The "back" things in life...

Just wanted to do a short post because I guess you must be wondering by now how I did with the open MRI and EMG. Open MRI was a success and I just wonder why anyone would ever do any other type. I had the EMG (Electromyography) on the same day I did the MRI's. I decided if I was to be tortured, I just wanted it all to be over in the same day. So the day after picking up the new puppies (which I will write about next), I went and had all of these tests done. For those of you in the know, my Orthopedic told me that the EMG would be extremely painful and yes, it was uncomfortable but nowhere even close to the pain I have everyday caused by this neck/back problem.

I went back for results for all of those tests this past Monday (10/18). Everything they indicated and more is going on in my back. In addition to the pain, I also have frequent numbness in my hands and lower arms. In addition to feeling very strange it causes some clumsy moves from time-to- time. The results affirmed the arthritis in the back and that is causing a narrowing of where the nerves enter the spinal cord, hence the numbness. There is a similar problem in my lower back. With that my doctor discharged me to a back doctor, who very appropriately is named Dr. Rumi. (I wonder just how many patients he has with arthritis?) It's kind of like going to a podiatrist called Dr. Corn or Dr. Foot. It does make me laugh when I think about it. I always thought that list of doctors that comes across in my email once in a while was fictitious. I guess there really are doctors with names appropriate for their chosen specialty. Laugh here because I know you all thought they were fake too.

Monday morning I will get up with a positive attitude and go see Doctor Rumi to see if there is anything he can do to improve my painful status. That way I could stay on here just a little longer and get some things (writing) done.

With that said, for most people all of this would be a bad thing but I choose to make it a "back" thing and plug along the only way I know how...forward.

Be well until next time...

~D

Just breathe...

Once again after a little break I'm back. I guess you might say I have been on a journey. A journey that has been frustrating. Although I learned something new about me, I almost think I'd be better off not knowing.

One of the reasons I've been writing less frequently is that I am in total and complete pain when sitting at the computer for any length of time. Unless I take something for it and we all know how ambitious anything we take for pain makes us. Not to mention the senseless schlock my brain would be committing to the perpetuity of the Internet. Finally, after putting it off for some time, I went to the doctor as I thought I might have carpal tunnel syndrome. After so many years on the computer, I just figured it caught up with me. Not so much.

What I've now learned about my body is that I have bulging discs in my neck. In my lower back I have a slipped disc. Not to mention that the arthritis that I have had intermittently in my fingers has also positioned itself in the bones of my spine. I have many bone spurs, so that even if they get the disc problem under control eventually this arthritis with time will become more of a problem. Not the news I expected or wanted to hear but hey I've dealt with a lot worse in my time and the people closest to me know that I speak the truth. I always have been and always will be the proverbial cat that still lands on its feet. After all, I haven't used up all of my nine lives, only 3 of them. I've still got the magic number 6 left. Insert snicker here for those that will get this plague of 6.

But still with all that news, that's not what I learned about myself. Following the x-rays my doctor wanted me to get two MRI's and an EMG. I was scheduled to go have the MRI's this past Tuesday. I never thought anything about it and left work early to go for my appointment. It's just the nature of my job that I usually end up being early for appointments because I get when the getting is good. I got to the doctors office and checked in. The MRI tech got all ready and I was ready so we started. The loud ticking of the machine wasn't scary but looking into that tiny space of the MRI was.

You all know that I am a bigger person so I asked. The tech was very reassuring that I would fit fine so I calmed down, laid down and focused on getting this two hours of my life over with. I would do anything to get out of this pain. Well I guess I should restate that to be almost anything. After placing the plate over my face the machine began to slide me head first into the machine and as the machine covered my face panic set in. I am not a panicky person so I tried to convince myself this is just a medical test I can take it. I inched a little further into the machine and this overwhelming feeling of being buried alive consumed me. My eyes are closed, hands were crossed on my body and I truly felt that this must be how it must feel to be dead. PANIC and I mean it in a screaming way. I was hitting that panic button for all it was worth and punching the sides of the machine to get out. I cannot tell you how it felt when they finally got me out but needless to say, I've never taken a better breath of air in my life than at that moment my head came out of the machine.

The MRI tech tried to be understanding and tried to calm me down but all I wanted was to be out of there. I went to the reception desk, explaining that I couldn't go through with the procedure because I felt like I was in a casket. To which the dimwit at the desk replied, "Well how do you know that? Have you ever been in one?" All of you that know me very well know I think fast so I replied "Well, I do know that I have several family members that are in one and I don't want to be the next to try it out, even in practice." Needless to say that pretty much shut her up.

Now we get to the point, here is what I learned about myself. I suffer from a bit of claustrophobia. I have been in many tight places including the little round cylinder in the airport where they lock you in and run air over your body to analyze the results and that's a pretty small space. I never had this problem before, so where did it come from? The intelligent side of me tells me that this is a routine test that millions of people have everyday with no problem but the illogical fear still rules my brain. I just can't get past this one.

I have now scheduled an open MRI for the same day I have the EMG on October 7th. I have heard that the open MRI is similar to a CAT Scanner and I've had that before without incident. So I'm hopeful that I will be able to have that done. They have informed me that if they can't do the open MRI that I would have to be put to sleep to have the test done. Without the test they cannot treat. Let's hope that I don't have to be put to sleep (like a sick dog) to have this test done. I'll report back because I know you'll all be waiting to read more about my medical adventures.

If it's any consolation, I'll be staying at a hotel in Dallas from Sunday to Wednesday and most of you already know how many wonderful adventures I have when I stay in hotels. Can you feel that sarcasm coming through yet?

I thought so... until next time...

~D~

Burning....

I can't help but notice the irreverent hoopla surrounding the recent activity by the Reverend Terry Jones of the 50 member Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, FL who plan to burn the Quran this coming Saturday. Talk about media attention! Phew! I haven't heard a newscast yet that isn't regurgitating it about every five seconds. All the while, General Petraeus is warning that proceeding with the plan could instigate violence against our troops and citizens still overseas. Like we haven't already provoked them just by invading their country? Give me a break. We went to a country where we weren't wanted for a nonexistent reason and way overstayed any minimal welcome we might have initially had. Oh, did I mention we were there for a nonexistent reason? Well, I just can't say that enough. We still haven't caught Bin Laden who appears to be still around spreading hate and discontent to anyone who'll listen.

Here is the link to this story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-koran-burning-20100908,0,7795425.story

So does burning the Quran seem like such a bad thing in light of all of the bad things that have already been done to our troops and citizens overseas? I didn't see us over here killing Muslims the last time the Muslims celebrated overseas in the town square by burning our flags and effigies of our political figures. I mean enough already.

Is a show of burning the Quran as a freedom of speech display to support a religious organization's belief against the very real atrocities of the radical Muslims such an outrage in light of the number of our military troops (among others) who have lost their lives? Those men & women are fighting for our right to be able to have this type of protest. I don't think anything should happen to the troops or citizens that may be there but if the radical Muslims have their way they would be decapitated and for a reason far less than burning the Quran.

I could understand the Muslim outrage at our actions if we're going to take 50 Muslims (because we don't know which ones may be radical) and burn them in the street. In my opinion, it wouldn't even begin to be close to equal to the number of Americans that have already lost their lives due to the radical Muslims. For doing nothing more than just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I am a bit radical by nature and I tend to think to the extreme. So while I'll probably not light a Quran on fire, not out of respect or due to my religious beliefs but because I believe in the "people's" right to live their lives the way they see fit. I believe in the rights we adopted under the Constitution and not the continually evolving interpretations used to create more control. The Constitution is about rights, not control. We need to start being more sensitive to people's rights and not so hung up on control. Most of the fight about issues in our country are about control and not rights. Under my first amendment right, it is my right to say, if you're a Muslim in America, I am open to accepting you in my country and my life, however, if you're a radical Muslim who has a plan to hurt even one American then you need to leave this country. Do not pass go and do not collect $200.

Now that we're on the subject, this has a direct tie to the rights that the people in New York are talking about when it comes to the Mosque building. Yes. You have the right to build a Mosque under our Constitution and Reverend Terry Jones and his followers have the right to destroy a copy of the Quran if they choose, after all the Constitution provides us the right to practice all religions. Reverend Terry Jones (and parishioners) believe that in the freedom allowed to practice their religion and under their first amendment rights they are able to burn a book (the Quran) that isn't part of their religion. Religious freedom and freedom of speech. Two of our most basic Constitutional rights have turned both the Mosque issue and the Quran burning threat into an exercise in control rather than a battle of rights.

Just like Greg Gutfield has the right to build a gay bar on the corner by the Mosque and just like someone else has the right to build a Texas authentic Barbecue on the other side of the Mosque. (See my earlier post on this issue.) This is a free country for the most part (however, I add here for emphasis little by little we are losing our freedom).

So in ending tonight my point is this and I've been saying it all week: Just because you have a right to do something, that in and of itself doesn't make it right no matter how much justification you can provide.

Think about it.

Until the next time ~D

On an Even Keel: Islamic Mosque.... Ohhh, My!

On an Even Keel: Islamic Mosque.... Ohhh, My!: "I have been patient listening to the issues surrounding the mosque issue in NYC and I can tell you I've had about enough of the blitz on the..."

Islamic Mosque.... Ohhh, My!

I have been patient listening to the issues surrounding the mosque issue in NYC and I can tell you I've had about enough of the blitz on the issue. I don't how you feel but I am sure that I feel if we continue to keep elevating these issues to the level that they are we will have a much larger internal war than we have right now. I am not religious. I don't care how you worship just don't shove your "god" down my throat because I'm not listening anymore. Picture me with my fingers in my ears singing la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la .... Blah-de-blah, blah ... because that's what it sounds like now (laugh now because you know you pictured it and it's funny). Is it me or are we becoming so tired of listening to it that we can't hear it anymore?

That seems to be where we're going lately. We're so inundated by an issue that we speak out because we are offended by a situation but no one listens. So we speak louder and still we cannot get any attention. Then in outrage because it so totally pisses us off, we yell as loud as we can hoping to be heard. But because we are just a soft whisper in the loud roar of the media, no one will listen to what WE (the people) want anymore. Finally, defeated, we just shut down. We don't have the media attention to cover our outrage unless their "network" is going to get something from it. After all, there's no story of the people. The State Department isn't spending money on us (the people) or sponsoring our visit to foreign countries with no specific purpose, except to backhandedly legitimize (or try to justify) the presidential endorsement of an Islam mosque being built so close to ground zero. The President isn't listening to our wants or needs even though we continue to scream at the tops of our lungs. As we rage against the machine, only the machine is winning.

We're being broken down by the system, people! A system that only cares about making us a socialist country so they can be in charge of everything in our life. They've got their noses in the people's life, health, money and probably someday our death (all while we're screaming and beating our chest that we're not ready to go anywhere). Remember, the best way to quell the masses is to pretend you agree with them and distract them while you're accomplishing what you set out to do. I only ask you to keep this in mind in any battle that you decide to fight in life. Whether it's about the mosque in NYC, the doctor who's going to provide your care, an issue with your significant other (or spouse) on down to who's buying your lunch.

The first two rules I learned in my business career are CYA (cover your ass) and there's no such thing as a free lunch. I tell this to associates that are coming into the business world and I reinforce it with anyone I know, whenever I can. Keep it in mind. It applies in life as well. The next time someone offers you something for nothing (rule 2) always know that nothing good will come from it and if there's any doubt about the outcome refer to rule number 1, CYA.

To wrap this up, when I started writing tonight this isn't what I anticipated writing but it comes from the heart. I really wanted to write about a story that someone sent me today. My Dear friend "G" from Florida sent me a story by email about this man named Greg Gutfield that is planning to build a gay bar next to the proposed Islamic mosque in NYC and that he is going to cater his bar to Islamic gay men. I thought it was a great story and then wondered if it was true and guess what it is! Hallelujah, praise Allah! You have just got to love the irony of it! You know you're chuckling. So am I. With that I am passing it along to you because I just think it's the best idea ever, aside from maybe opening an authentic Texas Barbecue that only serves the best pork ever as the anchor restaurant for the building. I know you're chuckling again. So am I.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/greg-gutfield-to-open-a-gay-bar-next-to-ground-zero-mosque-to-cater-to-islamic-gay-men/

When I talked to "G" last night after a long time with no communication, she told me how much she likes reading my blogs. Her friends, sister and some of their friends are also reading. So while they're not officially following me on this site, it's nice to know that they're reading and enjoying it. It spurs me on to continue this writing journey. So, I will continue writing and hopefully, you will read.

Thanks for tuning in until next time...
~D

Infant-Toddler - icide - Why?

I have been following a story closely this week, especially because it's happened before. In Orangeburg, SC less than 100 miles from where Susan Smith drowned her children in October 1994. I follow all of the kid stories religiously (murdered, missing, beaten). It's like an addiction for me. I'm not sure why. I guess I just find it unbelievable that a mother could abuse or kill a defenseless child. It tells me that these mothers have no conscience. If they could kill their own children then they can kill anyone, including you and me, without conscience.

Briefly, in the Orangeburg case, for those that haven't heard about it (I'm not sure how you didn't), the mother orchestrated a pretty complex "get away with murder" plot. From paying money to stay in a hotel and rent a car to getting it into the water with her already deceased children in it. She asphyxiated them long before they ever made it to the water and then walked away to "get help" to the farthest location possible, without a drop of water on herself. These children were completely defenseless. One just over a year old and one just under 3 years old. The 1 year old child never knew what happened. The 2 year old fought like hell as supported by the evidence, all because his 29 year old "mom" (and I use that word loosely) who clearly didn't want to accept any responsibility for the children she made, fought with her mother about the care she was providing to the two boys. It should be noted that this "mom" also has a 10 year old daughter that lives with her grandmother. What a waste. She should have just killed herself instead. Now that wouldn't be a waste in my mind. This "mom" should have to suffer the same fate as her children and even that would be too kind.

For those that are interested here is the story: http://abcnews.go.com/News/children-dwon-south-carolina-river-mother-arrested/story?id=11413283

There was a case not long ago here in Austin of a little boy (Julian, 5) who was found less than a mile from his apartment complex. For the longest time APD didn't make an arrest only to finally arrest the caretaker (Ms. Turner), the girlfriend of Julian's father. Again, I say let the mother suffer the same death as her children. Regardless that this wasn't Julian's mother, Ms. Turner had accepted that role when she "hooked-up" with Julian's father. For you unbeliever's here is the link to that story:

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/crime/Girlfriend-indicted-in-child-death

And finally this week, I heard about a flight attendant on Southwest Airlines who took a one year old away from its mother after "mom" slapped her one year old child in the face after the child kicked her. After the flight ended, the child was returned to the parents. Why? Unfortunately, we have become a society of "I don't want to get involved". Does anyone beside me believe its insanity to think that a one year old would benefit in anyway by being slapped in the face? If this mother did this in public on a plane is there any doubt that she would do worse in the privacy of her own home? What are we going to do as a society when in 5 years something much more serious happens to this child because "mom" couldn't control herself? I've got an idea! Let's put "mom" in a public venue and let everyone that was on that flight slap her in the face so that she can experience the public abuse and humiliation her child did. Extreme, I know but giving her back the child isn't a great approach either. My only satisfaction is that I do think she's experiencing a bit of abuse and humiliation already due to the media coverage surrounding the incident. Check it out here if you're so inclined:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38739441

So did "moms" really all get that crazy and selfish or is it just media blitz? I don't know the answer to that but I will still follow all of these types of stories. I can only hope that someday we really will be a country of an eye-for-an-eye most especially when it comes to murder or abuse of a child. I don't think any of America's criminals learn anything from our current "justice" system except for how to get-off or get a free ride at the taxpayer's expense. That's why we have so many lifers and repeat offenders. This subject will be reserved for a later blog.

So what do we do? How do we stop insanity? There's no answer but if you're as passionate as I am about the issue then speak up. Maybe that will at least reduce the insanity.

That's all for now folks, until I write again...
~D

I'mmmmm backkkk!

Sorry all. I have just been very busy with a walk down Memory Lane. For the last couple of weeks I've been putting together some music CD's for some special people in my life. Additionally, for those that don't know I'm getting ready for new puppies in October (6th to be exact). Writing hasn't been my first priority. I have now returned with what I hope will be a good balance of the good, the bad and the ugly.

I also know the reality is I probably haven't been missed too much. I know a lot of you are getting ready to get your kids off to school, while wondering "how an I going to deal with traffic again?" At least here in the Austin area, the opening of school means a huge increase in traffic at peak times. With that said, this week one of my focuses will be to talk about some of the issues I've heard about over the last couple of week but have just been too busy to write about.

For all of my 5 loyal followers this week's for you!
~D