the journey

Burnt popcorn in my new microwave

It was all so innocent...

I stuck a bag of popcorn in the microwave for 3.5 minutes, but you'd think I left it in there for 33.5 minutes instead.  Yikes.

By the time I reached the living room-- I had taken a quick jaunt to the bathroom--the whole front of the house was filled with gray smoke, a horrendous odor triggered my gag reflex, and the inside of my brand new microwave oven looked like ground zero.

Oh Lord.  It was awful.

And it's still awful.

I've let the house ventilate for 2 hours, turned on all of the fans & hoped for the best.  But so much for hoping.

So, I purchased three odor eliminating room air fresheners as well as three odor eliminating sprays--none of which have done much good so far, unfortunately.

I feel like Cousin Eddie in Christmas Vacation trying to save the burnt up couch-- a noble idea, but a losing proposition.

Geez.

Technorati Tags: burnt popcorn, microwave

Another New Year

orange in water
Originally uploaded by harvey30887

[Click on photo for rich detail.]

Well, here we are at the cusp of another New Year.

+ My colon is still acting up
+ My kidneys are causing me great discomfort at night
+ My daughter's headaches are still a persistent nuisance
+ I'm out of work

And yet, I'm still enjoying time with family and friends, managing to keep a steady pace at reading, and look for new jobs with a sense of anticipation and hope.

I suppose the deep end of the pool isn't all that bad after all.

Happy New Year one and all. Spend it relaxing and enjoying time with those who mean the most to you.

Technorati Tags: New Year, Happy New Year

M e r r y C h r i s t m a s

F e s t i v e*
Originally uploaded by imapix

[Click on photo for the rich detail.]

With Christmas just around the corner, I hope you will use this season as an opportunity to:

+ Overcome lies with truth
+ Overcome evil with good
+ Overcome apathy with loving service to the least, the lost and the lonely.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

pax,
meb

Technorati Tags: Christmas, Advent

Health update

Due to a three month gastro battle, I had another colonoscopy yesterday morning.

The previous colonoscopy (three years ago) produced an "acute colitis" diagnosis.  Now, they're saying I have ulcerated colitis.

So that means steroids, anti-inflammatory meds and a high fiber diet for the foreseeable future.  Fun, fun.

I spent most of yesterday recuperating from the "sedation buzz."

Technorati Tags: colonoscopy

Hand injury

Last week I began my new (temporary) job.

It's strenuous, dangerous, monotonous & has managed to do serious damage to my right hand.  I went to my employers on Tuesday to report the injury, but they see no way that Workman's Compensation will pay for it. 

They say WC is looking for accidents/incidents, but this happened over the course of the evening. 

Wonderful.

My doctor seems to think it's a stress fracture that's keeping me from having full use of my hand-- writing, turning keys, using eating utensils, etc. 

So, I'll be giving notice today.  I can't afford to lose the use of my hand.  I need the money, but I need my hand more.

Please pray that I'll find something soon.

Tags: hand, hand injury

My name is Ben Dover

I started feeling crappy on Friday.

It got increasingly worse until I exhibited all of these symptoms:

• Sneezing, coughing, runny nose
• Sore throat (like sandpaper in the throat)
• Bad ear ache (kept me up all night)
• Clogged up ear
• Laryngitis
• Tender facial glands

So, I saw the doc today.  Check that.  It saw the Nurse Practitioner, again.  I hate that doctors are farming out most of their patients to people whom patients have no interest in seeing.  But that's life in medicine, I suppose.

I was diagnosed with Sinusitis, but it feels more like an awful Ear Infection, but who am I to diagnose?  Giving me the news of my condition (which I already knew was shitty), they sent me home with prescriptions for ear drops (for the pain) and Zpak (an antibiotic regimen).

Before leaving, however, a cute little aide stepped in and called me Ben Dover.  Well, at least that's what it first sounded like with a completely clogged up ear. With a syringe in hand it became all too obvious she had actually said: "Bend over."  Go figure.

[Ok, ok. I made up the last part of the story, but that's what a bored person does, lol.  I did get a shot in the butt, however.]

An update about my daughter

Despite having corrective surgery, Leah continues to have debilitating headaches.  In fact, they've gotten so bad that she's often nauseous and her vision is blurred.

On Friday, she was given a steroid shot in the head (yeah gross, I know) to help alleviate the pain.  So far, there's been little difference.

She (and I) would greatly appreciate your thoughts & prayers.  I still contend that they're bandaging the problem instead of fixing the root cause(s), but that's just me.

I'll post more as it becomes available. 

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Storm today

storm today
Originally uploaded by Mary Hockenbery (reddirtrose)

[Click on photo for rich detail.]

It rained today. In a couple different ways I suppose.

I received a call today from Leah. With everything else going on with her life health-wise, they discovered a pelvic mass today. She's going to the doctor tomorrow for more blood work & she's fairly confident that surgery is unavoidable.

Please continue praying for her.

pax,
meb

Flickr Fridays

Imperfection - an acceptance in true love?
Originally uploaded by CKSum.

[Click on photo for better detail.]

I got word that Leah passed out at work yesterday.

Therefore, they'll be testing her for diabetes today. If that turns out negative, they'll put a heart monitor on her. If that turns out negative, then, they'll refer her to a cardiologist.

Between the backaches, headaches & passing out, the poor kid doesn't get much sleep and feels lethargic most of the time.

Your continued prayers for her would be appreciated. The uncertanty & constant pain is starting to take it's toll on her.

pax,
meb

An update about Leah (my daughter)

Midway at Dusk
Originally uploaded by jason.s.

The headaches are back so Leah is in misery.

We had hoped the surgery would resolve matters, but it hasn't. So she's been to the neurologist two times with the past 10 days. And is going today for another MRI. I say "another" because she's had about a dozen of them within the past 12 months.

Please pray for her.

She's frustrated with the pain, afraid that she'll lose her job & is worried about the costs (she doesn't have company insurance--yet).