I went to go see the Doc the other day. Some of you may know that I am applying for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) because of my health. This is what the Doctor had to say:
To Whom It May Concern:
William is under my care for his medical conditions. He has a history of dissection of the aorta with aortic valve insufficiency. He had this surgically repaired on December 20, 2006. As a complication to this surgery, he suffers from back and leg pain which is constant. It is doubtful that he will ever be able to return to work due to his heart problems and his chronic pain.
Sincerely,
My doctor (I'm not going to publish his name here)
Aren't I just the lucky one?
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
It's Hooooooot...
Well, after nearly two summers of chugging along like a champ, our AC unit (central air) finally gave up the ghost yesterday. It ended up getting up to about 87 degrees in the house before it started to cool down. Right now we have a couple of fans blowing hell bent for leather down here on the main floor, and we've managed to keep the temperature at a relatively comfortable 82 degrees. Unfortunately, it's supposed to get up to 95 this afternoon.
I've got a call into our landlord asking him if he can get someone out here to take a look at the unit and fix it on Monday. It could be just a matter of recharging the system with freon, but it could also be the compressor that went out.
Now, I'm going to go stick my head in the freezer
I've got a call into our landlord asking him if he can get someone out here to take a look at the unit and fix it on Monday. It could be just a matter of recharging the system with freon, but it could also be the compressor that went out.
Now, I'm going to go stick my head in the freezer
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Taking Things For Granted-Repost From December 27, 2006
*This is a repost from an earlier blog from after I got out of the hospital after emergency open heart surgery back in December.*
If there is one thing that I’ve learned over the past year, it would be to never take ANYTHING for granted in your life.
Last week, I was on my way to the job site, when a horrible pain flashed across my chestand into the left side of my body. I began to have trouble breathing, and started sweating like a virgin on prom night. My partner, who was driving, looked over at me and asked if we needed to get me to the hospital. I said yes, we better get me there right away. My left side had become numb, and I was scared shitless.
We got to the McPherson Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, and I was whisked inside when I told them what symptoms I was having. They immediately started an EKG on me, and did a chest X-ray, and hooked me up to all sorts of monitoring devices, presumably to check for signs of a heart attack. They drew what seemed to be way too much blood for lab work, and told me to hold tight and the Dr. would be in to see me soon. I guess they thought I might have the spontaneous urge to go run a quick marathon or something.
After a while, the Dr came in to the examination room, and told me that it sounded like I had hyperventilated myself. I wanted to argue with him, and demand more tests, but I simply didn’t have the energy. They released me from the ER, and told me that I would be able to return to work.
I decided then that I was going to get ahold of my regular Dr, and see what he wanted to do, because I just wasn’t feeling any better, and in fact, was feeling even worse by the minute. I had my partner drive me back to Salina, and drop me off at home. By the time I got home, I could barely even stand up. My roommate Karryle, put me to bed and told me to lay there and not move until she got ahold of my Dr. Of course everyone at my Dr’s office was at lunch, so we had to wait until after lunch to find out what was wrong with me.
After 1pm, we finally got ahold of my Dr, and described the symptoms I was still having, and he said to get up to the Emergency Room here at Salina Regional right away. I was kind of pissed off, because I didn’t want to spend another few hours up at the ER just for them to tell me the same thing that McPherson did. I just wanted to lay down and rest, but it was a good thing I finally did listen to Karryle.
I got to the ER here in Salina, and they hooked me up to monitors, ran another EKG, did more chest X-rays, and gave me a CT scan.
The CT scan showed something to the ER doc that scared the crap out of him. Turns out that I had a dissected aorta. This is the same thing that killed actor John Ritter nearly 3 years ago. Doc came into my examination room and told me that I was going to have to have surgery to fix this. I was like okay, like when? I was hoping for an answer of like this month, or next week or something, but he told me that I would have to have the surgery within the next few hours if I was going to survive.
The ER team kicked into high gear, and set me up on a life-flight to Kansas Medical Center in Andover. Wow, my first surgery, airplane ride and ambulance ride all in the same day. I was scared to death. I’ve never had any kind of MAJOR health problems before in my life, and here I was facing death.
The airplane was a small cessna type “prop” plane, and I was a little nervous about the trip, as I’d never flown before, but it was a very neat experience. As soon as I got to the hospital in Andover, I was greeted by a team of what seemed like 50 people asking me questions and telling me what was going to happen. They got me into the OR and hooked me up to anesthesia, and my memories end there. While I was under the knife, they opened up my chest, and performed open heart surgery on me. As you can see, the surgery was a success, and I’m at home now recovering.
The first thing I saw when I woke up in the recovery room, was my friend Janna (Thank you so much for being there), and the only thing that I could tell her was that I had a great time on the airplane
I have a really nice looking scar down my chest, and two little holes from my chest tubes, but I’m doing well for someone that just had major surgery just a week ago.
I just want to thank all of the people that helped save my life last Wednesday, there aren’t really any words to describe how thankful I am that the fine medical team kept me among the living. I kept my promises to my family and friends that I was going to be around for a long time to come, and be able to see my kids grow up, and to be able to grow old with my wife by my side, and to spend more time on this earth with the people that I really care about.
Never, ever take anything for granted, because you never know when everything might come crashing down around you. It can happen in the blink of an eye.
Appreciate all the things that you are given in your life, and never hesitate to tell the people that you care about how you feel about them, you may not get another chance.
If there is one thing that I’ve learned over the past year, it would be to never take ANYTHING for granted in your life.
Last week, I was on my way to the job site, when a horrible pain flashed across my chestand into the left side of my body. I began to have trouble breathing, and started sweating like a virgin on prom night. My partner, who was driving, looked over at me and asked if we needed to get me to the hospital. I said yes, we better get me there right away. My left side had become numb, and I was scared shitless.
We got to the McPherson Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, and I was whisked inside when I told them what symptoms I was having. They immediately started an EKG on me, and did a chest X-ray, and hooked me up to all sorts of monitoring devices, presumably to check for signs of a heart attack. They drew what seemed to be way too much blood for lab work, and told me to hold tight and the Dr. would be in to see me soon. I guess they thought I might have the spontaneous urge to go run a quick marathon or something.
After a while, the Dr came in to the examination room, and told me that it sounded like I had hyperventilated myself. I wanted to argue with him, and demand more tests, but I simply didn’t have the energy. They released me from the ER, and told me that I would be able to return to work.
I decided then that I was going to get ahold of my regular Dr, and see what he wanted to do, because I just wasn’t feeling any better, and in fact, was feeling even worse by the minute. I had my partner drive me back to Salina, and drop me off at home. By the time I got home, I could barely even stand up. My roommate Karryle, put me to bed and told me to lay there and not move until she got ahold of my Dr. Of course everyone at my Dr’s office was at lunch, so we had to wait until after lunch to find out what was wrong with me.
After 1pm, we finally got ahold of my Dr, and described the symptoms I was still having, and he said to get up to the Emergency Room here at Salina Regional right away. I was kind of pissed off, because I didn’t want to spend another few hours up at the ER just for them to tell me the same thing that McPherson did. I just wanted to lay down and rest, but it was a good thing I finally did listen to Karryle.
I got to the ER here in Salina, and they hooked me up to monitors, ran another EKG, did more chest X-rays, and gave me a CT scan.
The CT scan showed something to the ER doc that scared the crap out of him. Turns out that I had a dissected aorta. This is the same thing that killed actor John Ritter nearly 3 years ago. Doc came into my examination room and told me that I was going to have to have surgery to fix this. I was like okay, like when? I was hoping for an answer of like this month, or next week or something, but he told me that I would have to have the surgery within the next few hours if I was going to survive.
The ER team kicked into high gear, and set me up on a life-flight to Kansas Medical Center in Andover. Wow, my first surgery, airplane ride and ambulance ride all in the same day. I was scared to death. I’ve never had any kind of MAJOR health problems before in my life, and here I was facing death.
The airplane was a small cessna type “prop” plane, and I was a little nervous about the trip, as I’d never flown before, but it was a very neat experience. As soon as I got to the hospital in Andover, I was greeted by a team of what seemed like 50 people asking me questions and telling me what was going to happen. They got me into the OR and hooked me up to anesthesia, and my memories end there. While I was under the knife, they opened up my chest, and performed open heart surgery on me. As you can see, the surgery was a success, and I’m at home now recovering.
The first thing I saw when I woke up in the recovery room, was my friend Janna (Thank you so much for being there), and the only thing that I could tell her was that I had a great time on the airplane
I have a really nice looking scar down my chest, and two little holes from my chest tubes, but I’m doing well for someone that just had major surgery just a week ago.
I just want to thank all of the people that helped save my life last Wednesday, there aren’t really any words to describe how thankful I am that the fine medical team kept me among the living. I kept my promises to my family and friends that I was going to be around for a long time to come, and be able to see my kids grow up, and to be able to grow old with my wife by my side, and to spend more time on this earth with the people that I really care about.
Never, ever take anything for granted, because you never know when everything might come crashing down around you. It can happen in the blink of an eye.
Appreciate all the things that you are given in your life, and never hesitate to tell the people that you care about how you feel about them, you may not get another chance.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Lost Season Finale Reactions: Spoilers
WTF!
First off, let me start by saying "Yay, Hurley!" When I saw the Dharma van come bursting through the jungle, I actually cheered. That was an awesome moment. Hugo finally gets to be a hero.
Secondly, Charlie's sacrifice was very touching, but now with what I know from watching the last few moments of the show tonight, his sacrifice may have screwed up things in a far worse way than anyone can ever imagine.
Third: The return of Walt! Holy shit, that was a very cool moment. When I saw Malcom David Kelly's name in the credits at the beginning of the show, I started grinning from ear to ear.
Fourth: Damn that Mikhail! Maybe now the bastard will finally stay dead.
Fifth: Maybe "The Others" are the good guys after all.
Sixth: Does this mean that the timeline has been altered? Jack, during his flash-forwards, was acting as if his father was still alive.
Overall, this was a great episode. It certainly should give all of us Losties plenty to think about and hypothesize about and discuss until next season.
lost
television
abc
First off, let me start by saying "Yay, Hurley!" When I saw the Dharma van come bursting through the jungle, I actually cheered. That was an awesome moment. Hugo finally gets to be a hero.
Secondly, Charlie's sacrifice was very touching, but now with what I know from watching the last few moments of the show tonight, his sacrifice may have screwed up things in a far worse way than anyone can ever imagine.
Third: The return of Walt! Holy shit, that was a very cool moment. When I saw Malcom David Kelly's name in the credits at the beginning of the show, I started grinning from ear to ear.
Fourth: Damn that Mikhail! Maybe now the bastard will finally stay dead.
Fifth: Maybe "The Others" are the good guys after all.
Sixth: Does this mean that the timeline has been altered? Jack, during his flash-forwards, was acting as if his father was still alive.
Overall, this was a great episode. It certainly should give all of us Losties plenty to think about and hypothesize about and discuss until next season.
losttelevisionabc
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
50 things about me (that you probably didn't want to know)
1. Do you like cheese?
Cheese is like the food of the Gods!
2. Have you ever smoked heroin?
No
3. Do you own a gun?
No, I don't really like guns that much.
4. Your favorite song?
Lotion, by The Greenskeepers
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Yes, I'm always afraid that he's going to tell me that my aorta is going to rupture again
6. What do you think of when you eat hot dogs?
How dang tasty they are even though they are made of lips and assholes.
7. What's your favorite Christmas song?
"White Christmas"
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Water from a bottle, not from the tap.
9. Can you do push ups?
I'm sure that I can at least do one.
10. Is your bathroom clean?
Mostly, now if I can get my wife to pick up her clothes, then it will be completely clean ;)
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring
12. Favorite Hobby?
Playing computer games.
13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?
Women just can't resist my bald head ;)
14. Do you have A.D.D.?
Sometimes I think that I do.
15. What one trait do you hate about yourself?
My stubborness
16. Middle Name?
Curtis
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
1) I need to sleep.
2)is the bed warm?
3) What is this infomercial?
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought?
1) Books 6 and 7 of the Dark Tower Series
2) Movie Tickets for "Meet The Robinsons"
3) a 1 liter Pepsi
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
water, iced tea, cola
20. Current worry right now?
will I ever be back to 100%
21. Current hate?
Political Correctness
22. Favorite place to be?
Anywhere with my wife and kids
23. How did you bring in the New Year?
Being thankful that I was still alive.
24. Where would you like to go?
Bed
26. How many siblings do you have?
1 brother, 2 step-sisters, and 1 step brother.
27. Do you own slippers?
yes, and I wear them all the time.
28. What shirt are you wearing?
Dark blue pocket T
29. What shampoo do you use?
Whatever happens to be in the bathroom
30. Favorite color?
Purple, or black.
31. Would you like to be a pirate?
Doesn't everyone?
32. What songs do you sing in the shower?
My Humps
33. Favorite girl's name?
Myrissa
34. Favorite boy's name?
Devin
35. What's in your pockets right now?
nothing
36. Last thing that made you laugh?
Infomercials
37. Best bed sheets as a child?
Empire Strikes Back
38. Worst injury you've ever had?
My Aortic Disection
40. How many TVs do you have in your house?
4
41. Who is your loudest friend?
James
42. Who is your most silent friend?
Ozzy
43. Does someone have a crush on you?
I sure hope my wife does ;)
44. Do you wish on shooting stars?
Yes, I saw one last night, and wished to not die in my sleep ;)
45. What is your favorite book?
The Stand-Stephen King
46. What is your favorite candy?
M&M's
47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding?
Bless the Broken Road. That song really fits for my wife and me.
48. What song do you want played at your funeral?
A Feast Of Friends-Poetry by Jim Morrison, music by the Doors
49. What were you doing 12am this morning?
I don't remember
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
What the hell did I sleep so long for?
Now, fill this little thing out, and post it as a comment, or I will cry.
Cheese is like the food of the Gods!
2. Have you ever smoked heroin?
No
3. Do you own a gun?
No, I don't really like guns that much.
4. Your favorite song?
Lotion, by The Greenskeepers
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Yes, I'm always afraid that he's going to tell me that my aorta is going to rupture again
6. What do you think of when you eat hot dogs?
How dang tasty they are even though they are made of lips and assholes.
7. What's your favorite Christmas song?
"White Christmas"
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Water from a bottle, not from the tap.
9. Can you do push ups?
I'm sure that I can at least do one.
10. Is your bathroom clean?
Mostly, now if I can get my wife to pick up her clothes, then it will be completely clean ;)
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring
12. Favorite Hobby?
Playing computer games.
13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?
Women just can't resist my bald head ;)
14. Do you have A.D.D.?
Sometimes I think that I do.
15. What one trait do you hate about yourself?
My stubborness
16. Middle Name?
Curtis
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
1) I need to sleep.
2)is the bed warm?
3) What is this infomercial?
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought?
1) Books 6 and 7 of the Dark Tower Series
2) Movie Tickets for "Meet The Robinsons"
3) a 1 liter Pepsi
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
water, iced tea, cola
20. Current worry right now?
will I ever be back to 100%
21. Current hate?
Political Correctness
22. Favorite place to be?
Anywhere with my wife and kids
23. How did you bring in the New Year?
Being thankful that I was still alive.
24. Where would you like to go?
Bed
26. How many siblings do you have?
1 brother, 2 step-sisters, and 1 step brother.
27. Do you own slippers?
yes, and I wear them all the time.
28. What shirt are you wearing?
Dark blue pocket T
29. What shampoo do you use?
Whatever happens to be in the bathroom
30. Favorite color?
Purple, or black.
31. Would you like to be a pirate?
Doesn't everyone?
32. What songs do you sing in the shower?
My Humps
33. Favorite girl's name?
Myrissa
34. Favorite boy's name?
Devin
35. What's in your pockets right now?
nothing
36. Last thing that made you laugh?
Infomercials
37. Best bed sheets as a child?
Empire Strikes Back
38. Worst injury you've ever had?
My Aortic Disection
40. How many TVs do you have in your house?
4
41. Who is your loudest friend?
James
42. Who is your most silent friend?
Ozzy
43. Does someone have a crush on you?
I sure hope my wife does ;)
44. Do you wish on shooting stars?
Yes, I saw one last night, and wished to not die in my sleep ;)
45. What is your favorite book?
The Stand-Stephen King
46. What is your favorite candy?
M&M's
47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding?
Bless the Broken Road. That song really fits for my wife and me.
48. What song do you want played at your funeral?
A Feast Of Friends-Poetry by Jim Morrison, music by the Doors
49. What were you doing 12am this morning?
I don't remember
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
What the hell did I sleep so long for?
Now, fill this little thing out, and post it as a comment, or I will cry.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Severe Weather Season
Those of you that know me well, will know that I am fascinated with all types of weather phenomenon. Spring in Kansas is a veritable treasure chest of weather. My favorite type of weather is severe storms. Wind, hail, thunder, lightning, tornadoes, etc.
Today in my area of the state, we are under a tornado watch. A tornado watch means that conditions are ripe for the formation of tornadoes. More specifically, wikipedia says that a tornado watch is:
"issued when weather conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms that are capable of producing tornadoes. A tornado watch therefore implies that it is also a severe thunderstorm watch. A tornado watch must not be confused with a tornado warning."
Right now, there is heavy rain and very small "pea-sized" hail that is falling at my house. For those of you that don't know what hail is: "Hail is a form of precipitation which consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice (hailstones), 5 mm–50 mm in diameter on average, with much larger hailstones from severe thunderstorms[1]. Hail is always produced by cumulonimbus (thunderclouds), and is composed of transparent ice or alternating layers of transparent and translucent ice at least 1 mm thick. Small hailstones are less than 5 mm in diameter, and are reported as SHGS. Unlike ice pellets, they are layered and can be irregular and clumped together."
Do any of you like severe weather as much as I do, or am I just a complete weirdo?
Today in my area of the state, we are under a tornado watch. A tornado watch means that conditions are ripe for the formation of tornadoes. More specifically, wikipedia says that a tornado watch is:
"issued when weather conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms that are capable of producing tornadoes. A tornado watch therefore implies that it is also a severe thunderstorm watch. A tornado watch must not be confused with a tornado warning."
Right now, there is heavy rain and very small "pea-sized" hail that is falling at my house. For those of you that don't know what hail is: "Hail is a form of precipitation which consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice (hailstones), 5 mm–50 mm in diameter on average, with much larger hailstones from severe thunderstorms[1]. Hail is always produced by cumulonimbus (thunderclouds), and is composed of transparent ice or alternating layers of transparent and translucent ice at least 1 mm thick. Small hailstones are less than 5 mm in diameter, and are reported as SHGS. Unlike ice pellets, they are layered and can be irregular and clumped together."
Do any of you like severe weather as much as I do, or am I just a complete weirdo?
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