We went to the Doctor on Friday. Herself's test results were in. After all the shagging around & possibilities, we are left with two options now. Either a stroke or Lou Gehrig's disease. If you want to know about the latter, look it up for yourself. It's not pretty. Our Doctor is calling in all sorts of favours to jump the queue to get herself an MRI scan. That should finally tell us. Meanwhile, our next appointment with the Hospital surgeon is 9th of January. Him I'm not happy with. Aside from him not answering a letter from our GP requesting some assistance & info, he is also the one that definitely told us she had Bulbar Palsy. You really don't want to know what its like to go through the grief process that a diagnosis like that involves, only to be told a month or two later that it might be something else. We've been through a lot of diseases & conditions to get to where we are now. She is also supposed to see a visiting neurologist at Thames on, I think, the 11th of January, although what use that will be without an MRI scan I really don't know. Will keep you all posted anyway.
Well, that was the down. The up was we went fishing Saturday morning, two & a half hours & we had our limit. Herself didn't really want to come in, but we had to watch the tide a bit as we were using Te Puru ramp, & anything less than half tide makes it a bit tricky to get The Dog on the trailor. We had a good day. Today was blob day with 2 hours of Star Trek. I did get a bit of work done round home though. Tomorrow, back to work & hopefully news of an MRI scan, who knows................
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Offending everyone
Every once in a while there comes along a truly funny story that is original in concept & most importantly offensive to just about everybody. This is one such joke......
A bloke from the bush walked into a Sydney antique shop.
After looking around for a while, he noticed a very life-like bronze statue of a rat.
It had no price tag, but it was so striking that he decided to buy it anyway.
He took it to the owner and said: 'How much is this bronze rat?'
The owner replied: 'It's $12 for the rat, and $100 for the story.'
The fella gave the owner his $12 and said: 'I'll just take the rat, you can keep the story!'
As he walked off down the street, he noticed that a few real rats had crawled out of the drains and begun following him.
This was a little disconcerting, so he started to walk a little faster, but within a couple of blocks the swarm of rats had grown to hundreds, and they were all squealing and screeching in a very menacing way.
He increased his speed and ran on towards Sydney Harbour and as he ran, he looked behind him and saw the rats now numbered in their MILLIONS, and they were running faster and faster.
By now very concerned, he ran down to the pier and threw the bronze rat as far out into the water as he could.
Amazingly, the millions of real rats jumped into the water after it .........and were all drowned.
The man walked back to relate all this to the shop owner, who said,
'Ah, you've come back for the story then?'
'Shit no!' said the bloke. 'I came back to see if you've got a bronze Muslim, a couple of Asians, a Poof, anything Aboriginal, and an Indian spin bowler.
Feel free to tailor it to which ever location & ethnic minorities that you want.... Enjoy.
A bloke from the bush walked into a Sydney antique shop.
After looking around for a while, he noticed a very life-like bronze statue of a rat.
It had no price tag, but it was so striking that he decided to buy it anyway.
He took it to the owner and said: 'How much is this bronze rat?'
The owner replied: 'It's $12 for the rat, and $100 for the story.'
The fella gave the owner his $12 and said: 'I'll just take the rat, you can keep the story!'
As he walked off down the street, he noticed that a few real rats had crawled out of the drains and begun following him.
This was a little disconcerting, so he started to walk a little faster, but within a couple of blocks the swarm of rats had grown to hundreds, and they were all squealing and screeching in a very menacing way.
He increased his speed and ran on towards Sydney Harbour and as he ran, he looked behind him and saw the rats now numbered in their MILLIONS, and they were running faster and faster.
By now very concerned, he ran down to the pier and threw the bronze rat as far out into the water as he could.
Amazingly, the millions of real rats jumped into the water after it .........and were all drowned.
The man walked back to relate all this to the shop owner, who said,
'Ah, you've come back for the story then?'
'Shit no!' said the bloke. 'I came back to see if you've got a bronze Muslim, a couple of Asians, a Poof, anything Aboriginal, and an Indian spin bowler.
Feel free to tailor it to which ever location & ethnic minorities that you want.... Enjoy.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Isn't it ironic.
We deliver a considerable number of pallets of the type of circular. You know the ones. If you have an open fire, you use them to light the fire with in the winter, but they aren't even much good for that. Usually they are printed on glossy paper. No good for wiping your butt with either. Nothing sticks to them, even with extensive & vigorous crumpling. Don't ask me, I just know this OK ? Anyway, they don't burn well because of the huge amount of ink in them. They do make pretty coloured flames though. In the summer time, when the weather is hot, you chuck 'em in the recycle bin. Some of you even get annoyed enough to post a very prominent sign on your letterbox that reads, "No junk mail" or something that displays similar sentiments. I personally don't like delivering said pallets, because I don't like receiving them in my letterbox. I have stopped short of posting any signs, however, as you just never know. One of these days there JUST might actually be something worthwhile there.
The only consolation I have, is that none of the contents of the pallets that I deliver actually end up in my own letterbox. I'm glad of that. it could present all sorts of moral dilemma if I should have to.
Anyway, what is ironic about all this diatribe ? Try delivering a pallet of this stuff to a house that has very prominently on its letterbox, " NO JUNK MAIL."
The only consolation I have, is that none of the contents of the pallets that I deliver actually end up in my own letterbox. I'm glad of that. it could present all sorts of moral dilemma if I should have to.
Anyway, what is ironic about all this diatribe ? Try delivering a pallet of this stuff to a house that has very prominently on its letterbox, " NO JUNK MAIL."
Saturday, November 15, 2008
We had a good day today.
We went fishing. I was planning on taking one of my workmates with us, but he decided against it. It wasn't a problem really, Herself & I went anyway. In retrospect, I'm glad we went on our own. It was one of those really wonderful day. One of those lovely balmy spring days, the tide was right, the weather was beautiful and the fish were biting in spectacular fashion. I worked my butt off looking after Herself's rod; baiting up, taking fish off etc., etc. I think that the day has given us something special to remember as partial compensation for some of the horrors we have been through lately. Nice memories for her anyway.
It would appear that Herself isn't the only one that's falling to bits. Blood pressure's up, Thyroxine levels are all to shit, Cholesterol is at an unacceptable high & I have finally admitted defeat & gone back on anti-depressants & very grudgingly agreed to counselling. I'm not sure that it will do much good & that is probably not a particularly good attitude to go into it with. I know that I shouldn't have a preconceived concept like that, but counselling & I don't have a particularly good relationship, but for Herself's sake, I will do my best with it.
We had a good day today anyway.
It would appear that Herself isn't the only one that's falling to bits. Blood pressure's up, Thyroxine levels are all to shit, Cholesterol is at an unacceptable high & I have finally admitted defeat & gone back on anti-depressants & very grudgingly agreed to counselling. I'm not sure that it will do much good & that is probably not a particularly good attitude to go into it with. I know that I shouldn't have a preconceived concept like that, but counselling & I don't have a particularly good relationship, but for Herself's sake, I will do my best with it.
We had a good day today anyway.
Doctor Doctor tell me the news
I wish. The conjectures as to what Herself has grow wilder & wilder. We now have just about everything to choose from. Stroke, MS, Bulbar Palsey, Lou Gehrig's disease, (Not particularly nice one that) & Most things in between. We think Myasthenia Gravis has been ruled out as she lacks one of the classic symptoms. About the only thing they aint having a serious look at is Beriberi of the Bronchial Bone. Our new doc has written to the hospital doc to get him to throw his not insubstantial weight behind a request for a neurologist & an MRI scan.
Meanwhile, in other news we had a lovely night out at a surprise 80th Birthday party last night. The company was good, the food average, the bill a little on the high side.
In other other news, we are going fishing this morning, so I better get my ass into gear I guess. wait for the next exciting installment....
Meanwhile, in other news we had a lovely night out at a surprise 80th Birthday party last night. The company was good, the food average, the bill a little on the high side.
In other other news, we are going fishing this morning, so I better get my ass into gear I guess. wait for the next exciting installment....
Monday, November 10, 2008
Well, I'll be ducked
We was home last night doing what we do at night. Don't be nosy, OK ? All of a sudden, there was this penetrating piping noise & in marched these two little tackers
All of about 2 days old they were. They just marched in the back door proclaiming their presence. After I trapped them, Herself took them down to a neighbour who is in the bird breeding game. She even has an incubator. I'll spare you the gory details, but neither survived. While on the avian theme, you have heard me mention Mr Bird, the Thrush that supervises all out door activity's here & even dines out of the dog's bowl in the back porch. He very nearly met a very sticky end yesterday. Fattums came round the corner of the house proudly carrying him in her mouth. A few words of praise from herself & one proud miaouw later, he was on his way at warp 9.
On a serious note, tomorrow is the 11th day of the 11th month. Take a minute of time at 1100 O'clock to reflect on the sacrifices made by my Grand Parent's generation. My Grand Parents lost two sons in that dreadful conflict we remember as World War 1. The war to end all wars. So please, take a minute of your time to reflect to this track by a Canadian singer, Terry Kelly called' " A Pittance of Time."
All of about 2 days old they were. They just marched in the back door proclaiming their presence. After I trapped them, Herself took them down to a neighbour who is in the bird breeding game. She even has an incubator. I'll spare you the gory details, but neither survived. While on the avian theme, you have heard me mention Mr Bird, the Thrush that supervises all out door activity's here & even dines out of the dog's bowl in the back porch. He very nearly met a very sticky end yesterday. Fattums came round the corner of the house proudly carrying him in her mouth. A few words of praise from herself & one proud miaouw later, he was on his way at warp 9.
On a serious note, tomorrow is the 11th day of the 11th month. Take a minute of time at 1100 O'clock to reflect on the sacrifices made by my Grand Parent's generation. My Grand Parents lost two sons in that dreadful conflict we remember as World War 1. The war to end all wars. So please, take a minute of your time to reflect to this track by a Canadian singer, Terry Kelly called' " A Pittance of Time."
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Erection 08
So America has its first black president. My how they have grown up. wasn't that long ago he would have been whipped & put to hard labour as "An uppity nigger." Its nice to see that the Leopard can occasionally change it's spots. We will just have to wait & see now what this Leopard's appetite is like. Also, anyone want to guess on how long it's gonna take before some recessive inbred redneck goes after him or his family with a gun or some homemade explosives ? After all, as one particularly duelling banjoish individual pointed out quite seriously in a TV interview,"His middle name IS Hussein ya know.."
Well enough of that. On to the real news. Helen's out, Johns in, Winston's gone in 60 seconds. He could always get a job selling vacuum cleaners door to door. Tauranga pensioners would queue up in droves to buy them from him. Wonder if National will improve funding for health ? Would be nice for herself to get to a neurologist, & maybe get her MRI scan. Opens window & checks for flying pigs & can only see Winston hurtling through the air from the general direction of Tauranga.
WE went fishing yesterday on doctors orders. I kid you not. Its nice to have a GP with a balanced set of priorities. We didn't catch a lot & herself caught the lion's share, but its always nice to be on the water. I got my relax coming back. A full speed beat along the coast about 500 meters off shore. There is always great satisfaction to be had for me overtaking cars on the road. Every time I go out, I learn something new about the boat. This time I found out where the grease nipple is to grease the steering gear. I had noticed that the wheel has been getting stiffer. I'll do that today, along with removing a few old fittings that aren't needed any more. All just part of a general tidy up so that the Dog looks pretty for the annual poker run on Lake Karapiro later this month. We had a ball last year, but suffered the ignominy of having to limp back to the ramp at reduced speed because of a loose petrol pump. That aint gonna happen this year. The Dog is gonna be there ready to rock an roll & foot it with the best of them.
Well enough of that. On to the real news. Helen's out, Johns in, Winston's gone in 60 seconds. He could always get a job selling vacuum cleaners door to door. Tauranga pensioners would queue up in droves to buy them from him. Wonder if National will improve funding for health ? Would be nice for herself to get to a neurologist, & maybe get her MRI scan. Opens window & checks for flying pigs & can only see Winston hurtling through the air from the general direction of Tauranga.
WE went fishing yesterday on doctors orders. I kid you not. Its nice to have a GP with a balanced set of priorities. We didn't catch a lot & herself caught the lion's share, but its always nice to be on the water. I got my relax coming back. A full speed beat along the coast about 500 meters off shore. There is always great satisfaction to be had for me overtaking cars on the road. Every time I go out, I learn something new about the boat. This time I found out where the grease nipple is to grease the steering gear. I had noticed that the wheel has been getting stiffer. I'll do that today, along with removing a few old fittings that aren't needed any more. All just part of a general tidy up so that the Dog looks pretty for the annual poker run on Lake Karapiro later this month. We had a ball last year, but suffered the ignominy of having to limp back to the ramp at reduced speed because of a loose petrol pump. That aint gonna happen this year. The Dog is gonna be there ready to rock an roll & foot it with the best of them.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Once more unto the breach dear friends
Well, it's Monday night. That means tomorrow is Tuesday. That means gentle reader that herself has her next appointment with our new nice young American doctor at Te Korowhai. I like going to Te Korowhai, There's a sense of coming home, even though its herself that has the Maori blood not me. They are all nice people & the place is very family oriented. I like that. What it means is that hopefully, the results of the tests he ordered up last Thursday will be through; hopefully, the long awaited results of the tests sent overseas will be there as well; hopefully too, we will at least have some form of closure as to what is actually wrong with herself. You never know, we may even see the odd flying pig outside the surgery as well. god this waiting is tough on both of us.
I talked to you earlier about the hammering my faith has taken over the past few weeks haven't I? Yes of course you have you fool, get on with it. Well, Herself came home from the hairdressers the other day, nothing strange in that, she usually does, but she had an interesting story to tell. You see, the hairdresser is part of the "spiritual" community & is actually a very lovely lady. But sometimes, she suffers from a lack of putting brain into gear before engaging the mouth. She came out with this little gem the other day, "Oooohhhh.... Spirit must really want you back to do all this to you.." What a load of absolute crap. While I consider it to be the biggest load of irresponsible crap that I have ever heard, and had no hesitation in sharing this opinion in very gentle form with herself, it did have one very big & beneficial effect on me. It had the effect of galvanising my thoughts back into action. It made me realise with a jolt that I still do actually believe in self determination. For that, in absentia, I thank her. For putting rubbish like that into Herself's head, I could cheerfully rip her arm off & beat her to death with the soggy bit.
Anyway, enough of that, as the actress said to the Bishop, back to the main event. I'm not sure how I feel about tomorrow. Part of me aches for closure & at least the knowledge of what it is that the two of us have to stand shoulder to shoulder & contend with. All of me is terrified that it may be the worst of the 3 case scenario's that we have been presented with so far. All of me remembers the agony that we both endured when we were told that her condition was terminal. I for one have no wish to endure that again as, I would hazard a guess, neither would Herself. Being the confounded optimist that I am, it's very easy to take hold of one or the other soft options & run with it. Its not a thing I should do & I know that I'm probably setting myself up for a fall of monumental proportions, but still I do it. I guess I'm a bit like the optimist that fell off the top of the Empire State Building. Apparently, somewhere about halfway down, he was reputed to have said, "Well, so far, so good." So far, its been a helluva fall, with some very strong updraughts. I'm not sure what's at the bottom & I'm not sure that I really want to know what it is, but I do hope that the landing is a soft one. We could sure use a little clemency in the fates department at the moment.
I talked to you earlier about the hammering my faith has taken over the past few weeks haven't I? Yes of course you have you fool, get on with it. Well, Herself came home from the hairdressers the other day, nothing strange in that, she usually does, but she had an interesting story to tell. You see, the hairdresser is part of the "spiritual" community & is actually a very lovely lady. But sometimes, she suffers from a lack of putting brain into gear before engaging the mouth. She came out with this little gem the other day, "Oooohhhh.... Spirit must really want you back to do all this to you.." What a load of absolute crap. While I consider it to be the biggest load of irresponsible crap that I have ever heard, and had no hesitation in sharing this opinion in very gentle form with herself, it did have one very big & beneficial effect on me. It had the effect of galvanising my thoughts back into action. It made me realise with a jolt that I still do actually believe in self determination. For that, in absentia, I thank her. For putting rubbish like that into Herself's head, I could cheerfully rip her arm off & beat her to death with the soggy bit.
Anyway, enough of that, as the actress said to the Bishop, back to the main event. I'm not sure how I feel about tomorrow. Part of me aches for closure & at least the knowledge of what it is that the two of us have to stand shoulder to shoulder & contend with. All of me is terrified that it may be the worst of the 3 case scenario's that we have been presented with so far. All of me remembers the agony that we both endured when we were told that her condition was terminal. I for one have no wish to endure that again as, I would hazard a guess, neither would Herself. Being the confounded optimist that I am, it's very easy to take hold of one or the other soft options & run with it. Its not a thing I should do & I know that I'm probably setting myself up for a fall of monumental proportions, but still I do it. I guess I'm a bit like the optimist that fell off the top of the Empire State Building. Apparently, somewhere about halfway down, he was reputed to have said, "Well, so far, so good." So far, its been a helluva fall, with some very strong updraughts. I'm not sure what's at the bottom & I'm not sure that I really want to know what it is, but I do hope that the landing is a soft one. We could sure use a little clemency in the fates department at the moment.
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