Clintster -- Now 87.5% Pain Free

Recovery continues apace. Mom went home today, so much of my day was spent puttering around the house, watching MST3K ("Tormented"), and harvesting marigold seeds from the dead plants in our garden. Hopefully we shall be planting those seeds in the next few weeks.

I'm not sure what to say about the Oscars, except that I won the family betting pool and found myself one Cadbury bar richer for it. Yeees, we McGuires know how to live la vida loca. I was quite glad to see Jennifer Hudson, Martin Scorsese and Forrest Whittaker win Oscars, and seeing the very short clip of West Bank Story made me want to see it. Unfortunately, we just don't have that kind of cinema here in The Lex.

I've always thought that it would be a great idea if the Academy got the nominated short films (features, animated, docs) and put them all into a compendium for sale to the general public. I'd definitely shell out $20 American for a DVD of this year's nominees. Does anyone know where I could get something like that, or at least see the short film nominees online? Lemme know.

Gettin' Better All The Time

Sorry I haven't been posting updates the past couple of days, but... well, it's been a rough couple of days.

Things were going well when I posted Thursday morning, and then PPHHHHBBBBTTT!!!

WARNING! The following couple of paragraphs should not be read if you have a weak constitution. If you think it's gonna bug you, skip ahead to the next red text you see. Just sayin'.

That afternoon, I began feeling very headache-y and nauseous. I had dinner and then promptly brought it back up. I thought it was the antibiotic I was taking, but oh how wrong I was!

That night I was vomiting about every two hours. I also noticed that it seemed to happen not long after I gave my nose a saline bath. Kathy called my ENT and he suggested laying off the saline and codeine for a couple of days, which I did. Thursday night, I was in AGONY! I couldn't sleep, I was drinking a bottle of water an hour to keep hydrated and promptly chucking it every two hours. Also, my nostrils had become completely blocked up and I couldn't breathe through my nose at all. Not a good night

The next day, my mom took me to the ENT and he checked me over. I told him what was going on, and he advised me to spend the weekend at home, resting comfortably. The doc determined that it was the bits of blood and tissue coming out of my sinus cavity that was making me so ill. He also evacuated my nostrils (most expensive nose pickin' EVER), and sent me home with his cell number in case I had any more trouble. On the way home, I threw up in my mom's car. I've only done that one other time in my life (sorry, Brian).

Friday was a great big restless sleep cycle for me. I caught naps when I could, drank plenty of water, and watched "Star Trek" in between. I still had a few vomitous episodes that night, but nothing like Thursday.

Here endeth the grossness

Saturday was a bit better. Although my head was constantly aching, my stomach was less upset. I finally managed to hold down a meal for the first time since Wednesday, and last night I got a relatively restful night's sleep. We'll see how today goes; although I feel better than I did, I'm still not 100%.

Randomities

Yep, it's one of those days...

• Do I really need to say anything about Britney Spears' follicle follies? Why yes... yes I do. After a week of seeing every two-bit hustler line up to claim to be the baby-daddy of Anna Nicole Smith's semi-orphaned child (Gah, you know this is gonna end up on "Maury" eventually), it was nice to get this little diversion. I'd be a little happier if Britney were aiming to go off on a "Ani DiFranco/Sinead O'Conner vibe" for her career, but it seems more like she's hoppin' the crazy train for the Chateau Marmont and looking for the John Belushi Memorial Suite.
• Speaking of ingenues heading down a one-way road, I finally watched "Mean Girls" last night, and I have to say Lindsay Lohan was pretty good in it. She might even be able to develop into a first-rate actress if she can ever conquer her demons. The scene where she drinks herself into vomitory bliss was more than a wee bit ironic, given her current situation.
• T-two days until my septoplasty, and I'm feeling a bit nervous. I know it's a fairly common procedure, but I am still nervous about being anesthetized and having someone mess with my honker.
• The Endor Holocaust. Discuss.

Everybody have fun tonight.

Eine Kleine Updaten

OK, a few things to start of the month of February:

• My good friend Josh has started a new blog, dedicated to politics. He says it'll be a bit Boston-centric (seeing as he's from Woosta), but it should make for a good read. Link is in my blogroll, or you can go here.
• Speaking of people who make provincial politics interesting, I was saddened to hear that Molly Ivins has passed away. I first got into her when I was in college. Her columns on the Texas Legislature were classic, and she was the first to refer to The Only President We Have as "Shrub." Goodnight, Molly; hope you and Claytie are knockin' back a few in the great beyond and laughing over old times.
• I'm being treated for sleep apnea. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a sleep center to be analyzed, and found out yesterday that I am borderline high on for apnea. My ENT wants me to get another study (this time with a CPAP), but because of my deviated septum, I need to have that fixed first. I'll keep you updated.
• I have lost 10 pounds over the past month, as part of my New Year's resolutions. I am also training myself to run in my first race in many of years. It's a 5k, so it should be relatively low impact for me, but I'm keeping my eye on running in a marathon in September. Wish me luck.

More later.

Thursday I don't care about you...

I went to the doctor today to get myself checked out. As some of you know, I have been suffering from sinus trouble for years. I've also had to contend with allergies, but it hasn't been as big an issue as the sinuses. I also have a case of sleep apnea, which I've been having more and more trouble with as years have gone by.

Earlier this week, I had to take Ian to the doctor's office to see about coughing fits he has been having recently. Turns out he has a sinus infection, and the pediatrician prescribed some antibiotics for him to take to clear it up. I figured, if he can get his cleared up somehow, why not me? I made an appointment to see the doctor and went in this afternoon.

I told her about my symptoms, and after taking a good long look at my ears and nose, she informed me that I had a deviated septum. This probably resulted from taking a softball to the nose about 11 years ago. However, while it may explain some aspects of my health, it doesn't address them all.

I'm supposed to go see an ENT next week, but we have no money left in our flex plan account for the year, so I'm gonna have to reschedule until January. In the meantime, I've been given a prescription for amoxicillin, which I hope will alleviate some of the sinus crappola.

Other than that, I'm feelin' fine and dandy! You?

And Wednesday too...

When it rains, it pours. Yesterday I found out that a friend of mine who lives in California may have to have his foot amputated.

I don't care if Monday's blue...

Today was pretty busy for me. We had a weekend of parades, "Breakfast with Santa"s and other holiday activities around the county, not to mention one of our high schools playing in the state semi-finals, so I had LOTS of photos to process for tomorrow's deadline this morning.

Then about noon, Kathy calls me and informs me that I would need to take Ian to the pediatrician this afternoon. He's been coughing in fits lately, and we were worried that he had developed a case of bronchitis. I got off work about mid-afternoon and took the boy to see our pedia.

it turns out that Ian has a bit of sinus infection, so he wrote up a prescription for an antibiotic to take for the next few days. After we got out, it was too late for us to go back to school/work, so the two of us hit Wal-Mart and did some Christmas shopping. Bought a few things, but I'm not done yet.

When we went to pick up Kathy from work, it turns out that while she was gone to audition Friday, she received three boxes of Pistoulet and a shelf stereo system at her office, all of which we had to haul home SOMEHOW in our Prius. And yet, we managed to do it. Don't ask me how, but we did.

In any case, it felt good to get home, but there was still one more surprise waiting for us in our mailbox. Kathy got a biography request from Who's Who for possible inclusion in their next annual book. We're still not sure what she's done to even deserve consideration of a mention, but we figure that it's worth submitting anyway. If nothing else, it's one more line on Kat's resume.

So, I'm gonna go now, take a shot of NyQuil, and hit the sack. tomorrow looks to be a busy day as well for Clintster and family. And so to bed.

World AIDS Day

In case you haven't heard, today is World AIDS Day. It's been 25 years now since the first cases of the disease were reported, and to date it has taken nearly 3 million lives. As of today, almost 40 million people are living with HIV and AIDS. Worldwide, 4.3 million new cases of HIV were reported in 2006, of which half a million were children under the age of 15.

In North America alone, 36,000 people dies of AIDS this year alone. There are half a million people living with HIV, and 68,000 new cases have been reported.

Although it has moved into the background, AIDS and HIV is still a threat to us all. Learn the facts and keep yourself protected.

Links to peruse
KNOWHIVAIDS.org
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
National Institutes of Health
World AIDS Day
ACT UP/New York

40

I wasn’t sure what to get into this evening. I was thinking about writing something political, then I thought about doing a “Day in the Life” post, and then I was going to do a continuation on my concert posts.

Actually, I think right now I will discuss my age. I turned 40 this year. That’s right – the Big Four-Oh. I’m not sure how to feel about it. On one hand, I’m glad I made it, considering that there have been a couple of times in my life where I very easily might have had the journey ended looooong before getting here.

On the other hand, I can feel my age. I weigh more than I ever have before. This is something I can take care of if I were to get some exercise and maybe watch what I eat. Unfortunately, the other changes are a bit more difficult to deal with. A few months ago, I got my first eye exam ever, and found out that I have mild farsightedness. I have yet to get my prescription filled on that, but I know if I don’t get it soon, it can only get worse. I look in the mirror and I see a man with graying hair and scattered lines, where a much younger kid used to be.

I worry about how much longer I’ll live. There is a history of both longevity and premature death in my family. Two of my grandparents barely lived past 60, and two others lived well into their 80s. My grandmother on my father’s side saw her 90th birthday pass before she died. I hope I can live that long. It would be nice to see possible grandchildren when I am older.

It worries me that I’m running out of time to do the things I want to and need to do. I suppose the time to do them is now. I just need to take the first steps.

Sorry this isn’t your usual yukfest. I just hope someone out there is reading this and understanding where I’m coming from.

Mars, bitches!

Sorry, I've been watching Chappelle's Show a lot lately.

OK, long delayed update: things are relatively quieted down on the bad-news front. I'm taking Zoloft and feeling better, but I still wish things were different.

The baby is developing quite nicely, and has even developed a case of the hiccups (see The Married Life for details). I'll write more later on stuff, but for right now, consider this a friendly wave to the blogosphere. :)

I've Got Something to Put in You...

At the Gay Bar

Gay Bar

Gay Bar!!!

I'm feeling a bit better today. Still kinda down over everything, but Kathy has worked overtime to cheer me up. Thanks, Bunny!

Also, Thankees to Ombra for your comment. You're a flower, you are, as Holli would say. :D I might still get a little down here and there, but just bear with me, folks. If we watch out for one another, we'll all better off.

Mondays at Clintster's

Hey all!


In case you forgot, today is World AIDS Day. Take a few moments to remember those who have passed on, and find out how you can keep from catching/spreading the HIV virus.


Thanksgiving was okay at our house, if a little quiet. S'okay, we figure it'll be our last T'giving alone together for quite a while. I cooked the turkey, and Kathy made green bean casserole. I think we make a pretty good team in the kitchen. :)

Unfortunately, yesterday was not so good. I woke up about 4am Saturday night/Sunday morning and puked my brains out. I think I had food poisoning. On top of it, I had a real stinger of a headache, so I was pretty much miserable all day Sunday. To top it off, I had to stay in my soon-to-be-converted office all day long, because Kathy was afraid that she'd catch something from me and endanger the baby. If we had a den or something it could've been a lot easier, but being stuck in an 8x8 room with no means of diversion except for a computer and a few books didn't make the time go by any easier. I'm only now getting over the headache (I think).

Anyways, hope your Thanksgiving was cool. 24 days 'til Christmas, y'all!

General Hospital

An hour from now, I'll be headed to the doctor for a physical. First one I've had in a while. I'm a little nervous, but I should be okay. Right?

In other news, It's only 9 days until Halloween, and I have NO idea what I should dress up as. Anyone out there have some thoughts? Leave 'em in the comments section.