Well, I had the ultrasound on the giblets today. I'm proud to say that I was calm, cool and collected. Well, except when driving to the clinic. I'm never calm cool, nor collected when I'm behind the wheel. Anyways, not a painful experience by any means.
However I have come to the conclusion that I will never, ever date someone in the health care industry for the simple reason that I could not handle that the person I'm with handles ... bits ... all day so nonchalantly. There's gotta be some mystery you know?
Speaking of which, the results go to my doctor in two to three business days. The Doc said they would call me if something shows up, so I'm going to jump out of my skin every time the phone rings. Which means once or twice in the next week. Of course it may be worse that they don't call if it's good news. I'll still be paranoid if I get a call a month from now.
It all kind of sucks though: I have the scuba lessons the weekend after next and I really want to use the training to go swimmin' with bow-legged wimmin somewhere down south. But it's the kind of situation where you can't really make any kind of long term plans. Cuz you never know. I've been reading up (gods bless the Internet) and if they find something, there a whole of laundry list of what that "something" could be. Most involve surgery. Which scares the hell out of me. Not because of the surgery itself, but I've been watching too much Scrubs lately and, well, I worry about mistakes. Like waking up and finding they took out my kidney .Although it wouldn't be as bad as the poor bastard who was supposed to get the kidney operation.
So I'm taking my usual "if it's the worst thing that can happen, it's already happened so there's nothing you can do about it" attitude with the occasional panic attack.
You know, the everyday routine mind-set of Moby.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
And in Other News....
A bit of follow-up on Spike:
She did eventually email me back. Apparently, giving her Fallout 3 for the X-Box 360 freaked her out a bit but me wanting to kiss her (and we had kissed before) freaked her out a lot. We're exchanging the occasional email, but that's as far as it goes. Didn't work out like I had wanted it to, but few things do.
And now, back to gaming:
World of Goo has me hooked. Available on Steam for $20, it's a physics puzzler with some amazing gameplay. A great source of fun! Proof positive that taking a simple concept, wrapping in some creativity in the presentation and viola! you have a great game! Or a musical instrument, I can never remember which.
Speaking of Fallout 3, I'm waiting anxiously for the new downloadable content on Jan 27th. I may get sidetracked by other things (see last post) but if nothing else, I'm easily distracted.
So much so that I went and got Lord of the Rings Online. Yeah, yeah, another MMO after I said I swore off them but I was bored. Okay so far but I can see myself canceling after the free month is done. It's really just more of the same.
Oh! And this looks cool.
And that's about it really. A lame update, but just so everyone knows my so-called life still goes on.
Update: Wow, that didn't take long. Just uninstalled LOTRO after about 6 hours play. That's beats the record set by EVE Online...
She did eventually email me back. Apparently, giving her Fallout 3 for the X-Box 360 freaked her out a bit but me wanting to kiss her (and we had kissed before) freaked her out a lot. We're exchanging the occasional email, but that's as far as it goes. Didn't work out like I had wanted it to, but few things do.
And now, back to gaming:
World of Goo has me hooked. Available on Steam for $20, it's a physics puzzler with some amazing gameplay. A great source of fun! Proof positive that taking a simple concept, wrapping in some creativity in the presentation and viola! you have a great game! Or a musical instrument, I can never remember which.
Speaking of Fallout 3, I'm waiting anxiously for the new downloadable content on Jan 27th. I may get sidetracked by other things (see last post) but if nothing else, I'm easily distracted.
So much so that I went and got Lord of the Rings Online. Yeah, yeah, another MMO after I said I swore off them but I was bored. Okay so far but I can see myself canceling after the free month is done. It's really just more of the same.
Oh! And this looks cool.
And that's about it really. A lame update, but just so everyone knows my so-called life still goes on.
Update: Wow, that didn't take long. Just uninstalled LOTRO after about 6 hours play. That's beats the record set by EVE Online...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
How Can I Put This?
Er, okay, so. Well. Ummmm....
Okay, I'll come right out with it: I found a lump. On the left one.
This happened last weekend I while I was trying to figure out why I had a recurring ache in ... that area. I had thought that since this happens when I run a lot, and when I stopped running it went away, it had something to do with running. So I did the ol' Internet search.
So when I discovered that this could be a symptom of testicular cancer, I learned very quickly how to do a self-exam. And sure enough....
So I went to my local drop-in medical clinic and waited. And waited. And waited. And was told to go home as they were closing soon. Come back the next day.
So I went the next evening. And waited. And waited some more. And told to go home again.
So the next morning, I called in sick, went to the clinic and waited, but not as much. The doctor did her thing (yes, her, which was actually not a problem) and said that it should be checked out.
So I have an ultrasound in two weeks. Two weeks was the soonest I could get one. Trust me, I shopped around.
And so, I'm waiting and worrying. It's probably nothing, statistically speaking. But of course you tend to worry that it could be the worst: it's going to kill you; or the second worst: the cure is so bad you might as well be dead.
Regardless, if there is something there that shouldn't be, it's knifey-knifey slicey-slicey time. And since the doctor will be "in the area" anyways, I'm going to ask to get my tubes tied: Two stones with one bird.
See? I can even make bad jokes when I'm terrified!
Okay, I'll come right out with it: I found a lump. On the left one.
This happened last weekend I while I was trying to figure out why I had a recurring ache in ... that area. I had thought that since this happens when I run a lot, and when I stopped running it went away, it had something to do with running. So I did the ol' Internet search.
So when I discovered that this could be a symptom of testicular cancer, I learned very quickly how to do a self-exam. And sure enough....
So I went to my local drop-in medical clinic and waited. And waited. And waited. And was told to go home as they were closing soon. Come back the next day.
So I went the next evening. And waited. And waited some more. And told to go home again.
So the next morning, I called in sick, went to the clinic and waited, but not as much. The doctor did her thing (yes, her, which was actually not a problem) and said that it should be checked out.
So I have an ultrasound in two weeks. Two weeks was the soonest I could get one. Trust me, I shopped around.
And so, I'm waiting and worrying. It's probably nothing, statistically speaking. But of course you tend to worry that it could be the worst: it's going to kill you; or the second worst: the cure is so bad you might as well be dead.
Regardless, if there is something there that shouldn't be, it's knifey-knifey slicey-slicey time. And since the doctor will be "in the area" anyways, I'm going to ask to get my tubes tied: Two stones with one bird.
See? I can even make bad jokes when I'm terrified!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Update on Lack of Updates
I know, I know. But something ... significant ... may be brewing. No not that. No, not that either.
This is new.
And scary.
You'll know when I do.
This is new.
And scary.
You'll know when I do.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Habits & Cravings
But first, I got rear-ended today. I was attempting to turn left on my way to the gym, but two factors made me stop:
The guy in the pick-up truck behind me was also going way too fast for road conditions, slid on the previously mentioned mush and wham!. Actually more like thunk. Got out, assessed the damage (none, not even scratched paint), told the guy "No harm, no foul". He seemed quite relieved. He was pretty apologetic too, which just goes to show, sometimes accidents just happen regardless of how cautious/incautious a driver is. I was a bit shaken but not stirred. Besides, the adrenaline rush made for a good work-out.
But back to the title: Now that my six weeks of working part-time (due to being forced to take my remaining vacation before year end) is finally at an end so I need to get used to working five days a week again. May be tough: I'm nat'r'lly a slacker. Obviously. Of course it's starting with a month/quarter/year end with added complications due to good if short-sighted business decisions over the holiday season. So I better get used to it again real damn quick. Gonna have fun next week.
This weekend though was punctuated by two odd "cravings". I had the sudden urge to flop on the couch, turn on the tube and watch TV. I don't have cable and peasant-vision (ie broadcast television) is non-existent in my building. Weird. I tossed the cable over a year ago and didn't miss it until now. "Miss" may also be too-strong a word, but sometimes you just want to veg out watching the boob-tube. I'd consider going for basic cable except that it's still too expensive and the fact that any time the cable company tries to do anything I lose my Internet for a week.
The second craving hit me last night: very abruptly and with no warning, I wanted a Coca-Cola. I actually wanted it so bad I could, quite literally, taste it. So I went to the local Mac's (and on this one rare occasion, was not accosted by homeless looking for handouts) and got myself a litre. Came home, filled a glass with ice, poured my self a tall one and man it tasted good. The rest of it is sitting in the fridge now, probably until it looses all its fizz.
I'm not a pop (soda, soft drink, whatever) person. Very odd considering my ravenous sweet-tooth. If I do drink it, it's at a restaurant and it's ginger ale. Mostly because you get charged the same amount for a thimble of rancid orange juice at a restaurant as you do for a full litre at the grocery store. So for me, that was a bit weird.
As for habits, like the work-thing, I need to get back into going to the gym at least four times a week. Christmas is always bad for that due to time constraints, lousy weather and in my case, being a member of a gym located in a mall. I could say that I reduced my frequency due to spending time with Spike, but since we only saw each other five times over two months, that would be a bald-faced lie.
Oh yeah, that's pretty much over with by the way. Not sure why, but she wants me to go away. She didn't actually say anything because she hasn't returned my calls. She did mention when we started out that she prefers to just ignore a guy when it isn't working for her as she "doesn't like conflict". So I went away (that's what I told her answering machine at any rate). I said that if this was the case, not to call me back. Easy for her, and closure for me.
Too bad really: I do like her, but I'm getting that the timing is lousy and that she's not really ready for dating yet. At all. Of course I'm also sure that it's something I did/said/didn't say/didn't do but trying to figure out what is a good way to make your brain asplode. This is one of the principle reasons why I'm out of it, the whole dating thing. But you knew that (as I've mentioned it on numerous occasions here).
The other habit is of course, nicotine! I've re-signed-up for SCUBA courses again and there's the same concern that my lung capacity is exceeded by the volume of a Kinder Surprise egg. We'll see I guess, but right now I'll just consider cutting down a bit. This will be assisted by the recently enacted law whereby establishments that have a pharmacy on-site cannot sell tobacco products. Kind of makes sense (in a were-going-to-ban-it-without-banning-it kind of way). On the other hand, if there's such a health concern, why not outlaw selling things like pop, chips, candy, bacon etc from these same stores? I guess they'll do that the day they have a picture of a dead fat bastard with his shirt off on a pack of Ding-Dongs.
Well, the end-effect is that I can't get my carton of smokes from the usual places (the grocery stores) that I go to as part of the routine. Which means that the only places I can get cigarettes now are gas stations and convenience stores, which all charge about a buck a pack more than the grocers did. But since gas is now at about half the price it was six months ago, I'm good.
And now, back into the routine/habit that I haven't had a change in: computer games! Maybe next time, I'll do a 2008 wrap up on my view of the state of gaming. Which reminds me, the habit of blogging more than the inane details of my unremarkable existence? Ain't gonna happen....
- The idiot in the pickup truck coming on my right was doing about 60 in a 30 (playground) zone and swerved into the lane I was turning into and
- the slurry of snow and dirt made my tires spin without even hitting the accelerator
The guy in the pick-up truck behind me was also going way too fast for road conditions, slid on the previously mentioned mush and wham!. Actually more like thunk. Got out, assessed the damage (none, not even scratched paint), told the guy "No harm, no foul". He seemed quite relieved. He was pretty apologetic too, which just goes to show, sometimes accidents just happen regardless of how cautious/incautious a driver is. I was a bit shaken but not stirred. Besides, the adrenaline rush made for a good work-out.
But back to the title: Now that my six weeks of working part-time (due to being forced to take my remaining vacation before year end) is finally at an end so I need to get used to working five days a week again. May be tough: I'm nat'r'lly a slacker. Obviously. Of course it's starting with a month/quarter/year end with added complications due to good if short-sighted business decisions over the holiday season. So I better get used to it again real damn quick. Gonna have fun next week.
This weekend though was punctuated by two odd "cravings". I had the sudden urge to flop on the couch, turn on the tube and watch TV. I don't have cable and peasant-vision (ie broadcast television) is non-existent in my building. Weird. I tossed the cable over a year ago and didn't miss it until now. "Miss" may also be too-strong a word, but sometimes you just want to veg out watching the boob-tube. I'd consider going for basic cable except that it's still too expensive and the fact that any time the cable company tries to do anything I lose my Internet for a week.
The second craving hit me last night: very abruptly and with no warning, I wanted a Coca-Cola. I actually wanted it so bad I could, quite literally, taste it. So I went to the local Mac's (and on this one rare occasion, was not accosted by homeless looking for handouts) and got myself a litre. Came home, filled a glass with ice, poured my self a tall one and man it tasted good. The rest of it is sitting in the fridge now, probably until it looses all its fizz.
I'm not a pop (soda, soft drink, whatever) person. Very odd considering my ravenous sweet-tooth. If I do drink it, it's at a restaurant and it's ginger ale. Mostly because you get charged the same amount for a thimble of rancid orange juice at a restaurant as you do for a full litre at the grocery store. So for me, that was a bit weird.
As for habits, like the work-thing, I need to get back into going to the gym at least four times a week. Christmas is always bad for that due to time constraints, lousy weather and in my case, being a member of a gym located in a mall. I could say that I reduced my frequency due to spending time with Spike, but since we only saw each other five times over two months, that would be a bald-faced lie.
Oh yeah, that's pretty much over with by the way. Not sure why, but she wants me to go away. She didn't actually say anything because she hasn't returned my calls. She did mention when we started out that she prefers to just ignore a guy when it isn't working for her as she "doesn't like conflict". So I went away (that's what I told her answering machine at any rate). I said that if this was the case, not to call me back. Easy for her, and closure for me.
Too bad really: I do like her, but I'm getting that the timing is lousy and that she's not really ready for dating yet. At all. Of course I'm also sure that it's something I did/said/didn't say/didn't do but trying to figure out what is a good way to make your brain asplode. This is one of the principle reasons why I'm out of it, the whole dating thing. But you knew that (as I've mentioned it on numerous occasions here).
The other habit is of course, nicotine! I've re-signed-up for SCUBA courses again and there's the same concern that my lung capacity is exceeded by the volume of a Kinder Surprise egg. We'll see I guess, but right now I'll just consider cutting down a bit. This will be assisted by the recently enacted law whereby establishments that have a pharmacy on-site cannot sell tobacco products. Kind of makes sense (in a were-going-to-ban-it-without-banning-it kind of way). On the other hand, if there's such a health concern, why not outlaw selling things like pop, chips, candy, bacon etc from these same stores? I guess they'll do that the day they have a picture of a dead fat bastard with his shirt off on a pack of Ding-Dongs.
Well, the end-effect is that I can't get my carton of smokes from the usual places (the grocery stores) that I go to as part of the routine. Which means that the only places I can get cigarettes now are gas stations and convenience stores, which all charge about a buck a pack more than the grocers did. But since gas is now at about half the price it was six months ago, I'm good.
And now, back into the routine/habit that I haven't had a change in: computer games! Maybe next time, I'll do a 2008 wrap up on my view of the state of gaming. Which reminds me, the habit of blogging more than the inane details of my unremarkable existence? Ain't gonna happen....
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Vote "NO" on Resolution 2009!
Happy New Year one and sundry!
As I sit here and digest the MSG-laden Dim Sum meal I grazed at for the past two hours, I ruminate over the year that was known only as "2008". So what happened?
So over all, 2008 wasn't a fantastic year but over all I'd say it was better than the previous. 2009 looks to be "more of the same" as I'll be saving up for the big event in 2010: real estate.
My resolution for 2009? Nada. they never work anyways.
As I sit here and digest the MSG-laden Dim Sum meal I grazed at for the past two hours, I ruminate over the year that was known only as "2008". So what happened?
- I only moved once! That beats last year and the year before! Hopefully I'll bring that down to 0 in 2009.
- The new job! And for the first time in a decade, I'm actually enjoying it. The benefits are amazing and hey, the bonuses aren't too shabby either. Here's hoping I don't get fired in 2009!
- Waist shrinkage! The running program I've tried has reduced the 36 inch waist down to a svelt 34 incher. Hitting forty means I gotta work to stop what weight I do gain pooling in the middle bits of me. In 2009, I feel confident enough to go scuba diving without being mistaken for a miniature whale.
- Romance! Well, kinda. I'm thinking Spike isn't as interested in me as I was in her, as she hasn't returned my phone calls since Xmas. In 2009, I'll be resuming my "I don't date" policy. And to think I passed up a tumble with a flight attendant at the Xmas party cuz I'm a "nice guy"...
- Travel! The Hawaii trip was just the beginning of the Mid-Life Crisis Tour. '09 will a see trips to the Dominican and Cancun for the express purposes of scuba diving and looking at young women in bikinis.
- Education! I didn't take any classes last year, but this summer I'll be taking one of a) motorcycle operation b) gun safety course or c) sky diving. Depends on my mood. Naturellment this is merely an extension of the Mid-Life Crisis activities.
So over all, 2008 wasn't a fantastic year but over all I'd say it was better than the previous. 2009 looks to be "more of the same" as I'll be saving up for the big event in 2010: real estate.
My resolution for 2009? Nada. they never work anyways.
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