Under the Knife

My number three daughter just had minor surgery on her left foot to correct something called "Haglan's Deformity". This is a protuberance of the heel bone with cartilidge that builds up around it to form a large bump on the heel. This has been a source of irritation to her as she runs and participates in sports, so we decided to have the surgery done. SHe will have the other foot done in about two weeks.

Now, for those of you who know her, she HATES needles. When she goes for innoculations, she starts crying before they even stick her. The Dr. said he would give her a valium before he took her back to numb the area for surgery. Twenty minutes after taking the Valium, they came out to get her, and she was still as alert as she had been before. He offered her another Valium, but told her it would delay the surgery another twenty minutes. She reluctantly agreed to just let him numb her ankle area for the surgery. I would have offered her a bullet to bite on if I had had one. As it was, I thought about joking around right before he brought out the hypodermic. I was going to shout, "Man! Look at the size of that needle!" Luckily, I restrained myself, so we did not have to pull her off the ceiling to continue.

We are now hoping everything heals the way the Dr. wants it to, and that she has no further problems. Time will tell.

Take care. Stick.

One Word Tag

1. Where is your cell phone? daughter
2. Your significant other? beautiful
3. Your hair? speckled
4. Your mother? amazing
5. Your best friend? Kelly
6. Your favorite thing? food (see 15)
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your favorite drink? chocomilk
9. Your dream/goal? author
10. The room you're in? den
11. Your children? argumentative
12. Your fear? drowning
13. Where do you want to be in 10 years? wealthy :o)
14. Where were you last night? dinner
15. What you're not? skinny
16. Muffins? corn
17. One of your wish list items? shed
18. Where you grew up? Texas
19. What you read last? mine
20. What are you wearing? shorts
21. Your TV? Burn
22. Your pets? none
23. Your computer? Dell
24. Your life? hectic
25. Your mood? relaxed
26. Missing someone? no
27. Your car? Yukon
28. Something you're not wearing? hat
29. Favorite Store? Cabellas
30. Your summer? relaxing
31. Like someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? Green
33. Last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? sometime
35. Your favorite thing? outside

Out With The Old--In With The New!

Thursday, we made a trip out of town to take my oldest daughter to a Doctor for her tonsils. Yes, we went out of town for this. EVERYBODY told her not to let the local guy do this. We went to an ENT we used before we moved where we currently live. He took one look at her tonsils, and said that they needed to come out right away, and he wanted to schedule the surgery for the next day. We agreed to get a motel room, then found out that the surgery center where he operates would not accept our insurance. We had to go to one of his associates, who operates at the local hospital there, that does accept our insurance. He looked at her tonsils, and agreed that they needed to come out, but also informed her that he thought she had MONO which had brought on the state her tonsils were in. (She did)

Meanwhile, we knew we would be in this town, so had looked on the Internet for a new vehicle. We had specific things we were looking for, and hadn't been able to find anything locally. We found just what we wanted advertised at a dealership in this town, so went to look at it. It was JUST what we wanted! We decided to wait, and come back later to see if we could qualify, because....

Meanwhile, our house was closing that same day, and we did not know if it was off our credit rating yet.

The results-- We came home with one less home, two less HUMONGOUS tonsils, and a year old car.

We are happy with all the results! (Or will be once the oldest daughter recuperates)

Take care. Stick.

Wrong Number

It's 5:18 am. and the phone rings. I wake from a sound sleep and answer it. BEEP....10 seconds...BEEP. It is a computer calling. I hang up in disgust.

Twenty minutes later, it calls back again. My automated voice caller ID tells me, "Call from West Virginia." I answer and hang up again.

REPEAT every day for the last ten days.

The phone company cannot identify the company calling. I cannot call them back to tell them to stop calling. The call block feature only works on local numbers.

I called the annoyance division, and they (computer voice) tell me that calls between certain hours are legal, and I cannot do anything about them.

One helpful operator finally tells me that for a fee ($1.25 per incident) I can trace the call, and after it has been traced successfully three times (with no gurantee of success on any given try), the police can then pursue harassment charges against whatever company they find at fault.

Anybody know a good computer Hacker?

Take care. Stick.

Home away from Home

Well, after nearly 9 months of trying, we are finally selling our house in Idaho.

The realtor gets close to $9000. The people buying get $350 of their rent back. The guy who fixed the foundation leak gets about $1000. The state tax commission gets all of their blood money, close to $1000.

We are getting no money out of the deal, and in fact will probably have to come up with some money to close the deal, but at least it will be sold.

Somewhere along the way, I thought this was a good deal. Maybe not. I hope it will be in the end.

Take care. Stick

Illegal or Not?

Recently, we have been discussing teenagers, crime, and punishment in my classes at the High School. Almost every student in those classes made the comment during our discussion that nothing is illegal if you don’t get caught. Many of them also said that the cops couldn’t catch them anyway, because they were too fast.

Somewhere down the road, I hope they learn how wrong this attitude is, and that we all have responsibility for our actions. They don’t see how their actions now will affect their future lives, and don’t understand personal morals and self-discipline. Their motto is, If it feels good, do it, illegal or not. They say that everyone does drugs and has sex. Why not? There’s nothing wrong with it.

I have told many students that within five years their view could possibly change, and then what will they do about their actions now. They cannot seem to comprehend a time when they might regret their current lifestyle choice.

This morning, two of these students are in jail. I’m not sure what the actual charges are, but I can’t help but wonder if this will be the thing that changes their attitudes, or will they still maintain that anything goes. Hard to say.

Take care. Stick.

Just for Fun!“

“There was a blacksmith by the name of John
Who had one leg, for the other was gone.
There was only one eye in his balding head,
But he said it didn’t matter, for he’d soon be dead.
He said it didn’t matter for he’d soon be dead

He had a dog, that he called True Blue,
That sat in the door in full plain view.
It matched its master with a hind leg gone,
And gnawed on the bone when it was alone.
It gnawed on the bone when it was alone.

Now the two of them made quite a pair,
As they worked and lay in that Smithy there,
But when it came of a Saturday night,
They went to the bar to get drunk and fight.
They went to the bar to get drunk and fight.

Then one night they met their match,
A lady named Sue and a cat called Scratch.
Nary a punch did either side throw,
But Sue left with John in tow.
Yes, Sue left with John in tow.

Now they live all together above John’s shop,
And of the alcohol they haven’t touched a drop.
Sue says they’re happy, and John nods his head,
He says it doesn’t matter, for he’ll soon be dead.
He says it doesn’t matter, for he’ll soon be dead.”

Have a great Day. Stick.