Da Bills!!!! I've got my Fantasy Team and Pigskin Pick 'ems all set!!! Going to the Superbowl baby-to face Robyn's team!
Bring it on baby!!
Allergies bad...Benadryl good...(snore)
Suz and I started going through a lot of the shower gifts today...good stuff. Egyptian towels...soft...cuddly...
Was going to hit church in the AM but not with my allergies like this.
We're heading to the parents' house of the Fran Clan-his parents are babysitting Erin while Fran & his wife are at the DCA Drum/Bugle Corp finals in Scranton PA. Fran used to be part of the Empire Statesmen-he's hardcore Drum & Bugle but can't play due to work. Hope they're enjoying themselves.
Anyways, Fran's parents are building a new garage as his Dad bought a truck that can't fit in the old one (Silverado-gorgeous truck!). We were invited to check out the new garage his Dad is building and check up on Erin.
Bachelor Party next Saturday-should be interesting.
Sorry I've been obsessing over my mother, friends. I think we've turned the corner. She called me before work today-said her Endoscopy revealed all (ick?). Apparently her Allergy meds conflicted with something else and gave her a Esophageal Yeast Infection. Ummm..ew. Anyways finally knowing whassup has made us all feel better.
As a result I had a good day at work today. Cranked Support Mail out like a badboy-226..woot!
It's Friday Five time!!!
1. Are you going to school this year?
Nope...
2. If yes, where are you going (high school, college, etc.)? If no, when did you graduate?
Graduated High School in 87 and College in 95
3. What were your favorite school subjects?
Science & Health...English wasn't bad.
4. What were your least favorite school subjects?
Anything Math related.
5. Have you ever had a favorite teacher? Why was he/she a favorite?
My Health teacher rocked...Mr Sherman. I grew up with his daughter. Just a nice guy who occasionally let me display my Superior medical knowledge to the class (growing up with a doctor and a nurse for parents yer gonna learn something at the dinner table)
I have promised in past posts that I'd discuss disabilities (not only my own) more in-depth. In my tired, thoughtful and pondering state I figured why not start now. Some of my thoughts are generated from a talk I give to college & high school students called "Disabilities & Discrimination: A Personal View". Comments welcome and wanted.
A question I get often is "How Do I Refer To Your...`Condition`?"
First off--I am not "contagious". You may laugh but I've seen this often enough from uneducated parents who yank their kids away with the "Don't Get Near Him-You'll Catch It" Syndrome (tm)- DGNHYCI for short.
Children only learn from asking questions. One time many years ago in a local mall, a bright-eyed young boy came up and tugged on my pant leg and asked, "Mister-why you don't have fingers like mine?"
As I was about to answer the mother came over with obvious DGNHYCI Syndrome and snatched him away and slapped him hard for doing that even though she was not more than a few feet away and in plain view (and she left a mark on him). Mind you I don't touch people unless given permission. Well I freaked-not only was she violently ill from the DGNHYCI Syndrome but she was beating her child in public. Well I actually went up, and took the child, and screamed for someone to call Security. Nowadays I'd get sued for this. I then hit the next payphone and called 911. Well...an hour later the cops agreed with me and made the mother sit there and watch him ask me questions for an hour and a half-and that was a terrific consequence. Charges were not pressed for the slap as I honestly think it was a knee-jerk response of a scared uneducated parent.
My official medical "condition" is that I have a Birth Defect called "Congenital Bilateral Amputation with Single Digit Hands". I have one finger on each hand and both of my legs were amputated below the knees when I was young to make way for Artificial Limbs, which I have since relocated to my parents' attic. I do use a brace on my left hand which allows me to manipulate items. My right finger has a permanent hook which allows me to grab things as well. I can also give a mean chokeslam or a paralyzing "Spock" touch to a misbehaving nephew or niece :)
I do drive-I also type 90-something words per minute on a good day and on a familiar keyboard.
As for the artificial legs-we discovered in my "Pre-teen Years" that I could do more without them and I am an incredibly active person. I have tremendous upper body strength and excellent balance.
What words do I Use to Describe Myself??
Unique, special (I am too! :) ), perceptive, successful....amongst others.
Am I cocky and arrogant-sure? But as Suz says, I've had to be to survive with 4 older brothers with no significant issues ('cept alcoholism/substance abuse). But I am incredibly confident in myself as my parents taught me how to handle myself in just about all situations. Sometimes I do talk myself into trouble and I'm quite good at it-but what you get yourself into, you will quickly learn how to get out-of I believe.
Didn't sleep much last night...took another unpaid day off.
Spent a lot of time with Mom today to let Dad get out for a bit-we talked a lot. Mom is better-apparently the anti-inflammatory meds for her kneed are finally impacting her digestive tract therefore not letting anything go by her stomach-which in turn results in vomiting. She's now on Tylenol strictly-says her back feels better. X-Rays/MRI shows no tumors or cancer in the entire tract (whew).
After Mom I went to lunch with The Fran Clan-speaking of which, please go over and read his latest post about someone scratching his brand new Saturn Vue.
Then I came home and caught a solid 45 min nap which has made all the difference in how I feel. I'm back to work Friday.
I'm pretty sure we're turning the corner now. Rock-bottom has been hit. Thank you all for your support during this.
Well I got to work after sleeping for about 5 hours...did my usual pre-work routing-called Mom and completely fell apart emotionally. Needless to say, I took an unpaid day and came home. Work is supportive of me-I'm no longer worried about that.
Mom does not have a bowel obstruction-this is good. Why she can't eat/expel-we don't know. More tests coming but at least some info is coming our way.
Offered to come right there from work but she doesn't want me there right now. Since I'm home-I'm gonna play some Everquest and take a much-needed nap.
I just received an email from someone (faked address/name) saying how I need to be tough and keep working through this. In a way I agree, however, I have two parents who despite years of smoking, have been incredibly healthy. If we knew why Mom was ill I would probably deal better, but we don't know and that unknown factor scares the shit out of me. I am stressed out from the shower last weekend and then you add this on top of it-something tell me you'd feel it too.
Work is brutal...100+ calls in queue right up until 11pm..not fun. Pissed off users...and by the way when does "I would like you to please completely shut your computer down" deserve a response of "You mean Restart it?"-Nooooooo!. Then again I'm lucky if they even ask me usually a few seconds later it's "Oops-I thought you meant to restart it." Or if they do they just hit the Power button instead of Start-Shutdown-Shutdown...oh joy another Scandisk.
Mom Update: Sees her doctor tmrw...something's gotta break...hopefully its her will, and she goes into the hospital. I'm gonna sit with her whether she likes it or not. Last time Mom was in the hospital as a patient it was delivering me...she sat with me during my many surgeries. Time for baby boy to repay the favor.
I'm tired...gotta get up early and get some papers signed. Sorry if I'm babbling lately.
Suz had her Bridal Shower today...It started at 11:30-I showed up at 1:30-the food rocked. The place was Red Fedele's Brookhouse. I walk in not expecting anything as Suz's sister didn't pay for me to eat. Well the owner met me at the door and offered me a full plate which I ate a bit of (I having morning upset stomach due to my allergies-no longer think its a sinus infection).
I think I'm still in shock-watching all these people who are there celebrating for us! It took my van, Suz's car and my brother's gf's car to get everything home. I am in absolute awe. The wedding is going to shatter my reality I think.
Mom update-not good. Other complications are occurring and I think hospitalization & surgery is impending, but that's just what I think. I have arranged to take a couple days unpaid from work if necessary-and Management and the Union are backing me fully.
Ebay stuff has been updated.
In other news The Fran Clan has posted the next installment on their moving sage and their daughter's eye surgery-please visit.
Well obviously there's lack of sleep and general crankiness...
With me we add big ugly painful canker sores. Especially brutal when you talk on the phone for your source of living.
Had one that started last weekend-rubbing against my front lower vamp tooth-got some Eckert's "Dental Oxide"..3 days gone-great. Now I get one in the upper left crux of the gumline-and its rubbing against a molar with a massive filling in it which I now think is cracked. Dental Oxide doesn't reach it. Just went to the store (5 mins down the road and open 24/7)-no Ambesol. However I got these Orajel swabbies...I hate regular Orajel because its nasty pasty stuff and I get nervous 'bout swallowing it and paralyzing my throat or something. However these swabbies are kinda neat...and have dulled it for now. Methinks a Dentist visit is in order.
Tonight we had my brother's kids...we watched the Nascar race at Bristol...wow. Jeff Gordon spun out and took out his radiator...(sniff) (choke-gag-bwahahahaa). Kids passed out on the couch and Suz went to bed. I watched Species--cool movie. Natasha Henstridge-woofers.
Suz's Bridal Shower is at 11:30am today...I show up at 1:30/2 to get the loot and a piece o cake!!! :)
Goodnight...
"If you live eighty years, at best you get six minutes of pure magic." (From my George Carlin Desk Calendar)
One of the very few I disagree with...there is magic in every single day. There's magic in a little girl's birthday party, there's magic in a sunny day....and today even though she came home from work sick (sinus headache) Suz smiled and kissed me before I left for work.....
I did something the other day. Before I tell the story-Suz is not pissed. I'm her "Knight in Shining Armor". Ok everyone on 3...awwwww. :)
I've always wanted someone to hit on Suz so I can tell them to back off...it's a guy thing.
See, now ya have to read it...
There is this guy is Suz's past...we'll call him..his name-Gary. The story I'm gonna tell has been confirmed by multiple sources. He's in Boston-I don't give a flying fuck if he does see this. Anyways when her ex-fiance Rich (really good friend of mine too) died 7 years ago Gary turned up the hot-meter on her and invited her to visit him in Boston. She made it clear she did not want a relationship with him-friends only-that's it. Well he jumped her and was your basic sleazy, loser asshole. She slapped him and bolted.
He's so bad-for those in the know, I'd rather have J around then this guy. For those not in the know I'll talk about J another time but trust me-it's a profound statement. I mean..he uses WebTV (cringe). (Apologies to non-sleazy decent WebTV users).
Well he has never let go of the idea he could be with her. She kept getting his emails and decided if he could hold it as a friendship she'd stick around, but if he vanished she wouldn't be torn up about it. He'd email her little stupid poems and religious stuff.
She was hedging on telling him he wasn't going to be invited to the wedding because I'd probably maul him with a spork repeatedly if he stepped into the same 1-mile quadrant. He sent her roses in email (virtual, but hey...there's a line) and pretty much said he loved her.
I sent him back a very carefully well-written letter talking about the upcoming wedding and how happy we are (I'm evil, mkay?). Then I told him I am completely fine with them having a friendship, but sending her roses (even virtual) knowing his past, was unacceptable and that I am the only man (well aside from Fran) who is allowed to give her roses.
Wouldn't ya know it he hasn't written back...awwwww we're so upset (sniff)
Ok we're fine now.
Bye-bye space-lady!
Mom Update: She's up much easier now...she can walk with a walker and at least take care of her personal needs on her own. Pain is much reduced and that's the major issue right now. She will be at Suz's shower Sunday.
Phone is dead...called the Repair guys. I think its an outside issue-if its inside and they charge me (I work for the phone company) I'll get pissed.
A major possibility is beginning to show for me as a new job within 1-2 years. No details at this time but I think I can hang at my current spot for awhile. They really don't harrass me too much as long as I keep my head under the radar.
Planning on bringing This-or-That Tuesday out of hiatus soon and getting it back up and running. Guest posters could be a serious possibility-leave interest in comments and I'll get back to you.
Hello friends... NEW STUFF ON EBAY
The end of a Monday is finally nigh for me...not a bad one either. Work was hell. One of our Coaches is leaving to go to a better position somewhere else-can't say as I blame her. Guess she's been trying to leave for several months and was continually convinced to stick around. Fresh blood would be good for our department.
As I was saying Carnivale is getting ready to start on HBO and wow what a cast!!!! Daddy Walton is gonna be a preacher and OMG, Adrienne Barbeau!!!
Fran is getting ready for my Bachelor Party a week from Saturday...should I be scared now? Probably so-however if I can trust anyone to get me thoroughly and utterly trashed and still get me home in one piece-it's him. Pictures will be taken and will be on his site or mine. I invited a bunch of people from work-hope some make it. My body is not tolerating alcohol well anymore...this could be my last hurrah! :)
Speaking of Fran, stop by and say hello to him-his beautiful wife Becky-and their ever-growing child Erin please. He likes to keep a quiet profile but I think we should change that (grin).
Also a big juicy hello to my buddy Christine as I haven't heard from her in awhile.
Mom update-she had the injections of something similar to Novocaine (Merticaine maybe?). The doctors said the procedure went extremely well and if she doesn't overdo it (as is her habit) she'll be fine. Dad said she's doing well and is intending to at least stop by Suz's Wedding Shower this Sunday. Me I'll sleep in and drive out to pick up da loot!
Not much new today...
Went to a birthday party for Suz's friend's daughter (she'll be our flower girl). 8 8 yr olds..(oye). The game became "Toss a Ring-Pete dives after it".
Stayed in the pool almost the whole time--had a good time. Good food.
Everquest News-LVL 27!!
It's Friday Five time!!!
1. How much time do you spend online each day?
8 hours at work + 2-3 at home afterwards...weekends depends on what we need to do but 2-4 hours a day at least.
2. What is your browser homepage set to?
Work it's our Internal Network Support page-at home it's Yahoo.
3. Do you use any instant messaging programs? If so, which one(s)?
Not often but primarily Yahoo Messenger
4. Where was your first webpage located?
http://home.rochester.rr.com/lorin -I use it to host a few things used on my blog to save on hosting fees
5. How long have you had your current website?
I've had Blog O' The Blurf since November 2002 and it was my first domain.
Well...'bout 4:00 at work the lights flickered-reboot computers...no big deal. Then at 4:30, the lights went out. Fun doing Tech Support in a dark room going only by what's in your head for material and documentation.
We moved to a powered and A/C'ed room on the other side of the building about 6:15 or so-then the lights went back on. So we trucked our stuff back to our desks and settled in again. What a fun night...
They originally said it was a lightning strike but the Meteorologists said Nada so I'll be interested to hear what happened.
Wednesday rant time...actually early Thursday.
In Rochester NY, we are having the PGA Championship-brings a lot of money into town, good for tourism, yada yada...all good and well. What is not good however are the idiot spectators who think they can do whatever they want. Not once but twice today they were crossing Monroe Avenue-the busiest street in town-in front of me just after my light turns green!
I live down the road from location of this huddled mass of humanity following this dork named Tiger around (yes I know who he is)...should be an interesting 4 days as tournament play starts later today.
Took today off to be with my parents..things are getting better.
I went and brough a dozen roses to Suz at work for putting up with me for the past few days. She loved 'em..life is good.
There's a new Original Series coming on HBO called "Carnivale". It's not listed on their site yet but the previews look really good.
Please visit a couple of friends who left EQ due to finances and devotion to their beautiful baby Megan- LadyMulder's Conspiracy Theories. Hint: Hey Mulder-you need a comments section on your site or leave an email address :)
She had her MRI this morning...its a stress fracture of a vertebra putting direct pressure on 2 nerves and one is the Sciatica. Procedure to relieve the pain is tomorrow. I'm taking the day off for sanity sake...and to buy Suz roses for putting up with me.
My 2nd oldest brother is now also having a test to see if he has blown a disc as well but it'd be his 2nd surgery of this type...he blew 2 about 15 yrs ago. He'll be fine.
To Autumn-you clean yer keyboard yet??? (grin)
In Geek News...the newest worm Mblast is making work interesting. We're getting slammed by it-nothing we as an ISP can do and now the manufacturers are referring users back to us...cute. I took 84 calls yesterday in an 8 hr period.
Saturday was busier than a pimp in a whorehouse...:)
I slept maybe 5 hrs Friday night because I was wired up worrying about Mom.
But we still got my bro's kids and headed off to Suz's Summer Departmental party...good time...good food...good people. Very relaxing and they had a Big-Screen TV so the kids were nicely entertained. Very good time. Then we went to Chuck E Cheese's for Fran's daughter Erin's bday bash. It was amusing...I mostly sat and talked to Fran's father...he's a riot. Lots of kids, lots of screaming 'n yelling and I was emotionally toasted. We left pretty much as quickly as we could after presents were opened. No offense to the Fran Clan.
Took the kids home and went back to a great bar called McGregor's where Fran and his wife, and Suz/I sat around and drank while watching the Bills beat the Ravens in preseason. I got good and drunk. Now I don't get really gruesome headaches or anything like that when I'm drunk..I just get really tired and tend to have some bathroom episodes (not vomiting). Kinda icky but quickly recoverable....today has been another story....been explosive in a disgusting kinda way. Got better-then duh-duh head drank milk...ick.
Mom update-she's at home waiting for a MRI tmrw as there is some concern whether it is a disc situation or not. She's on Morphine...but perfectly clear-headed.
I'll be taking a day off this week to help Mom 'n Dad out...and relax a bit. I'm roasted from this wknd
For those who read often I mentioned some brief time ago I was concerned about my parent's trip to France and the recent rash of injuries
Well this morning my prediction came true...my brother called me and said my parents are coming home tomorrow (well really today its 2:20am Saturday) because my Mother has "blown out her back". 9 hour flight with cervical disc issues...oh joy. Due to extensive costs of calls my father didn't give him details so I'm all upset...shot my work day to hell and my stats will show for it. Too fucking bad.
Saturday we have 2 commitments-Suz's departmental work Summer Bash and the Fran Clan's daughter Erin's birthday. Mom is apparently going right to the hospital from the airport so at least she won't see that the renovators have torn her kitchen to hell. We won't see her until probably Sunday because if she's in that bad shape, she'll need to settle down after the flight and get doped up properly-who knows when surgery will be. We're taking my brother's kids so that they don't have to see Grandma so uncomfortable.
I've decided I needed to do something that will distract her when we see her...so I shaved my head again!!! (No new pictures sorry).
It's Friday Five time!!!
1. What's the last place you traveled to, outside your own home state/country?
Westport and Fall River, MA where my father's family is.
2. What's the most bizarre/unusual thing that's ever happened to you while traveling?
Nothing really...guess my family is boring.
3. If you could take off to anywhere, money and time being no object, where would you go?
Sweden...
4. Do you prefer traveling by plane, train or car?
I don't mind flying but I love driving...never been on an extended train ride.
5. What's the next place on your list to visit?
Poconos for our honeymoon
Happy Thursday all...well they did it! I can no longer read my blog or post to it from work. They have officially blocked my entire domain on our corporate firewall. This will reduce my ability to do MeMe's but I will simply blog when I'm home.
Otherwise things are good...my hair is growing fast but I will shave it again Saturday morning. The dog has gone back to my brother's house so all is quiet again.
Upstate NY got drenched today...we're talking horizontal rains-not good.
Holy crap-does my hair grow fast!!! I just did the shave Sunday night and I've moved beyond stubble to almost being at a 1-A razor level. I'm considering reshaving Friday night or Saturday morning so that Fran can see it Saturday at Erin's birthday party.
In other news Fran's crew is headed to Philly Wed-Fri because Becky has a job interview!!! Considering they aren't even living there yet this is a really positive step for them. I admit I hate the idea they're moving-and they hate it more but you make the best out of a bad situation and I think they've done wonderfully considering the circumstances.
Of course if they aren't here for our wedding and New Year's Eve I'll claw their eyes out with dull toothpicks....:)
Let's wrap up a good weekend..Today we slept in...12:30 was nice :)
We hit Suz's annual family's Steak-Out and had a blast. It was way in the middle of N-O-where!! I mean waayyy out there...her Aunt's home is huge but BEAUTIFUL. It backs right up to a creek and the nephews/nieces were fishing and having a blast. Then it downpoured..then it got sunny & hot again. Then we buzzed home-let the dog out & shaved my head (see post below).
It's wierd how we think about how small a world it is. At the Steak-Out some distant cousins showed up-we started chatting and got on the subject of work. Told them where I work and they ask if I work with Person A-said yes and it ends up their son-who was killed ATV'ing 10 years ago-was Best Friends with a cube neighbor (Person A). Wow...kinda spooky.
I have to say how cool Suz's extended family is. Here I am-been on the scene for 2 years...of course I never enter quietly. They have welcomed me and the kids call me Uncle Pete and they are all so thrilled about our wedding. It's just really really cool.
Brittney "No They Grew This Big Naturally---really!" Spears as Daisy Duke??
That's one movie I don't think I need to see
From My George Carlin Calendar for Sat-Sun Aug 2-3 2003:
Baseball has one major problem: not enough serious injuries. What I would do is play 30-40 land mines in the outfield. Not only would this add excitement, it would also provide a refreshing element of surprise: "There's a high, lazy fly ball to right field, O'Neill drifts over, pats his glove..." BOOM!!!
Friday at last....
I seem to be on this no-sleep kick again...I hit the couch at 2:30am or so and toss 'n turn-maybe out by 4:30 or so..Suz gets up at 5:45 or 6 and then I take over the bed until I get up 'bout 1pm. Usually wake up for no decent reason 'bout 10-look at the clock, grunt and fall asleep again.
No we don't sleep together-not yet-we're working on it. I don't sleep well with another presence so close...its a personal thing. Crazy-yes I know.
Well my parents should be in France right now. Hopefully my oldest brother will have his laptop and will email us...soon.
This is looking like a fun weekend...Saturday we're having a bunch of Suz's friends over for a "Meet Pete Pizza Party". Figured they might wanna meet me before the wedding. Then Sunday we have her family's annual "Steak-Out" out at a relative-of-her's HUGE house. I really hope it doesn't rain.
In other events...Saturday night I become a skinhead. I'm tired of my hair and it's coming off. I've always wanted to completely shave my head...I'm gonna do it. Pictures will be taken