What a Pain In The… June 19, 2009
Posted by changenickel in General Bitching, Observations.Tags: doctor, drugs, family, father, hospital, nurse, nurses, surgery
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Goodness, it must be over six months since I’ve posted to this blog but I found the motivation to return to old faithful after dealing with the experience of my father’s surgery. I’ve been updating Facebook with short entries but that does not begin to address the breath and scope of the experience.
My father had to have surgery on his spine at the neck. I know, sounds horrible. But after much prodding and poking and MANY delays on his part, he finally agreed to the surgery. On Tuesday my step-mother and I drove him to the hospital for a surgery that was supposed to begin at 1pm but didn’t start until 5:30pm. OK, that is a pretty big delay but if you have ever had any type of major surgery you know they don’t let you eat prior to surgery which means by the time my dad finally got rolled into the O.R. he hadn’t had anything to eat for over 18 hours. And my dad NEVER misses a meal! He was getting very antsy and at one point wanted to reschedule. The surgeon finally came in and convinced him to stay.
Fast forward to the next day after the surgery when my step-mom and I arrived for a visit to find out he was in a lot of pain. There is nothing worse than seeing your loved one in pain. Come to find out that his pain was his own fault because he was instructed to push the morphine button if he felt any pain and he went through the night without pressing it once so it hit him all at once. The cure, juice him up with tons of morphine. Yeah, that’s the answer! He was loopier than fruit loops after a few pumps of the happy juice. He thought he was at home. He also kept trying to get out of bed. Something I wouldn’t recommend seeing as how he was hooked up to more equipment than Neo before he left the Matrix! At one point he actually ripped all the tubes out of him! Argh!
But nothing tops the 2AM call I got the other night. Some nurse (who I will hunt down like caribou!) helped him dial my number. Mind you, he is off morphine but it is still in his system along with plenty of other drugs! He was begging me to come get him and take him home. What?! I was like, “Go back to bed! We will talk about this in the morning!” Of course I can’t sleep now!
Yesterday was much better. The drugs had FINALLY worn off and he was getting back to his good old self, albeit still in pain but that is to be expected. He and I were trying to get some sleep in his room but I always forget how noisy hospitals are. It’s amazing that anyone gets any sleep in the place! At one point there must have been five nurses in the room (He was sharing the room with another person) all doing different things. That place is an example of controlled chaos! There was some debate if the doctors were going to keep him for another day but thank the gods they let him go yesterday! My step-mother and I drove him home, sat him in his lazzy boy and she and I had a tall beer! OK we had a couple of beers. If we weren’t so tired we would have had a couple of shots too! I’m just glad it is over. Phase 2 recovery. He was already told that he couldn’t drive for at least 6 weeks. Wonder who’s going to be chaufering him around? I wonder who that would be…….?
No Nightcap in The Hood! November 28, 2008
Posted by changenickel in General Bitching, Observations.Tags: family, holiday, Thanksgiving
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There should be a law against bars being closed on holidays. How is that even possible? Of all the days of the year for the bars in my neighborhood to be closed they pick Thanksgiving! I think that is insanity!! After running errands, cooking all day and dealing with family drama, a nightcap at your local pub is a requirement!! But no, nothing was open in my neighborhood. I qualify by saying ‘my neighborhood’ because I know for a fact that the gay bars in boystown were DEFINITELY open! As a matter of fact, the last time I went to boystown after spending all that joyous time with the family the bars were practically bursting at the seems!! But I was quite tired last night and didn’t want to venture that far. Now you can not tell me that straight folks are more adjusted when visiting their family than the gays! Nope, in my family everyone is fair game. The gay bars definitely have it right. Stay open on the big holiday. If the bars need to be closed they should pick something like Pulaski Day or President’s Day.
Pride Revitalized! November 10, 2008
Posted by changenickel in Country, Election, marines, pride.3 comments
This nation has done a remarkable thing by electing its first African-American President. I have gone though so many emotions regarding this monumental event sometimes I’m not sure if I should jump for joy or cry for joy. It is a testament to the very foundation of our nation and its ability to remake itself. So I can say without a doubt that I am proud of my country again. It has been a long time since I have been able to say that.
Today marks the 233rd birthday of the US Marine Corps. As a former Marine I distinctly remember that time of my life and how I felt about the Corps and my country. I was brimming with pride for being part of an elite fighting force in the most powerful country in the world. Regardless of how you feel about the military it is much more than just fighting. The Marine Corps gave me more than I could ever imagine and skills I use to this day. So today I look back at that time in my life with great nostalgia and remember what was instilled in me. Duty, honor and dedication to Country and Corps. I believe my dedication to country continues when I march with Veteran’s For Peace and protest the actions of my country when I contact my representatives and tell them I agree or do not agree with positions they have taken on a particular bill, when I volunteer my time to charity and also when I vote. I believe that this election will instill
that same sense of pride in so many people who felt they did not have a voice. I foresee a new awakening of ownership, service and duty in this great country of ours.
Revenge – I Like Mine Served Cold! November 4, 2008
Posted by changenickel in Election, Lieberman, Obama, senate.add a comment
I’ve been watching these damn polls way too much! Though I am a bit nervous about the Presidential election I do believe that it is highly unlikely that Obama will lose (unlikely, not impossible). The races I have been watching with a little more attention are the Senate races. That’s where the bread and butter are for Obama. I have been praying for Dems to get those sixty seats but the numbers just aren’t panning out that way. Looks like they may get 58 at best and most likely 56. But that fat lady has not sang (or is it sung?) yet and it’s not over until it is over. Passing all that legislation that Obama has been promising with a solid filibuster proof majority would be great but what I really want is plain and simple revenge on that turncoat Lieberman! I want him out! He is a kiss ass and the turdball of the Senate who should NOT have a committee chair. I’m not sure what he has on the Dems and all the politics
involved but it would be nice if spineless Ried would take away that chair from Lieberman. If/when Obama wins watch how fast this turdball starts speaking nice-nice about Obama. Mock my words!
There’s a Train Wreck, Where is NTSB!? October 28, 2008
Posted by changenickel in Election, Observations, Politics.Tags: campaign, Election, McCain, Palin, presidential, Republican
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I have one question. What the hell is going on with the Republicans and their party?! Even though 
I’m a progressive (which means I have a conscious) I have admired the way the Republicans stick together no matter how bad the policies they were trying to push. These days it is like watching a train wreck! It started with the Washington “cocktail” conservative pundits who started saying crazy (true) stuff about Ms. Palin and how she wasn’t qualified to be VP let alone P! Then there was Colin Powell’s endoresment of Obama. After he jumped ship the rest of the rats started leaping. The Presidential election is a week away and there have been some snipes internal to the McCain campaign between staffers and Gov. Palin. Apparently they think she is a Diva. Honeys, I’ve known divas and let me tell you, she’s no diva! There is also talk of the GOP pulling support back from the campaign to shore up congressional candidates.
And if that were not bad enough Uncle Ted was just convicted in Federal court for lying about receiving gifts from Veco the oil services company. Say it ain’t so Uncle Ted?! With all this turmoil and infighting in the party there is nothing less than a fight for the soul.. Sory, laughing right now… of the Republican party if McCain doesn’t win this election. With all the turmoil, mis-steps, fumbles and bumbles you would think they had mistakenly stolen the Democratic playbook on how not to win an election! Hold on, did I just hear another train??
Voters Unite! October 15, 2008
Posted by changenickel in Election, registration, vote, voting.add a comment
We are in the home stretch of this crazy election so the last thing you want is to go to the polls on election day and discovery you can’t vote!! Here is a site that should point you to your state board of elections to let you know if you are registered to vote. You should also take note that it is not too late in many states to register. Even though registration officially ended in Illinois on 10/7/08 we have a grace period until 10/21/08 so don’t be discouraged.
Also, make sure to pass this information on to friends who are in swing states since those are the true battle grounds for this election.
http://www.votersunite.org/info/RegInfo.asp
