and appreciated.

JT - Stocky Jock Webmaster