Nothing else has changed, just the picture. But it makes a big difference.
Here it is by itself.
 |
| Fancy and kind of pretentious. Success! |
Sunday, April 10, 2011
New Layout!!! (!!!)
So I got sick of using a template picture for my blog, so I took my own. Spiffy, huh?
Nothing else has changed, just the picture. But it makes a big difference.
Here it is by itself.
FYI, the blue book is the Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide, by Douglas Adams, and some random collection of ghost stories I found at Half-Price one day.
Nothing else has changed, just the picture. But it makes a big difference.
Here it is by itself.
Kidneys... Why'd it have to be kidneys?
Hello internet world.
Haven't been posting as much as I like, lately. Been working on school and such. And having some AWESOME health problems. How awesome, you might ask? Well, I'll spin you a tale of my recent issues.
First off, I have a mediocre diet. I avoid fast-food for the most part, but I love my Dr Peppers with a passion. I've also known to drink a few beers every few days or so. So yeah, while I don't sit on the couch and wolf down chips and dips and liters of Mountain Dew (anymore), I could probably be doing better. I have cut back on soft drinks, though. Compared to how I used to drink them.
For the most part, my body usually aches. I never put much thought to it, just chocked it up to being in poor shape, sleeping wrong, or being hungover. When you treat your body badly, it will respond badly. So I would just ignore the sharp pains in my side and the soreness in my lower back. I'm going to be 30 in a few years, so a little pain is natural, I assumed.
That all changed about three weeks ago. Went to piss and DAMN. Pain. Not bad pain. Compared to when I sprained my wrist last year, this was nothing. But it was unexpected and, given the area, very uncomfortable. That's when I saw what happened and came to a conclusion: kidney stones.
Why am I sure of this? Well, there are the symptoms of course. Frequent bathroom visits, pain in my lower back and sides, and... oh yeah, TINY ROCKS in my urine. Figured that last one would be something to look into.
The first week, I just ignored it, because I felt better afterwards, so I assumed I passed them all. Then almost a week later, another attack. I decided to not fall for it again and went to a doctor. Of course, like a faulty lamp that acts perfectly at the repair shop, there was no evidence of stones (I hadn't thought of saving them at the time). Urine was clean, blood-work came back fine, and I even got to have an ultrasound. It, too, was negative. The final test was something called a UVI, and I have not gotten this test yet. I had an idea that might help me skip the test (because tests cost money, and I don't have much). During the next attack, I had the foresight to save them. Don't ask how I got them, it's not worth it. So, happily and armed with evidence, I bring in my bag of rocks for my doctor to look at. That poor receptionist's face when I told her that the nurse just said to drop them off at her desk. She was able to find out who had called me in to drop off the bag, though, and I was able to give it to her directly.
That was last week. And, of course, I went the whole week without any problems. Until today, that is. Another attack. They haven't called me back. I think they're expecting me to get the test. With regret, I think I must go in sometime soon, though I don't have the time. I may just schedule it for Wednesday and get it over with.
Oh, and don't worry. The pain has been very mild. Not zero, but mild. The rocks are very tiny, nothing like the horror stories that you may hear about passing rocks the size of M&M's. The only thing is, there's a lot of them, so it's not fun. Now I get to play Russian Roulette every time I have to go. With a shotgun.
Well, that's about it for this post. I'll be back with more news as it happens.
Haven't been posting as much as I like, lately. Been working on school and such. And having some AWESOME health problems. How awesome, you might ask? Well, I'll spin you a tale of my recent issues.
First off, I have a mediocre diet. I avoid fast-food for the most part, but I love my Dr Peppers with a passion. I've also known to drink a few beers every few days or so. So yeah, while I don't sit on the couch and wolf down chips and dips and liters of Mountain Dew (anymore), I could probably be doing better. I have cut back on soft drinks, though. Compared to how I used to drink them.
For the most part, my body usually aches. I never put much thought to it, just chocked it up to being in poor shape, sleeping wrong, or being hungover. When you treat your body badly, it will respond badly. So I would just ignore the sharp pains in my side and the soreness in my lower back. I'm going to be 30 in a few years, so a little pain is natural, I assumed.
That all changed about three weeks ago. Went to piss and DAMN. Pain. Not bad pain. Compared to when I sprained my wrist last year, this was nothing. But it was unexpected and, given the area, very uncomfortable. That's when I saw what happened and came to a conclusion: kidney stones.
Why am I sure of this? Well, there are the symptoms of course. Frequent bathroom visits, pain in my lower back and sides, and... oh yeah, TINY ROCKS in my urine. Figured that last one would be something to look into.
The first week, I just ignored it, because I felt better afterwards, so I assumed I passed them all. Then almost a week later, another attack. I decided to not fall for it again and went to a doctor. Of course, like a faulty lamp that acts perfectly at the repair shop, there was no evidence of stones (I hadn't thought of saving them at the time). Urine was clean, blood-work came back fine, and I even got to have an ultrasound. It, too, was negative. The final test was something called a UVI, and I have not gotten this test yet. I had an idea that might help me skip the test (because tests cost money, and I don't have much). During the next attack, I had the foresight to save them. Don't ask how I got them, it's not worth it. So, happily and armed with evidence, I bring in my bag of rocks for my doctor to look at. That poor receptionist's face when I told her that the nurse just said to drop them off at her desk. She was able to find out who had called me in to drop off the bag, though, and I was able to give it to her directly.
That was last week. And, of course, I went the whole week without any problems. Until today, that is. Another attack. They haven't called me back. I think they're expecting me to get the test. With regret, I think I must go in sometime soon, though I don't have the time. I may just schedule it for Wednesday and get it over with.
Oh, and don't worry. The pain has been very mild. Not zero, but mild. The rocks are very tiny, nothing like the horror stories that you may hear about passing rocks the size of M&M's. The only thing is, there's a lot of them, so it's not fun. Now I get to play Russian Roulette every time I have to go. With a shotgun.
Well, that's about it for this post. I'll be back with more news as it happens.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tea O.D.
This post is mainly about tea.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Of Empires, Returns, and Shadows: Music and Reading in my Life
Saying I like the soundtrack to The Empire Strikes Back is an understatement. I used to listen to it when I was younger while I would read, preferring to read with some form of music in my ears than silence. Doing homework? It was the only thing that helped me focus long enough to finish my assignments, because I knew it so well that it was no longer a distraction. When I received the two-disc collector's edition that had the ENTIRE FILM SCORE which replaced my measly single-disc, 12-track edition (which I loved, don't get me wrong), I was ecstatic. Eyes closed, hours would fly by as I noted specific themes. The AT-AT battle, the asteroid field, the double-bassoon of Boba Fett... all of it was familiar to me. I couldn't fall asleep listening to it, though. I'd always stay awake until the final chords of the credits ended.
Monday, February 28, 2011
I don't like these books
This is a long one. Almost an essay, even. But I have to vent a little.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
I've mentioned it earlier, but it is a problem that still affects me. Mentioning my opinion causes people to look at me like I just crucified their savior. Uttering the statement causes eruptions of arguments on my ignorance, or how I'm not reading it right. But I can't pretend to believe everyone else's opinions are true anymore.
I can't stand The Lord of the Rings books.
Right now, someone is reading this and thinking of ways to hurt me. They want to tear me in half and hurl my body into the fires of Mt. Doom (or Orodruin as mentioned in the books). But I stand by my opinion. And I don't stand alone.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
I've mentioned it earlier, but it is a problem that still affects me. Mentioning my opinion causes people to look at me like I just crucified their savior. Uttering the statement causes eruptions of arguments on my ignorance, or how I'm not reading it right. But I can't pretend to believe everyone else's opinions are true anymore.
I can't stand The Lord of the Rings books.
Right now, someone is reading this and thinking of ways to hurt me. They want to tear me in half and hurl my body into the fires of Mt. Doom (or Orodruin as mentioned in the books). But I stand by my opinion. And I don't stand alone.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
"Why I Don't Like Fellowship of the Ring," "The Deadman," and A Hasty Explanation
I should be reading for school. Or trying to sleep for school. But I can't. I'm listening to some Lord of the Rings music to put me in the mood to finally finish that damn trilogy of books once and for all (I kind of just stopped in the second half of two towers. I guess I was annoyed that the book went from pages of battles and a ton of characters to just Sam, Frodo, and Gollum. I think my brain screamed "Think of the amount you just read, now imagine it with only the hobbits!" and I fled in terror only to finally return today). But that's not what this post is about. This post is about my newest idea. I will tell the basic idea below and then follow it with a disclaimer, because I know that one or two people might say "WHAT A MINUTE YOU DICK YOU STOLE THIS IDEA FROM--" And believe me, I know that this can be said because I realized it after I started working on it.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Books and Personal Libraries
Heyo.
It's been a while. I was going to do another cooking post, but when I went to get the potatoes, they were nasty looking. I was shocked that they were dead after only 2 weeks of rotting in the floor of the pantry. Oh well. Will get more potatoes soon.
I've been wondering something for a while that I want to ask.
For those of you with eReaders, do you still buy normal books? Paperbacks, Hardcovers, etc? Do you buy digital formats of books you already own?
Personally, I do. I've been slowly building a digital library that mirrors my physical one. Why? Because of the shelves. I want to have shelves FULL of books. I want people to see that I read, and what I've read. I want to be able to lend a copy of a book to a friend and still be able to read it. I want to have a house someday that has a full wall of nothing but books. And then, another. Until it's a room.
If anything, I am more inclined to keep up this current trend of buying books I own because of what happened with Borders this week. It got me thinking: What if Barnes and Noble went under some day? Sure, I could buy from Amazon and strip the DRM out of their books for use on my device, but what about the opposite? If my nook finally dies, I lose a LOT of digital books forever (note: make a backup of those books right now). I guess that's the risk of tying in with a specific company. If they go under, they can take my library with them.
So yeah. What about you? How do you feel about owning 2 copies of the same books?
It's been a while. I was going to do another cooking post, but when I went to get the potatoes, they were nasty looking. I was shocked that they were dead after only 2 weeks of rotting in the floor of the pantry. Oh well. Will get more potatoes soon.
I've been wondering something for a while that I want to ask.
For those of you with eReaders, do you still buy normal books? Paperbacks, Hardcovers, etc? Do you buy digital formats of books you already own?
Personally, I do. I've been slowly building a digital library that mirrors my physical one. Why? Because of the shelves. I want to have shelves FULL of books. I want people to see that I read, and what I've read. I want to be able to lend a copy of a book to a friend and still be able to read it. I want to have a house someday that has a full wall of nothing but books. And then, another. Until it's a room.
If anything, I am more inclined to keep up this current trend of buying books I own because of what happened with Borders this week. It got me thinking: What if Barnes and Noble went under some day? Sure, I could buy from Amazon and strip the DRM out of their books for use on my device, but what about the opposite? If my nook finally dies, I lose a LOT of digital books forever (note: make a backup of those books right now). I guess that's the risk of tying in with a specific company. If they go under, they can take my library with them.
So yeah. What about you? How do you feel about owning 2 copies of the same books?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)