Random Ramblings

Quote :

Yeah, we start later and get out later too (June). I don't know why they wait so late to start I  have heard it is because it is so hot. But I don't understand that since it is STILL August and it doesn't start cooling off here until Oct. But to be honest, Florida heat is the same as Tennessee heat. Both places are too hot and humid in the summer!

Amen to that!  We've had a milder summer as far as temperatures go.  But, we've had a wetter summer which means that the humidity is floating around the 70 to 80% most days.  The heat I can take.  The humidity, when it is that elevated, will literally make it harder to breath and make you feel hotter.

I'm back from France. I spent three weeks in Pays-de-la-Loire, except for three days when my dad and I went to Normandy and Brittany to do a bit of sightseeing. It was good, but I'm happy to be back.

Welcome home!

Headed my way!!!!!! See where the "1" is? That's where we are! Rock me like a hurricane baby!

Yikes, stay safe Mike!

So far just wind. And as of 11 AM central time it has moved a bit east of here but we are still expected to get storm surges of 1-3 feet along the coastline. Should be a cat 1 by the time it makes landfall tonight. Sometime this afternoon I need to fill up my gas cans in case we need to run our generator. So if we do lose power at least we will be able to run the fridge, microwave, fans and TV (if the cable doesn't go out).

I got some friends who are over there this weekend to see one of their kids at college. But they're from the Houston area so they know about hurricanes 

Just upgraded to hurricane. 

Does this mean you should evacuate?

MikeInFla wrote:

Just upgraded to hurricane. 

How close are you to Destin and Okaloosa Island?

We are about 45-60 minutes East of there. If we had a interstate probably 25 minutes. I drove over there last week for 2 days on business and I hate the traffic going over there.

Storm was a bust, at least for us. It didn't even rain. That's a good thing! Not really even any wind.

That's good news.

We've had a breezy day here because of the hurricane, though.  We also have a little reprieve from the heat.

Staybrite wrote:

Does this mean you should evacuate?

No, only category 4 or 5 and if it was the big I'd have my wife and kids leave and I would go to work on hurricane watch. It's safe there and I'd get paid for staying there round the clock.

alldatndensum wrote:

We've had a breezy day here because of the hurricane, though.  We also have a little reprieve from the heat.

I think we might have had steady 15 or 20 mile an hour winds but nothing else. It felt good this morning but it is blazing hot now.

Next surgery is coming up. They're gonna open the back of my neck and put brackets and screws on every level but the very top (that attaches to my skull). So my entire neck, cervical levels, will be bracketed. Surgeon says I'll still have range of motion as the brackets do not hinder movement. 

What's a problem is this - he said I should taper my current pain meds so that when I DO have the surgery, I won't have "as much" pain and the morphine they give me will help more.
I am currently failing at tapering current pain meds. Not cuz of addiction, but cuz without them, I am in SO MUCH pain that I become immediately depressed and feel despair. 
Not really sure what to do.... or how to do it.

I'm going to go to a pow-wow tomorrow, in the Native community I visited in May. It'll be about 5 hours of driving each way. It should be fun.

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

Next surgery is coming up. They're gonna open the back of my neck and put brackets and screws on every level but the very top (that attaches to my skull). So my entire neck, cervical levels, will be bracketed. Surgeon says I'll still have range of motion as the brackets do not hinder movement. 

What's a problem is this - he said I should taper my current pain meds so that when I DO have the surgery, I won't have "as much" pain and the morphine they give me will help more.
I am currently failing at tapering current pain meds. Not cuz of addiction, but cuz without them, I am in SO MUCH pain that I become immediately depressed and feel despair. 
Not really sure what to do.... or how to do it.

Suck it up, Lumpy!  This ain't the Girl Scouts!  You'll be looking a long time for your 'Safe Zone', pal!

Just kidding.  I only wrote those things because I don't have any real advice.

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

Next surgery is coming up. They're gonna open the back of my neck and put brackets and screws on every level but the very top (that attaches to my skull). So my entire neck, cervical levels, will be bracketed. Surgeon says I'll still have range of motion as the brackets do not hinder movement. 

What's a problem is this - he said I should taper my current pain meds so that when I DO have the surgery, I won't have "as much" pain and the morphine they give me will help more.
I am currently failing at tapering current pain meds. Not cuz of addiction, but cuz without them, I am in SO MUCH pain that I become immediately depressed and feel despair. 
Not really sure what to do.... or how to do it.

I know you had a really bad trip, but have you given thought to going back to the medical marijuana (at least temporarily)?

Quote :

I know you had a really bad trip, but have you given thought to going back to the medical marijuana (at least temporarily)?

Oh I've been on it consistently. But only at night. It knocks me out completely. Something about straight Indica just puts your lights out. It was helping me sleep well through the nocturnal pain, but ever since my neck has deteriorated so badly I wake up in terrible pain no matter how knocked out I am. Pain trumps CBD anyday. I'd love to use it during the day but beings that it knocks me out, I would never have a life. I guess it's the difference between being pain free due to being unconscious VS having some relief with pills. I understand what the surgeon is saying, but just like last surgery, I was in excruciating pain the first 24 hours after, then I got better. I'm gonna take the gamble, remain as much pain free as I can now, risk having a bad 24 hours, and like XID said, suck it up 

Should be interesting...

Jim, you are in my prayers, brother!

When is your surgery, Jim?

Appreciate all the prayers.

All my pre-op work is done and has a green flag, so surgery is tentatively set for the 13th, but they still haven't called me back to confirm it. Not too pleased with the disorganization over there lately.

I had an amazing time at the pow-wow yesterday. Our Creator kept us safe on the road, and I got to see friends I made in May. The pow-wow itself is also very interesting. At first glance, it can seem monotonous, but it's fascinating to watch the subtle differences between Native nations, and to observe how some of their traditions are relatively sacred.

The strong wind not far from us yesterday wasn't a tornado.
It was a downburst.
The damage to trees is big.
In my neighbordhood was no damage.