I received that photo above in a text message yesterday which said, “Scottie Pippen at Pastafina in MW yesterday!” I guess that beats the time Dick Motta came to town for an athletic banquet and Shawn Bradley being spotted at the True Value.
I have silverware or metal cutlery, but for some reason, my kids prefer to use plastic spoons and forks.
Very few people will remember shopping at Poston’s Dry Goods in Mineral Wells. I’m one of them. The store, I found out, is now a hub for all things Mineral Wells.
Next year will be my 30-year high school reunion. I’d like to go and spend a day and a half checking out what all has changed. But, I may skip the reunion because I’m embarrassed about my divorce. Hopefully I’ll have a different perspective of things by next year.
I had 54 tabs opened on my phone, but I’ve now managed to get to something in the teens.
I think it’s pretty neat how my doctor notes are available online the day following my visit. It gives me a chance to look up vague terminology and works as a pleasant reminder of a few things I may have overlooked. Below is a section of the notes my neurosurgeon wrote. The only thing I question is this part, ” I believe he is a reasonable candidate.” Medically or procedurally speaking, other than “reasonable”, what are other categories or options, good, bad, strong, weak? I couldn’t find a “reasonable” answer after five-minutes of research.
I had a long conversation in the office today with the patient regarding the recent lumbar spine MRI scan findings. We looked at the MRI scan together and discussed the significance of the findings. We discussed the natural history of lumbar spinal stenosis with neurologic symptoms as well as treatment options. Both conservative and surgical options were discussed as well as the pros and cons of each. I outlined the use of medical therapy including anti-inflamatory medications, physical therapy, pain management including injections, alternative modalities, and finally surgical intrervention. Surgery to treat this condition would consist of a lumbar L3-4 laminectomy with medial facetectomy and foraminotomies and decompression of the nerve roots at the involved site. Since he has a prior L4-5 stabilization arthrodesis and would be at risk of instability, I would perform a concomitant posterior lateral arthrodesis utilizing his own bone. I went over this surgery as well as risks and recovery. Risks such as infection, poor wound healing, anesthetic risks, permanent pain, numbness, weakness, and unforeseen catastrophic injury were all discussed. The patient is markedly symptomatic despite extensive conservative treatment including physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, management with epidural steroid injections, and medicines. He would like to move forward with surgical intervention. Under the circumstances I believe he is a reasonable candidate. The patient has a good understanding and concurs with this plan.
Posted inPersonal|Comments Off on Bag of Randomness for Wednesday, March 22, 2023
I think I’m going to commit to making more mental health posts. When I was at my lowest, with thoughts of ending my life, instead of my wife standing by my side or even asking anyone for help, all she did was run away, from me and from her problems. I never felt more alone. The abandonment was more than I could bear. A lot of you start your day off with this little blog and maybe some of you need a little encouragement to get through a rough spot. I’m going to provide what I wish I had. And, don’t be afraid to call a crisis helpline. Sure, my ex and her family used it against me in court to keep our kids away from me, but most of you will never experience backstabbing like that. If you need some help, dial 988.
988 is the easy-to-remember number that reaches what is commonly referred to as the Lifeline—a network of more than 200 state and local call centers funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse Administration and administered by Vibrant Emotional Health.
The thing you’re upset about is probably not the thing you’re upset by. You can handle a lot–when you reach your limit, there’s probably a big pile of upsetting things that got you there. The one you’re thinking about is just the one on top. The one you should be trying to fix is the biggest one, and it’s usually closer to the bottom of the pile than the top.
A tiny bit of progress is better than none at all. Healing and coping isn’t an all-or-nothing situation. If you’re too depressed to take a shower, but you can manage to brush your teeth, great! You don’t have to do the full program for it to be a success. Maybe tomorrow you’ll shower instead, or you’ll just freshen up at the sink. You can’t manage to do a full 45 min yoga flow, but you can do the 10 min of light stretching? Great! Any physical activity is better than none. Etc.
you should curate your “viewing diet”. what you spend your time watching online affects your mental health. you should avoid media you know is actively harming you
You aren’t responsible for others’ happiness. Always be there for your loved ones and support them however you can, but you can do everything right and still not be able to help/fix someone. If someone is drowning, throw them all the life preservers you can find, but don’t swim out and join them or you’ll soon find yourself drowning right alongside them.
Interested applicants “must have ability to hike in strenuous conditions, have the courage to crawl into a bear den, and have the trust in your coworkers to keep you safe during the process,” wrote the department.
There’s so much I love about my Nissan Leaf, but there are times I just need an extended range. My daughter has a softball game this week in Gainesville. If it could go another 30 miles on a full charge, I’d be set. Instead, I have to rent a car just to make it to my daughter’s game. It was such a perfect car when we were a two-car family. Man, I miss the days when I was debt free and could put away extra funds at the end of the month. Attorney fees and medical debt are getting the better of me.
A military friend told me he was recently summoned to Germany to serve as a character witness at a court martial. His life sounds a lot more exciting than mine.
Had President Ford not granted Nixon an almost immediate “full, free and absolute” pardon in 1974, later Presidents might not have felt so licensed to break the law.
Researchers have developed a “space salad” perfected suited for astronauts on long-duration spaceflights. The salad has seven ingredients (soybeans, poppy seeds, barley, kale, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and sweet potatoes) that can be grown on spacecraft and fulfill all the nutritional needs of astronauts. Eat your heart out, Matt Damon.
It’s kinda crazy that U2 released their latest album on a green cassette tape on St. Patrick’s Day. If you zoom in enough on the tiny print, you’ll see it says 2023.
First there was a U2 and David Letterman collaboration which I thought was tailor made for me and couldn’t get any better, but their collaboration with NPR is a close second. The Edge is so vastly under-rated.
Duke Ellington School of the Arts Choir: Petra Munter, Ayan Yacob, Kirsten Holmes, Jayla Norwood, Dyor Taylor, Jaylyn Pickney, Jevon Skipper, Joshua Jennings, Jordan Freeman
Patrick Lundy: choir director
Special thanks to: Sandi Logan (principal/HOS), Isaac Daniel (assistant principal)
Right before “Stuck in a Moment” Bono talks about how we should have arguments with our difficult friends. I found it insightful.
Posted inPersonal|Comments Off on Bag of Randomness for Monday, March 20, 2023
It’s St. Patrick’s day, which means the Bono and The Edge and David Letterman special has dropped on Disney+.
Maybe it’s been this way for years, but I noticed that the basketball courts for the NCAA tournament don’t have a center circle anymore. Well, at least one that’s visible on an HDTV.
I like the way the U.S. totally played Russia with the drone accident. Our government put it out there gently, then let Russia lie, wait a few days, then reveal a video that proves the opposite of what they said.
I just made up a conspiracy theory which I hope turns into an urban legend. The Coca-Cola we drink today is New Coke, the company just slightly altered the taste each year so the public wouldn’t take notice. Classic is the new New Coke.
Coke should bring back New Coke for a limited time just for a publicity stunt.
Not that I’m a Pepsi fan, but they should have never updated their logo.
I have a spinal fusion surgery (technically, a re-exploratory laminectomy & fusion) scheduled for Friday, April 14, 2023. This won’t be as major as my spinal fusion surgery in 2019 or as serious as my neck surgery in December 2021, but it’s still spinal surgery, and I’d appreciate your thoughts and/or prayers. I may need some help to get to and from the hospital. Depending on how the surgery goes, I may stay overnight.
The moment I think I’m done with legal fees, I get another bill from my attorney. It never ends. It’s hard to move on when the past continues to pull you in.
I doubt anyone gets the inside joke of the photo at the top of today’s post. It’s not like the celebrity was in her prime in that photo. You know, early to mid-nineties.
It’s bluebonnet season. If you see a pink bluebonnet (an oxymoron?) you may be interested in the legend of the pink bluebonnet.
The announcement, made by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s education commissioner, Mike Morath, amounts to one of the largest school takeovers ever in the U.S. It also deepens a high-stakes rift between Texas’ largest city, where Democrats wield control, and state Republican leaders, who have sought increased authority following election fumbles and COVID-19 restrictions.
